Well, it's back to the future. Don't know where I'll end up.
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TedW posted:Plus 1 from me Max,
You could help a brother(s) out n send me n Bob a couple of those wheels.
thx. Ted
Thanks, Guys.
I can get them here and post them over.
My email address is below my signature.
Cheers
modeltrainsparts posted:Nice holsters; i kept mine a little more simple.
I like this one. When you take the remote out you have someplace to put your beer 
RSJB18 posted:modeltrainsparts posted:Nice holsters; i kept mine a little more simple.
I like this one. When you take the remote out you have someplace to put your beer
Wait a minute... remember, no drinking and driving trains
p51 posted:suzukovich posted:p51 posted:I just finished an op session and it went great. The two guys who ran on the layout had never been here before and gave me some pretty good feedback on a couple of things that I think I'm going to use the next time people run trains here, and they seemed to really enjoy everything. You never know how people are going to take these things, so it's always nice when it works out well.
Learning the many ways to skin the cat is always the best part. At least you have time to run trains.
I'm not one of these guys who has a layout and has everything engraved in stone. I've run on other layouts like that and it's a drag sometimes.
You can always learn from someone else when it comes to operation as a fresh set of eyes will always find something you didn't. This is why I put out the call to people who've never been to my place before.
As for the time, if I'd bought a Humvee like you just did, I probably wouldn't have had the time! My sympathy meter for you in that regard registers a 0.0 (even though I've taken my 1944 Willys MB Jeep to two car shows this month)...
As you can see by the late response Humvee not only thing I have going on. Usually no matter what I manage to run them at some point in the day. Not right now at least.
Got things set up for Frisco Fest in Rogers, AR! 
just came up from wiring more Miller Engineering signs. mounted my final sign on my Esso Gas Station. got to drill holes for the wires and then it will be under the layout for a while soldering all the wires. man I hope I can finish them tomorrow. it is hard for an old fat man to go down under. I will try to take pictures with all signs lit up.
Howdy Everyone,
So, I was in the mood to try to accomplish something (anything) on the layout today and here are the results. The upper level (Track 3) where most of the village buildings will go is basically all roughed in. When the extended trestle is complete track 3 will be continuous with a short passing siding behind where the buildings will be located (East end of the layout) . Track 3 is basically for running anything that requires O72 curves to operate. Here are a few pictures. Thank you for taking the time to look.
Chief Bob (Retired) 
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Looks great, Bob! How high is the upper level? I'm thinking you will get a great near eye level view of your largest engines.
Today I finished the lower level of my main station. Then I positioned the buildings in Christianville. They still need detailing but I will do that later when some of the other basic scenery is finished. Finally i planted grass and a few trees near my wooden bridge. When we got back from Florida this Spring I set a goal of spending at least 1 hour a day in the basement. For the most part I have done that. Of course I work very inefficiently so it still takes a long time. Fortunately I have a lot of time.
AL
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I did something on my layout, though it was more of yesterday, I also put an image up in a picture a day. I digress, yesterday I added more lights to my Atlas Theater, it looked a little bare, not quite like a theater all lit up. So I added more lights to my theater. I also ran a couple of trains.
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Got out today after locating the size black foam board I needed to glue the buildings to plus the glue dots. Got them at Staples. Plus the larger sheets had a bit of damage on the end so I asked if they could take something off because there was not much to choose from and they did. Now I can start gluing the buildings to the sheets and start leaning them against the Masonite to see how I will place them. I also decided that because these buildings have doors for loading or unloading I am going to add some sidings behind the mainline that is there. I have enough room using 11 degree switches, which I will have to order. But this is where I will focusing my attention for the time being........Paul
Disregard the caboose photo, but the two metal signs on the top edge of the wall I recently got from a vendor in Tennessee. They made a ET&WNC one, but it was really small. The other is a reproduction of an ad the locomotive company took out during World War II. It's screams of that time period, so I had to have it. Along the top edge seemed to be a pretty good place for them.
I also took one of the cups sticking out from the edge of the fascia, as there was one on the opposite side of the aisle. At the op session I had on Thursday, one of the operators suggested that the two cups didn't have to stick out so far and there was too much of a tendency to brush against them. When they took a really good look I realized he was right. You can always learn something from visitors to your layout because they always see something that never crossed your mind.
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Went into the layout room for the first time in a month and got hit in the face with some cobwebs.
