What did you do on your layout today?

@chris a posted:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJzyiL1J3xc

Great footage!   I made a brief appearance at the 6:10 mark in this video of the NWA Train Show: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUmc4fC0Su0

Mitch

@M. Mitchell Marmel posted:

Great footage!   I made a brief appearance at the 6:10 mark in this video of the NWA Train Show:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUmc4fC0Su0

Mitch

Nice train show Mitch and I have to say its nice to see you at work! I am sure everyone enjoyed your time you spent with them all!

@mike g. posted:

Nice train show Mitch and I have to say its nice to see you at work! I am sure everyone enjoyed your time you spent with them all!

That they did! 

Mitch

@chris a posted:

OK finally got all the PFE Reefers done, and after several attempts finally got a decent video done....  Yes I have to work on being steadier and smoother when I am moving around with the camera, but the shots moving along with the engine are pretty cool.

I am really liking the Sunset/3rd Rail ATSF 4-8-2 Mountain.   I opened up the tender put a speaker baffle over the speaker and lined the brass sheet on the inside with Kilmat, that sound deadening material people put in their cars...   Not sure it made a huge difference, but it's done now

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJzyiL1J3xc

Nice video Chris! I always enjoying seeing photos/videos of your excellent layout.

John

Put the basement back together last night. Some of the small area rugs are still drying in the garage but otherwise everything else has dried out. I sorted through the boxes under the layout and found a few scale cars that I bought over the years that I won't use in the near future so they will go soon along with some other odd and ends.

And I had forgotten about a tub of assorted cars that was buried in the back. Put the tub out front this time......

Ran a couple trains of course too.

Bob

@RSJB18 posted:

Put the basement back together last night. Some of the small area rugs are still drying in the garage but otherwise everything else has dried out. I sorted through the boxes under the layout and found a few scale cars that I bought over the years and won't use in the near future so they will go soon along with some other odd and ends.

And I had forgotten about a tub of assorted cars that was buried in the back. Put the tub out front this time......

Ran a couple trains of course too.

   Bob, in most cases, ANY time spent in the train room - is time well-spent !    Rich

Bob

@RSJB18 posted:

Put the basement back together last night. Some of the small area rugs are still drying in the garage but otherwise everything else has dried out. I sorted through the boxes under the layout and found a few scale cars that I bought over the years that I won't use in the near future so they will go soon along with some other odd and ends.

And I had forgotten about a tub of assorted cars that was buried in the back. Put the tub out front this time......

Ran a couple trains of course too.

Bob

Glad to hear you have the mess cleaned up Bob. Based upon experience, I would suggest you check for mold growth periodically.

Jay

Today I was 'Tweaking ' a few scenes on my '' Mexicali Grande '' portable layout, getting it ready for the up coming ' Thunder Creek Model Railroad Club Show ' in our home town of Moose Jaw Saskatchewan,...(where ! ), anyway, that's in just a few weeks.   Trains are running in a ''set it and forget it '' state, just the way I like it.    I still have time to add a few more lights and details around the whole thing just in case there's a comparison between last year pictures and this.   That's one thing about this hobby, it's just never done !       

I added a Nat’l Service crew to the layout.  I’ve also been working on a shanty scene  

Bob, I'm glad to read that the basement mess is cleaned up.  Back to normal.

Myles, the train and scenes really look great!  They will be a hit at the show.

Finished up a bridge walkway .

Dave

@luvindemtrains posted:

Finished up a bridge walkway .

Dave

Dave those look great! Hat did you use to build the handrails?

Thanks Mike!. The handrails are 3D printed.

Dave

@luvindemtrains posted:

Thanks Mike!. The handrails are 3D printed.

Dave

Thanks for the information, I am looking at getting a 3D printer after we move! Can you tell me where you got the file? Also, any hints on where to find a lot of free train related file to download?

Hey Mike,

With the direction 3D printing is going, that certainly wouldn't be a bad idea. You'll be ahead of me, but I am strongly considering getting one myself. The handrails  were printed through Shapeways. I believe there is a thread on the forum with files.

