What did you do on your layout today?

@RSJB18

Hi Bob, The house dates back to 1891. It is solid as a rock. And speaking of Horse and Buggies we have a wonderful carriage house complete with horse brushes, horse shoes, horse stalls and feed boxes. Sorry no carriages. We have lived here for the past 36 years. We are the third owner.

The basement is perfect. Granite stoneworks.. I repointed when we moved here and no leaks. The summer dampness is controlled by a 70 pint dehumidifier keeping the humidity to 48-50 %.

Thanks for the nice comments on the layout. I still have lots of fun.

Wood the layout looks better every time that we watch the video.You have some really fast sailboats racing on the lake.

Nothing beats the hotel. It is our favorite.

@Bill Webb posted:

Wood the layout looks better every time that we watch the video.You have some really fast sailboats racing on the lake.

Nothing beats the hotel. It is our favorite.

Thank you Bill & Paula.

All I can say about the sail boats is that it was a very windy day. LOL

Wood

Wood, outstanding! Thank you for the video tour. So much to look at. The layout seems larger due to the action. Very nice indeed, you should be proud.

Andy

@Steamfan77

Thank you Andy. It's  been enjoyable for me to have members of this forum generously comment on my layout. Much appreciated.

Wood

Hi Guys, nothing new for me today!

@Wood WOW what a wonderful layout with so much to see! It is really a fun layout to watch and check things out as there is so much to take in! I love the beach area and checked out the website you posted, but it just shows HO stuff. What I even love more is the Cat center! It's hard not to really love that from being a former operator!

I plan on watching it all again a few times as I can see some stuff I would like to add to my layout!

@mike g. posted:

Hi Guys, nothing new for me today!

@Wood WOW what a wonderful layout with so much to see! It is really a fun layout to watch and check things out as there is so much to take in! I love the beach area and checked out the website you posted, but it just shows HO stuff. What I even love more is the Cat center! It's hard not to really love that from being a former operator!

I plan on watching it all again a few times as I can see some stuff I would like to add to my layout!

Thank you Mike. Gives me fuzzies with all the nice comments. But I'll take um every day.

I know about that website. European train companies trend to HO.  Search the company and get to their website. They do have O scale. You could also search for "Preiser O scale figures". It is worth the effort. They are excellent figures.

Wood

@Wood, I noticed so many OGR Forum members saying kind words about your YouTube layout video, with the beautiful Canadian Pacific passenger train maneuvering slowly but surely around your really well designed model railroad. Your attention to scenic detail, your choice of action accessories, (The Catepillar workshop), your high track going through town, mountains, hills, rivers, beaches with what I call lots of Eye Candy,  sail boats on the move, Wow, as others have noted, is a fun video to review. I’ll watch your video again because it’s so interesting and I know I missed a lot of hidden details. I am so glad you are active on this fun to review forum. Thank you very much. Happy Railroading Everyone

@Wood posted:

@pennsyfan

I promised a video and here it is.  This is a video overview of my layout.  First some comments about the layout. It is what I call a medium size layout. 20' x 17'.  The layout is operated from the center of the Layout with a 32" lift out bridge for the entrance. That choice is because I like to be in the middle of the action both running trains and life in general. I used Lionel O27 profile tubular track, mostly because I had so much.  Each piece of track is spray painted with Rust Oleum camouflage paint and 8 ties are inserted under the track. All the tracks are ballasted. I chose the O27 profile because there is plenty of it, it has great conductivity and I like the low profile.  O Gauge track just looks too tall.  I used O42 curves. with GarGraves O42 switches.  There are truly 43 switches on the layout.  The reason for that is because if you put an engine on the rails you can negotiate with every other piece of track on the layout.

I did not comment in the video so I will tell you the info first.

1.  Canadian Pacific on its way to Banff Springs resort in Banff, Alberta Canada. something I rendered from scratch.

2. Overview of the Engine and Stock yard.

3.  My control station.

4. Foss Farm a rendition of my Brother's farm in Maine. scratch built.

5. Town village

6. 4 tunnels

7. Cat Factory - scratch built

8. Wood mill

9. Englewood Station by Harry Hieke

10. Brown Stone apartments by Andre

11. Canadian Rockies mural

12. Power Station

13. Campsite

14. Elevated Railway by Jim Robinson's BridgeBoss

15. Wall hangings.

16. Alley Katz and Cleat's Sports club an early rendition of my company.

17. One more look of the yard, an overview of the whole layout and my desk and workshop.

Absolute outstanding layout! It’s a benchmark to learn from.

Gene

@leapinlarry posted:

@Wood, I am so glad you are active on this fun to review forum. Thank you very much. Happy Railroading Everyone

Thank you so much for your kind comments.

OGR was the first forum I joined in 2007. I am grateful to be back. This is a forum with incredible talent in their members and so willing to help others. I've settled in here and look forward to sharing as much as I can.

