Technically not working on the layout, but I’m finally updating my excel sheets of my inventory. Been working on it for a couple of days but I’m almost there!
Continuing to work in the diesel service area. Paula is doing the interiors of each building and is close to completion.
Awaiting last floor pieces (between the tracks) so that we can level all sections and then cover the ends. Rich has been tied up with a bathroom remodel and will help with the floor.
After Paula climbed down, we took photos and transferred them to the I-pad. We have found that to be the best way to see what needs final touch-up.
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@M. Mitchell Marmel posted:Amazing how much stuff it takes to change the rollers and the diodes on a ZW, ain't it?
Mitch
Certainly NOT amazing to me Mitch........I wouldn't have a clue how to remove the housing........and I would be lost on the pieces that I see inside in your photo. 
You are da man. Have fun. 
Finished the Tortoise install, sharing a few photos re: Learning points. Didn't want to tear up the track at the second end of the siding but I didn't want to ruin the throw bar drilling from underneath.... So, I loosened the track raised it straight up and inserted a 1/4 inch piece of Luan Plywood to stop the Flat Bottom Forstner Drill bit so I wouldn't go in TOO FAR. That worked great. Also, it turned out fortuitous that I purchased my last 3 Tortoise machines with the Horizontal mounting linkage, because the lower level track beneath the switch made it impossible to mount a Tortoise in the vertical orientation. Really glad I completed this, it works great and now I have complete confidence that no matter which panel I operate from both switches are working in unison and I don't have to go check the other end, 20 feet away.
So now that that's done, I sat down last night and started building the large arched Palladian window for the Union Station Kitbash. Figured I should take some photos before I paint the first one and then go ahead and build a 2nd one for the front wall. The Luan Plywood wall that I am using as a template is the rear wall of the station, but the arch opening in the plywood matches the front completed entrance wall.
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@Dallas Joseph posted:Certainly NOT amazing to me Mitch........I wouldn't have a clue how to remove the housing........and I would be lost on the pieces that I see inside in your photo.
You are da man. Have fun.
Considering I'm doing rollers, diodes et cetera as needed on four of the indefinites...I do the darndest things to have fun, I do! 
Mitch
With that set up Chris you will need to hire a Train Dispatcher. Such unique detail on every level; very impressive.
Great work Chris, thanks for sharing.
you’re a brave man Mitch, that looks like major work.
Bill the engine house looks great! Nice work Paula!
Andy
So the good news is I went downstairs and test fit the window/door frame on the front station wall. Good thing I double checked, cause the front wall opening is 1/2 inch taller.... Anyway, taking what I learned on the first one, and the second is coming out better and going together faster. Should have this ready for painting tomorrow and then I'll install it and back it up with a sheet of acrylic or real single strength glass.
Bill I agree with the other comments, the engine house looks outstanding ! Nice work.
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Bill, Paula has done very nice work. The engine house and surrounding area looks great!
Chris, Good job on the Tortoise switch machines. The station window frames look great!
I worked on a couple of things today.
First, I looked at my WbB 70 ton coupler issue.
I also made more progress on the yard office caboose. I got the lights installed and painted the back of some of the windows. I made a floor and glued the chimney in place.
Bob
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I added one tree and one Crossing where I previously had a dead end street.
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@RSJB18 posted:I worked on a couple of things today.
First, I looked at my WbB 70 ton coupler issue.
I also made more progress on the yard office caboose. I got the lights installed and painted the back of some of the windows. I made a floor and glued the chimney in place.
Bob
Are we going to see those Evan Designs flickering fire lights in the stove ???
Actually Bob , even if you had the lights just near the stove in maybe a coal barrel ,you would only see the glow from the darkened windows as if there was a fire in the stove. 
@Dave Ripp. posted:I added one tree and one Crossing where I previously had a dead end street.
The crossing looks good Dave. 
I think it's about time though to let up on the leaves on the ground.............some of us that are a little anal are getting antsy about all of the leaves that need to be cleaned up.
This photo shows the condition of Patsburg Westend around Thanksgiving just after the "earthquake".
