I repainted the Lionel vat car body tuscan, reluctantly, and way more reluctantly resorted to press-on lettering again for Von Allmen Pickle Co., Inc. I had problems with the lettering as usual and need to do some delicate white paint touch-up tomorrow. I will use the color combination I was going to use on that, on the twin tank vinegar car I also have under construction.
I started running this Hudson again. It was one of the collector club specials that I got off of the Bay for cheap because nobody wanted it and repainted the tender. I got it a couple of years ago but I was never happy with the way it ran, I always had trouble getting it started so the other day I decided to get it out and see if I could figure out the problem. So after finally reading the manual and finding out that it has a different starting and running operation than what I am used to all is good!
Getting ready for my practice's dinner party Friday night....setting up 2 signature sets.....New Central Hudson streamlined passenger set and a New York Central Mohawk freight set.
Peter
Yesterday I finished up the last of undone evergreens. Today it was not so much working on the layout as it was looking for things for the layout. Last week I went to a train get together and the house we were at he was running a Bobber caboose. And after seeing it I decided I wanted one. So I spent the better part of the afternoon today hunting them down through the MTH product locator. I went through a number of hobby shops but at the end of the afternoon I became the proud owner of three of them. A C & O, a CN and a CP. Once they all get here I'll post a pic of them. I was surprised to get one of them because it came out in 2013 and the dealer had one left. .............Paul
This afternoon and after dinner I worked on the last back section of the upper mainlines putting in clump foliage. I have about four more feet to do. Then I am going to add some ground foam along the track and that section will be done. I also added the redone evergreens in the spots where I took the others out. A couple of pics of the progress....Paul
I ran trains for 20 minutes today. Nothing more.
Ive been updating my ELevated Subway Bridge System when I have spare time incorporating a brand new EL station servicing two tracks, one on each side. At the same time I'm revamping the entire city scene which includes the EL due to acquiring several large locos, including the new Lionel BIGBOY all requiring a minimum of 072 curves. Its been very time consuming but very fun at the same time as the city required a lot of rebuilding- will be worth it at the same time. Hope to have photos and a video soon.
thanks.
jim r
I was working on two cars, with slow, tedious tasks, and problems. One was the redo of the Lionel pickle tub car as a Von Allmen car, and I am kitbashing a Menards flatcar into a double tank vinegar car for my Menards Peiffer's Pickles plant. Problems with rattle can spray valve on the vinegar car. The tub car is getting four "cables' wound around each tub...this is not happening fast.
I should have made more/some progress on framing the layout, however, I wound up being sidetracked by my new-to-me K-line diecast frame tank car, B&O X417. Who knew that K-line modeled a car that was actually on the SIRT?
I milled down the bosses that served as "center plates" on the frame and trucks so that the "center plates" and "side bearings" will be in direct contact and make the springs do their job of equalizing rather than having the carbody wobble as it rolls along. Having gutted the tank preliminary to filling it with concrete, I drilled and tapped the holes for the four 4-40 machine screws that will now secure the tank to the frame, then plugged them with the screws to prevent leakage during filling and ensure sufficient room for them in the ballast. The Quickcrete went everywhere, as always, but it's worth it to obtain a more realistic looking and sounding ride.
Now I just have to FIND the tiny compressor in my various parts piles which will be then be mounted adjacent to the dome, install some dummy piping, weather it all... and, presto-change-o, she'll be ready to supply fuel to the S-2s at the Arlington engine house - when it's finished. I can't wait to have my very own Superfund Site!
All photo and research credit to SIRT and his terrific Staten Island Rapid Transit History site at: https://steves3roscale.shutterfly.com/pictures/5177
Chris and I finalized, this morning, the connection of all three levels of our layout. Here is a link to the Youtube video of the first train leaving the lower level and watching it travel all of the way to the top level. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouL8BqJ7FbM
Randy Harrison posted:Chris and I finalized, this morning, the connection of all three levels of our layout. Here is a link to the Youtube video of the first train leaving the lower level and watching it travel all of the way to the top level. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouL8BqJ7FbM
Super Randy! That little steamer earned its pay! What are the heights of your different levels and did you figure out what the grade is?
