What did you do on your layout today?

will try to do gentlemen , still needs some work try to keep you updated.

@Leroof the centenary looks good Pierre.

Another slippery slope to slide down....🤣🤣

I took some time to chase a couple trains around the Subdivision.  The one I wanted to catch was a Westbound steel  gang movement on its way to the siding at Glacier.  A great photo location is right in the Illecillewaet Valley , ( pronounced Ill-al-a-sil-a-wet ), at the East Portal of the Cannaught Tunnel.  Despite light rainy conditions and filming in the shadows of Mt. Abbott, I tried a two camera shoot.  I scrambled up to a higher viewpoint while my wife filmed along the trackside.  After an hours wait, the work train was a no show.  Instead, we caught the Eastbound Train No. 2 “The Canadian” growling up grade with 7 cars.   Here’s a couple views.

Found a place for my Coaling Tower……kitbashed from two Bachman Coaling Towers…..

I got the idea from pictures of Skip Natoli’s New York City layout…….

I will be using 1/8” thick Balsa for sidewalks……..using the paper to plan it out….. the 6” squares are for unbuilt structures hopefully to be completed this summer.

Have a great week everyone!

Peter

@Putnam Division Peter, Very nice...where did you get the nice water tower if I can ask?

Tom

@PRR8976 posted:

@Putnam Division Peter, Very nice...where did you get the nice water tower if I can ask?

Tom

Tom......it's a Walther's O Scale plastic kit from about the late 90s......you can see it peek over the transformers on the 1993-03 layout.....

The picture is from Sept 2002

Peter

The water tank kit is still available.  Trainz has one right now.

Thank you Peter and Bob.

Tom

I posted these in weekend photo fun, but thought they were worth sharing here too.

My little project this week was finishing the layout skirting.

- Jason

By the way……….I noticed something else in this picture…..…does anyone notice the in-line fuses between the old ZWs going into the TIU?

Peter

My friend Jack is the mountaineer on this project and the mountain is starting to look like a mountain. Some foundation gray was sprayed on today. It will be snow covered except for the locations where you wouldn’t see any snow on the front.

Jay

Jack is doing a great job, Jay!

Morning guys, I know I usually comment on everyone's work, but this week I am visiting with the in-laws in North Dakota and mom in law has a nice list of things to do that my father in law cannot do to his health.

But I still wanted everyone to know that I love all the great work and handed out a bunch of likes!

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

Mike, have a great time in North Dakota!  Don’t work too hard!

Mike, I was thinking of you last evening as I am upgrading the girders on the low bridge that I used your design.  I completely redid the base for the track and relayed track.  Now I’m ready for the girders, two pieces on each side.  I’ll be posting photographs later folks!  Have a great weekend.

Getting my under the Piano Layout dialed in. :-)

1 min video:

Lionel O-Guage/Scale-Diesel-pulling Passenger_Under_a_Piano (youtube.com)

RV Junkie, that’s a great place for a layout!  We have a piano like that, but that’s the dog’s domain when my wife is playing!  You are doing a great job.

@Mark Boyce posted:

RV Junkie, that’s a great place for a layout!  We have a piano like that, but that’s the dog’s domain when my wife is playing!  You are doing a great job.

Thanks Mark...this was the "test" to see if this hobby would stick...consensus, it is AWESOME, and I am now starting the mental design for a proper layout, but enjoying the heck out of the layout, design and hobby.  This forum has been an inspiration!

Thanks Mark, I can't wait to see the photos of your improved girder sections!

@RV Junke Great idea and looks fun! I wish you luck on your future layouts! As I found out you really never do just one! LOL

@RV Junke posted:

Thanks Mark...this was the "test" to see if this hobby would stick...consensus, it is AWESOME, and I am now starting the mental design for a proper layout, but enjoying the heck out of the layout, design and hobby.  This forum has been an inspiration!

I’m glad you are liking the hobby!  Yes, this forum is absolutely great!  I look back at how I was before joining 12 years ago, and those were decades of reading books and magazines and making slow progress.

Between some travel, yard work and layout projects seems I do not have time to get everything done. I wonder how I managed when I was working full time, sang in our church choir and was our troop scoutmaster - suppose its all perspective.

Posted previously work I was trying to do on a waterfront scene which included a seawall and a grain terminal. During that time an Atlas Engine shed became available and i have been trying to learn to use Fusion360 for a planned warehouse build. Too much floating around in my head to finish any one thing, let alone run any trains.

So the Seawall. 

There are several posts regarding how to make or what to use to make a seawall.  For the terminal section I wanted the corrugated steel type. After looking around I decided to make my own.

As it turns out making a jig to bend metal into the desired shape is relatively straight forward. Making the seawall is something a bit more challenging. This is the jig. 1/2 thick ply cut on 30/60 degree angles and set to make an interlocking assembly. The inside width is 3/8. I insert a thin sheet of metal, start the press with bessy clamps and then do a final press with screw type pipe clamps. 