Wood

I detailed the area I've been working on last night. Took a little more than 5 minutes this time.....

Added clumps of foliage, and some small rocks. I made up some tall grass clumps that I will add later. Also did the first layer of gravel around the tool shanty.

To be continued......

Nice detail Bob.

Jay

Lots of great progress on the thread, some awesome accomplishments.

I’ve been working on my river scene a little each evening. I painted the bed a dirty green except closer to the shore I made it a little blue. I was quite satisfied with the outcome of my last water project; I used Woodland scenic beads that had to be heated  but that was quite tedious. I decided to try the easy pour method, I was a little disappointed it turned out like a sheet of glass. I had tried at different stages of the cooling using a cool blow dryer to cause ripples. I had read some where that you could do that . I got nothing; maybe because I didn’t use heat; but the directions said no heat. After it cured  I tried another WS product that was supposed to create ripples, it smoothed out didn’t look like much. Last night I applied a blue tint swirling it with a brush. That looked a little better; but still not there. I just tried another product ( Envo?) I’m not sure I’ll have to check. Anyway I tried to hi lite the shallow waves or ripples. I only did a small section because it always looks different when it dries.

In the meantime I am trying to address the ground at the water front. I was thinking about our visit to Savanna GA a few years ago. We went down to the Savanna river and the street along the river was old cobble stone or Belgium block. I’ve been saving cast off shelf liner for decades and decided to try it on this small area. I stapled it down. Then  stretched it  and trimmed it.  I wanted to partially fill in the holes. I tried Modge Podge. That was no good; when it dried I found the the material soaked it up and left me with the holes. Probably a good thing because it stiffened it. So today I tried a DAP product, Alex Flex. I had it hanging around. I thought it was to thick as is; because I didn’t want to completely fill the holes. There were no directions for thinning; but use water for clean up. For my small area I put about three tablespoons in a toss container and added a little water.  As I was mixing it I poured off the excess water. I plied it with an old 3” brush, making sure I covered all the holes. Some were too full so I cleaned the brush on the container and dabbed at straight down like a stippling affect.
I kept wiping the accumulation on the container. Right now it looks good, I’ll give it 24 hours. I ordered some different shades of grey paint, that will be next. The last picture is to show what the shelf liner looks like.

in the words of Porky Pig” That’s All Folks!”

@RSJB18 posted:

I detailed the area I've been working on last night. Took a little more than 5 minutes this time.....

Added clumps of foliage, and some small rocks. I made up some tall grass clumps that I will add later. Also did the first layer of gravel around the tool shanty.

To be continued......

Lookin' good Bob, keep us posted!

@WesternPacific2217 posted:

Installing my new WS Emilio's Ristorante Italiano buiding on main street just behind the passenger station. This building is pre lit with WS Just Plug LED's.

It fits perfectly where the Lemax fire station was. I'll be moving the fire station over near the Emporium building in the near future.

Grass removal using hot water and putty knife.

New concrete foundation using cork cabinet liner painted with WS concrete paint. Replacing the  side walk in front as well, the old sidewalk is crumbling. I discovered cork cabinet contact liner at Home Depot, and now I use it for streets and concrete. Cut to fit, paint and stick it on. I use some CA glue in the corners for insurance. BBQ party going on at the Clark's next door to the construction!

More to come, I have some figures for the outdoor tables too.

Update on the WS Emilio's Ristorante Italiano building install. It's mostly completed, just need a few more details.

Funny, while I was finishing up on Emilio's, UPS showed up with this. It's a Lionel LionChief Plus 2.0 SP Black Widow F3 AA (2034130) from the 2020 catalog. There's a little more detail about it in the "Buy anything Cool Lately?" thread.

Happy Friday Everyone!

Looks great, Scott. I like the restaurant.

I did this work over the week...not "today." Still wanted to share. I added the sky backdrop and the Noriega Hotel. The night scenes are quite dramatic with the clouds.

Had to replace a 036 1/2 curve for a 060 going to a siding. I realized when I bought the SD45 it required 054 but never would think there’d be a problem with such a small piece of 036. When I would back into the siding the boxcar’s closest axel to the locomotive’s coupler would jump the rail. Just a quick fix.

Gene

I removed a badly done gravel driveway and redid it. I should have taken a before picture but got in progress. Still not perfect but better.

Bought a gallon of sky blue paint for my backdrop and ordered another Milwaukee Road engine (MTH/Railking)

I was fortunate to add 3 rare Lionel boxcars to the roster, circa 1946...

Good morning everyone! Got a new addition to the layout. It is a Hattons, by Heljan, LNER Flying Scotsman. I was able to purchase it for a good price due to it having problems. All four pilot wheels were off its axils, the cab windows were missing, and the tender connection was broken. I was able to fix everything noted and waiting for the glue to settle. Now she is posing nicely in her new home.

Morning guys sure are some great projects being done here!

@RSJB18 Bob your new area is looking great!

