What did you do on your layout today?

I boxed up nine items to go to Lionel for service. Five of them for a second time.

That is ugly !!

Did some playing around on my HCD over the weekend.  Cleared off the table and set up some 2x4’s to create a raised upper level for temporary subway diorama look.  Used a 6-car Metro North M7’s running below the surface for the transit.  Threw together backdrops of Crown Heights and Bedford Stuyvesant in Brooklyn that I printed from Google Maps for the effect.  Looked very nice so I thought I would share it here on OGR.

All I need now is to buy one of the MTH subway staircase entrances to place on the surface along with getting a subway station backdrop.

Here is short video of it on YouTube. 

Amfleet25124 posted:

Did some playing around on my HCD over the weekend.  Cleared off the table and set up some 2x4’s to create a raised upper level for temporary subway diorama look.  Used a 6-car Metro North M7’s running below the surface for the transit.  Threw together backdrops of Crown Heights and Bedford Stuyvesant in Brooklyn that I printed from Google Maps for the effect.  Looked very nice so I thought I would share it here on OGR.

All I need now is to buy one of the MTH subway staircase entrances to place on the surface along with getting a subway station backdrop.

Here is short video of it on YouTube. 

 

WOW!!! Very cool and impressive!!!

My friend Randy came to help me on the layout today.  Much appreciated and lots of fun!   Got the scenic backdrop up.  Planted some trees along the back ridge of the layout in front of scenic backdrop .... this give the backdrop and even more dramatic effect. Spread ballast along the rear main tracks and a siding off the outer main loop. A good days work resulting in substantial progress.  

Amfleet25124 posted:

Did some playing around on my HCD over the weekend.  Cleared off the table and set up some 2x4’s to create a raised upper level for temporary subway diorama look.  Used a 6-car Metro North M7’s running below the surface for the transit.  Threw together backdrops of Crown Heights and Bedford Stuyvesant in Brooklyn that I printed from Google Maps for the effect.  Looked very nice so I thought I would share it here on OGR.

All I need now is to buy one of the MTH subway staircase entrances to place on the surface along with getting a subway station backdrop

 

 

Kevin;

Your scene reminds me of that series a few years ago, Cities of the Underworld, where they took you under the streets to see all the fascinating things that were underground. And the Google Streets backdrops are really cool. As someone who was born and raised in Brooklyn, and who rode the subways for over 50 years and Metro-North for about 7 or so, the only place I can think of where you would go down a subway entrance and hit Metro-North is 42nd Street at Grand Central. Not sure if MTH makes one, but if they do, that would be perfect (even if it ain't in Brooklyn!!!).

trumptrain posted:

Amfleet25124 posted:

Did some playing around on my HCD over the weekend.  Cleared off the table and set up some 2x4’s to create a raised upper level for temporary subway diorama look.  Used a 6-car Metro North M7’s running below the surface for the transit.  Threw together backdrops of Crown Heights and Bedford Stuyvesant in Brooklyn that I printed from Google Maps for the effect.  Looked very nice so I thought I would share it here on OGR.

All I need now is to buy one of the MTH subway staircase entrances to place on the surface along with getting a subway station backdrop.

Here is short video of it on YouTube. 

 

WOW!!! Very cool and impressive!!!

Apples55 posted:

Amfleet25124 posted:

Did some playing around on my HCD over the weekend.  Cleared off the table and set up some 2x4’s to create a raised upper level for temporary subway diorama look.  Used a 6-car Metro North M7’s running below the surface for the transit.  Threw together backdrops of Crown Heights and Bedford Stuyvesant in Brooklyn that I printed from Google Maps for the effect.  Looked very nice so I thought I would share it here on OGR.

All I need now is to buy one of the MTH subway staircase entrances to place on the surface along with getting a subway station backdrop

 

 

Kevin;

Your scene reminds me of that series a few years ago, Cities of the Underworld, where they took you under the streets to see all the fascinating things that were underground. And the Google Streets backdrops are really cool. As someone who was born and raised in Brooklyn, and who rode the subways for over 50 years and Metro-North for about 7 or so, the only place I can think of where you would go down a subway entrance and hit Metro-North is 42nd Street at Grand Central. Not sure if MTH makes one, but if they do, that would be perfect (even if it ain't in Brooklyn!!!).

