Bought the lumber but for the past few days I been kind of laid back. Today was the first of doing something. I started small by adding some scrub grass to the sidings for Morton Salt. I am waiting for the glue to dry then I am adding some clumps of Prairie grass in spots. While that is drying I'll start cutting the wood I need to frame in the table by the dryer. At least that is my hope for today. Pics of the sidings so far..............Paul
Very nice, Paul. 
Nice work there Paul! Keep it up and you will be over the washer in no time, right after the drier!
Paul, the track and grass look great! The Washer and Dryer Branch will be a great addition!
Im back guys. So a quick update sadly last November I moved and the layout had to come down. Moved to a much smaller house but right next to my dads company's garage. The new place doesn't have a nice basement so I was putting off the next layout, plus the girlfriend didn't want to ever go through a tear down again. So made the plan to make a modular layout which I've never liked for O scale. When she walked into the shop the other day check on me so was shocked that it was starting over again. This is the first section so far nothing crazy hoping to have it done by Tuesday and start planing the next one.
Look like you have a good start there Nate! Please keep us posted on how things move along!
Nate, I'm purplexed. Curious why you don't care for modules for O? The approach seems ideal to me. ..and looks good.
While I didn't build my small table as a normal "module", it was ment to be a stand alone 4.5x9, that could also be tied into the old abandond RR in my basement (if I decide stairs are ok again). A lot of my scenery was done with modular swap out ability in mind too. E.g. When I tire of my El's little mine shaft atop it's platue, I can swap in a new platue layer of a different scene in about a minute. A power assortment for future platues is waiting on a molex plug, and I have the bases for the new scenes ready, just haven't finished mining yet.
The only drawback I can figure is this new layout might be "too easy" to take down, and so you might get asked to...?
I lounged around yesterday occasionally running a couple of CP hoppers around while singing a round or two of "Oh Canada" just to be neighborly. (the 1st is "Canada's birthday)
Tonight the military train parade assemblies begin..... right after I devote my attention to the bulb out in my flagmans sconce light sitting below Old Glory. This is going to likely call fot moving the layout....and everthing under and around it....hours....yea....time to start.....
I am totally sold on building in modular form.... Had to move due to unexpected circumstances twice and lost 2 layouts.. This last one I started building in large modules up to 8 feet long, no wider than 36 inches.... After my dad passed away in 2014 I ended up deciding to move into his home and selling mine. Fortunately, my entire engine service penninsula and classification yards and a connecting section were built as modules, so we got them moved successfully and those two sections were were put back in less than 3 months. A small canyon my son and I had built back in 2004 in Maine was also saved and is installed pretty much in it's original form, the only change was I added a 40 inch dual track Atlas Truss bridge to replace one of the older bridges over the ravine. What's currently built is 23 feet x 20 feet and it all can be disassembled moved and put back up.... I am getting way to old to think I could start from scratch if another relocation occurs, plus if meet my demize, I would like my son to have the option to take it apart and either keep it, or sell it.... Not possible with my previous layouts that pretty much had to be cut up and destroyed.
Nate, I'm purplexed. Curious why you don't care for modules for O? The approach seems ideal to me. ..and looks good.
While I didn't build my small table as a normal "module", it was ment to be a stand alone 4.5x9, that could also be tied into the old abandond RR in my basement (if I decide stairs are ok again). A lot of my scenery was done with modular swap out ability in mind too. E.g. When I tire of my El's little mine shaft atop it's platue, I can swap in a new platue layer of a different scene in about a minute. A power assortment for future platues is waiting on a molex plug, and I have the bases for the new scenes ready, just haven't finished mining yet.
The only drawback I can figure is this new layout might be "too easy" to take down, and so you might get asked to...?
I lounged around yesterday occasionally running a couple of CP hoppers around while singing a round or two of "Oh Canada" just to be neighborly. (the 1st is "Canada's birthday)
Tonight the military train parade assemblies begin..... right after I devote my attention to the bulb out in my flagmans sconce light sitting below Old Glory. This is going to likely call fot moving the layout....and everthing under and around it....hours?....yea....time to start.....
And at times like this, I'm glad I put wheels on the layout too. 
The move took minutes. I shifted boxes and enlisted the 140lb Bandogg & his leash to pull the layout and couch out, pushing them back with my knee.