@pennsyfan Bob the riverbed is coming along nicely! I love the idea of the shelf liner as I have a bunch of rolls of it left over from house projects!

@WesternPacific2217 Scott Emilio's loos Great! Also, nice looking engine set! Should look wonderful on your layout!

@Alan Rogers Alan all I can say is WOW! The new backdrop is really AMAZING! Really make the scene pop!

@Dave Ripp. Dave I think you did a wonderful job on the new driveway! It looks better than the driveway at my house!

Well guys I thought I was going to get to work in the train room today but the CEO came up with another project for me, then I have to get things ready to have a big tree taken down Wednesday. Who knows when I will get back in there! LOL Some good news is we are going to see the inlaws in October and there is a Menards there so I might be able to get some new train stuff while we are there!

I hope you all have a great weekend and remember try to find time to have fun with your layout and trains!

@Alan Rogers posted:

I did this work over the week...not "today." Still wanted to share. I added the sky backdrop and the Noriega Hotel. The night scenes are quite dramatic with the clouds.

Alan, the Noriega Hotel is a very cool looking building, very nice scene!

I had THE MOST EXHILERATING day today watching the paint dry on my newly repainted backdrop panels. I haven't had so much fun since we had a front lawn and I would sit there watching the grass grow!

@WesternPacific2217 posted:

Alan, the Noriega Hotel is a very cool looking building, very nice scene!

Thanks Scott!!!

These are photos of the prototype, still standing today.

@WesternPacific2217 posted:

Alan, the Noriega Hotel is a very cool looking building, very nice scene!

This is the Howell House

Howell House

This was the weekend to start to landscape better my bridges area. The rock and stone pieces were from Woodland Scenics and are made of a light foam type material. The cut very easily with a hacksaw. I used white glue to attach them in place and then Sculptamold around around the bases. Plenty more to do.

I finally finished gluing the approximately 400 broken pieces that were left after I accidentally dropped two of my military flatcars and assorted figures on the floor of my train room.  It may have taken me nearly six hours, but I’m pretty pleased with the result -

Here’s what things looked like at the start of this journey - https://ogrforum.com/...1#163461606180378851

Moving

@SIRT posted:

Moving

All good things end eventually. Hopefully your new place can accommodate a layout.

@Dave Ripp. posted:

All good things end eventually. Hopefully your new place can accommodate a layout.

Thanks Dave. Some slight modifications will be added to fit another home.

@SIRT posted:

Moving

Man, those Home Depot boxes look heavy! I did the move thing 3 years ago - fortunately (I guess), no layout at the time, so I didn't have to deal with structure(s), but I had plenty of train boxes! Three years later, a few of them remain unopened from the move. If you think you might do the same, I highly recommend marking the boxes that contain anything that may have a battery!

Good luck on the move!!

George

@Bill Park- the work around the retaining walls looks good.
@Strap Hanger- glad you were able to repair everything. So are the cars tied down to the rails now? ?
@SIRT- The layout looks like it's modular? I hope you don't have to dismantle too much. Good luck with the move.

I was busy putting a new roof on my 8x10 shed so not much train time over the weekend. I did do some more detailing for a little while last night on the latest project. Touched up the paint on the upper level supports and placed some of the tall grasses I made. Nothing photo worthy....but it did happen.

Bob

@GeoPeg posted:

Man, those Home Depot boxes look heavy! I did the move thing 3 years ago - fortunately (I guess), no layout at the time, so I didn't have to deal with structure(s), but I had plenty of train boxes! Three years later, a few of them remain unopened from the move. If you think you might do the same, I highly recommend marking the boxes that contain anything that may have a battery!

Good luck on the move!!

George

Depot boxes are half of my train boxes from my collection. Very light and will never be opened. Stored and sealed. Cars, diesels are in plastic containers, all super caped.

Modular sections like the subway layout are only a few lbs. ea. Heading back to florida in November. All part of the original master plan.

Finished assembling and wiring my automotionfx garages. Everything tested good. Now I just have to finish the connecting runs from the streets on the layout to these storage tracks that will be under the layout. That should be fun.  Ran wires to control panel to select vehicle(s) to run.

Today all three of the backdrop panels were attached to the layout frame. This time around I have other plans in mind for the backdrop - no trees/hills/mountains. This is just the painted sky, there will be other things that will cover up much of the bottom portion of the backdrop - eventually - all in good time, but for now this'll do!

Well,  I haven't stopped rebuilding my railroad.  My progress is slow but sure.  My first two levels are working well.  This week I started on the third level.  Along the west wall I have track supports mounted.  Ready for road bed.  This corner Has three more sidings.  Tomorrow I'll pull wires for everything yet to be installed.  Film at 10PM.

Bill

Great pictures and beautiful work everyone, it’s so much fun to go back a few pages and see the great work everyone is doing. Today I actually ran a train or two. Happy Railroading Everyone

I finished this little kit, hung a light inside and placed it on the layout.