1. Track set up.
2. Add the chicken wire.
3. Trim Chicken Wire.
4. Set-up water Hydrocal & dish soap.
5. Set up work area.
6. Pour Hydrocal into the molds. Some are custom made molds.
7. Place the rock molds into position.
8. Placing the final molds into position.
p51 posted:I used two HO scale single lane crossing sets to make a walkway from the flagstop at Winner to the passing track as it seemed a real depot would have that.
I'll be weathering here very soon as well among the tracks...
Once again looking good Lee. I like all the little ideas you come up with.
Train room Gary,
That's a lot of rock walls there on the layout! The old tried and true methods still work well. You can use old methods, new methods, or a mixture on a layout.
Dusted things off last night and ran Ivor a bit, towing a homemade track cleaning car in a bit of a work train. Fixed a sagging airship...
mike g. postedOnce again looking good Lee. I like all the little ideas you come up with.
Thanks a lot, Mike.
Mark Boyce posted:Train room Gary,
That's a lot of rock walls there on the layout! The old tried and true methods still work well. You can use old methods, new methods, or a mixture on a layout.
Thanks Mark for checking out the process. I have added two more photos.
Final inspection.
We use these Terri Cloths, mixed with the Hydrocal to re-enforce the Hydrocal. Something like re-enforced concrete.
Crazy Week and its only Wednesday. I thought the weekend was hectic. Spent the day trying to do a brain dump. Made a video with my one of my latest purchases. Weaver NP RS 11. Ok it was relaxing for me.
Carey TeaRose posted:suzukovich posted:Carey TeaRose posted:Tom and I got the coat of Minwax Express Color wood stain in Mahogany on all the facing boards of the Art Deco style layout table. It looks great! (sorry for all the train boxes underneath and the Barclay folks laying on paper napkins on the table messiness)
Polyurethane coat 1 of 5 next.
Carey, Fist congratulation on the big day.. Your layout has come together rather nicely. By the way. Any updates on the layout in your classroom?
The classroom layout (as I was talking just today with one of the paraprofessionals I work with) is most likely going to have to leave the classroom- for good. That means sawing the two adjoining layout tables into pieces to get them out the door. All the houses of mine and the figures will have to be boxed up and carried out and stored. I may have some of the houses go on a high display shelf in my sewing/ladies parlor room. No point with less than three weeks left of school putting legs on it or working more with the wiring.
To bad you have to take it down.. I am sure the kids will miss it and but they also learned from helping you. That's a good thing. One more pic before it is gone.
suzukovich posted:Crazy Week and its only Wednesday. I thought the weekend was hectic. Spent the day trying to do a brain dump. Made a video with my one of my latest purchases. Weaver NP RS 11. Ok it was relaxing for me.
Great video, I love the NP and RS-11s were always a great looking locomotive, to me.
I installed a Lionel SC-2 TMCC switch & accessory controller. I won it on Ebay and it got here Monday. I removed the remote switches and I had to rewire the all the switches (4) for the SC-2. Once I got it all wired, then I had to program ID numbers for the switches. After dealing with some slight difficulties, I got it working. Now I can add the 4x6 extension and activate the switches without having to walk around the layout to get to the remote switches. Plus it's cheaper than buying command switch tracks.
Got the passenger crossing looking much better and the power pole finished with transformer to run a power line to the country store.
Bought some bead pins at a local syore that sells beads that each have a loop at the end, will anchor the power lines that way to the pole and structure.
Was taking care of some of the repairs from Saturday's Train Day when I noticed Norma Bates Kitteh on the layout, waiting for some trains to watch. Far be it for me to disappoint her!
Mitch
Lee, being a fan of high detail, I might be jumping the gun, but beats hindsight, here's a couple "lesser used" ideas you just might like.
"Step it up?" 
.....don't "lag" behind 
...
Pappa ooomaa mow mow? 
Too much?