I guess it's time for forget about fixing the cursed truck and run some wire to non-powered upper level turnouts.
Put some traction tires on this ol' gal. The magna traction didn't cut it on 
gargraves track. Also gave her a good oil & lube job.
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Mark Boyce posted:Looks great, Bob! How high is the upper level? I'm thinking you will get a great near eye level view of your largest engines.
Thanks Mark! The upper level is 53" to the top of the pink foam.
Chief Bob (Retired)
Greetings Everyone,
Still feeling ambitious today, I continued working the elevated portion of my layout (Track 3). 
Got most of the pink foam glued down and I was able to start working on the bridge. The bridge (an Atlas Pratt Truss) is removable so that the lift-out section can be raised to facilitate access to the interior of the layout. 
Since Track 3 is O72 min. radius I hope to finish this before York. That way, I won't have to pass-up that set of Pennsy Centipedes I'll be looking for. 
Thanks again for the "Likes" and encouraging responses. Both are greatly appreciated! 
Chief Bob (Retired) 
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After months-long hiatus from playing with my trains, I pulled everything off my SG layout table to dust and rethink. Almost all is back on the table, albeit some items in different locations.
One of my husband Tom's favorites is the polar bear that I got for my Ives Circus set.. This time he is climbing over the railing of the station terrace, and the soldiers (and a police dog) are called to aid in the town's rescue.
Decided not to put back on my vintage Barclay winter sports enthusiasts (skaters, sledders, and skiers). They don't go with the rest of the layout at present, but they are indeed such terrific pieces! They want me to make them a snow mountain someday!
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I received my new(old) Lionel Standard gauge steam loco, #384, today and gave it some laps around my carpet layout. Nice engine, original paint, clean, no rust. Runs god, bought sight unseen. Made my day.
Well since my injury early this summer I pretty much run the trains everyday. Of course that means more maintenance, so now most my NYC power is do for grease and oil. Doc says no lifting above shoulder high. Run five trains this evening on my one loop without problem, I can do six but I really have to watch close. All the trains are on one 300' loop.
Carey TeaRose posted:After months-long hiatus from playing with my trains, I pulled everything off my SG layout table to dust and rethink. Almost all is back on the table, albeit some items in different locations.
One of my husband Tom's favorites is the polar bear that I got for my Ives Circus set.. This time he is climbing over the railing of the station terrace, and the soldiers (and a police dog) are called to aid in the town's rescue.
Decided not to put back on my vintage Barclay winter sports enthusiasts (skaters, sledders, and skiers). They don't go with the rest of the layout at present, but they are indeed such terrific pieces! They want me to make them a snow mountain someday!
Very nice!
ran my "Dale" train on the upper loop, and.....
started putting up new train shelves in the back room....
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PUFFRBELLY posted:Greetings Everyone,
Still feeling ambitious today, I continued working the elevated portion of my layout (Track 3).
Chief Bob (Retired)
Looks great, Bob! The centipede will great running on the high line!
Added some weeds to the tie piles and installed some street lights in the depot parking lot and community park. The village Xmas tree will fill the "hole on the hill"
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Today was a great day. First the new Lionel catalog. Placed my order for a number of things I liked in the catalog. Second was the Menards release. Third was I finally got back down to the basement. A few days ago I got black foam board in the sizes I needed. So late this afternoon I glued the building to the board. I was trying to figure out how I would get these big pieces glue without too much trouble or mistakes. I had some PVC pipe left over from the furnace drain pipe I relocated. Rolled the building pics on the pipe and then sprayed the board with adhesive spray and rolled the building out. Worked great. No wrinkles. I put the buildings against the Masonite to see how they are going to look and I am quite happy with them. Tomorrow I cut the excess foam board off and they will be set to mount. Pics.
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Nice work there Paul! now your going to have to weather the Morton building! LOL
paul 2 posted:I was trying to figure out how I would get these big pieces glue without too much trouble or mistakes. I had some PVC pipe left over from the furnace drain pipe I relocated. Rolled the building pics on the pipe and then sprayed the board with adhesive spray and rolled the building out. Worked great. No wrinkles. I put the buildings against the Masonite to see how they are going to look and I am quite happy with them. Tomorrow I cut the excess foam board off and they will be set to mount. Pics.
This is a great tip. It's actually quite analogous to the method for transferring rolled out dough in baking, when you gather it onto your rolling pin. Your results are spectacular. Gotta get me some of that action. I have hundreds of feet of backdrop to fill.
