What did you do on your layout today?

Took a break from the wiring yesterday. Had fun at our grandson’s 14th birthday.

Got up about 5:00 and entered wiring information on the computer. I have found that it is best done soon after completing the work…CRS syndrome acts quickly.

Into the train room after Paula and I walked and I tackled the turnout that would not work. I would love to brag about the expert repair but the truth is that I moved wires around and it started working. The last thing that I touched was the wiring connector for the Tortoise so I tightened the screws. It is still working.

I connected two more AIU/relay wires and tested the associated turnout. It worked. We are up to six working turnouts with 10 to go. Our green wire was gone with more expected late today. Time for lunch.

The doorbell rang. “This feels like wire.” Wow, ordered Tuesday and here by noon Thursday. If you need wire, try BULKWIRE.COM. We have ordered from them for years and their service is fantastic.

Paula and I ran four more AIU/relay wires and hooked them up… the relays work. Then wires started looking alike ( I can’t take but so much of this) so I switched to changing the brief name I had assigned in the MTH remote to the correct name that describes the turnout. Rich called to report on his trip to the nephrologist today… kidney stone blast day is Tuesday if it doesn’t pass. I kept programming while we talked and eight are now programmed.

So far so good. We hope to finish five turnouts tomorrow which will complete the freight yard. Five passenger yard turnouts are next followed by labeling everything so that we will still know what it is in two months.

Bill, sounds like a productive day!  Thank you for the tip on bulkwire.com  I am out of wire and will need some more.  I can only count on longer runs instead of shorter for whatever changes I make.  

I did nothing on my layout, but did visit George (G3750) to make a delivery and see the beautiful progress he has made on his PRR Panhandle 2 layout.

Urban renewal continues to move forward......my plan was to revise the business district and replace the one story bakery with a building taller than the Walter's buildings.

Before:

My solution:

In place and will be tweaked a bit......

Have a great and safe weekend, folks!

Peter

@Putnam Division,

Peter.  You are creating some amazing scenes.  It must be difficult to transport the layout to the different shows.  How do you pack them? When you are building a scene how do you make sure everything is secure on the table?

And, I love the airport you have in your last picture.

@Putnam Division- I like the new building Peter. The sidewalk between the buildings makes for a nice alley to hide some neat stuff. IIRC don't you run a raffle to find hidden things on the layout?

@Bill Webb- Add me to the thanks for the wire supplier. Glad you are making progress on the switches. I agree that it's best to log the info now while it's fresh in your head.

Bob

Peter, the new building looks great with the others.  I see you have a very many citizens in and about your town.

@Wood posted:

@Putnam Division,

Peter.  You are creating some amazing scenes.  It must be difficult to transport the layout to the different shows.  How do you pack them? When you are building a scene how do you make sure everything is secure on the table?

And, I love the airport you have in your last picture.

It varies with the module. My scenery all comes off into 4 plastic containers and a few boxes.... 2 of the boxes are custom-built. Others have scenery built onto 1" or 2" building foam.

All go in a 24' trailer that we own.

With 10-12 people, we can set up in 4 hrs.......or take down in 2hrs.

Here are the two custom boxes.....

Custom built for these two buildings....

Thank you for asking.

Peter

Not so much my layout, but I got my author copies of run 326 with my Army railroader article. Alan did a great job with the way it appears in the magazine!

Hopefully someone will find it interesting. At the very least, it's not the same article you read over and over in the hobby press.

Pulled and connected rest of freight yard wires (5) tortoises to relays.

Completed two turnouts, three to go. Need to run wires AIU to relays (6), program remote, test.

After that start on passenger yard. Five turnouts there. Have to wire and add twelve relays to board.

Rich passed two kidney stones; called to say he plans to be here tomorrow.

Maybe we can complete this project and move to connecting levels one and two late Sunday after church.