This might ensure there's no need for a bunch of white and green paint spatter
Here's two red winged "birds" I could watch all day ...
and I better stop right there before the post ends up with ..The Trashmen
Lookin' great Lee
My own layout? Last week I attempted to mow the lawn. Self propelled and started up by a pal, I still ended up "laid-out" on the green in pain, the Oxy remains in it's dark brown bottle, as I don't enjoy "melting" either 
.
Never thought I'd miss mowing it.
Almost needless to say, I've missed working on the layouts too, so thanks to all for a week of vicarious living. Great timing after a short lull here
Rather than waste time waiting for overdue components ordered off the bay and from suppliers to float in, so I can finish this mine shafthouse complex, I have started building an old Wabash Valley Markle Mill (Simpson Grain Co.) elevator kit. This is a stick-built model; using waxpaper like an old model airplane kit.
Adriatic posted:Lee, being a fan of high detail, I might be jumping the gun, but beats hindsight, here's a couple "lesser used" ideas you just might like.
Lookin' great Lee
Thanks!
Birds on the wire won't work as they'd just flip over from being so top-heavy on the line. Berkshire's "EZ Line" is really just elastic string in the common colors you'd need for a layout, no way it'd support even a light plastic casting of a bird. But the grips on the sides of the pole are a good idea that I'd never thought of. I have small spikes that could work for that, so tonight I'll try to mount some to the third pole I made, so see how that'd work.
I do have some Wiseman bird castings, so maybe I'll try to put one on top of the transformer on the one pole that has one.
Back in the 30s and 40s, it was common to cut the tops of power poles at an angle to prevent nests like that, though. Beats me when they stopped doing that.
I fully intend on putting (painted) bird poop on roofs and high places on the layout when I'm further along with my campaign to flood the layout with small details.
But the grips on the sides of the pole are a good idea that I'd never thought of. I have small spikes that could work for that,
I used HO track spikes. Someone commented on the spacing. They're just eyeballed but pretty close to a scale 18" These are Balsa poles. Easy to stick spikes in
Yep, that's exactly what I have and I can't wait to put these on the poles tonight. I'll be using fewer than the previous photo, as I don't think in the 30s or 40s, they'd have used that many.
My Dad bought a used power pole for our TV antenna about the time I was a toddler, and I remember wanting to climb it as he'd added those metal 'rungs' but being the smart man he is, he knew better than to place them at kid level. At 6' 7", Dad could start them around 5 feet or so if he ever needed to climb the thing. By the time I was tall enough to even try it without a ladder, my interest in climbing stuff was mostly behind me.
Thanks for the ideas, guys!
4th and last coat of polyurethane put on the facing boards of the Art Deco layout table yesterday. Aside from a bit of touch up to the black gloss painted legs- the construction and finish of this table is DONE!!
WOOHOO, wiring and playtime with all the Std. Gauge goodies on this is next!
p51 posted:Adriatic posted:Lee, being a fan of high detail, I might be jumping the gun, but beats hindsight, here's a couple "lesser used" ideas you just might like.
I fully intend on putting (painted) bird poop on roofs and high places on the layout when I'm further along with my campaign to flood the layout with small details.
Like I said, me jumping the gun is a great possibility with you and details
("He called the $h*^ poop", lol 
)
A bird of prey, seldom has buddies, and is good reason for the absence of most other birds....and I've always been very fond of them
Lags, & rungs also come in varieties. Line men used to carry extras to screw into the low section of the poles and removed them when done. There were through bolts too. Then there were also some steps, that slipped over the head of a large nail, or bolt head, sank to leave about 1/8" gap. Removable when the job was done, the nail/bolt was left in place. Poles also have date ID, treatment chemical ID (more on modern), and might have had wood type ID. From embossed nail heads (date nail) to "dog tags". Support wires that have the yellow plastic covers today? That cover would have been made of wood then. I remember getting some evil splinters from a very old one in Mich's U.P. (no its not always a RR ) Ice breakers of wood too (twists the cable in the wind to break off ice build up).
Samuel Morse started it all after some failures with underground telegraph wires.
Carey, You may like a trick I used in detailing my vintage VW's wiring, and later used it elsewhere.