While running a train I finished off the last section on the back of the upper mainlines. So then in the front I started putting down foliage and some more trees. I have to find my bags of loose foliage so I can do behind the outer mainline. A short break and back to work. A few more pics of progress. I just got one of my bobber cabooses today so I was running that on the train. That I'll post on the other topic
................Paul
Mark Boyce posted:Randy Harrison posted:Chris and I finalized, this morning, the connection of all three levels of our layout. Here is a link to the Youtube video of the first train leaving the lower level and watching it travel all of the way to the top level. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouL8BqJ7FbM
Super Randy! That little steamer earned its pay! What are the heights of your different levels and did you figure out what the grade is?
Mark:
The vertical distance from the first to the second level is 8 inches. From the second to the third level is another 8 inches. We did not have long linear space to make the climbs. Since we run semi-scale O trains with 32" diameter curves, I used the Lionel Trestle Set rule of thumb of an increase of 1/4 " every 10 inches. This makes for a steep climb but, it was good enough for Postwar Lionel. I do not know the percentage of the grade. The main difficulty was the visually obscured climb from level 1 to 2 behind what was a basement bar that holds the top level of the layout. The work space was limited and the clearances for trains making the curves around the bar supports were tight. Also, the fact that we had to gain enough altitude to clear two F-3 Diesels whose storage sidings passed under the ascending track behind bar caused a further problem. Under the tunnels and behind the bar, Lionel O gauge tubular track was used for both the purposes of economy and strength. The tubular track is elevated with homemade piers at the joint of each track with the structural integrity of the tubular track supporting the weight of the train between elevation piers as on the old Lionel Trestle Set.
In the next few days we will be testing all of our locomotives, both MTH Proto 2 and postwar Lionel for clearance and their ability to pull the grade. The engine that you saw in the video was a MTH Imperial PRR B-26, 0-6-0 switcher that is our most reliable motive power. There will be more to come as progress is made.
I can tell it was a challenge getting it all in. I have a Imperial 0-6-0 and an 0-8-0. They are both nice. Thanks for keeping it posted.
Randy Harrison posted:Chris and I finalized, this morning, the connection of all three levels of our layout. Here is a link to the Youtube video of the first train leaving the lower level and watching it travel all of the way to the top level. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouL8BqJ7FbM
Congratulations Randy and Chris!!! Great to see your 0--6-0 take the grades to all levels. Now you must have a golden spike ceremony
This evening after dinner it was back to work on the layout. Wife was happy to let me go because I cooked her a nice steak outside. Of course I made one for myself too. I spent the evening adding foliage along the track. I found some wood I had cut into strips and decided to glue them to the back of the upper level in front of the window. I had an open space there and now I can add a bit of plaster and put down foliage in that area. A couple of pics of the work tonight. Won't be working on the layout till the afternoon tomorrow. TCA show in Parma Saturday. Maybe I will luck out and find something to bring home ( 
without the wife seeing it LOL )............Paul
Today I updated my DCS system to version 5 and installed the wifi module. Those two activities took all of 30 minutes in total. I then spent the next hour running trains using my iPad. It was okay; I am not ready to throw away the remotes, however. Purpose-built devices, well, serve a purpose. The app looks cool and is easy to use, but I found the remote is still easier to pick up and operate with one hand. Maybe the iPhone is a little better in this aspect; I'll give it a try tomorrow. I do think the new stuff adds flexibility and offers lots of possibilities, qualities that are never bad.
I added a 58" X 30" table to the layout. On the main level the reason for the addition is I have a lionel transfer table I had it on my old layout and figured I should put it on this one too. so I built the table added in a switch and mounted the transfer table wired it up and tested it. need to buy some more switches. on the lead into the table there will be a switch that runs past the transfer table to a yard on the far side of it the yard will be about 12' x 20" not sure how much I can get into that area but something is better than nothing.
Randy Harrison posted:Chris and I finalized, this morning, the connection of all three levels of our layout. Here is a link to the Youtube video of the first train leaving the lower level and watching it travel all of the way to the top level. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouL8BqJ7FbM
Hi Randy,
I just looked at your website. The pictures are fantastic. I bookmarked the link.
paul 2 posted:This evening after dinner it was back to work on the layout. Wife was happy to let me go because I cooked her a nice steak outside. Of course I made one for myself too. I spent the evening adding foliage along the track. I found some wood I had cut into strips and decided to glue them to the back of the upper level in front of the window. I had an open space there and now I can add a bit of plaster and put down foliage in that area. A couple of pics of the work tonight. Won't be working on the layout till the afternoon tomorrow. TCA show in Parma Saturday. Maybe I will luck out and find something to bring home (
without the wife seeing it LOL )............Paul
Hey Paul,
Looks good. My wife likes it when I go to run trains on the club layout or on my own layout down in the basement. She says it keeps me out of her hair.
