@Papa Dave posted:Finished painting my "farmer's market."
Here is a pic before the roof was installed...
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(sad sigh) https://ogrforum.com/...ia-siamese-2007-2022
Put up my new Glenn Snyder shelves. This the first time I used these shelves so a little slow at first but got the hang of it quickly. Hardest part was getting the right number of washer spacers to compensate for the wall. 
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Have had two really busy weeks at work, not a whole lot of train time..... Great news is I got my Legacy 990 Base and Cab-2 back from Lionel yesterday. They did a wonderful job fixing my "Cab-2 to Base" communication issue. I was having the dreaded flashing LED on the handheld happening with more frequency especially at one end of my layout. Anyway I re-installed it this afternoon, and it's working like the day I bought it, and it didn't cost me a dime. Thanks Lionel
Made about 2 dozen weed tufts for the freight warehouse scene, now I probably need to make another 2 dozen !! It's looking better.
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Chris, the weed tufts add a nice touch.
Good work Ian.
Andy
@chris a Chris- what's your method for making weeds? I did some by gluing WS tall grass between cardstock strips and then cutting them apart and installing.
@Ian Y.- nice work. Who made the Chessie/ CSX Geep?
@ArtsModelTrains- the shelves look good. You may need more though.....
@randr- you have an expert paving crew. Nice work.
Not much to report from me either. Did a little work on the ERR upgrade on my F3's but I'm hitting a wall getting the directional class lighting to work. I may skip them for now and continue on the base build. I still have lots of other stuff to do before they can go back on the layout.
Bob
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Bob, I saw that method, but in this case since I wanted really small tufts, I used the "ear exam" funnels. I had been picking them up when I visited the doctor over the years, but never got around to trying this idea. One advantage to the funnel is I was able to use my 12 mm, static grass fibers in tan and green mixed together plus some brush material from the cheap blond chip brushes, and quickly feed them into the funnel. Once I get about 3/8" inch exposed out the small end, I apply a drop of canopy glue.
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Excellent idea Chris. Looking forward to my next appointment.
@RSJB18 posted:@chris a Chris- what's your method for making weeds? I did some by gluing WS tall grass between cardstock strips and then cutting them apart and installing.
@Ian Y.- nice work. Who made the Chessie/ CSX Geep?
@ArtsModelTrains- the shelves look good. You may need more though.....
@randr- you have an expert paving crew. Nice work.
Not much to report from me either. Did a little work on the ERR upgrade on my F3's but I'm hitting a wall getting the directional class lighting to work. I may skip them for now and continue on the base build. I still have lots of other stuff to do before they can go back on the layout.
Bob
I find 'natural' rope from the local lumber store is 'cost effective' and 'looks nice'!
Drill a hole, glue the rope in and, after glue dries, 'fluff it out'.
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Still working on my trestle bridge build. 4 bents attached and 5 to go.
Installed 3 more pieces of track. Main loop is getting close to operable again!
I'll post pics next time.
Bob, Chris, and Sam, all interesting methods, I’ll try them out.
Andy
Weathered an Atlas covered black hopper car and a an MP gondola I picked up at a 2 rail scale show 3 years ago. Used some new Pan Pastels I ordered 2 weeks ago. I find black cars to be some of the hardest to weather and end up with convincing results.
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Finished up a M109 howitzer on a MTH flatcar.
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@chris a posted
Great scene Chris!! Love it when opportunities brings a new vision for an unplanned event. I like to consider our layouts as a working canvas. You're working it, and this scene is a great inspiration for all of us!
Cheers, Dave
Dave. Thanks so much. I agree about the working canvas. While I had the Pan Pastels out today weathering, I dove in and applied them to the roadway in front of the warehouse, and the foundation, to stain the concrete some more. The area was still not quite where I want it to be visually.
Never have used the Pan Pastels to weather roads before but it was a very pleasant experience, much easier to control than messing around with acrylic washes. Made some more weed tufts today, so once they're dry and planted, I'll share a few more photos.