It turns out I had knocked a laquer wire loose while moving the backdrop around, bumping it on the shack's base.
So now, onto thoughts of rocket's red glare....
Hmm, the inner Johnny Knoxville in me is awake today....Gotta light?
Chances are good one of my original rockets suffered a similar demise.
Tempting; I always kinda wanted to. Closest I can recall at the moment is BB guns and firecrackers on some badly busted up cars (saving the trucks and brakewheels, lol). I guess this newer car is lucky that I don't have a big clearing behind this house like I used to....my only option would be aiming at the tracks...the real tracks 
.. so don't t hold your breath; I'm good at keeping my inner JK at bay. ... kinda..mostly..usually.....some? 
And at times like this, I'm glad I put wheels on the layout too.
The move took minutes. I shifted boxes and enlisted the 140lb Bandogg & his leash to pull the layout and couch out, pushing them back with my knee.
It turns out I had knocked a laquer wire loose while moving the backdrop around, bumping it on the shack's base.
So now, onto thoughts of rocket's red glare....
Hmm, the inner Johnny Knoxville in me is awake today....Gotta light?
Chances are good one of my original rockets suffered a similar demise.
Tempting; I always kinda wanted to. Closest I can recall at the moment is BB guns and firecrackers on some badly busted up cars (saving the trucks and brakewheels, lol). I guess this newer car is lucky that I don't have a big clearing behind this house like I used to....my only option would be aiming at the tracks...the real tracks .. so don't t hold your breath; I'm good at keeping my inner JK at bay. ... kinda..mostly..usually.....some? 
Interesting. A double post.
Despite the time difference, the last few posts by me were done within a minute of each other.
And is that a sexond double post? A queue is off somewhere!...time to reboot.
All the layouts I've made before where normal pylwood topped layouts. The 2nd levels came easy in my mind. I just never cared the one I have now is 28x6 feet not a lot of room from what I'm used to that's all. Just gunna take some getting use to. I'm just happy to have a start now , even tho I can only run it back and forth it's something.
Nate,
Anything is better than nothing, is what I think you are saying. I agree with that 100%. I'm planning my layout in 130 square foot space, and I will have a lot to do.
Adriatic,
Your imagination never ceases to amaze me!! Keep on posting!!
I scored a Lionel crane sounds shack this afternoon, and while it looks cute on a traditional layout, I had a different purpose in mind. Rather than make it a stationary fixture, it's electronics were transferred into my fantasy crane tender. Saving it's more sophisticated speaker enclosure, I subbed in a baby Fatboy and enclosure from ERR. Being smaller, it fit neatly between 2 existing switches in the floor for programing and volume.
As with the original mounting, the main board simply screws on top of the speaker enclosure. Even with the shortened N5C body, there was room enough for the fair sized crane sounds board. Power pickup is from the original lighted caboose trucks.
Inside lighting was provided from the shack...2 LED's on a long board that conveniently attached to bosses inside the caboose roof. I routed the antenna wires out through the middle of the roof and the wide plate antenna fit snugly under one running board. There's tons of detail work left before I can say this project is done, but a few big steps towards completion were accomplished today. Future endeavours include relabeling the crane too. The added sounds really increase the fun factor of the CC crane.
Bruce
Thats exactly what I mean Mark. With my imagination I'd think I should have got hurt more often if I was even close to that nuts, lol.
Now that's a cool little system Pete 
. I've got a million questions about that. Or at least half a dozen anyhow. But I will try to contain myself till you really learn to make it dance.
Are you spreading those out too?
....you should just paint the wall blue and cut along the horizon line. I think it would maximize the effect.
As would them being offset from each other relative to the wall; the closer light to the wall casts a slightly taller beam (closer storm), so the storm does not travel exactly parallel to the layout table, but complimentary to the forced perception points of the hill peaks instead.
Did it come with any other suggestions for maximizing the effects? (I have a slight but old interest in effect/theater/entertainment lighting, etc.)
..now how to get the shine of wetness to come and go on cement..?
.....and the yard crews!
Bruce the crane looks great, and I think it will really enhance operations with sound.
Pete, I'm with Adriatic wondering how it will look when you get it all setup permanently.
Ran a reefer block on the layout....