This shows 2 different sizes. I first thought 3/4 width would be ok, but to me the profile is too wide compared to the track and rolling stock. I like the 3/8 version much better, but it is more difficult to clamp and press consistently. When I made the jig my nails were just long enough, but when pressed with the pipe clamp the nails popped through and punctured the metal in several places. As apparent, getting the bends consistent is challenging. My technique needs improvement. FWIW a 15 inch piece of metal reduces to 12 inches when folded. I press 3 folds at a time using one completed fold as an index point for the following folds. Having a machine press and real dies would make this a piece of cake.

Here are a couple of sections laid in place. Not sure I like the brown but not sure a rust red is the look either.  To finish I'll either install a cap or back fill with plaster or grout. I will need a couple wooden bumper strips running horizontally. Then its finishing off the road bed above and the water below. The seawall is 3 1/2 inches tall.

Project 2,  recently picked up a 2 stall Atlas engine shed.  As they are hard to find, when found I ordered it. Lots of balls in the air, but here is an initial build of the shed. There are several older posts on the Atlas Engine shed so maybe there is where this belongs.

This is a pretty flimsy building. I find using painters tape to hold thing together for gluing works well. While there is space for 3 roof trusses, the kit comes with one - I am building 2 balsa trusses for those locations.  Haven't decided whether to put in a concrete floor or wood. There is a great example in an earlier post.  (wood floor and build)

I painted the brick with a flat red primer, doors are satin hunt club green and the interior is satin leafy green. (rattle can rustoleum)  Any suggestions for the cupola color?  I'll add mortar, windows and lighting etc as this build progresses.

Jeff, the sea wall is starting to take shape.   Your process sounds good, but I think you would like the bends to be more crisp.  I haven't bent metal since high school metal shop when we made tool boxes.  I still use mine 55 years later.  The enginehouse looks good so far.  Yes more rafters and a floor would look good.  You will come u with a good plan.

I've been working on my lower lift up bridge.  I completely re-laid the roadbed and track, then glued girders on the sides.  Still more to do.

I painted the brick with a flat red primer, doors are satin hunt club green and the interior is satin leafy green. (rattle can rustoleum)  Any suggestions for the cupola color?  I'll add mortar, windows and lighting etc as this build progresses.

Hi Jeff,

Things are looking good. You could really make this thing pop. I would use the same color on the cupola as you did the doors. If you want to change up, do black. Keep it basic. The mortar/weathering will set it off.

Dave

@RSJB18 posted:

Huge waste of material. I've built mine on the plastic loads supplied with the car, and just sit them in the car. Allows for removal so that you can run empties or loads as you like.

Foam core or core board can be used as a base to build a load on for cars that don't have fake loads. And yes, a derailment could lead to a big clean up in aisle 12.

Bob,

I was looking at aquarium sand on Amazon, they also show substrate. It looks like you may use substrate.

Is the sand to fine?

@Mark Boyce posted:

Jeff, the sea wall is starting to take shape.   Your process sounds good, but I think you would like the bends to be more crisp.  I haven't bent metal since high school metal shop when we made tool boxes.  I still use mine 55 years later.  The enginehouse looks good so far.  Yes more rafters and a floor would look good.  You will come u with a good plan.

I've been working on my lower lift up bridge.  I completely re-laid the roadbed and track, then glued girders on the sides.  Still more to do.

Mark, looks good.  Where did your girders come from ?  Thks, Rich

@trestleking posted:

Mark, looks good.  Where did your girders come from ?  Thks, Rich

Thank you, Rich.  I got it from PGH Train Fanatic, a local cottage business.  It is laser cut from a Masonite type hardboard.  It’s rather thick, but the price is low.  I was looking for something that would be a long girder span like the one at Parsons, West Virginia.

https://pghtrainfanatic.com/sh...1575-kit---laser-cut

Started benchwork of one side.

@Vinny DeAngelis posted:

Started benchwork of one side.

Vinny, great start. You are on the way! Now if you can manage time to do something everyday no matter how small you will have great progress. Is that the permanent location? Murphy’s Law, that you will need access to those utilities after you have completed a lot of work. Are you planning to have overhead lighting? Keep us posted on your progress!

@pennsyfan posted:

Vinny, great start. You are on the way! Now if you can manage time to do something everyday no matter how small you will have great progress. Is that the permanent location? Murphy’s Law, that you will need access to those utilities after you have completed a lot of work. Are you planning to have overhead lighting? Keep us posted on your progress!

Thanks!Yes, It"s a permanent location. I designed a space allow access to the utilities. The benchwork does not reach the wall, leaving plenty of access. Not planning overhead lights but doing a late evening / Stormy vibe. This is an extension of the first section . The first section was a experiment to see if I was able to do scenery (The downfall of my previous layout) This is the completed section .

@Vinny DeAngelis posted:

Thanks!Yes, It"s a permanent location. I designed a space allow access to the utilities. The benchwork does not reach the wall, leaving plenty of access. Not planning overhead lights but doing a late evening / Stormy vibe. This is an extension of the first section . The first section was a experiment to see if I was able to do scenery (The downfall of my previous layout) This is the completed section .

Apparently you mastered the scenery!

looking forward to you’re stormy scenes.

@pennsyfan posted:

Bob,

I was looking at aquarium sand on Amazon, they also show substrate. It looks like you may use substrate.