All in all, I am pretty happy with the way the whole scene came out, and I am really glad I kept the building narrow enough that I have two sidings to switch, one in the front and one in the back. This scene is dead center in the front of the main viewing area so it's definitely worth going the extra mile here.
I really like the work you did on the ballast MOW hoppers. Good of you to share the in process photos and details of the fabricating of the chutes.
Washed the original markings off the two hoppers this weekend and today I did some brass/copper work on the discharge shoots. completed the handle bar controls for the drop chutes and some of the bracing. Love to work with solider/brass as the solder cools faster than glue sets. Had a good weekend and looking forward to the week which in my world, is a continuation of the weekend. My thanks to all of you who are still working and contributing and keeping me happy in retirement!
Cheers, Dave
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Dave...I am impressed with your efforts. I spent the afternoon gluing stuff to my fingers. But I did get a few decent-looking trees made in the process.
Do you use a soldering iron, gun, or torch for this?
Dave
@Papa Dave posted:Dave...I am impressed with your efforts. I spent the afternoon gluing stuff to my fingers. But I did get a few decent-looking trees made in the process.
Do you use a soldering iron, gun, or torch for this?
Dave
I have a Radio Shack #64-094 variable temperature soldering iron. I have a couple of interchangeable tips I can use with it. Does everything I need it to do!
Cheers, Dave
I just re-hung up the Army builders plate for a WW2 flatcar on the layout room. It's cast iron, I used a heavy steel line and a hanger for something really heavy.
The number plate above it is a plastic copy over a foam center. Weighs about as much as a piece of pizza box the same diameter.
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Good representation of the M109.
The barrel looks longer than the ones we had at the DMZ...........maybe...........that was a long time ago.
Excellent projects everyone. I made a lift off platform for my Thomas West Virginia station kit. I still have to put on shingles and other trim and build a foundation base. I'm still moving the station around to come up with the best viewing angles. You can see more detail here. Blackwater Canyon Line
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@p51 Thanks Lee for the kind words!
@Dallas Joseph The Atlantis kit I used had both the original shorter barrel and the a later up-gunned barrel. I, of course, used the big one! My daughter hasn’t seen it yet, she spent time at Camp Casey near the DMZ.
Ross
@darlander- nice work on the hoppers. Is retirement a recent thing? I don't recall you mentioning it before.
@p51- The plate looks great Lee.
@Ross- I'm with Lee. Nice attention to detail.
Finally made some progress on my F3's. Posted on my build thread here.
Bob
@chris a great job on the weathering. I'm thinking of using pastels to add more weathering to my DT&I hopper project. Is there a chance the powers will get rubbed off?
@Ross I was at one time a cannon cocker on the M109's during my stint in the reserves. For some reason I remember having M109A5's in the later years? Not sure what the difference is.
@darlander excellent modification on the hopper's. Looking forward to seeing progress on these.
'road tested' my new engine:
@RSJB18 posted:@darlander- nice work on the hoppers. Is retirement a recent thing? I don't recall you mentioning it before.
Bob
Bob, Thanks! No not recent! I have been retired for more than 20 years! I'm about as old as dirt!
Cheers, Dave
While I was testing a subway repair I also took a few pictures of my NYC steamers
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Not layout progress, but layout related news! Some of you know, I ordered a SF 2-10-10-2 that turned out to be a dud. I sent it back to Lionel for them to fix the problem to just make things worse. Long story short, Lionel emailed me today stating they are going to send me a whole new model! Here's hoping third times the charm.
Trainmaster04 - that's great news - let's hope. Must have been bad off for them to do that but the right thing to do.
I have this alcove on one section of my layout which makes it dead space for trains as the reach would be 6-7 feet. It about 7ft wide also which makes a lot of dead area. I figured right off I would just put scenery in the space, and it was perfect for my ballpark and a drive-in theater. Being it is a little secluded it has its own overhead work lights ( 2 cans in ceiling) and one section of track lighting with 4 spots to light up backdrop. I found this neat little gadget online and installed it - check it out.
