What did you do on your layout today?

Elliot, I congratulate you on your ability to do so much wiring with the patience of a saint. Wiring has never been one of my strong suits. So watching your progress on the wiring without connecting something up to run a train as you go along is sheer determination and will power. Good for you. Send some of that ability my way please..................Paul

Thanks Paul, I can't send you the ability, but I can wish you a happy belated birthday.

For me, this wiring project is kind of exciting, because it is the penultimate evolution of the control system for the hidden yards. The work that I'm doing now will be part of the final solution involving computer control. This panel allows low voltage DC to control AC track power.

I spent six hours working on this yesterday, and I'm just about to head down for a five hour session, in the hopes of finishing big hidden yard. I still have to do the small hidden yard, but that's a lot fewer wires. Once that's done, I just have to deal with the cosmetics of combining the two panels into a single unit on the desk.

Finally got the coal mine module that I have been building off the layout for a month installed, and cleaned the room up enough to take some photos.   Waiting for the last of the puff ball trees to dry so I can hot glue them on the last remaining section....Might actually run some trains tonight.   

VERY nice, looks really good, great job !!!

That mine looks terrific!

chris a posted:

Finally got the coal mine module that I have been building off the layout for a month installed, and cleaned the room up enough to take some photos.   Waiting for the last of the puff ball trees to dry so I can hot glue them on the last remaining section....Might actually run some trains tonight.   

 

   

It looks great Chris!  The only comment that I'll make is what my wife's niece said when she saw my layout.  "There's no trash or empty soda cans laying around."  By the way, I still haven't added the trash to my layout.  Well done.

chris a posted:

Finally got the coal mine module that I have been building off the layout for a month installed, and cleaned the room up enough to take some photos.   Waiting for the last of the puff ball trees to dry so I can hot glue them on the last remaining section..

   

Fabulous! Spectacular! OMG. Just as handsome as it gets, all of it. And these two close-ups really show how flawless your master-craftsmanship is. Wow.

FrankM.

Thanks to everyone for the really kind comments....   There's a post on this  whole coal mine project.  I really started it to share a really different way to build mountains.. without all the plaster products....  I found it on You Tube, tried it, improvised a little, and I am totally hooked on not using plaster products to build mountains any more.....    the link to that thread is below:  

https://ogrforum.com/...99#73791479818963799

Love the coal mine!!  Needs a little dust and dirt but a nice job.  Agree with you on the plaster.  I went to my storage  place, dug out 3 boxes of Standard gauge stuff and will be running some Lionel and Ives engines with some freight cars for a day or two. My rotation plan. I intend to keep  a Lionel and an Ives box cab out then put the rest away for awhile Still more up there to be  dug out.  By a miracle I found the tender for my 1615 switcher so it gets run too.

This weekend I put masonite up on the left side of the window (pic #1) and on another wall that I will eventually have a steel mill backdrop on (pic #2). I finally got brave enough to mock up and cut my first backdrop to the right of the window. Now I just have to figure out what I will use to attach to the masonite. This should give you and idea of what the other backdrops will look like with my "wonderfully" shaped walls.

Dave

Dave,

It looks great!  I like the walls!

decoynh posted:

chris a posted:

Finally got the coal mine module that I have been building off the layout for a month installed, and cleaned the room up enough to take some photos.   Waiting for the last of the puff ball trees to dry so I can hot glue them on the last remaining section....Might actually run some trains tonight.   

 

   

It looks great Chris!  The only comment that I'll make is what my wife's niece said when she saw my layout.  "There's no trash or empty soda cans laying around."  By the way, I still haven't added the trash to my layout.  Well done.

 

Wow, exceptional work!

RSJB18 posted:

Happy Birthday Paul!

Nice work Elliot- happy to hear that the wiring went well. Not being able to run trains should be inspiration enough to finish the project quickly.

Bob

Thanks Bob, actually running trains isn't something I do for fun anymore. It's more about the construction for me. On the other hand, just knowing that I can't run trains because the layout is being worked on, leaves me feeling uneasy (if that makes any sense).

I am just five suitcase connectors and system testing away from being back in business. Months of pre-planning and stewing have resulted in a smooth transition.

Dave,   The backdrops look great,  what company supplied the backdrops ? or are you printing out your own photography ?   Chris 

chris a posted:

Dave,   The backdrops look great,  what company supplied the backdrops ? or are you printing out your own photography ?   Chris 

Hey Chris,

Thank you much! This is exciting and I can't believe that one aspect of a layout can give so much immediate gratification. 