Thanks.  It was a lot of fun this weekend working on both the subway diorama and my model airport which are both on HCD's only 4 feet from each other in my designated hobby area .

BROOKLYN - Ah yes, Brooklyn. One of the backdrop photos was of Nostrand Avenue and St. John's Place (my old stomping grounds when I was in high school and started college in the early 1980's before I left NYC for Fla-ri-dah in 1986) and the other was of Fulton Street and Nostrand Avenue, which of course is a block or two north of Atlantic Avenue where the other MTA M7's run on the LIRR elevated tracks.  Sold my Lionel LIRR M7 years ago and regretted it ever since.  Not willing to pay inflated prices right to now to get one back. Can't justify the expense either on the actual subway train units (R17, R142's, etc) so I'm happy running the M7's.

 

Apples55 posted:

Kevin;

Your scene reminds me of that series a few years ago, Cities of the Underworld, where they took you under the streets to see all the fascinating things that were underground. And the Google Streets backdrops are really cool. As someone who was born and raised in Brooklyn, and who rode the subways for over 50 years and Metro-North for about 7 or so, the only place I can think of where you would go down a subway entrance and hit Metro-North is 42nd Street at Grand Central. Not sure if MTH makes one, but if they do, that would be perfect (even if it ain't in Brooklyn!!!).

Thanks.  It was a lot of fun this weekend working on both the subway diorama and my model airport which are both on HCD's only 4 feet from each other in my designated hobby area .

BROOKLYN - Ah yes, Brooklyn. One of the backdrop photos was of Nostrand Avenue and St. John's Place (my old stomping grounds when I was in high school and started college in the early 1980's before I left NYC for Fla-ri-dah in 1986) and the other was of Fulton Street and Nostrand Avenue, which of course is a block or two north of Atlantic Avenue where the other MTA M7's run on the LIRR elevated tracks.  Sold my Lionel LIRR M7 years ago and regretted it ever since.  Not willing to pay inflated prices right to now to get one back. Can't justify the expense either on the actual subway train units (R17, R142's, etc) so I'm happy running the M7's.

Kevin;

Kinda familiar with the area... went to H.S. on Nostrand and Carroll in the very early 70's and my family had a brownstone on Pacific off Bond, not far from the Atlantic Ave. Depot. The area has REALLY changed since those days. Too bad about the LIRR cars, but since I am not a rivet counter, one M7 looks pretty much like the next (but I do prefer the MNR blue scheme to the LIRR yellow).

dischler posted:

Third day of operation on the Bark and Spiders Outdoor O gauge.  Today I pulled out an Atlas SP SW9 in Black Widow livery and an MTH Kodachrome SP caboose. The Railsounds in conventional mode completely captivated the 20 lb. terrier who was running back and forth completely intrigued with this non-squirrel invader of her environment.  Hilarious, my wife was giggling and filming.

Worth a thousand words per frame

My Standard gauge track rests on Homosote that is on the carpet under my O gauge layout. I have been puzzling how to get it up and out somewhere to really enjoy it. The basement is too humid or cold, the LR/DR area is occupied mostly with the O gauge but I might have found the place !!  The bedroom!   I wish I could get rid of the queen size bed but not in a mood to spend $$ on a bed and bedding. But I think there is room between the bed and the wall/ceiling for a long narrow loop of Standard gauge track. Will have the surveyors out today checking it out. No Queen in my place so I rule !!

No photos yet, but I did a lot of small detail work on the layout last night. I built a Bar Mills “Insta-fence” wood fence almost 3 feet long (real feet, not scale feet), which will be used to hide the seam between the horizontal level and the vertical backdrops along the far wall. I didn’t use the kit's horizontal pieces, instead using two long pieces of square wood stock about the same size to make a long single unit that couldn’t break apart easily. I’ve decided not to cover it with posters like many modelers do, as when you look at period photos you really only see that on walls of buildings and in cities, not on a wood fence in the country.

I also made several bushes, experimenting with some techniques I recently read about, using poly material covered in ground foam. I think I have that figured out, and soon there’ll be bushes everywhere. Trees will come next.

Lee, at major crossroads you might see some advertising bills in nowhere-ville, but basically your right.