Here is a photo of how Patsburg Westend looks today. Still not finished but progress is being made. It took some time for me to find a satisfying arrangement of the buildings, however, this is the arrangement I came up with. The brick paver streets are now in place. I used a Dept. 56 product for streets. Since I model late 1940 - late 50 some parts of cities back then still had street paved with brick. I like this look for the streets in this part of my town.
Still have to connect wiring for lighting buildings and for street lights. I've already run the wires from the barrier block on my control stand to a 10 inch piece of 027 tinplate track which is located at what used to be a park which is caty cornered in this photo. I've connected 6 lockons to this piece of track. One lockon is the power feed and the remainder will supply short wire runs to each building I plan to illuminate. I could have installed a barrier block in place of the track but the track with lockon is much easier ... plus I can have an illuminated 4 wheel caboose sit on the track as if it were a park. It's a win win situation!
I also have city background that will connect with the present background and continue around the back of this scene. Just in the former Westend scene I included the use of a mirror in the very back between the 3 story apartment building and the building with the Miller Engineering sign. This time a angled the mirror slightly to capture the reflection more effectively. I've also created a cool little nook ( not visible here ) using yet another angled mirror. I'll try to get a photo of that soon. 
To see a quick video of
A short video of Christmas shop with blinking sign.
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@Dallas Joseph- I'm not going to use the flickering led's inside the car. I do have an idea for them that's still in the works tho.
@trumpettrain- the urban renewal projects looks great. Sometimes accidents happen but you've recovered nicely.
@Dave Ripp.- I'm with Dallas- the leaves are triggering my OCD......
@chris a- the windows are going to be a statement on that station. Nice work on the tortise wiring. I love digging into projects like that. Very satisfying when you get it right and it works too.
@Bill Webb beautiful work on the engine house and transfer table.
@M. Mitchell Marmel- Looks like you are up to your armpits in KW's.........
Bob
@RSJB18 posted:@M. Mitchell Marmel- Looks like you are up to your armpits in KW's.........
You ain't just whistlin' "Dixie", bruddah...
And Transformer Tuneup Mania is spreading...
There is a method to this madness, of course; I'm mulling over replacing the ZW at the museum with a bank of three RWs; that way, if one track goes blooey, I can drop in another transformer...
Mitch
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Mitch, that is a good plan. Having retired from working in electronics for 43 years, you always want a ready substitute in critical situations. Museum and train show layouts being those critical situations for us!! We had extra power for the smaller layout we setup for the event in Zelienople, Pennsylvania in early December. However, we relied on my ZW which had just recently been totally refurbished for the larger layout. We will be going over feedback starting in January, and spare power is an item we need to definitely address. Thank you for the good reminder!!!
Part of my traveling kit is always at least one and usually more spare transformers (RWs are my go-to for that).
One can never be too careful...
Mitch
Looking good Bob, can’t wait to see it all come together.
Dave, nice additions to that area.
Patrick, that’s quite a transformation.
Andy
Hi Everyone,
Here are a few of shots of the finished creek scene minus water and the completed water tower installation. Click on my layout update progress link for more photos and click on my YouTube page link to see the installation video of the water tank.
Dave
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@luvindemtrains posted:Hi Everyone,
Here are a few of shots of the finished creek scene minus water and the completed water tower installation. Click on my layout update progress link for more photos and click on my YouTube page link to see the installation video of the water tank.
Dave
Beutiful work.
Dave
The new trees and grade crossing really look nice.
I had the opportunity over Christmas to have some great nephews and great niece run some trains and operate some accessories. At their tender age, its always a challenge to keep the trains on the tracks! In the meantime, I started the process of painting the rails on the tinplate track using Rust-oleum rusty metal primer and satin black. I had tried using a water based rust color but it is too red for my taste. It's a little messy to coat the outside rails but the paint wipes off easily before tit dries completely. I am going to try the "grease rail prep" next. That should make it easier to wipe off the excess paint.
I also replaced the pickup wires on the 3424 Brakeman car that I got as a child. After 60 years, the insulation on those wires gets very brittle. I made an interesting discovery too. When going down a steep grade (Lionel trestle set grade), the brakeman won't pop up. It starts up but is leaning too far forward to stay up. I am going to have to relocate the acuator rail to a more level location. It works perfect going up hill or on the level.