For the past couple of day’s I’ve been correcting an oversight.  As I began converting my layout to wireless there is a central control console for throwing switches, turning structures, accessories and power to sidings on/off using a keypad.  So far it seems to be working very reliably (for homegrown software).  I also can perform the same functions from an Android tablet.  Originally both the layout and the tablet powered up in ‘Default Route’ state so the two would match.  Then in a sort of “Duh!” moment it dawned on me that the odds of me making changes on the layout (throw a switch, turn something on/off) prior to connecting the tablet were astronomically high.  In my fear of getting ‘This is not the Droid I’m looking for’ response from the master controller I had to code for the Tablet being updated when it first connects to the layout.  So, I’ve been re-coding the Arduino sketch and the Android App to fix that problem and so far everything is testing ‘OK’.  Haven’t declared victory yet, but confidence is high.  Attached are a couple of android screen shots, the keypad mirrors the keypad on the master console.  The screen shot with the red dot in the lower right is the Switch Map, including siding power, the power plant coal dump and the track power cutoff for the bridge approaches.  The screen shot with the blue dot is the Accessory Map.  Changes are made by either entering a code on the keypad or taping a dot on the map.  Switch between screens by touching the menu on the keypad, or the red or blue dot on the two other screens which then shows the keypad menu choices. After a couple days of re-coding and ¼ bottle of extra strength ibuprofen, I’m hoping the worst is behind me.

bd

@barnun posted:

For the past couple of day’s I’ve been correcting an oversight.  As I began converting my layout to wireless there is a central control console for throwing switches, turning structures, accessories and power to sidings on/off using a keypad.  So far it seems to be working very reliably (for homegrown software).  I also can perform the same functions from an Android tablet.  Originally both the layout and the tablet powered up in ‘Default Route’ state so the two would match.  Then in a sort of “Duh!” moment it dawned on me that the odds of me making changes on the layout (throw a switch, turn something on/off) prior to connecting the tablet were astronomically high.  In my fear of getting ‘This is not the Droid I’m looking for’ response from the master controller I had to code for the Tablet being updated when it first connects to the layout.  So, I’ve been re-coding the Arduino sketch and the Android App to fix that problem and so far everything is testing ‘OK’.  Haven’t declared victory yet, but confidence is high.  Attached are a couple of android screen shots, the keypad mirrors the keypad on the master console.  The screen shot with the red dot in the lower right is the Switch Map, including siding power, the power plant coal dump and the track power cutoff for the bridge approaches.  The screen shot with the blue dot is the Accessory Map.  Changes are made by either entering a code on the keypad or taping a dot on the map.  Switch between screens by touching the menu on the keypad, or the red or blue dot on the two other screens which then shows the keypad menu choices. After a couple days of re-coding and ¼ bottle of extra strength ibuprofen, I’m hoping the worst is behind me.

bd

My head hurts just reading this post.....

Nice work!

Bob

We have never liked the way the City of New Haven looked. Last weekend we took up the buildings and such and decided to put down a base material over the first layer plywood to sort of level things up. The press board material was then cut and screwed to the base. The plan is to now cut bases for all the buildings using 1/8" material and forming the base dimensions to meet with adjacent building to form sidewalks or whatever. We added some formed wall sections and plastered them in along with other landscaping. Also added a spur track for an RPO to sit adjacent to the station. Today we are adding a pop out cover and see the best way to install it. Once this is finished, we can add the roads and other details along with the lights and people, etc.

@barnun posted:

For the past couple of day’s I’ve been correcting an oversight.  As I began converting my layout to wireless there is a central control console for throwing switches, turning structures, accessories and power to sidings on/off using a keypad.  So far it seems to be working very reliably (for homegrown software).  I also can perform the same functions from an Android tablet.  Originally both the layout and the tablet powered up in ‘Default Route’ state so the two would match.  Then in a sort of “Duh!” moment it dawned on me that the odds of me making changes on the layout (throw a switch, turn something on/off) prior to connecting the tablet were astronomically high.  In my fear of getting ‘This is not the Droid I’m looking for’ response from the master controller I had to code for the Tablet being updated when it first connects to the layout.  So, I’ve been re-coding the Arduino sketch and the Android App to fix that problem and so far everything is testing ‘OK’.  Haven’t declared victory yet, but confidence is high.  Attached are a couple of android screen shots, the keypad mirrors the keypad on the master console.  The screen shot with the red dot in the lower right is the Switch Map, including siding power, the power plant coal dump and the track power cutoff for the bridge approaches.  The screen shot with the blue dot is the Accessory Map.  Changes are made by either entering a code on the keypad or taping a dot on the map.  Switch between screens by touching the menu on the keypad, or the red or blue dot on the two other screens which then shows the keypad menu choices. After a couple days of re-coding and ¼ bottle of extra strength ibuprofen, I’m hoping the worst is behind me.