Is the sand to fine?

It's floral gravel that I found at a local dollar store a while back. I should have bought more than I did, I've never seen it again.  Probably big for the scale but I think it looks OK. The brown in the PRR cars is a gravel that Michael's carries.

@Vinny DeAngelis posted:

Thanks!Yes, It"s a permanent location. I designed a space allow access to the utilities. The benchwork does not reach the wall, leaving plenty of access. Not planning overhead lights but doing a late evening / Stormy vibe. This is an extension of the first section . The first section was a experiment to see if I was able to do scenery (The downfall of my previous layout) This is the completed section .

I agree that you have mastered the scenery aspects of the hobby. Looks great.

Bob

I haven't done any projects on the layout lately. I was planing to start on a station/ depot on the upper level but looks like it will have to wait till later in the year. I'll keep the workbench busy and will be continuing with my engine builds.

Just been running trains for a change. I do need to clean my track tho.....

Bob

@ScoutingDad posted:

Project 2,  recently picked up a 2 stall Atlas engine shed.  As they are hard to find, when found I ordered it. Lots of balls in the air, but here is an initial build of the shed. There are several older posts on the Atlas Engine shed so maybe there is where this belongs.

This is a pretty flimsy building. I find using painters tape to hold thing together for gluing works well. While there is space for 3 roof trusses, the kit comes with one - I am building 2 balsa trusses for those locations.  Haven't decided whether to put in a concrete floor or wood. There is a great example in an earlier post.  (wood floor and build)

I painted the brick with a flat red primer, doors are satin hunt club green and the interior is satin leafy green. (rattle can rustoleum)  Any suggestions for the cupola color?  I'll add mortar, windows and lighting etc as this build progresses.

Morning Jeff, first off I want to say that the sea wall is looking perfect and should work well with what you have planned! Now on to the engine shed, things are looking wonderful, I can't remember what era you are modeling but that would almost dictate weather you have concrete or wood. Now if it close to switching over from wood to concrete era I would go with the wood as I think it looks so much cooler! LOL

@Mark Boyce posted:

Jeff, the sea wall is starting to take shape.   Your process sounds good, but I think you would like the bends to be more crisp.  I haven't bent metal since high school metal shop when we made tool boxes.  I still use mine 55 years later.  The enginehouse looks good so far.  Yes more rafters and a floor would look good.  You will come u with a good plan.

I've been working on my lower lift up bridge.  I completely re-laid the roadbed and track, then glued girders on the sides.  Still more to do.

Mark your new girder sides look wonderful!

I just noticed that you went with dule actuators for your bridges! I like the idea but I think I will have to stick with the bar on mine to raise both my bridges and road way.

I really like how your layout is progressing and enjoy your updates! Thanks for sharing!

@Vinny DeAngelis posted:

Thanks!Yes, It"s a permanent location. I designed a space allow access to the utilities. The benchwork does not reach the wall, leaving plenty of access. Not planning overhead lights but doing a late evening / Stormy vibe. This is an extension of the first section . The first section was a experiment to see if I was able to do scenery (The downfall of my previous layout) This is the completed section .

Vinny that looks great and if that is the just practice I agree with Bob that you must have mastered it! I will be keeping my eyes open for your updates!

@RSJB18 posted:

I haven't done any projects on the layout lately. I was planing to start on a station/ depot on the upper level but looks like it will have to wait till later in the year. I'll keep the workbench busy and will be continuing with my engine builds.

Just been running trains for a change. I do need to clean my track tho.....

Bob

Bob, running trains is one of the most important things to do on a layout, it gives you time to fine tune things and come up with new ideas on how to spend more money!

I was able to get the first mainline powered and received all green from the lead engineer! Didn't run any of my trains but we ran the most important one, my grandsons Thomas engine. I'll be updating my thread with all the progress over the past several months.

@T-Bone1214 posted:

I was able to get the first mainline powered and received all green from the lead engineer! Didn't run any of my trains but we ran the most important one, my grandsons Thomas engine. I'll be updating my thread with all the progress over the past several months.

What a great scene and one that will live with you forever! Plus he got his train on Grandpa's layout!

Gee Mike, can't get a post in edgewise with all your posts ; ) 

I am going to claim I am modeling the transition period. There are so many excursion steam engines, they can really fit into current times. The way I plan to handle this is to place earlier engines and cars on the layout and remove modern equipment. If I want to run diesels I'll pull much of the really old stock off the rails.  Buildings are mostly the right period so those should not pose an issue.

Mostly I am more interested in modeling the various roads - Milwaukee Road, BNSF (and its acquired roads like Great Northern) with some Southern Pacific and Union Pacific tossed in and smaller roads around the Midwest - Soo, Grand Trunk.  The other aspect is the electrics which pushes me into the must have Pennsy GG1s.

Well maybe I really do not have an answer to what exactly am I modeling.

Not so much what I did today but more over the last few months.  No layout is ever finished but I can call this one complete.  Everything on it is hooked up and working and the kinks have been worked out.  I may add some detail to the lift bridge; haven’t decided yet.