What did you do on your layout today?

Those are some nice looking trees. Maybe they could make about 50 for me ! LOL!

Upgraded to legacy 1.5.3

Some may find this funny.  As I unboxed and unwrapped the LM Big Boy to photograph it for Larry Sr. I started to get cold feet.  First it was the program module that was not in the box.  I told Larry that I wasn't "sure" where it was. Turned out that it was in 990 Legacy Controller box.  Go figure.  Okay, then I pointed out there was a "scuff" on the shipping box.  Larry Sr. was un-fazed by this new information.  In an act of sheer bravery and in a "**** the torpedoes" fashion he suggested the deal should continue, regardless of the box scuff.  His dialog and pictures tell the rest of the story. 

Just test ran my new hack behind a locomotive over the layout. Had to raise the uncoupling lever a bit to clear some rails, but otherwise it ran just fine.

Those boys are SssOOOOOOO happy to be working with you on such a nice project, something they will treasure for the rest of their lives, I am sure. And the trees look GREAT, too!

FrankM.

Hey Mitch,

Looks great but be honest with us, how long will it stay that neat???

Jim

Bruce, the LIONEL standard domes are a single piece of plastic; the windows are not separate, and I don't know of a way to cut out the windows neatly.  If I did, I'd cut out the windows and replace them with clear acetate or equivalent after painting the frame/dome structure.

On LIONEL full length domes, the frame and windows are separate pieces--easy to paint the frame then reinsert the window piece.

I'm trying a different liquid masking approach that I think will work on the standard dome. 

Just got done getting the coat of plaster on. Today is warmer out so maybe the plaster will set up fast and I can color it tonight............Paul

Trimmed the juniper bushes and ran the toy-G garden train with my morning coffee till the old batteries had run down and it was creaking, jerking, and moaning its way around the curves. Had to raise one sections ballast about 1/4" right off but after that smooth running. 

Sounds like you are living the life!

Last of the LED lights were waiting for us upon our return from the York Meet. FINISHED today installing the last of literally hundreds of lights on the layout. I think we can claim the most lights per square foot on an O-Gauge layout now. 

I give too many away to kids to have any beat up ones. With the exception of some out totally out of scale, or truly rarer toys, the 356 Porshe was the most likely candidate with a tiny paint chip on the rear deck lid vents. I wanted them painted black someday anyhow. Ill find something during "free garage sale week" (we have to pay for yard sale permits now, outside of one free week a year, 2 sales max. I'm still trying to figure out how the politicians figure those sales cost the city money, and are now suddenly in need of permits)

Pingmann, What's the trouble? Gaps?

I usually mask, paint masking material on, pull tape, clean, apply paint. The material I used last(?) was blue, thick and goopy, filled gaps very well, but thinned out enough to make good lines by simply reducing the amount on the brush. 

Spent about an hour or so this afternoon running about 8-9 steamers, each one pulling the same consist of PW operating cars. It was fun comparing what they would do. Found out several were smokers. I looked at each one and checked it over for loose screws, nuts, dirt, grease or dry. Have a train on the rails that started as my Lionel, jr. freight then changed out the tender and have a Lionel 1688 on it. Before I was trying a 221. I like to play mix and match.

I'm sorry, what was the question again? 

Mitch

Adriatic, after I "paint" the dome windows and frame with a couple of coats of Microscale Micro Mask, I use a new Xacto #11 blade to cut around the windows using the molded framework as a guide, the film moves.  In other words, the film does not adhere well.

I'm trying a slightly different approach by putting 3-4 coats on the windows w/o slopping much onto the framework.  I'm not optimistic since the adherence issue may not be resolved.

Has the glass been cleaned sparkly?  With denatured alcohol?   Any hint of oil or grease can affect adhesion...

Mitch

I try to make every day this pleasant believe it or not, others tend to spoil it for me too often the last year, or so. I got just got away with it 110% today. 

Leaning forward is much easier than laying on my back and holding my arms up, so I'm "playing outside" this week.(yep still recovering)

 Originally Posted by M. Mitchell Marmel:

Whew, I was worried for a bit. Now I can say "nice bench Mitch"

Hey, I'm right handed but had a lefty teacher, and I mirror copied her hand position. I never needed help, so by the time they noticed, end of second grade, it was to late. I hold a pen like a lefty with my hand resting above the text, curled down to my fingertips, pen tip pointed right to my wrist, top pointed left. The State of Michigan refused to advance me even one grade because of this, despite some teachers wanting to advance me two, or three grades ([Twinsburg] Ohio had way better schools too, I caused the Mich. teachers some embarrassment in comparison. I sat around learning nothing for 3-4 years, and the others finally caught up around 6th- 7th grade All because someone didn't like the way I held my pen)   

Adriatic,

Glad you are recovering!

My wife and mother-in-law are both left Handed.  The knitting teacher wouldn't teach my wife, because she didn't know how to teach leftys.  My mother-in-law was forced to learn to write right handed.

Pingman, I see. Its likely clean, and just too smooth to stick too. I don't know how it would work out of course, or your particular sense of what's "good enough", but I would end up doing the final touch up on the trim work by brush. (the crappy bonnet on the rocket was freehand without much care, using thick, near lumpy, paint. Not near my best )

Much like painting a room where your (good) cut work in the corners & such, trim work just doesn't get noticed without looking real hard. Thick paints will look lumpy, where multiple thin coats hide better, even on trim, though more difficult to keep contained[no running, blotching].    

