Since the local NMRA Division talked me into opening up my layout for tours, and I know it is toy train style and they still said okay, I repaired some broken wiring and replaced one accessory that died. The blinking light on the MTH HD water tower died so I will repair that later and put in something different. I also cleaned up the area and rearranged shelving.
Not sure if this counts, my older son working on a spray paint booth for his little brother. His brother had me purchase a tree making 'machine' this weekend at the Narrow Gauge Convention that was held in Denver. Between what little knowledge I have imparted, STEM and Technical Theater (prop building) my 15 year old has picked up some skills.
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Hey John, I was lighting and stage, crying over my stage's wood finish and melting plastic props with Super Troopers at that age, lol. Youngest card carrier ever in the union, got it a few months early at 15 to save a Christmas production.
That whole project whould make a great seperate thread too, but I think count's plenty 
I picked up a Lionel truck and stared at it real hard until it looked like this.
Ok, I filed it places, got it close, redid it. Tested it without even being centered to the worm on the axle. Then I played with "sketch" to illustrate a planned 00 or 000 nut&bolt to clamp/grip the vertical tube bearing from ever spinning. Heat might be an issue(?) but I can pull this off sililarly on a metal truck with a brass or aluminum boss too.
It wasn't too fast at all, strong while sloppy, so I think I have 50% of a light delivery trolley drive out of scrap parts of Lionel and HO. (Maybe Lionel ho, lol).
So it is a tube axle sleeve that is seated on the exposed wheel splines, and a crimp of the tube's center seated this random ho gear set.
First try, the ho worm and u-joint didn't line up well useing lionels hole in the truck's square boss holding it, though a larger axle gear could have worked, I still filed 4 teeth in a brass tubes end to make a dremel sized mini hole saw. Leaning to ride the hole wall close to the crossbar and cutting only on the side closest to the axle axle I cut a new hole offset forward of the old, and at a slight angle towards the worm. Sloppy, but worked well enough testing with good ho power aplied, that I had trouble stopping it with my fingers. Sloppy.... But this is also a blunt axle truck with a needletip axle mounted. A mismatch at the axles ends, the axle wobbles som. But, it will get tighter with a custom blunt end axle and brass eyelet bushings sunk into the holes behind the bearing caps to catch side thrust.
One step closer to done.
A brass eyelet as bearing.example with a few years of wear on it.
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p51 posted:I added oil cans to the tender decks of each locomotive.
I also made several switch stands. They'll sit on small masonite bases, and will be numbered for the nearest turnout so anyone in an op session can tell which turnout pull, by number, will operate which turnout.
They're Details West, in HO scale. They're pretty tall for that scale and are about eye level in O scale, which is fine for narrow gauge. Found the kits on eBay for about a buck and a half each.
Nice detail there Lee! You just never stop, I like seeing the new details you add!
We moved 200+ train boxes from under one section of the layout to another to gain access to string the rest of the upper level turnout control wires. What a huge PIA!! WAY TOO MANY BOXES ... and trains .... 20 times more than can fit on the layout at any one time. Have to STOP buying trains!!!
Kerrigan, sounds like you need to start selling! LOL
or take over another room 
Found a piece of plywood to make the piece to join the two tables together. For an idea how it was going to work I laid it on top of the tables. I put in a crossover to cross the mainline from the yard track. I laid the curved side of two Ross switches I had to see what kind of a curve I would get to go onto the board. Looking at the tracks going under the stairs the one on the left will go to a coal mine, the one in the middle is the mainline and the one on the right is the yard lead track which will go under the stairs and tie into the mainline on the other side. Looking the other way down the board the track on the left will go to the yard and to a passing siding for the mainline. The mainline will curve around and a switch will come off of that to go to the Morton Salt Complex. So this is the initial track plan. Pics....................Paul
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mike g. posted:p51 posted:
Nice detail there Lee! You just never stop, I like seeing the new details you add!
Thanks. I really didn't enjoy all that much what I now refer to as "the initial build" of the layout (bench work, track and wiring, and scenery to a slightly lesser degree). I was working to this point, where the layout looked like a layout and I was now into the small details. That's a process I doubt will ever stop.
Next on the agenda is getting lighting to a few structures and putting interiors into a few rooms in structures so people can look inside (or at least try to)...
Paul,
You are getting closer! Looks great!
mike g. posted:Kerrigan, sounds like you need to start selling! LOL
If we could get more than 10 cents on the dollar I probably would part with some.
Do have an unopened Williams Crown Edition SP Cab Forward, and the same in the Lionel Hudson from the 1980s ... never opened or run.
Would send them to a new home for the right offer.
Kerrigan posted:We moved 200+ train boxes from under one section of the layout to another to gain access to string the rest of the upper level turnout control wires. What a huge PIA!! WAY TOO MANY BOXES ... and trains .... 20 times more than can fit on the layout at any one time. Have to STOP buying trains!!!
stopping buying trains is like trying to eat just one potato chip!
KERRIGAN, if you want you can send those extra cars to me. I am adding a lot of sidings. You can lease them from me LOL and I can run the cars while there are in my freight yards. Mark and Mike, I got the piece cut and so proud of myself. I was just about 3/16Th of an inch off at one corner. I can live with that. The wood is not floating in midair. I made a support for the ends out of a scrap 2 X 4. I found some bolts to anchor them to the table sides. I do that and I can start to lay out the center lines for the tracks. I also will be adding some 1 X 4's to the side to add strength so it won't bow when a train goes across it .....Pic .....Paul
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paul 2 posted:KERRIGAN, if you want you can send those extra cars to me. I am adding a lot of sidings. You can lease them from me LOL and I can run the cars while there are in my freight yards. Mark and Mike, I got the piece cut and so proud of myself. I was just about 3/16Th of an inch off at one corner. I can live with that. The wood is not floating in midair. I made a support for the ends out of a scrap 2 X 4. I found some bolts to anchor them to the table sides. I do that and I can start to lay out the center lines for the tracks. I also will be adding some 1 X 4's to the side to add strength so it won't bow when a train goes across it .....Pic .....Paul
Paul,
3/16" is dead on in my book!! We cover it all up with scenery anyway!!