I purchased this backdrop from Backdrop Warehouse. The scene happens to be from a small town in West Virginia across the river from where I grew up in Ohio.

chris a posted:

 

   

Wow Chris! Knowing what the original buildings look like, I can barely pick them out of the picture. Great job of kit bashing! 

Big_Boy_4005 posted:

RSJB18 posted:

Happy Birthday Paul!

Nice work Elliot- happy to hear that the wiring went well. Not being able to run trains should be inspiration enough to finish the project quickly.

Bob

Thanks Bob, actually running trains isn't something I do for fun anymore. It's more about the construction for me. On the other hand, just knowing that I can't run trains because the layout is being worked on, leaves me feeling uneasy (if that makes any sense).

I am just five suitcase connectors and system testing away from being back in business. Months of pre-planning and stewing have resulted in a smooth transition.

 

Makes perfect sense Elliot. I know exactly what you mean.

Bob

luvindemtrains posted:

chris a posted:

Dave,   The backdrops look great,  what company supplied the backdrops ? or are you printing out your own photography ?   Chris 

Hey Chris,

Thank you much! This is exciting and I can't believe that one aspect of a layout can give so much immediate gratification. 

I purchased this backdrop from Backdrop Warehouse. The scene happens to be from a small town in West Virginia across the river from where I grew up in Ohio.

Scene across the river from where you grew up!!  That's great!

RSJB18 posted:

Big_Boy_4005 posted:

RSJB18 posted:

Happy Birthday Paul!

Nice work Elliot- happy to hear that the wiring went well. Not being able to run trains should be inspiration enough to finish the project quickly.

Bob

Thanks Bob, actually running trains isn't something I do for fun anymore. It's more about the construction for me. On the other hand, just knowing that I can't run trains because the layout is being worked on, leaves me feeling uneasy (if that makes any sense).

I am just five suitcase connectors and system testing away from being back in business. Months of pre-planning and stewing have resulted in a smooth transition.

 

Makes perfect sense Elliot. I know exactly what you mean.

Bob

I agree!!  I hate it when someone asks me to run a train, and I'm not set up to do so at the time!

Today I got the legs bolted on and the plywood laid on top. Going to try to screw the plywood down tonight and tomorrow I can lay down he cork. Working in this small area at least I found out I am not claustrophobic LOL...Pics................Paul

New pics of the Amtrak Dreyfus up!

https://ogrforum.com/...98#73791479836438898

Mitch

Today  I decided  to place my coaling and Water towers.  I also added a light to light up the coaling load.  Had some extra LEDs so I thought this might add to the scene.  The tower is light with warm light so I thought it would be cool  to use cool light...more industrial and compliments the flourescent lighting  in the Backshop over yonder. 

Wow there is going to be a lot to catch up on even though I have been lurking in the shadows.  So while I playing catch up on this thread. I actually found time to get things done layout wise and made a video running my NP Lionel RS-11 that I completed a fixed pilot and kadee upgrade this weekend.  So enjoy

luvindemtrains posted:

This weekend I put masonite up on the left side of the window (pic #1) and on another wall that I will eventually have a steel mill backdrop on (pic #2). I finally got brave enough to mock up and cut my first backdrop to the right of the window. Now I just have to figure out what I will use to attach to the masonite. This should give you and idea of what the other backdrops will look like with my "wonderfully" shaped walls.

Dave

Dave, The back drop really makes a difference. Blended in well and changes the whole aspect of the layout. Makes you want to go and touch the trees.

paul 2 posted:

Yesterday, Friday, was to be a work session on the basement layout but we got hit with a power failure which lasted long enough to wipe out my time to work on the layout. Today is my birthday ( please no presents LOL ) but my kids sent me, for the first time train related gifts. All will be displayed, especially the Psychiatric Booth, on the layouts so the kids finally realized my addiction for trains.  Today as a present to myself I will be getting the table ready for going into position. Pics..................Paul

Paul happy belated birthday. Really like the clock and I am sure you have the perfect place for it. As for the stand, well way this month has been I most likely be your first customer.

Doug,   Great video....   I remember seeing some still shots of Winterton, but the video provides a great perspective..   That is some really impressive "winter scene" modelling.    Nice touch with the music !     On the technical front,  what diameter curves can you run with the fixed pilots and the Kadee couplers which definitely "tighten up" the gaps between cars and engines.    

chris a posted:

Finally got the coal mine module that I have been building off the layout for a month installed, and cleaned the room up enough to take some photos.   Waiting for the last of the puff ball trees to dry so I can hot glue them on the last remaining section....Might actually run some trains tonight.   