Dave

@luvindemtrains posted:

Hey Mike,

With the direction 3D printing is going, that certainly wouldn't be a bad idea. You'll be ahead of me, but I am strongly considering getting one myself. The handrails  were printed through Shapeways. I believe there is a thread on the forum with files.

Dave

Thanks Dave, I have found a few including the one here on the forum 3D section, just looking for me as I am greedy for free stuff! LOL

@luvindemtrains posted:

Finished up a bridge walkway .

Dave

Beautiful work!!

Thank you T-Bone1214.

Dave

Working on the last section of my layout to be organized and landscaped, I added an access way and it was a good spot to make a video of a train leaving the New Haven section  and following it to the other end (Scranton Pa) where it reverses and comes back to New Haven where I stop the video. Please forgive my fingers at times showing and forgetting to turn the camera off at the end. I am getting old.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/sUWjVxdupuyf8UCBA

Dave, the bridge detail looks great!

Bill, the layout looks great in your video!  What a nice large basement room you have!

Hey Bill, am in awe of all the levels you have on your layout. In my dreams. 

Thanks for the compliments guys

Today,  I just finished weathering up two more ''CANPOTEX '' potash hoppers for my unit train.   That takes me up to 21 cars finished.   I'll probably do another 6 more and that should complete the train .     Next on the list,  i'll start urathane casting a good  25  to  28  CP Rail '' bathtub '' coal gondolas and 'coal dust ' weather those as I finish each one.   ( I make a  master of the sides , floor and ends  in styrene, then do a rubber mold of each part .  Then pour in the casting resin, assemble and paint .)      

@Bill Park posted:

Working on the last section of my layout to be organized and landscaped, I added an access way and it was a good spot to make a video of a train leaving the New Haven section  and following it to the other end (Scranton Pa) where it reverses and comes back to New Haven where I stop the video. Please forgive my fingers at times showing and forgetting to turn the camera off at the end. I am getting old.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/sUWjVxdupuyf8UCBA

WOW! AN absolutely incredible layout Bill. I kept trying to figure out where the train was going to appear next and was usually wrong........

Your track plan and visual breaks are second to none. Almost a 10 minute run to complete one lap around too!

My best guess it that you have a 2 track main? But with a few operators I'm sure you could run several trains at one time.

I'm super jealous of the space you have too.

Bob

Hi Bob, Thanks for the compliments. I started this layout in 1990 after several poor attempts and not planning. I sat down with a large piece of onion skin paper and several drafting tools and laid it out. It is nothing more than a huge loop of track. Technically it just goes in circles. I wanted long runs for the trains and with such a large space, I could accommodate elevation changes  with very subtle grades. In one direction from New Haven to Scranton, there are  3 elevation changes and all are less than 1%. My intention was to have friends be able to come and run trains with me and at each end, the yards are conducive to holding and making up trains. There are plenty of mistakes here believe me. But at my age I am only interested in finishing it now. .............My wife and I hosted the TTOS Empire and Eastern Group for a summer picnic and Don Klose was our guest operator. I have a Legacy system and Don demonstrated how as many as four trains  can be run at one time as long as the operator is vigilant on maintaining the space between trains. We have a very nice guest apartment here and I will extend again my invitation to come up on a weekend with you r wife, play golf and run trains and relax.   Thanks again for the compliments, Bill

@myles posted:

Today,  I just finished weathering up two more ''CANPOTEX '' potash hoppers for my unit train.   That takes me up to 21 cars finished.   I'll probably do another 6 more and that should complete the train .     Next on the list,  i'll start urathane casting a good  25  to  28  CP Rail '' bathtub '' coal gondolas and 'coal dust ' weather those as I finish each one.   ( I make a  master of the sides , floor and ends  in styrene, then do a rubber mold of each part .  Then pour in the casting resin, assemble and paint .)      

@myles They came out great! I would love to see the techniques that you use to make these look incredibly detailed and realistic.

Good evening everyone!

It has been a long time since I last posted on the good ole OGR but I have been observing all the wonderful projects from the shadows.
For myself, college life has been long and hard. I have, however, found time today to put together this little gem from Bar Mills Models. It is their Parker street News Stand kit. Fun little build and wonderful detail.