paul 2 posted:This evening after dinner it was back to work on the layout. Wife was happy to let me go because I cooked her a nice steak outside. Of course I made one for myself too. I spent the evening adding foliage along the track. I found some wood I had cut into strips and decided to glue them to the back of the upper level in front of the window. I had an open space there and now I can add a bit of plaster and put down foliage in that area. A couple of pics of the work tonight. Won't be working on the layout till the afternoon tomorrow. TCA show in Parma Saturday. Maybe I will luck out and find something to bring home (
Paul:
I really like your scenery. You blend the foliage colors well. Your ballasting is second to none. Your use of trees and backdrops complements the scene well. Bravo!
DennyM posted:Randy Harrison posted:Chris and I finalized, this morning, the connection of all three levels of our layout. Here is a link to the Youtube video of the first train leaving the lower level and watching it travel all of the way to the top level. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouL8BqJ7FbM
Hi Randy,
I just looked at your website. The pictures are fantastic. I bookmarked the link.
Thank you for the kind words. Our layout is undergoing a major redesign right now. There will be more photos as finishing touches are made. Here is another video we made several years ago that is a ride around the layout as viewed from a passenger car window. Here is the Youtube link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXWcvnSzFec Be aware that there is a long tunnel toward the end of the video.
Once again Randy thanks for the compliment. I just about got the corner done. I added some more trees and ground foliage among the trees and along the inner mainline track. I think I have just one more little spot to fill in. A couple of pics of todays work. I apologize for the slightly blurry pics. It was hard to hold the camera at those angles and the only tripod I have is my two hands..........Paul
Paul,
Where do you get your trees? Are any of them homemade? If so, would like the recipe! They look great.
Dave
Dave, which trees were you talking about. Everything I have used is from Scenic Express. The evergreens I redid were specials with plastic trunks which I took off leaving the wire. I sprayed them with a mix of 50% glue and 50% water with some dawn thrown in and then sprinkled them with a combination of super leaf dark green and a small amount of super leaf medium green mixed in. The trees are Super trees and I used the same mix for them. All the other evergreens are as them came from the box. Hope this helps. Any more questions contact me. I did a step by step in this topic a few pages back I think.................Paul
I am working, slowly, it seems, on two cars: a kitbashed Lionel pickle tub car, and a dual wooden tank vinegar car built on a Menard's flatcar platform. I am wrapping "cable" (thread) around tubs for pickle car, and am building supports for the finished tanks on the flatcar. The tubs are tedious, so I am sure I will have the vinegar car done first, although creating decals for lettering either one will be a challenge.
Got a bunch of old Testors or Floquil paints that need to be shaken! Never fear! I found a great solution on YouTube:
And here's my version, undergoing field tests at the Razorback Traction Co. shops:
Works like a charm! I did have to grind the end of the clamp a bit so it fit into the saw, but other than that, not a problem! 
Mitch
That is a great idea, Mitch! I have a number of paint jars that need shaken.
Thank you for sharing!!
Cool idea! Unfortunately, like all of my ideas, it's not original. *sigh* There is a guy who manufactures a little terrific paint shaker that will definitely not send your little jar into orbit - I found it quite by accident and bought two. There was a snafu with USPS, they lost the shipment, and the guy cheerfully sent a duplicate shipment with the proviso that if the first package ever showed up I should simply keep both shipments. They work perfectly and I'm completely satisfied with both product and manufacturer:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hobby-...e=ADME:X:AAQ:US:1123
Here's his video:
I have kept busy with a new (downsizing) layout. It is only 5x10' . Yesterday I finished putting the Woodland Scenics Ready Grass down and put trim on to finish it off. I have two interconnected loops one 54r the other 42r. I used my Gargraves track from old layout.Right now I only have one industrial spur off the inner loop.
Hadn't run my Lionel ALCO 218 diesel with the War Bonnet paint so put it on track#2, dug out my 2400 series cars put 4 on the track and have been running them last night and this AM. Like getting a new train !! The 218 was my first diesel, wouldn't run so I got it cheap, messed with it and it runs like a champ. I have one pass. car, two domes and an observation car running with 2 extras and 3 that need some bits and pieces. Next will be my F units and Madison cars. The beat goes on !!
