What did you do on your layout today?

I started working on a stone retaining wall.  The wall is curved and I used stone back splash panels.  Unfortunately the panels don't bend, so I had to remove the stones from the mastic and place everyone individually.  I used a solvent to soak the panel and picked off the stones and then used goof off to get the glue off my fingers.  I used Elmer's Probond to glue the stones to the wall.  Just like a real wall I could only put up a couple layers and let them dry before the next course was installed.

Hello everyone. Well I started to align the track today and set the 2 bridges that I have. Well at least I have the 1st bridge built and glued. Now its time for me to finish the bridge I started last year. The 6921 double track Pratt Truss bridge. Well today I got the shop vac from Sears that I ordered yesterday. So I fired her up & now I have no excuse for a dirty floor. I know I lowerd the height to 8" so I cut it down to from 12"

More progress on the north panel. It is starting to really look like something.

 

The top row has all of its jumpers and 12V daisy chains to power the Tortoises. I'm also half way done bringing out the leads that will go to the Tortoises. The last two wires will be the relay power. One side will be another daisy chain, and the other will go to the toggle in the field to turn the relay on and off.

 

These terminal strips are necessary because of the way the socket is arranged. It is already difficult to reach the screws on the lower level.

 

104 relays ready to go.

 

This is one of the old style 12V panels. Eventually it will be rewired for 24V relay control. It won't look any different on the front, but most of the wires on the back will be removed.

 

Started to add the signal system to my layout I am using the 1st generation LCS I wish I could find someone who no longer used this program so I can get more modules

fl9turbo2, Looks like you have a big job in front of you. I like signaling systems. They look really cool when working. I started installing the Z-Stuff signals at my club. Please keep us informed of your progress.

thanks  I want it to operate under B&O rules I had nj international build me every signal that the B&O made there are 12 bracket signals 9 mast signals and 6 dwarf signals I hope to finish it soon I also have a talking defect detector on my layout and station sound system to install into the computer and a device to record and display the speed of my trains in scale mph I just hope I can install it all I will keep everyone posted  

Tomorrow it's back to school for me, so today I went into a modeling frenzy. Finished putting ground paint on the part of the layout still under construction, sanded some foam hills, and coated them in an experimental hydrocal\ground paint\water mix. We'll see how the last one turns out, I think I tried that before and wound up with hill that are still somewhat pink even after being finished. The trick I think will be applying multiple coats.

Watched trains run for 10 minutes this morning while getting dressed for work.  

what started out as a simple project of making more shelves from salvaged wood showed me that I have a bigger problem.....

somehow I thought I would have lots of free space after I put my Prewar cars on the shelves.....apparently not.....

and did some more reorganizing and staining.

The replacement horn modules arrived from Lionel today, so now the old Geep chassis on the Poor Man's Rectifier is beeping cheerily!

 

Also, did setup for Frisco Fest in Rogers, AR this morning, so things are set to delight visitors tomorrow! 

 

-MMM-

fl9turbo2....  Do you actually have the electronic modules for the original LCS? 

all I ever had was the 1st software disc.

 

I personally feel its a far better offering it would have done so much more.

 

I traded my disc in for a smoke unit after the LCS was terminated. please keep us updated what else are you able to do with train America studio LCS? 

I haven't been on the forum only spot checking here and there for about the last month it seems, I've been tired out and napping. I think it's the heat and stress at work.

I just wanted to chime in here and say this is one of my favorite threads and hate it when I get behind more than a day.

I don't remember who but a couple of lines back someone was starting a lay-out please keep posting, it was right before the Sugga of Fr. Carmine's St Lionel parish started, I've missed it the last days. Buy the way I like the scrolls under the bridge, something different.

I'm not an electronics or wiring wizard so there are many times I am just lost with those posts, but Elliot your lay-out and wiring are amaszing. When I get around to posting on the 101 top lay-out thread you will be there for future use of prototype operation.

Scot, looks like you have gotten your road map figured out and are traveling full steam ahead. I have the same problem as you had kind-da, there is so much to be done around our house I don't know where to start and feel that starting even a temp lay-out is the bottom of the list.

Now that I have posted several posts in one it's time to go. Keep the posts coming! Thanks guys.

After a hiatus of a few days I got back to work cleaning up the floor. Slow going because I find a empty car or engine box and I put what ever it is back in the box to also clean the congestion of too many on the layout. A break for lunch and a quick run to the grocery store for the wife and hopefully this afternoon I can finish the floor area................Paul

I've mostly been running mine.

I did paint a couple of  cabooses.

 

  A blue 2 plastic wheel/axle toy. It may be S gauge at the flanges, but has wide enough wheels to bob along on O fine.

  It got some orange panels, and heavy black wash to tie the paint and unpainted panels as belonging together.  make it a very dingy little "crummy", that colors say it really wishes it was a Lionel.

 

The other one, I blasted a busted tab, orange, MPC Rio caboose. Lacking rails & ladders, shiny silver was chosen, just so I could throw the can away..

(OK, OK...I was out of Lionel blue)

 

 I haven't decided what to do for a "flag" yet. I was thinking maybe a Christmas theme. But if I could find a cool one off flag in silver, stainless, or aluminum I might do that.