Jim, only go as high as you need to, reaching up and ladders, gets old sometimes. I could have done mine as a dogbone, 4ft lower, and been happier, but went above the doors for loops instead.

  Hey, there's always under the bed storage too. As a kid, I had an 0-27 track set up for years like that. Roll out, roll in, it was always ready. I even ran it under the bed in daylight hours to simulate night running (my fav.).

Adriatic posted:

Lee, at major crossroads you might see some advertising bills in nowhere-ville, but basically your right.

During my planning and later, the build for my On30 layout, I did a lot of historical research on what you'd find in the real rural WW2-era America. As I've spend the greater part of my life researching the WW2 era, it wasn't that big a stretch. But along the way I've found staples of layout scenes almost everywhere that have very little basis with real life. One only has to look at photos from the era you have in mind to see what was and wasn't common. I'm lucky that there was a massive WPA project for photographers to record daily life in America during the 30s and early 40s. These photos can be reviewed in several places and a few books of them have been published.

But yeah, a fence along a narrow gauge railroad (and nowhere near a road) in northeast Tennessee during the war? No way would you find posters. You might find some small hobo marks (and in the case of the RR I model, highly unlikely as the line didn't go anywhere a hobo would wanna go) and maybe some patriotic "V for victory" scribbles, but very little else.

Finished the rest of the main line installation of track and wired the swing bridge (and of course played with it a few times).  Tomorrow I start to wire the track and hopefully the sidings as well.....and maybe run a few trains on them.

Bryan, that's an impressive space. You've done a great job bringing it to the early stages of life in a very short amount of time. I look forward to following your progress and seeing the end result.

With our Connie Mack season now over I started up on the rest of my tear-down.  First step was boxing up all the rolling stock and motive power. What a royal pain.

I was also able to disconnect, remove and box-up half the buildings as well.

-Greg

I ran my "Valley of Bridges" Atlas O Century Track layout I designed with minimum O-72 curves, and it actually ran without incident.   I have been very depressed with all the new engines (15 now) I have sent to Lionel for warranty work this year.  My first of two Vision Line Big Boys #4014 and my Conrail #4133 SD70MAC (Big Blue Set) ran smoothly.  The Big Boy pulled 22 Atlas H21a Hoppers and a caboose.  The Conrail pulled seven of my detailed NYC Empire State Express cars with Preiser figures inside. The lights were off, and the engines looked great triggering the Atlas O signals along the track.  Last night after boxing three Legacy engines, two 990 Remotes and four sparking passenger cars to return to Lionel, I emailed a couple of friends that I was ready to quit.  I am glad I gave it one more try.  Sincerely, John Rowlen

John,

I see why you call it valley of bridges.  It looks great!  Do they lift up or out to give you easy access?

On another note, I'm sorry to read of the problems you have had.  I hesitate to write this, but my locomotive and MTH TIU problems were self induced or factory resets were all it took, except for bad component on a warranty TIU fix.  Not knowing the nature of your problems, I am sorry you have had a lot of trouble.  It is no fun.

John,

From a fellow Northeast Ohio member I really like what you have done so far.... and I can see why the Atlas Pratt bridges are out of stock everywhere because you have them all.

I added this fence and several long stretches of poly material covered on ground foam to break up where the backdrops start.

Read this thread and started feeling guilty I've not worked on it in a month.  Been busy trying to get the line of dead locomotives repaired.

Kerrigan posted:

Read this thread and started feeling guilty I've not worked on it in a month.  Been busy trying to get the line of dead locomotives repaired.

Then, you've been working on the layout. Maybe not the stuff on the benchwork, but working on rolling stock or motive power is, to me, working on the layout as you're working on stuff used there.

Kerrigan posted:

Read this thread and started feeling guilty I've not worked on it in a month.  Been busy trying to get the line of dead locomotives repaired.

They aren't all down are they?

    You and John R seem to be having a heck of a time. I have to wonder about static charges wreaking havoc. The tvs in each loco would shine there. Filtering, and an earth grounding with it is about all you can do there to help with the train circuitry. But regular use of "Static Guard" spray for laundry works wonders on glitch-y coin-op video games. Unplug, open up, spray liberally, let dry as needed. On real stubborn cases, I've nearly soaked boards. General misting takes seconds to dry. I don't feel it promoted any corrosion on terminals, and I've not seen it react to carpet colors, but testing is always wise. I'm betting you could mist the grounds on a layout for years without damage. 