bd

I need to buy another bottle of extra strength Ibuprofen as well!  I think I’ll stick with the controls I have.  😄

I installed some mailboxes in the back ally today. I also painted some parking meters [ Grandt Line 3590 O Scale Parking Meters ] but need to touch up my roads and weather my sidewalks before installation.

Lots of nice work guys! I’ve been away from the forum for too many days…

I added leaves to the next batch of trees.

Andy

@Bill Park- New Haven is certainly in need of urban renewal.....

@Dave Ripp.- You need a vintage USPS Jeep for all those mailboxes. Nice work.

@Steamfan77- You are getting to be a pro at making trees Andy.

Bob

Thank you Bob.

Andy

@Mark Boyce posted:

I need to buy another bottle of extra strength Ibuprofen as well!  I think I’ll stick with the controls I have.  😄

LOL,  Mark I totally understand.  But everyone's layout is a bit different and my whole intent was to eliminate as much as possible inter module wiring (7 modules).  So to use one of the 'canned' layout control options would have been 7 x $$$ and still would have required additional wiring between the modules (PDI Buss, etc.).  Thats my story and I'm stickin' to it. 

bd

@barnun posted:

LOL,  Mark I totally understand.  But everyone's layout is a bit different and my whole intent was to eliminate as much as possible inter module wiring (7 modules).  So to use one of the 'canned' layout control options would have been 7 x $$$ and still would have required additional wiring between the modules (PDI Buss, etc.).  Thats my story and I'm stickin' to it. 

bd

You make a valid case for going with your method.  Once it is all working, it will pay dividends!!

NMRA MCR DIV 7 post meeting layout visit pictures:

https://ogrforum.com/...9#164165730539398509

I finally got the over and under clearances set up for my subway trestle. If I had realized how tight it would be I probably would have scrubbed the idea. I did some test runs today with the subway set and my tallest engine (the bi-polar) on the lower level. Now I have to work with Stan from East Coast Bridge Solutions to select the best pillars and cantilevers. One is going to be a dosie, it will have to replace a 2’ drapery rod that spans the 3 mainline curves.

@pennsyfan

That looks spectacular.  It is so nice to see multi level layouts.  Pretty dxxm cool!

@pennsyfan posted:

I finally got the over and under clearances set up for my subway trestle. If I had realized how tight it would be I probably would have scrubbed the idea. I did some test runs today with the subway set and my tallest engine (the bi-polar) on the lower level. Now I have to work with Stan from East Coast Bridge Solutions to select the best pillars and cantilevers. One is going to be a dosie, it will have to replace a 2’ drapery rod that spans the 3 mainline curves.

Everything looks great I especially like the vehicle bridge going over all the tracks. It's a nice way to show more cars and trucks without losing trackage area.

@Wood Thanks, there’s still a lot of finish work to do.
@Dave Ripp, thanks that’s actually a street in front of Pennsylvania Station. It’s hard to see because I was focusing on the subway.

Bob this is interesting reading. We have been wondering about adding something between levels. Bookmarking this.

Dave thanks for including the info on the mail boxes. The sidewalk, boxes and parking meters look great.

Yesterday we completed the freight yard project. All turnouts work, indicator lights not only work but red and green are correct, labels have been affixed,  the remote is programmed, and the computer has been updated.

Rich stopped by this morning and wired several relays.

Today we wired two of the passenger yard turnouts and programmed them into the remote. Three to go and the yard work, a two year lesson in procrastination, will be complete.

Time to think about tying levels one and two together. That will be next.

Worked on a road and a couple of driveways. They were already there but I didn't like how they looked. I will clean up tomorrow when glue is dried.