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Thanks a million Dave!
Dave
The attached photos are of our bridges we are installing on the center portion of our layout. Some of the bridges and girders cross over our soon to be switch yard.
Thanks;
idea-thinker
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Those are amazing spans.
Those are all exceptional looking bridges!
Dave,
Awesome !!!, The creek/river bottom looks so great, it's almost a shame to cover it with water. Love the detail on the tapered columns supporting the elevated deck girder bridge. Also the shot looking into the arch with the static grass is wonderful. Great job blending the colors, weathering the stone work and the rock faces. The weathering on the Water Tower is first class. Super work !
Victor, Before going the grease the tops of the rails, I'd consider one other option. When I paint track with Rustoleum camouflage spray paints, I use the blue shop towels, cut them in rectangles and wrap them around a 3/4 inch thick scrap pine block, then I keep some acetone nearby, to get the towels damp and wipe down the tops of the rails. I understand I do my track painting in the garage, so the acetone vapors might be a concern if you're in the house in winter time. You could try the same process but substitute 91% rubbing alcohol and follow up with Goo Gone but if you do it every couple of feet the paint won't have time to dry. Reason for the wood block is it keeps the towels from wrapping over the edge of the rails and taking the paint off the sides. Using the block of wood, will leave a "sharp" edge, pleasing to the eye.
Bob, thanks for the comments on the Tortoise project. In retrospect, it was fun, challenging, and absolutely worth it. It was gratifying that after cutting and pasting the wiring diagram to reflect my slightly different configuration with two switch stations, and LEDs at both panels, that it worked as intended on the first try. Just had to reverse one LED.
Got the window frames test fitted, primed and painted today while it was 50 degrees. Working on trying to tie up the many other "loose ends" on the station. It's coming together.
The longest bridge is 10 feet. without any center supports. It was a challenge to build and maneuver around especially building the supports for it to sit on. Glad that is over.
Thanks;
idea-thinker
Chris-Thank you!
idea-thinker-I thought I liked bridges but this here... Very nice bridges. Thanks for sharing.
Dave
@luvindemtrains posted:Hi Everyone,
Here are a few of shots of the finished creek scene minus water and the completed water tower installation. Click on my layout update progress link for more photos and click on my YouTube page link to see the installation video of the water tank.
Dave
Dave , I'm giving up my photo trips on the road and just waiting until you do your reply photos.
Nice 'stuff' you are doing here sir.
Dallas,
What a wonderful compliment. Thank you much and Happy New Year!
Dave
@luvindemtrains posted:Hi Everyone,
Here are a few of shots of the finished creek scene minus water and the completed water tower installation. Click on my layout update progress link for more photos and click on my YouTube page link to see the installation video of the water tank.
Dave
Fantastic Dave - Love rock, stone and trestle work!
The water tower too. Did you scratch build it?
Thank you very much John! The water tower is made by Woodland Scenics. It comes very nicely detailed but I weathered it a bit more and of course added some growth on it.
Dave
Chris,
This is a fine execution of your imagination. You should truly be proud of yourself. You have created something both unique and stunning for your model railroad. I know you have some more details to add but this was a great segue into the New Year my friend. Congratulations and Happy New Year!
Dave
Dave, Thanks very much. Chris
Chris, the station really looks great! Who would guess what it's humble beginnings were!
HAPPY NEW YEAR:
Happy New Year!
Chris A- The station looks great. A real statement piece on your layout.
@luvindemtrains Dave- the creek and water tower are beautiful. Nice work!
@idea-thinker Very nice. Those bridges are impressive. I like the long suspension bridge in the background too.
Victor- The trestle is coming along. I can't believe you would have to rewire a 60 year old toy.....
Made a base for the caboose to sit on. I wanted it to be about even with the top of the rails. I finished the stove and added a kettle to the flattop. I'm also building a small shed roof for over the front. After the roof is done I can weather it and give it a clearcoat.
Bob
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Chris a, one word comes to mind: STUNNING!