Well today is playoff Sunday. For me it ended yesterday when the packers lost but that opened up a day to work on the layout. I got the upper mainlines around the window done. Here are some pics of before, after and into the last curve...............Paul
there is a spot on my lower level that al the wiring went thru kind of a jumbled mess well it messed with the viewing alittle so I decided to move them and run the wires thru pvc to hide them I also at the same time decided to add a scrap piece of wood that fit the area so I can build in a hill. on the lower side of the layout it should look better.
Transfer table addition with a concrete painted transfer table. I primed it first then painted it with concrete color maybe some ground cover and such will make it look more realistic. note a block of wood in front of the table it's a positive stop for the table to align the track in the first position and the wall is a possitve stop for the last position I will loose 2 positions on the right side because of a wall but nothing I can do about it because of space I wanted a yard lead heading past the transfer table to a small 3 track yard but about 12 ft long. right now it is wired up and works fine with the controller that came with it and tmcc works as long as I push the buttons to pull the train off the plan is to have it work with the buttons and not have to push the button to pull the engine off the power stays to the center rail all the time .
Lead in to the Transfer Table will be adding a switch on the second piece when they show up from Mario's
added boards to the edge here to finish off the look better.
lower level hill not the way it is going to stay but something like it well be here when finished
Spare piece of wood added seems to fit perfect for a little scene and hill. this was the spot for all the wires now moved some still not hooked up.
white pvc pipe hiding all the wires between levels and you can see the block where the wires go to. just this little bit cleaned the area up a lot.
Jhainer posted:there is a spot on my lower level that al the wiring went thru kind of a jumbled mess well it messed with the viewing alittle so I decided to move them and run the wires thru pvc to hide them I also at the same time decided to add a scrap piece of wood that fit the area so I can build in a hill. on the lower side of the layout it should look better.
Transfer table addition with a concrete painted transfer table. I primed it first then painted it with concrete color maybe some ground cover and such will make it look more realistic. note a block of wood in front of the table it's a positive stop for the table to align the track in the first position and the wall is a possitve stop for the last position I will loose 2 positions on the right side because of a wall but nothing I can do about it because of space I wanted a yard lead heading past the transfer table to a small 3 track yard but about 12 ft long. right now it is wired up and works fine with the controller that came with it and tmcc works as long as I push the buttons to pull the train off the plan is to have it work with the buttons and not have to push the button to pull the engine off the power stays to the center rail all the time .
Lead in to the Transfer Table will be adding a switch on the second piece when they show up from Mario's
added boards to the edge here to finish off the look better.
lower level hill not the way it is going to stay but something like it well be here when finished
Spare piece of wood added seems to fit perfect for a little scene and hill. this was the spot for all the wires now moved some still not hooked up.
white pvc pipe hiding all the wires between levels and you can see the block where the wires go to. just this little bit cleaned the area up a lot.
You want to see a jumbled mess of wires, look under my table. I'm organizing all the wires little by little.
Last night before I went to bed I cranked up my layout and had 4 trains running at once. Something I usually don't do but everything went OK. I must say that the sound level was very tolerable, you could have had a normal conversation which is pretty good considering my rather basic soundproofing attempts.
jim pastorius posted:Last night before I went to bed I cranked up my layout and had 4 trains running at once. Something I usually don't do but everything went OK. I must say that the sound level was very tolerable, you could have had a normal conversation which is pretty good considering my rather basic soundproofing attempts.
did the same thing at about 10:30 last night not 4 trains but 3 all union pacific 2 sd90's and one sd40t-2. the whole time my son and I were having a conversation about school as one of his teachers ( computer science) doesn't like him. I had to tell him to sometimes act stupid because he has been messing with computers since he was 4 years old and now can write programs and makes his own video games in java and html. last week he came to me and he wrote a program for a new browser. I doubt his teacher can do that she still calls the tower a base unit. if you go in his bedroom it looks like mission control. 3 flat screen TV's for monitors each to it's own computer. now he wants my extra server rack and to move one of my servers to his room the kid has been running his own minecraft server for 3 years now. I guess that's the bonuses of having a dad that's an IT guy and owns his own business. he's been around it for ever. but on a train note in that conversation we designed in our heads a new way to wire up signals and to make it easier for me to wire since I am visually challenged when it comes to small wires . (using Ethernet wire). I might try to make a prototype sometime in the near future.
Today so far not much time but I went back to the front of the layout to work my scenery in toward the inner edge. Later I'll take some pics of the progress. And my second Bobber caboose came today. So while I was working on the scenery this time I ran three trains........Paul
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