Well.....I am still working on getting the lights on my buildings hooked up.   Had a friend show me how to do the first two and I thought I was good to go.   30 minutes tonight and no luck with the third building.   I'm not the best when it comes to electrical issues but really thought I had the procedure down. 

But at least I "worked" on something tonight. 

I just got the hard drive issue with my computer fixed and I can resume processing and uploading my latest videos on Youtube. One episode is done and I'll upload it tomorrow for you guys. Other videos are on the way! It's been great sharing my endeavors in O scale model railroading over the past couple months. My youtube channel is called Dans Trains and I'm at https://www.youtube.com/channe...4ivkEenZvSWXHOZpQWdg , I love hearing from you guys and I've learned a lot about the hobby. Thanks! 

Dan

Ah!  If we are talking 15" aluminum cars then I plead ignorance.  I do understand what you're saying though.  They are a one piece plastic molding that the factory masks and paints the frames silver.  Tough masking accurately with liquid mask and tape might allow bleeding.

Bruce

Hmmm...Say, I wonder.  A traditional method of sealing masking tape is to lay down the tape, then applying a layer of the underlying color before applying the final color.  Since we're dealing with clear windows, might a layer of gloss clear before the final color work instead? 

Mitch

Dan: I really enjoyed your videos and I am looking forward to many more as your layout progresses. I do have some comments on the second video that focuses on the Blue Comet. You have the age of the Lionel set dated correctly. You have also kept your trains in superb condition.

Here is a little insight on the history of the Blue Comet. The Blue Comet was the Central Railroad of New Jersey's non-reserved seat luxury train to transport passengers from New York City beginning in Jersey City after a ferry ride across the Hudson River to Atlantic City, New Jersey. As your good video resolution shows, the Comet was painted in two different colors of blue, one representing the sky and the lower representing the blue of the ocean. The stripe along the side of the coaches was a cream color to represent the sandy Atlantic beaches. The cream colored stripe also reminded spectators of the tail of a comet as the train sped through the New Jersey pine barrens.

The names on each coach are the names of celestial comets in the skies. The Jersey Central had two complete train sets. The locomotive on the Lionel set that you have is a Hudson. The actual Blue Comet locomotives were Pacifics with a 4-6-2 wheel configuration. I own and love the exact same set as you have and, minus the wide anthracite firebox, think that Lionel basically did a very nice job at capturing the character of the engine. I have converted my Blue Comet engine to a Pacific class by replacing the double axled trailing trucks with a single axled truck from another model Lionel locomotive. The Blue Comet went into service in the Spring of 1929 and, due to the depression that Fall, only lasted for twelve years. Try as they may, the Jersey Central could not compete with the convenience for New Yorkers afforded by the Pennsylvania Railroad's "Nellie Bly" that left Pennsylvania Station, New York and went through the Hudson tunnels to Atlantic City without a ferry ride. I believe that the Blue Comet only lasted 12 years and was discontinued in 1941.

Again, I enjoy seeing your layout progress. Keep the videos coming.

Dan's trains,

I viewed your first two videos.  The Blue Comet is an excellent looking train!  Very good job for starting out.  I can certainly take some pointers in trying my hand at the same thing.  I will look at the rest of the videos soon.  As Randy said, keep them coming.

Randy,

Thank you for the excellent history of the Blue Comet!  A really sharp train!

On the layout... nothing yet I'm still at work.  But I did post a timeline of photos of my layout.  Its kinda neat seeing the progression as you scroll down the page!  Have a look!

http://peytonoriginal.com/trains.htm

I re framed two of my layout pods into one continuance board. It's part of my greater that 72 radius program. The two original were 036 and 054.0

tackindy,

Looks like you are off to a good start!

Bring on the progress photos/videos.

I might have to start my own post for that!!  I started with an unfinished space above the garage, finished it, set up tables for postwar, then I decided I needed move room and took a walk out to capture a large walk in closet in an adjacent bedroom, then punch a hole in a wall for a tunnel.. 

Did something totally unusual and out of character for me after work today. Walked downstairs, popped open a chilly, and ran the trains without working on anything!! Wow.  

Today I got the second corner mountain done. Tomorrow I will add some ground foam to it then place both mountains in their corners. Pic of the last corner mountain. ...........Paul

I learned WHY Lionel put the speakers in their GPs in the fuel tank.  Ain't no room, no how, under the hoods to fit one!  Good thing the Rectifier has been altered to run off of catenary, the speaker grille I hadda Dremel into the fuel tank woulda leaked out all the diesel fuel...

Mitch

Since I don't have a lay-out (I dream of my FUTURE lay-out) I set up a carpet central track to try out my new Williams N&W "J" class locomotive (my favorite steamer) ran great. Also Checked my Lehigh Valley GP9 Williams dummy that I perchased earlyer this year to double head with my Lionel GP9 (from their Black Diamond set) that I have pulling a unit train of 6 (variations) of Lehigh Valley traditional Hoppers and Caboose, pulled great.

Wednesday night is train club night. I took my Pennsy E-8s that I just bought on the Forum down to the club to give them their maiden run.

Nice looking train!

-Pete

Quite effective craftwork, Paul2. It looks like real rock-face, what I would imagine granite to look like. Cool.

FrankM.