It sounds like you might need a short 5-10 min running of something?

A quick floor loop in the kitchen while you cook her pancakes kind of thing

A quick wheel cleaning session to some good music?

Plant a tree, drive those cars around, run a sale at "that shop"

Why feel guilty anyhow? You thought about it; it's the thought that counts

The "Valley of Bridges" bridges do not lift out. I have enough problems with keeping wiring secured. ( All track wires go to MTH 1014 Blocks. Why don't they have resistors to help reduce damage?)   I crawl under, it keeps my knees limber, but just in case, I moved the control panel to the end of the layout by the steps.  The Center Single Pratt Bridge has the landing pads for making it look like a Swing Bridge. I will take plywood and screw it to the bottom of the 2x4 layout supports to create a 3-1/2 inch drop for the river surface and bridge pedestal on either side of the bridge.  The single bridge nearest the steps will be a static bascule Bridge.  I have pieces of another single Pratt Bridge I will kit-bash with plastic sheeting. The Double Pratt Bridge will be a static Lift Bridge with more Kit-bashing using a spare Double Pratt I purchased.  It might look like heck in daylight, but when the lights are off, the Nano warning Lights and Bridge river navigation lights are on, it will create a nice effect. ( I have three Lionel Tugboats to add to the 21-foot river.) The river moves upstream to the "Village of Deichman, named for Ann and Len who have been my major suppliers for Atlas track and Bridges. The little village depot will therefore be: "Deichman's Depot".

Bryan, first chance I got to see how far you have gotten. Quite far to say the least. Are you sure you did not clone yourself to work this fast. Anyways it is sure looking good. That was a nice shot of the overall layout. When are you going to get your Atlas bridges. With Charlie's viaduct that is going to be a sweet picture taking area. I would not be surprised to see scenery going in next week...............Paul

paul 2 posted:

Bryan, first chance I got to see how far you have gotten. Quite far to say the least. Are you sure you did not clone yourself to work this fast. Anyways it is sure looking good. That was a nice shot of the overall layout. When are you going to get your Atlas bridges. With Charlie's viaduct that is going to be a sweet picture taking area. I would not be surprised to see scenery going in next week...............Paul

Thanks Paul although you almost inherited a large collection today as I just spent 5 hours trying to fix a problem and the thought of burning it all down crossed my mind.  I started wiring the outside line of the main and I have it broken up into blocks.  Gave it a test try.  No engine test track message.  Okay track might be dirty cleaned it...same message.  Maybe need another feeder line or two; added them....same message.  Replaced all older pieces with brand new pieces from inside main line....same message.  Researched the forum for an hour but the solutions people had I've already tried.  Maybe it was the engine so I got out 5 different engines PS2, PS3, diesel, steam, and subways....same message.  Reset TIU....same message.  Changed channels on TIU....same message.  Then it hit me on my old layout I had the fixed in facing the transformers but on this one I have it the other way.  Stupid me I had the transformer going to the fixed out and the fixed out going to the terminal block.  A 1 minute switch and as you can guess added engine perfectly and have all 10's around the outside main line.  Now time to have a drink in celebration and stay up all night wiring the other 3 main lines, passing sidings, and yard.

As for the Atlas bridges I ordered 2 of them from Charles Ro but I guess they are backordered everywhere.  Also I am thinking of picking up 3 more of the MTH steel arch bridges to give me 5 going across the elevated line where it is a nice 15 foot straightaway over the main and the outside subway tracks.  On the picture above you can see the 2 already and how much room there still is to the right.  

Bryan,  I started buying Atlas O supplies six years ago before beginning the construction in October 2015.  The "Valley of Bridges" layout came together quickly.  Then I started playing with the layout and construction dramatically s-l-o-w-e-d, stoppppped.  I recommend you run only large diesels as you test run the layout.  A Big Boy to check clearances is also good.  Steam Engines are great when the layout is finished.  It is the steam engines and their smoke units that have given me the greatest number of repairs. Stay with diesels and stay sane.  I checked my suppliers for the 6921 Double Pratt Bridge: Deichman's Depot, High Country Hobbies, Discount Trains, and Petersen Supply are out.  There are 6921 Double Pratt Bridges that are completely built on Ebay.  The Pratt Trusses do come loose, even on new-in-the-box disassembled bridge kits.  Glue puts them back in place. Weathering and dust cover repairs over time. I would not be afraid of buying an assembled bridge if it is packaged with fill peanuts around the structure....but what a mess coming out of the shipping box.