 

   

Chris a couple of things. How about a evening shot showing all the lights ?  Although not intended, I noticed the wood beams holding up the retaining wall indicating that some structural issues. Now that's attention to detail.   Finally the vehicles are too clean. still this was a great build to follow. 

chris a posted:

Doug,   Great video....   I remember seeing some still shots of Winterton, but the video provides a great perspective..   That is some really impressive "winter scene" modelling.    Nice touch with the music !     On the technical front,  what diameter curves can you run with the fixed pilots and the Kadee couplers which definitely "tighten up" the gaps between cars and engines.    

Chris, thanks for the comment on the layout. your eyes would roll if you knew what I used to simulate snow cover..I am running 090 Atlas on the main and 072 and 081 into the yard sidings. I know you can run tighter curves but then run into issues with 50ft or longer rolling stock. Most of my engines have been converted to Kadees. The 4 axle units ( FTs, RS11, and GPs over hang is not an issue. The longer six axle units are an issue so until I build the new layout they have been coveted to kadees but the pilots are not fixed yet. Right now my 3rd rail SD9s are the only six axle units with fixed pilots. Glad you liked the music otherwise known as Euro Trash to us GI stationed in Germany.. 

suzukovich posted:

luvindemtrains posted:

This weekend I put masonite up on the left side of the window (pic #1) and on another wall that I will eventually have a steel mill backdrop on (pic #2). I finally got brave enough to mock up and cut my first backdrop to the right of the window. Now I just have to figure out what I will use to attach to the masonite. This should give you and idea of what the other backdrops will look like with my "wonderfully" shaped walls.

Dave

Dave, The back drop really makes a difference. Blended in well and changes the whole aspect of the layout. Makes you want to go and touch the trees.

Suzukovich,

Absolutely! I can't wait to get the others up and then get to blending the scenery and structures in with them. Exciting stuff!

nate the tank posted:

Got a little board at work while waiting for another job. 

Nice, reminds me of some of the stuff our mechanics and the 3rd shop mechanics did on Phoenix  while I was down range.

Grand daughter was here when I got home. She Loves the "Shiny Train"  It's my Coors Light Silver Bullet Train complete with tail car.  That reminds me, time to fill all those smoke units.

Doug,   You are exceptionally observant regarding the timbers up against the block wall.. Truth be told, I had to do some cutting and carving to fit that wall into the incline under the tipple building and I haven't decided whether I am going to permanently glue it in or fasten with the HD velcro I have.    At the bottom of that wall I still need to glue some 3/8" x 1 1/2" wood stock so it doesn't get damaged sliding the module in and out...

The wall itself is made out of the pink styrene insulation, engraved with sharp pencils and wire wheel brushes, then painted, mortared and weathered.   

Yes I need to weather all the vehicles, just haven't wanted to stop and do that yet, and as others have pointed out,  I have to improve on scattering more trash and debris....  About 1/2 way through this I started realizing that it's easy to fall into the trap of trying to make things "too perfect" while scratch-building, and way too neat and organized, especially for a 1940's mining operation....  If you saw the state of my workshop, a total disaster, you'd think it wouldn't be too hard to emulate that mess on the train table.....

ran a little early postwar Lionel on the layout....

gandydancer1950 posted:

ran a little early postwar Lionel on the layout....

Nice, but what really caught me eye was the river. How did you mange to get the color right. Most seam to blue or a kind of an off blue grey.  The whole scene with the back drop looks pretty realistic.  Also it's hard to tell where the layout ends and the back drop begins.  

I totally agree with Suzukovich, outstanding job blending the seam between the backdrop and the layout both at water level and all the way across,  color match is great, perspective is correct,  really nice work !      Whose back drop did you buy ?   

suzukovich posted:

gandydancer1950 posted:

ran a little early postwar Lionel on the layout....

Nice, but what really caught me eye was the river. How did you mange to get the color right. Most seam to blue or a kind of an off blue grey.  The whole scene with the back drop looks pretty realistic.  Also it's hard to tell where the layout ends and the back drop begins.  

To be honest, I struggled with the river color finally choosing a bluish/ grey. It seems to look better as you get farther away from it. In hindsight I think a raw umber or olive drab color would have looked better. Thanks for the nice compliments.

chris a posted:

I totally agree with Suzukovich, outstanding job blending the seam between the backdrop and the layout both at water level and all the way across,  color match is great, perspective is correct,  really nice work !      Whose back drop did you buy ?   

I installed cloud pattern wallpaper along the walls and then put mountain backdrops from Scenic Express. Thanks

GANDYDANCER1950, that is a great scene. The way you tied in everything and the color of the water is spot on. Great job....................Paul

paul 2 posted:

GANDYDANCER1950, that is a great scene. The way you tied in everything and the color of the water is spot on. Great job....................Paul

Thank you....much appreciated!