@Bill Webb, If we got a point for every completed task you would be so far out in front of the pack!  I get tired reading about all your work.

@Dave Ripp, you can come and do my driveway any time😜

@Dave Ripp. posted:

I installed some mailboxes in the back ally today. I also painted some parking meters [ Grandt Line 3590 O Scale Parking Meters ] but need to touch up my roads and weather my sidewalks before installation.

Great work, love those row houses and the mailboxes.

Put a coat of joint compound over the plaster cloth last night. It helps to cover the fabric weave pattern. I also coated the bare area by the tool shanty. I'll paint it all dark brown and then do the ground cover.

Bob

@RSJB18,

Bob, It appears to me that we are on the same page. That is O27 profile track with O42 curves.  Am I correct?  Your main run, appears to be Ross Track, I used Gargraves for fill in track.

I like how you are doing the scene. Plaster cloth cover and then dirt and grasses.  I never coated.  I put double layers of plaster cloth and rubbed the plaster to cover the netting holes.  Whatever works.  It's going to look nice.

Wood

Adding outdoor laundry to my city scene.... a piece of painted and weathered sheet styrene (to look like a patch of asphalt)....dirt and foliage added....

It will end up in the back yard of the row houses.....

Peter

Everyone's updates look great!

@Dave Ripp. You gave me one more thing to look for at York - mailboxes

@Putnam Division   Peter - I'll have to look for that clothesline as well.  I have a cabin in the woods scene and a clothesline in the back would be a good addition there or in my logging scene.  Is it an Arttista item?

@RSJB18 Bob - I wish I was at the stage you are at - adding details! lol   I look forward to seeing the end results.

- Greg

@Greg Houser posted:

Everyone's updates look great!

@Putnam Division   Peter - I'll have to look for that clothesline as well.  I have a cabin in the woods scene and a clothesline in the back would be a good addition there or in my logging scene.  Is it an Arttista item?

- Greg

Yes it is, Greg….it is a conversation starter at displays.

Peter

@Wood- 027 curves and track. The set of sidings below the main are Fastrak. I used that because the 036 manual turnout fit the space I have. The other yard above is Scale-trax from MTH. A bit of a hodgepodge of track but I've made it work. All turnouts are also 027 except for the two connecting the two loops, they are 042.

@Putnam Division- Love the clothesline Peter. You just need to add a dog pulling the clothes down.

@Greg Houser- Yes, the layout is down to the occasional details stage at this point. After 7 1/2 years it better be.... Thanks

Peter, that clothes line is ingenious. I like Bob’s idea of the dog.

Jay

I like the base you’re creating Bob, I’ll keep an eye out for this as it goes along.

Peter, the clothesline is a nice detail and will draw people’s eye. Lots to look at.

Dave, the mailboxes and meters look great.

Andy

Finally started the process of getting the test layout off the floor to a more appropriate table.  I’m such a scrounger.  So far have spent about $100, with utilizing repurposed doors, 4x4 posts and old porch columns.

@RSJB18 posted:

Put a coat of joint compound over the plaster cloth last night. It helps to cover the fabric weave pattern. I also coated the bare area by the tool shanty. I'll paint it all dark brown and then do the ground cover.

Bob

I like the fact that you're willing to use tubular and Fastrack next to each other.  IMO, tubular track is an untapped resource in today's 3-rail world, and the ballast looks good.

@jstraw124 posted:

Finally started the process of getting the test layout off the floor to a more appropriate table.  I’m such a scrounger.  So far have spent about $100, with utilizing repurposed doors, 4x4 posts and old porch columns.

Looks great. With the price of lumber these days, you are doing the wise thing. As long as it's solid, it works for me. The drawer units are a nice add too.

@Steamfan77- thanks Andy. Not sure when I'll get back to it but on a small project, a few minutes here and there will help.

@Mallard4468- I agree that tubular is underrated. For this layout I used 027 profile. If I went back in time I would have used O gauge and 031 curves and modified my track plan. This layout will certainly be replaced one day with a larger one so I'm not worried about it for now. I don't love fastrack but it fit the need at the time I changed that spur.

I'm sure that if modern switches were available for tubular track it would be more popular.

Bob