For an example, take a piece of scrap wire, and wrap a single, gap-free layer, onto a pencil, pen, Philips screwdriver, etc. Carefully remove the coil of wire you've made from your "stick", grab each loose end, and stretch it out sightly for a fancy, curly, look. Your done.
It can be done anywhere the wire seems "unsightly", but also cannot be hidden. Even just loose ends feeding a lock-on or Whistle house. It's new found springiness, also helps contain loose lengths on the underside, that might otherwise droop into sight. Extra wire lengths also yield easy hook up, or "knock on deep, rich, wood", repair access.
Spread, its not a good electrical coil, no worries. Compact, it is a coil, but not strong. I've never had anything react to one, including some pretty sensitive digital equipment. I wouldn't let the coils become tangled though. I never checked, or thought too hard about it, but off-hand it seems they could, just maybe ,"cancel each other out", at least slightly, if intertwined . Plus it would look "sloppy"
Bus depot looks great! FedEx man was mighty good to you. I like what I have seen of Mianne bench work!
Bus depot looks great!
Still a little touch up on this and another 30 or so buildings but they keep getting moved around so final touch-up is when it's put in place.
Thanks
joe
Joe, great work on the bus depot!
I added some HO spikes for foot holds on my main powet pole, I think it looks just right.
After thus photo, I added a third pole then strung all the wire. I took photos but you just can't see the wire in them. That EZ Line stuff works really well.
Started construction on the upper loop. It will be set on piers about 8-3/4" to 9" above the mainline.
Great video mate!.
Really liked it my style of action and the layout looks top of the class to. Give the man five stars!
Thanks for posting.
Roo in West Australia
Roo posted:Great video mate!.
Really liked it my style of action and the layout looks top of the class to. Give the man five stars!
Thanks for posting.
Roo in West Australia
Roo. Thanks for watching. I really appreciate your kind words.
Johan in South Finland.
p51 posted:suzukovich posted:Crazy Week and its only Wednesday. I thought the weekend was hectic. Spent the day trying to do a brain dump. Made a video with my one of my latest purchases. Weaver NP RS 11. Ok it was relaxing for me.
Great video, I love the NP and RS-11s were always a great looking locomotive, to me.
Lee, I got the idea of combining the RS11 with the Geeps from yard photos in MN from http://www.rrpicturearchives.net . I will admit I have a soft spot for the Alcoa's. Thanks for the like.
p51 posted:Got the passenger crossing looking much better and the power pole finished with transformer to run a power line to the country store.
Bought some bead pins at a local syore that sells beads that each have a loop at the end, will anchor the power lines that way to the pole and structure.
Both look good. Bird droppings on the pole and transformer.
"I fully intend on putting (painted) bird poop on roofs and high places on the layout when I'm further along with my campaign to flood the layout with small details"
That's attention to detail.
suzukovich posted:
Yep, that's the stuff I've been looking forward to, all the little detail things. I know lots of folks love the entire layout build, from the first 2X4 they cut. Not me, I haven't really enjoyed my layout much until I can run trains on the thing and even then not so much as I now do that it's looking more like a miniature world than small rolling stock on a giant wood platform.
I'm now at the point where I'm breaking out a lot of detail parts I've been slowly gathering for stuff like these power poles. I just placed some Wiseman garbage can castings on the layout, one I even stuffed with scale, "trash" and placed the lot on cockeyed so you can just barely see something in there. Mailboxes are going to come next. I even placed a couple of blue-star 'son in service' banners in the front windows of a couple of structures, as the layout takes place in WW2. I had even made a gold-star one denoting a KIA family member, but I just couldn't do it.
With Memorial Day upon us, I had an issue on details on the layout a few days ago. Someone said it'd be 'funny' if I modeled a couple of officers making a call on the (now) widow. I darned near punched him. I did that twice, myself, in the Army. It's not funny AT ALL, in any way (ironic nor 'haha' funny). I still have nightmares about having to make those visits. It's one of the few things that war movies are 100% right about, the wives really do react like they do in the movies, I found out the hard way. Besides, very few KIA notifications were made in person during WW2, as most came by messenger or the mail.
