What did you do on your layout today?

I have a sore foot that I want to hot soak at night so what better way to pass the time but with my hand on the throttle. I get 30-40 mins of train time each night plus during the day  sometimes.

Started laying out and cutting the plywood and Homosote for the long-awaited upper extension (Mountain Div.) on the Cabin Lake & Western Ry.  Had to park the old truck outside for a while .. and then the Heavens opened and the flood commenced to fall from the sky.

Today I started another new project. I got so many irons in the fire now who knows when I will really complete one. Well long story short at the Tuesday night get together I got a weaver TOFC flat car with trailer and a separate trailer. Both are Navajos. Going through my boxes I found two flat cars, one a UP for the extra Navajo trailer and the other a NYC for which I have a Yale trailer. Eventually I will be able to add three more cars to my growing train of Weaver TOFC's. Now heading for the depot to buy some more lumber to make tables for the basement. A few pics of the cars.....Paul

paul 2 posted:

Today I started another new project. I got so many irons in the fire now who knows when I will really complete one. Well long story short at the Tuesday night get together I got a weaver TOFC flat car with trailer and a separate trailer. Both are Navajos. Going through my boxes I found two flat cars, one a UP for the extra Navajo trailer and the other a NYC for which I have a Yale trailer. Eventually I will be able to add three more cars to my growing train of Weaver TOFC's. Now heading for the depot to buy some more lumber to make tables for the basement. A few pics of the cars.....Paul

Now you need to get a hold of some Max Gray TOFC. They look good and mix nicely with the Weavers and the Lionel's TOFC.

I added another 2065 steamer to my fleet of Lionel steam engines.  I didn't need it but it was there !!  So it came home with me. Runs good. Shows very little wear on the rollers.

Today I made some more trees. I've been working on scenery on the other side of the layout, making various trees and placing them.  Also adding ground cover details. A work in progress. I have about 10 trees made that I haven't placed yet. Tomorrow  I will be making some more trees to add as well. Then I will work on adding details and water to the river. Also, I've been experimenting  on small sample models to figure out colors and methods to add water  

Having fun!

I got the full footprint of my layout setup and running today, for the first time in nearly 25 years! Four 4x8 tables and relevant connectors, 26 Command Control Switches, more Fastrack than I can really believe, a big ZW-L powering it, and a Legacy remote upgraded (finally!) to 1.52. Even the iPad + LCS Application works, as of a few minutes ago! 

Level 1 is done and wired. This whole "Legacy" thing is waaaaaaay better than what I used to have to do. I had 5 Legacy locomotives running on it today, and my 4-year old twin boys lost their mind!! 

Running at the same time:

1. Lionmaster Union Pacific Challenger 4-6-6-4, pulling a beautiful set of yellow aluminum UP passenger cars.  
2. Legacy Union Pacific GP9 Double Header. 
3. Legacy Southern Pacific Sharknose AA unit with a set of matching Daylight colored cars. 
4. Lionmaster Legacy Conrail - this is an old "Trainmaster" style engine, with all the modern bits. 
5. TMCC Union Pacific Lionmaster Trainmaster style engine. 

My boys played with their LionChief Percy, James and Thomas, which was fun for them. 

Fun times!! 

Cheers,
Chris

Found a handle knocking about work.  Decided it'd work well on a transformer, and, a bit of editing on a red Lionel lever later, voila!

Mitch

Yesterday I made a masonite retaining wall that elevates 2 building flats I made. I need to soften the black color and may paint a name or hang a sign.

M. Mitchell Marmel posted:

Found a handle knocking about work.  Decided it'd work well on a transformer, and, a bit of editing on a red Lionel lever later, voila!

Mitch

No foot pedal to step on?

Glad to see you got a "handle" on whatever kept you away  too

CLM posted:

I got the full footprint of my layout setup and running today, for the first time in nearly 25 years! Four 4x8 tables and relevant connectors, 26 Command Control Switches, more Fastrack than I can really believe, a big ZW-L powering it, and a Legacy remote upgraded (finally!) to 1.52. Even the iPad + LCS Application works, as of a few minutes ago! 

Level 1 is done and wired. This whole "Legacy" thing is waaaaaaay better than what I used to have to do. I had 5 Legacy locomotives running on it today, and my 4-year old twin boys lost their mind!! 

Running at the same time:

1. Lionmaster Union Pacific Challenger 4-6-6-4, pulling a beautiful set of yellow aluminum UP passenger cars.  
2. Legacy Union Pacific GP9 Double Header. 
3. Legacy Southern Pacific Sharknose AA unit with a set of matching Daylight colored cars. 
4. Lionmaster Legacy Conrail - this is an old "Trainmaster" style engine, with all the modern bits. 
5. TMCC Union Pacific Lionmaster Trainmaster style engine. 