I have one more kit from them and hopefully I will be able to start it soon.

Glad you like the weathering results T- Bone !   Your Grandson's off to a great start laying smooth track !   As for the weathering technique,   I do what I call ''layering ''.    All I do is paint and decal the car as normal achieving a 'Clean' appearance.   Then I  start with the rust streaks and rust bleeds using oil paints of burnt umber, raw sienna , some thinner and a 3/4 inch wide flat brush.   I drag the brush straight down through the  ''dots'' of paint I applied to the sides of the car at various locations, mostly up near the roof edges.   Then finish things off using the air brush, with the same colors I used for the 'streaking' , and blend everything together.    Don't forget to do the wheels and side frames as well as the under body.   Straight white is sprayed on for the product over spill near the roof hatches and heavier spills washing down the car sides.   Have fun and play around with it.    I take photos of freight cars I think look  '' nicely weathered'' and work from them modifying as I go along.

Hope this gives you a basic idea that I follow.    

@myles Thanks for taking the time to explain your process!

@Trainmaster04 Nice little kit! I just picked one up.

https://ogrforum.com/...-layout-2021?page=23

I recently did an update at the link above……

Today, I worked on assembling my station platform.

I also have tons of train boxes in plastic totes. I decided to organize them with “ToteScan”. You apply the QR code. Scan it. Then, list what is in the bin in an app on my IPhone.

Have a great and safe week, everyone!

Peter

Peter, Nothing wrong with being more organized!

Tom

@Putnam Division posted:

https://ogrforum.com/...-layout-2021?page=23

I recently did an update at the link above……

Today, I worked on assembling my station platform.

I also have tons of train boxes in plastic totes. I decided to organize them with “ToteScan”. You apply the QR code. Scan it. Then, list what is in the bin in an app on my IPhone.

Have a great and safe week, everyone!

Peter

This is brilliant!

@RSJB18 posted:

This is brilliant!

My wife suggested it……she is AMAZING!!!!!  

Peter

Bob……I believe that the cost was about $10 for 45 stickers and the app. I’m very pleased how easy it is!

Peter

@Putnam Division posted:

Bob……I believe that the cost was about $10 for 45 stickers and the app. I’m very pleased how easy it is!

Peter

Thanks Peter. My wife sells on Poshmark and has dozens of boxes holding all of the stuff (I'll be nice... ) that she has listed. I'll show it to her for sure. Wish I did this when I stuffed all my train boxes in trash bags and put them up in the attic.

Bob

@Putnam Division posted:

Bob……I believe that the cost was about $10 for 45 stickers and the app. I’m very pleased how easy it is!

Peter

Thank you Peter for sharing the storage information. No more seek and find.

What did you use for the passenger platform?

Jay

@Putnam Division posted:

Bob……I believe that the cost was about $10 for 45 stickers and the app. I’m very pleased how easy it is!

Peter

That’s really great, Peter!  Tell your wife thank you.  I have freight car boxes in one huge tote, engine and passenger car set boxes in a closet in the basement, and the rest under the layout.  I keep an updated spreadsheet print out in the big tote.  The QR code would be easier.

As a slight aside; I have thought of putting a sticker or some other mark on the underside of every engine and car, so it would be easier to match the cars with the right boxes in case of my sudden demise.  Again, just a thought.

@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:

Thank you Peter for sharing the storage information. No more seek and find.

What did you use for the passenger platform?

Jay

Sorry it took long to get back to you…….needed to get new pics.

1/2” thick 1x3s. I used pencil to mark 2.5” squares. Then, I made the cuts with a fine saw. Spray paint with Rustoleum Desert Bisque and overspray of Rustoleum Driftwood.
The yellow trim is the wood trim I got at Home Depot when I got the 1x3s. Spray painted a flat yellow.

The 1x3s are screwed to the plywood tabletop. I use wood glue for the wood.

Peter

Thank you very much Peter for sharing the information. I’m looking to build a long high level passenger platform for my three track main station. This gives me an alternative way to go. Although, it won’t look as good as yours.

Jay