John, Bryan, and Lee. Your guys work looks great. I hope to be able to join this thread one day. So I can post and get input. Just waiting on the building addition. Please keep up the great work and posting it for us who are learning!

I started putting accessories on the extension. It's all wired and now I can add things as I get them. I also decided to put a fishing hole there since I put in a bait shop. The bottom picture is just to show the whole thing. I moved some buildings around and next week I'm putting a road in.

Thanks John for the information.  Could you (or anyone else) tell me what the exact spacing is on the double pratt bridge between center rail to center rail.  It looks like it may be awhile for these because of the back order and I just want to have the track coming into the bridge lined up properly.  Thanks

Hi Bryan,

I found this in another thread. I hope it helps.

Greetings,

Can anyone furnish me the dimensions of the Atlas O 3 rail dbl Pratt Truss bridge. I need the overall width (10 1/16"), rail length 40", height approx. 9 7/8"  , and the distance from the outside to the center rail (Closest rail 2 13/16", other rail 7 5/16" , and the distance from center rail (track 1) to center rail (track 2) (4 1/2"). Thanks  a lot!  Ray

Tied together my next TT with a new town and a four track ladder yard throat.

Tom Tee posted:

Tied together my next TT with a new town and a four track ladder yard throat.

Next turntable!?

Not a lot of folks get to write that

Pic.s?

mike g. posted:

John, Bryan, and Lee. Your guys work looks great. I hope to be able to join this thread one day. So I can post and get input. Just waiting on the building addition. Please keep up the great work and posting it for us who are learning!

Mike,

I'm honored to be included in that list, but as for me, I'm for sure learning, too.

Don't forget, this layout I'm working on right now is the first real layout I've ever built.

Today, I continued working on the Soap Creek Pass logging section of the layout. Little by little I've been adding to the scenery. Not finished with this section but making progress. 

John

Mike G.  thanks for finding those dimensions for me on the bridge.

No Problem Bryan, I knew I seen them somewhere. I looked them up so I could start building a lift platform for it.

Being laid up recovering for a week (had a bit of cardiac roto-rootering done), I was musing over my lack of Frisco motive power.  Since I recently acquired an LTI 0-8-0 in Pennsy lettering: 

I decided to make it into a freelance Frisco switcher using laser-printed labels I designed:

This depicts a mythical 3900 class 0-8-0 switcher which never existed.  3939, of course, is a shoutout to my favorite old time radio comedian, Jack Benny...  ;-) 

I do like how this came out, and I'll probably go back and redo this using proper decal paper... 

Mitch

M. Mitchell Marmel posted:

Being laid up recovering for a week (had a bit of cardiac roto-rootering done), I was musing over my lack of Frisco motive power.  Since I recently acquired an LTI 0-8-0 in Pennsy lettering: 

I decided to make it into a freelance Frisco switcher using laser-printed labels I designed:

This depicts a mythical 3900 class 0-8-0 switcher which never existed.  3939, of course, is a shoutout to my favorite old time radio comedian, Jack Benny...  ;-) 

I do like how this came out, and I'll probably go back and redo this using proper decal paper... 

Mitch

Very nice job Mitch!  Sorry you had to get the cardiac work done, but I'm looking forward to seeing it helps you be with us for a long time!!

M. Mitchell Marmel posted:

Being laid up recovering for a week (had a bit of cardiac roto-rootering done), I was musing over my lack of Frisco motive power.  Since I recently acquired an LTI 0-8-0 in Pennsy lettering:...

Mitch

Wait a minute, Mitch. You had cardiac work done, which no doubt included people and equipment wandering around inside of you, at the very center of the Mitch (as opposed to the other end, for example, in the plumbing), and you have been musing about a "lack of Frisco motive power"!? That tells me you are one playful guy, full of the light of life, and one courageous dude, for sure! I tip my hat to you (for real, I have one and just did), sir, and wish you the absolute very best.

FrankM.