My boys played with their LionChief Percy, James and Thomas, which was fun for them. 

Fun times!! 

Cheers,
Chris

Chris,

Sounds like you have been busy, and your work has paid off!  Glad your boys have fun with the trains!

well I received first three of my Atlas CZ cars and found out that i need to move my caboose switch throws to the staright side of my ross turnouts to avoid catching underbody detail on these cars. 

The Detroit Model Railroad Club

Homework at the DMRRC. Each member is ask to work on small projects at home.  This is my homework.  When I finish this project, they will be posting more homework for the members and I will look for my next job.

Will take the car to the DMRRC for a test ride on a 2-rail scale layout. This is a WM. K Walthers Inc kit from the 60’s. Built to N.M.R.A. Standards, 241 E. Eric St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This information is on the box.

Step 1 • Study the issues.

Step 2 • Used deli dishes, sprayed with Testors Dullcote for the windows and held in place with Scotch Magic Tape, I never use glue on windows.

Step 3 • Used Testors Gold Paint for the windows and replaced most of the window posts.

Step 4 • Added balsa block to keep the car from flexing on curves.

Step 5 • Replaced the side walls with nails.

Step 6 • Used a nail-set to finish off the nails.

Step 7 • Assembled the diaphragms.

Step 8 • Tacked glued the diaphragms to the end of the car.

Step 9 • Took it for a test ride on my 3-rail layout.

Gary

trainroomgary posted:

The Detroit Model Railroad Club

Homework at the DMRRC. Each member is ask to work on small projects at home.  This is my homework.  When I finish this project, they will be posting more homework for the members and I will look for my next job.

Will take the car to the DMRRC for a test ride on a 2-rail scale layout. This is a WM. K Walthers Inc kit from the 60’s. Built to N.M.R.A. Standards, 241 E. Eric St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This information is on the box.

Step 1 • Study the issues.

Step 2 • Used deli dishes, sprayed with Testors Dullcote for the windows and held in place with Scotch Magic Tape, I never use glue on windows.

Step 3 • Used Testors Gold Paint for the windows and replaced most of the window posts.

Step 4 • Added balsa block to keep the car from flexing on curves.

Step 5 • Replaced the side walls with nails.

Step 6 • Used a nail-set to finish off the nails.

Step 7 • Assembled the diaphragms.

Step 8 • Tacked glued the diaphragms to the end of the car.

Step 9 • Took it for a test ride on my 3-rail layout.

Gary

Looks good. Nice work using simple solutions and materal.

Adriatic posted:

No foot pedal to step on?

Glad to see you got a "handle" on whatever kept you away  too

Heh.  Well, I haven't been TOTALLY inactive; the December issue of CTT has my third "Tip and Trick" article, this time showing how to modify FasTrack for Lionel 260 bumpers... 

Mitch

I had some time this weekend so i tried some salt weathering on a bridge I had made awhile back. after watching the video by ericstrains I thought i would give it a try. I decided to use silver for the paint as moxt of the bridges around my neck of the woods were silver and rust, I finished up removing all the salt thismorning and assembled the bridge and this is what I got.

the bridge is only 5 inches high the cars lionel and menards

Ran trains for about 15 minutes this morning.  Glued a few figures into place as trains were running.  FUN TIMES!!

WP posted:

Today I made some more trees. I've been working on scenery on the other side of the layout, making various trees and placing them.  Also adding ground cover details. A work in progress. I have about 10 trees made that I haven't placed yet. Tomorrow  I will be making some more trees to add as well. Then I will work on adding details and water to the river. Also, I've been experimenting  on small sample models to figure out colors and methods to add water  

Having fun!

Fantastic!  Inspiring.  Hope to get to scenery some day ourselves.

Kerrigan posted:

WP posted:

Fantastic!  Inspiring.  Hope to get to scenery some day ourselves.

Thank you Kerrigan. I am inspired by all the neat things folks share here  too. I hope you get going on scenery soon. Personally I find that I hesitate and hesitate before I start. Finally, I just say the heck with it and I jump right in. Maybe it's not perfect, but it is fun. You'll enjoy it as well!!! Share your progress too. 

WP posted:

Today I ...made some more trees. I've been working on scenery on the other side of the layout, making various trees and placing them.  Also adding ground cover details. A work in progress....

Having fun!

That whole rip-rap detail is fabulous.

And the park-like forest floor is very handsome and believable, IMO.

FrankM

Moonson posted:

WP posted:

Today I ...made some more trees. I've been working on scenery on the other side of the layout, making various trees and placing them.  Also adding ground cover details. A work in progress....

Having fun!

That whole rip-rap detail is fabulous.