I do like those old billboard reefers!
it was a nice warm sunny day Sunday so I was able to get the 10 foot extension on my train table painted , I laid some track in order to determine what I needed to complete the circuit, then I put out a few items just to have an idea of what I could do 
Mark Boyce posted:I do like those old billboard reefers!
Thanks Mark!
Today I procrastinated. Didn't do what I intended. I did measure for where I have to cut the hole in the tongue and groove for the track to go through under the stairs. Then I backed away and decided to put a couple of weaver wood chip hoppers together. While the glue was drying on those I started adding turf to another area. Pics of the area I started. Still have to glue it down.............Paul
paul 2 posted:Today I procrastinated. Didn't do what I intended. I did measure for where I have to cut the hole in the tongue and groove for the track to go through under the stairs. Then I backed away and decided to put a couple of weaver wood chip hoppers together. While the glue was drying on those I started adding turf to another area. Pics of the area I started. Still have to glue it down.............Paul
Looks great!
Well this is where I stand as of tonight. Had a good day working on it. Had to put the legs on sooner then I wanted due to some side work coming in and was making the section on my welding table. But the basics are done waiting for the glue to all dry now didn't want to do anything else till then.
I solved my final electrical problem as it regards all my rails. Turned out to be a pretty silly issue with a tap splice. Now to finish up the switch wiring on five switches and figure out why one is not powered.
Installed the automatic Trolley stop/announcement accessory from Z-stuff. (DZ-1220 with DZ-1205 in track sensors). It's an attention grabber! My 5 yr. old grandson thought I used magic...in a way, I did, well, to be fair, I used Z-stuff magic.
My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channe...2lyWjBzKnTw0_C4IIQCg
Trolley in action: https://youtu.be/NmxuCH1YGMI
(I've just begun experimenting with making movies and using YouTube...)I had to cut a hole in a sections of Fastrack to accommodate the sensors and brace them underneath to assure proper height.
I secured the sensor with silicone. The sensors are 16' apart and one sensor is the same distance from the controller.
Good work, Ed! Might wanna turn the trolley around so the doors face the platform, but that's a minor quibble...
Mitch
Ed,
Nice job, I'll bet your grandson loved it!! I'm not to experienced with videos and YouTube, either. I thought yours was great!!
Thanks Mark.
Mitch,
funny, those soldiers never complained. I wonder how they got aboard the Trolley? However, now I understand why revenue fell off. 
Not much action on the RSJ&B. Putting the final coat of paint on the CEO's project today (WHOO-HOO!). I'm working on an idea to convert a short siding into a small engine service area with two tracks. Now I just need some free time to build it. I have a few short switchers that I need to find a home for since I run them a lot.
Want to wish everyone a Happy 4th. Remember to keep the coolers full, the grill hot, and body parts away from explosives. 
Bob
Working on completing my coal mine scene... The kit bashing of the coal tipple with the Lionel Coal mine kit plus more hours than I care to admit to build the scratchbuilt trestle so that the On30 coal dump cars can reach the new hopper got completed last night.... Now back to the rest of the module.... Took some photos out on the deck this AM as the sun was shining. Happy July 4th.
nate the tank posted:Well this is where I stand as of tonight. Had a good day working on it. Had to put the legs on sooner then I wanted due to some side work coming in and was making the section on my welding table. But the basics are done waiting for the glue to all dry now didn't want to do anything else till then.
Nate,
The module looks great and I really like your fall colored trees. Did you make the trees? If so, what materials did you use?
Thanks,
Howard
chris a posted:Working on completing my coal mine scene... The kit bashing of the coal tipple with the Lionel Coal mine kit plus more hours than I care to admit to build the scratchbuilt trestle so that the On30 coal dump cars can reach the new hopper got completed last night.... Now back to the rest of the module.... Took some photos out on the deck this AM as the sun was shining. Happy July 4th.
Nice work. Looks great outside and on the layout.
ToledoEd posted:funny, those soldiers never complained. I wonder how they got aboard the Trolley?
They infiltrated, of course!
However, now I understand why revenue fell off.
It's true!
Mitch
got a little more done today 
Finished up the final stuff. Waiting on all the little extras for when I dig more boxes out of the basement when I need them. Starting the plans on the second one, which will be the the left side of the switch so I can actually use the siding.
Howard- the fall trees are science express tress not to sure on the name but it's a kit you just have to get the flok yourself. I just wish I painted the first round of them I got.
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