The kit came with two strips of LED's which I stuck on the ceiling, a control that also contained a speaker for sound, inputs to trip it to start and an output to a subwoofer. Naturally I picked upa cheap $100.00 sub and put it in - wow - what a difference to have the thunder go through the sub. It is a shame it can't pass through to you all unless you have subwoofers on your computer !!! I also came up with a little circuit to automatically activate the system when it gets dark/overcast out. Compliments of Forest Mimms for those of you that knows his work. I like it and so far a few guests really like it also. Its different you might say. JP
Sunny, cool (50s) with a nice breeze.......that's painting weather!!!!! Windows, done!
Have a great and safe day, folks!
Peter
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@RSJB18 posted:@chris a Chris- what's your method for making weeds? I did some by gluing WS tall grass between cardstock strips and then cutting them apart and installing.
@Ian Y.- nice work. Who made the Chessie/ CSX Geep?
@ArtsModelTrains- the shelves look good. You may need more though.....
@randr- you have an expert paving crew. Nice work.
Not much to report from me either. Did a little work on the ERR upgrade on my F3's but I'm hitting a wall getting the directional class lighting to work. I may skip them for now and continue on the base build. I still have lots of other stuff to do before they can go back on the layout.
Bob
Gluing small tufts of grass together can get tedious. One shortcut I've used is to take a large bunch of whatever height grass you need, maybe a half-inch in diameter, and glue up the bottom portion in a large clump. Once the glue dries, you can then cut away small sections of whatever size you want with a sharp x-acto knife and the section you cut away will already be glued together at the bottom.
Then just make a hole in the layout wherever you want the grass/weed to grow and glue the bottom in with some scenic glue or similar product that will dry clear.
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@chris a great job on the weathering. I'm thinking of using pastels to add more weathering to my DT&I hopper project. Is there a chance the powers will get rubbed off?
@RJ Shier: The Pan Pastels have a decent adhesive mixed in. If you don't handle the cars regularly, you can probably get away without sealing them. The pastels adhere quite well, much better than any powders, or ground chalks. Personally, I have Dull Coated all my cars after I am done with the weathering. One challenge using Dull Coat out of a Testor's rattle can, is the Flat Lacquer comes out of the spray can pretty heavy. My exerience is that it will tend to hide and reduce some of the weathering effect. It's not the end of the world, on those cars, I just went back and applied a little more then dull coated again. After you do 4 or 5 cars, you can get a pretty good feel for how much heavier to apply the pastels to compensate for the reduction caused by the Dull Coat Rattle can application.
About a month ago, I found a bottle of Dull Coat at a local hobby shop. I thinned with about 35% lacquer thinner and applied two very light thin coats. Using the air brush and applying a much thinner seal coating had almost no impact on the weathering that I did with the pan pastels. Hope that helps.
@Mark Boyce: Nice job on the station, looks great and that location will definitely look great.
@Richie C. You're right, gluing some larger clumps together and cutting them apart is a good idea and would save time and effort.
@Ross posted:@p51 Thanks Lee for the kind words!
@Dallas Joseph The Atlantis kit I used had both the original shorter barrel and the a later up-gunned barrel. I, of course, used the big one! My daughter hasn’t seen it yet, she spent time at Camp Casey near the DMZ.Ross
Don't want to drift off topic ...but ....what DMZ was your daughter at ?
@Alex M posted:While I was testing a subway repair I also took a few pictures of my NYC steamers
Sure looks like the subway repair worked out well Alex.
Nice looking steamers. Thanks for sharing .
@Mark Boyce posted:. I'm still moving the station around to come up with the best viewing angles. You can see more detail here. Blackwater Canyon Line
That's really a nice looking building Mark. 
Good luck getting the best viewing angle ......the thing looks great no matter which way you would turn it.
IMHO I could see it rotated clockwise slightly. 🤔
I built this junk yard many years ago, utilizing stuff from my junk box and the grandson's old toy box. Today, it finally found a permanent home, complete with a junk yard dog.
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