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I spent four hours under the layout rewiring the small hidden yard, by dragging new power and control lines over to the new relay panel under Red Wing. Yesterday, I spent three hours relocating the turnout control lines. I've been having trouble with a couple of switches not working, including a critical one in the big hidden yard.
I finally figured out what was wrong. Originally, I thought it was a matter of overall distance and voltage drop. That wasn't it! It turned out that the conductor going over the door is bad. Fortunately, I have 40 others to choose from to replace it. Just have to do the swap. It will be nice to have both yards fully functional again.
Should be done by Thursday night, just in time for the monthly update
TedW posted:Added some weeds to the tie piles and installed some street lights in the depot parking lot and community park. The village Xmas tree will fill the "hole on the hill"
Ted, it is looking great!! The additions to the parking lot and Christmas tree will really make it come alive!
Mark Boyce posted:TedW posted:Added some weeds to the tie piles and installed some street lights in the depot parking lot and community park. The village Xmas tree will fill the "hole on the hill"
Ted, it is looking great!! The additions to the parking lot and Christmas tree will really make it come alive!
Thx Mark. Appreciate the encouragement. Ted
Package came this morning from PTF designs. A Petroleum plant. They are foamed back and have a light built into each. I plan on using these with the Refinery backdrop I got from Scenic Express. Going to see what arrangement works the best. Both of these sort of side by should give me a nice long siding for tank cars. First I have to find my X-Acto knife so I can cut all the excess foam of the buildings I glued yesterday. Pics............Paul
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Ran trains
TedW posted:Added some weeds to the tie piles and installed some street lights in the depot parking lot and community park. The village Xmas tree will fill the "hole on the hill"
Very well done!
Paul 2, Ted, and Elliot,
Nice progress on your respective layouts.
Elliot- glad you finally found the wiring problem with your yards.
Ted- the little details are great.
Paul- I like the roller idea too. Kinda have a craving for apple pie now for some strange reason. 
Today was Std. Gauge Tinplate "freight car dreaming" day... I looked up ALL the available 200 series freight cars on the evilBay. I only have one thus far to run with my pink 408E, or a future 400E. I'd of course need for a full consist (at least 11).
Finally oriented switches correctly and finished the actual soldering of my homemade speed control. I accidently pushed a very long resistor leg a bit to far to access another terminal, and didnt notice I'd left it shorted, bypassing the resistor.
I cooked the fwd motion led on power up...aarg!
It works, except for one diode that takes a few seconds to drop voltage when its been off a while. Diodes usually don't fail that way; or "forget" what to do, then remember the next try; that trait is usually found in more complex components. Watching that switch to see if the diode is "forgetful" or just plain dying will be kinda fun. It will only lose a single "throttle notch" and swapping those diodes is no big deal..
The cooked l.e.d. on the other hand is "factory glued" with some strong stuff. The box is a normal project box with fiber plastc face. It was a former ho shop's custom dc pot & variable regulator type control. Not even enough amps for an 0-4-0 in O, its circuits would glow red hot in minutes. Impressive it did survive an hour or so of that abuse and still worked. I saved most of the guts intact.
I don't know if the led removal is going to be clean and I dont think I have any tiny dim reds anyhow, so a larger diameter green diode and second resistor taylored to dim it might be there later...it would be big green for fwd, and small red for reverse, logical enough eh?
gandydancer1950 posted:TedW posted:Added some weeds to the tie piles and installed some street lights in the depot parking lot and community park. The village Xmas tree will fill the "hole on the hill"
Very well done!
Thank you sir. I appreciate your comments based on the fine work on your own layout. TW
Paul I like the direction you are going with the backdrops! I agree they should make a really nice siding!
Ted, Things are looking great in winter wonderland! I like the new street lights! I do have a question thought, where is your town located? Tahoe or something like that? You sure have some sporty cars for a winter area! But I still like it a lot!
Mike, yeah, right you are about the cars. The convertibles will come off I suppose, but they are new so I wanna show em' off for a bit. Menards had a sale, $2.99 for the Shelbys. My last real convertible was a Z4 BMW. I did run around in that with the top down in winter some times "just because I could"! Sigh... Those days are gone so now I can only do it in models.
Today I played "dream extension" of my existing layout! IF I ever culled more SG real estate at add to what I already have. I drew things up on graph paper... basically adding a second table of same dimensions and design as my existing one, and adding a triangle in the inner corner.
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