Your layout is coming along nicely. Fun to see the progress. I was a youngster during WW II and the blue star banners were an important thing at the time. I know if you saw a gold star it was always a sad shock and noted. I has a second cousin who was in the 14th Armored Div. in Europe. He came home and was a successful businessman. Still alive but not well. So much has been forgotten about the home front and what the whole nation endured. These far away conflicts are more remote, it seems. Thought about you today-I was looking at a dummy training shell for a 90MM gun dated 1955. Almost bought it but then thought of the train stuff I could buy with the $$.
jim pastorius posted:So much has been forgotten about the home front and what the whole nation endured. These far away conflicts are more remote, it seems.
I agree fully, there. I guess my layout is my small attempt to remind people. Frankly, I have too many automobiles (though most of trucks, which would be far more likely as commercial vehicles) and I'm thinking of boxing up a few of them and getting some wagon kits and horse figures as my parents say every farm there had horses and nobody had tractors during the war (or beforehand, either).
Both my parents were 7 years old when my layout takes place in 1943. They both remember the time very well, though they probably didn't fully grasp what a lot of it meant. Very little has been written on the effects of WW2 on the kids who lived through it stateside.
Adriatic posted:p51 posted:Adriatic posted:Lee, being a fan of high detail, I might be jumping the gun, but beats hindsight, here's a couple "lesser used" ideas you just might like.
I fully intend on putting (painted) bird poop on roofs and high places on the layout when I'm further along with my campaign to flood the layout with small details.
Like I said, me jumping the gun is a great possibility with you and details
("He called the $h*^ poop", lol
A bird of prey, seldom has buddies, and is good reason for the absence of most other birds....and I've always been very fond of them
Lags, & rungs also come in varieties. Line men used to carry extras to screw into the low section of the poles and removed them when done. There were through bolts too. Then there were also some steps, that slipped over the head of a large nail, or bolt head, sank to leave about 1/8" gap. Removable when the job was done, the nail/bolt was left in place. Poles also have date ID, treatment chemical ID (more on modern), and might have had wood type ID. From embossed nail heads (date nail) to "dog tags". Support wires that have the yellow plastic covers today? That cover would have been made of wood then. I remember getting some evil splinters from a very old one in Mich's U.P. (no its not always a RR
Samuel Morse started it all after some failures with underground telegraph wires.
Carey, You may like a trick I used in detailing my vintage VW's wiring, and later used it elsewhere.
For an example, take a piece of scrap wire, and wrap a single, gap-free layer, onto a pencil, pen, Philips screwdriver, etc. Carefully remove the coil of wire you've made from your "stick", grab each loose end, and stretch it out sightly for a fancy, curly, look. Your done.
It can be done anywhere the wire seems "unsightly", but also cannot be hidden. Even just loose ends feeding a lock-on or Whistle house. It's new found springiness, also helps contain loose lengths on the underside, that might otherwise droop into sight. Extra wire lengths also yield easy hook up, or "knock on deep, rich, wood"
Spread, its not a good electrical coil, no worries. Compact, it is a coil, but not strong. I've never had anything react to one, including some pretty sensitive digital equipment. I wouldn't let the coils become tangled though. I never checked, or thought too hard about it, but off-hand it seems they could, just maybe ,"cancel each other out", at least slightly, if intertwined . Plus it would look "sloppy"
thanks Adriatic for these ideas.. Hate the look of seeing 'unsightly' messy looking wires on the layout table.
dobermann posted:Finished this
Nice! The only thing I noticed was a lack of chicken wire or security bars over the windows, something I always saw in places like that...
Thanks Lee that's an excellent idea. I have some rabbit fence that will be perfect in the window
dobermann posted:Thanks Lee that's an excellent idea. I have some rabbit fence that will be perfect in the window
Glad you took that in the spirit it was intended. I've gotten a lot of great ideas from people (both in person and online) seeing things on my layout and suggesting details that just didn't cross my mind otherwise.
6 down 4 more to go; although the front 4 will be more difficult because it will be 2 tiered as that is where the subway level will be going.
Access to this requires an OGR Forum Supporting Membership