 

 

Having limped home from vacation with some vicious respiratory bug, a week ago, I

looked at my work bench today with the thought, "What the heck were you doing!?"  It looks like I was pressing rivets into styrene panels for the sides of this LaBelle kit for

an Oneida gas electric conversion of a Rio Grande combine.  I was farther along than

I thought, but it is going nowhere today.  I don't feel up to it. Time lost....

HHmm.... That posted on its own while I was loading these!!?? 

 

 The silver one, I will need to sand, and give it one more coat for it to be "right", there is a little heat stamp showing at the ends. You really have to get it into the right light to even see it though. The camera is being cruel. Graphics may negate the need anyhow. 

 

Well it feels good to see an open floor area again. Pretty much got the area opened up. pics of before and after. Still have to arrange under the tables better........Paul

Built a second storage cart/access hatch.  They hold so much of those PITA boxes that I'm pondering building a third.  Moved onto the other end of the room and returned to installing more white masonite board.  I'm nearing the end of that stage of construction.

 

  Also started mounting a 2 X 2 perimeter that the layout will eventually rest on.  I was happy, and frankly surprised that all my previous measurements produced a straight and level environment.  Building a layout platform is one thing...building a room to suit where there was no room before is something else.  Had I known what was involved I don't think I'd have tackled it without some extra help.

 

Bruce

 

finally got a parts order into Jeff Kane and got my Chatham finished. since two out of three of these cars were rebuilds, I had three different color roofs, so I hit them all with some charcoal.

and along with Ralphie's house and school, I added a new Italian eatery...

I hear that place has won a highly prestigious awards!

Even if its fowl it ain't half bad....  

Added another layer on the curved wall and installed larger stones on another wall.

Finally used up the last scrap plywood to make shelves under the layout. 

All the scraps are gone and now I can concentrate on completing the trackworkmand wiring!

 

Buzz

Set it up and tore it down, all in one day.

 

(Had a little help from the rest the North Penn O Gaugers!)

hobo villiage

Some views from the 2015 Frisco Festival in Rogers, AR on Saturday 8/29!

 

(Not O scale, but nice; my father picked up this set of Fleischmann trains at a PX in Germany before I was born, and they probably haven't seen rails since the late 1970s...) 

 

The Frisco steamer and the Gi-raffe Express had an unofficial contest to see who could smog up the joint the most.  I think the cute little smoke rings that the Express was puffing counted for a definite advantage. 

 

Mitch

I didn't get to work on the layout yesterday, my wife and I went to the Oklahoma Train Museum and took a nice relaxing ride, pulled by a former Army diesel.  They had a table of donation items for sale to raise funds for they baggage car HO layout.  Located a Cab 1, a TC 4000 and 3 boxes Life-Like lichen (one still in cellophane from the 60s).  Ask the guy running trains what they wanted for the lichen, only had $22 on me.  We also talked about the Cab 1 and TC 4000.  He sold me all for the $22 I had on me, said they were donations and did not know their worth.  I am going back to give him help with setting up and running, cleaning the O gauge trains/track.  After the great buy, want to do all I can to repay and help out the local train museum.

I know, it is TPC 4000..... need more coffee!!  LOL!!

Really... I should not stay out so late, then get up too early and post.... TPC 400.....

But, either way, it is a great deal (we all know that) and hooked it up, running command and conv on main outer "red" loop.  Now, to try following procedure to run MTH PS1 and PS2 engines with Cab 1 and access all functions.

Just ran trains on the O layout, but I got my z-scale loop in my desk drawer running again.   I ran my Milwaukee Road GP40 and short train of Northern Pacific boxcars with a caboose.

Oh man!  I can only dream of being that far along.  Hope the track laying goes smoothly, Buzz. 

Finally cleaned up around the area where my temporary layout was and cleaned around my workbench. I have began planning my small layout, and have written up a new updated budget for the layout.

Also sorted my old HO scale stuff and have purged stuff I no longer want. My sister and I helped a family friend unload two hay wagons this morning.

It's been a long day but got a lot done

During the past 3 days I was yanking up about 50 feet of track

 

I had this one turnout in a Wye that was giving me fits, when I pulled it up I found it was an 054 switch instead of an 072, all the curvature joining it was 072.  The kink it was causing was making some of my engines derail at odd times.

 

To put in an 072 I had to move 50 feet of track down about 18", in the process I had to relocate/rebuild a drop-down bridge.

 

Good thing is everything is running as it should and kinda looks better too.

 

Now I just need to get back up there and redo the scenery (that I just recently put down).

 

I've gotten pretty good at tearing things up lately

Hello Everyone. Well today I started to assemble one of the 5 kits I received from Korbor Models yesterday. I just want you all to know that they are a top noticed. Rich took care of a issue I had + he refunded me $15.00  Thanks Rich.  Then today I went to Menards  and picked up some Lumber I needed for another project.  I did not see any of there trains as of today but I am sure they will be out for Christmas. Halloween stuff has been out for a few weeks. Well I had my breezeway nice and clean  Now I just have to keep it organized.

Scot, you should be proud of the amount and variety of what you have accomplished of late--you're an inspiration.

Matt came over today and finished another eight manual throws...

 

Then he started four more.

 

While he was doing that I made 100 of these. 50 red and 50 black for the second switch relay panel.

 

Elliot; Aren't we do possibly for another video! Maybe even a short one of the progress.

Elliot, you didnt show the spaghetti factory I had to navigate my throws around to get all that to work