FrankM

Thank you very much Frank M. 

Upgraded my TIU and remote to 5.0. Set up my MTH wifi.

Reacqainted myself with the Lionel  iCab app.

Peter

Yesterday I made 2 retaining wallso and elevated buildings. As I explain in more detail on my not quite a complete redo thread, I plan to make a 10 foot deck girder structure that will extend over the lower track and front of the buildings at the door level.

Before

The Detroit Model Railroad Club • Homework Done

The DMRRC Passenger Car is at Dorrance Station, welding shed, for some needed repairs, to the trucks. (DMRRC 2-rail O-Scale) - Founded on January 19th., 1935.

Gary

Finally finished planting trees between the yard and the main.  Nice thing about trees in winter. No leaves and can create a unique perspective for viewing trains.

Before

After

I am still chipping away!  I finally got around to adding hood bells to my MTH - Duluth Missabe & Iron Range SD high hood units.  Don’t know why MTH failed to include that detail which is such a hallmark characteristic of the DM&IR high hood units.  I purchased the high hood bells from Minatures by Eric.  I modified the stock bell bracket to more closely resemble those used by the DM&IR.  The parts are cast brass.

I have powered my building lights and added outdoor lighting around the stations.

Have test planted some trees recently purchased from Menards and added a few of my own creation, to which I need to add more foliage.

I will be entertaining some young engineers tomorrow so I still have a bit of cleanup to do!

Dave 

Darlander, Looks great! Are all your lights powered by one power supply?

mike g. posted:

Darlander, Looks great! Are all your lights powered by one power supply?

The building lights get powered from an AC transformer set at 15 volts.  The outdoor LED lampposts are powered by an old 6 volt DC power source from Radio Shack.  The Antique Lampposts were purchased on eBay - $12.97 for 10.  This included shipping from China.  I added a 240 ohm resister to each light since they were rated for 3 volts.  

Dave

Dave Thank you for the information.

Ho And O Gauge Layout Update

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_yrosbiP-M

trees

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXG7lHZTQYY

Cleaned up the layout, we're having family over tomorrow and I want to show off my progress.

Also, AP&L put in some  overtime getting "power to the people"!

Mo985 posted:

Cleaned up the layout, we're having family over tomorrow and I want to show off my progress.

Also, AP&L put in some  overtime getting "power to the people"!

Its coming together rather nicely. Really like how the mountain turned out.

Finished rehabbing some Lionel accessories today:

I'm particularly proud of the #068, as that was a tangled wreck when I acquired it back in March with the others...

Saturday night was Sugar Creek night at Keith Johnson's place, so I took the Liberty Liner out for some exercise: 

And I also assembled a working gi-raffe car from that 3386 shell I acquired at the Springfield show in September:

All in all, a productive weekend!

Mitch

(More pics below.)

Ran a train for the first time in over 2 weeks. I was out of town, hanging with astronauts and steam locomotives at two different situations...

Got back from a great York. Left my list of wants home so I had to really wing it (not really). I had been thinking of the die cast bridge from Lionel for a while. Seeing it at York I decided to get one there and it turned out to my advantage because they had a show stopper price on them which I could not pass up. Also I managed to remember I needed a couple of die cast Weaver trucks which I was able to find. Guess with no list my buddy Brian was not able to get to things first and buy them out from under me. I think he just does it to the Tuesday night crew LOL. Bryan, by the way, are you going to be able to make Tuesday night this coming week. Pics of my buys.................Paul

Paul,  yes I will be there on Tuesday.  How did I miss you at York as I saw everyone else there and I was there Thursday-Saturday.  That not a bad bridge but I was able to score what was probably the only Atlas Double Track Pratt bridge in the place and at a AWESOME price. Here is what the back of our vehicle looked like coming home.  The roller coaster is not mine it was Tony's.

Did some maintenance on several Standard gauge engines and ran some Standard gauge trains for awhile. A lot of fun.

Ran my new Williams F3 B&O diesels which I had my friend Randy purchase for me at York .... since I could not attend.  The F3's run just fine and look just fine!!

I also ran my Y6b mallet and Aero train so the batteries could charge.  Straightened up the train room just a bit ... didn't want to overdo it though, for tomorrow I might not recognize the place    

To sum it up ... I had BIG fun!!!

Next winter's project, Kits - kit bashing these 3 kits into flat structures. Want to get started tomorrow. Like to start with degreasing the plastic parts and then use Testors Dull Cote out int the garage because Dull Cote has an offensive smell. Fall fishing and hunting is under way in Michigan, sometimes this gets in the way of model railroading.  Nov. 15th., is a state holiday. Start of firearm season.

Used a Rivarossi tender behind a General and the watched glue dry on the frame for its intended engine .. .