Kerrigan posted:We moved 200+ train boxes from under one section of the layout to another to gain access to string the rest of the upper level turnout control wires. What a huge PIA!! WAY TOO MANY BOXES ... and trains .... 20 times more than can fit on the layout at any one time. Have to STOP buying trains!!!
Kerrigan - I came up with these storage dollies based on a thread by Ingenerio here on OGRR. He used something similar to move all his stuff into his train room. I built them from furniture dollies from Home Depot and 6' long 1x4 or 1x6 scrap lumber. 2 dollies per cart and 2x4 lumber cut to fit for one end to push or pull. I use big boxes to hold most of the purple & orange boxes. Whenever I need to do maintenance under the layout, I pull them out and use a creeper to get under there. I put the pillows down to take a nap.
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paul 2 posted:KERRIGAN, if you want you can send those extra cars to me. I am adding a lot of sidings. You can lease them from me LOL and I can run the cars while there are in my freight yards. Mark and Mike, I got the piece cut and so proud of myself. I was just about 3/16Th of an inch off at one corner. I can live with that. The wood is not floating in midair. I made a support for the ends out of a scrap 2 X 4. I found some bolts to anchor them to the table sides. I do that and I can start to lay out the center lines for the tracks. I also will be adding some 1 X 4's to the side to add strength so it won't bow when a train goes across it .....Pic .....Paul
And both the washer and dryer are still 100% accessible, so it's a win-win!!
gandydancer1950 posted:Kerrigan posted:We moved 200+ train boxes from under one section of the layout to another to gain access to string the rest of the upper level turnout control wires. What a huge PIA!! WAY TOO MANY BOXES ... and trains .... 20 times more than can fit on the layout at any one time. Have to STOP buying trains!!!
stopping buying trains is like trying to eat just one potato chip!
I guess that's a 'collector v/s operator' issue, as I had no problems stopping with the locomotives and cars I needed to run my layout.
Sure, every now and then something cool comes a' calling, but when you have a layout with no interchange possible another railroad, I'd think even if you did a totally freelance concept, you start looking at cool new stuff and think, "that'd be cool, but I can't use it for anything..."
The closest I ever came to that once my layout was done was to get the Bachmann Whitcomb 50-tonner diesel, and only then as I knew the Army bought several of them in the year I model...
Getting colder out, had to light some fires. Don't ya get a kick out of my third grade scenery work?
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It looks fine to me, Ted. 
Ted, Max is right looks good to me also! If that is 3rd grade I will be starting in Preschool! !LOL
Picked up my 3 Williams locomotives and a Williams brass caboose yesterday from Frank Vacek who was super quick in turning them around ( two days ). They all now run great again!
Took some photos of a layout vignette this morning.
Added a Cooper- Jarrett piggyback with white trailers to the flatcar collection.....
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Did a bit of train stuff at Mephit Furmeet last weekend, but was too busy to get happy snaps.
However, Fortescue and I DID get some pics from the middle of the 100 mile traffic jam on I-40 on Thursday...
And I did get a commemorative pic done at the convention by Farellemoon, a nice artist lady and chum of mine:
(Major Matt Mason is my nom du plume at these things)
Mitch
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M. Mitchell Marmel posted:Did a bit of train stuff at Mephit Furmeet last weekend, but was too busy to get happy snaps.
However, Fortescue and I DID get some pics from the middle of the 100 mile traffic jam on I-40 on
And I did get a commemorative pic done at the convention by Farellemoon, a nice artist lady and chum of
(Major Matt Mason is my nom du plume at these things)
Mitch
I can just hear Fortescue... "I told you to take the @&%# train" 
Apples55 posted:I can just hear Fortescue... "I told you to take the @&%# train"
How'd you guess?
Mitch
M. Mitchell Marmel posted:pics from the middle of the 100 mile traffic jam on I-40 on Thursday...
What's the story there? I Googled it but couldn't find anything that talked about this...
ran some trains, a coal train coming around....
and a passenger train disappearing into a tunnel....
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Put the mountain back on the layout and ran trains to check clearances. And changed out the static display of sunset passenger cars for a few Superchief stainless. Have started the waterfall on some plastic coated paper, but I don't really know what I'm doing, so who knows what will come of it.
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Ted,
The layout looks great, and the trains are running smoothly! Hard to ask for more!! The Super Chief cars look great too!
Mark Boyce posted:Ted,
The layout looks great, and the trains are running smoothly! Hard to ask for more!! The Super Chief cars look great too!
Thx again for the encouragement, Mark. Now, out to the country to scout out a lopsided xmas tree to clear that mountain 
TedW posted:Mark Boyce posted:Ted,
The layout looks great, and the trains are running smoothly! Hard to ask for more!! The Super Chief cars look great too!
Thx again for the encouragement, Mark. Now, out to the country to scout out a lopsided xmas tree to clear that mountain
Yes, I hadn't thought of that! 
Ain't no biggy. This'll do it.
Today I got my 1 X 4's cut and screwed to the plywood. I decided to paint the sides as I did with the rest of the tables. So when it is dry I can run my centerlines and glue down some cork roadbed later today after dinner. Pic...........Paul
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TedW posted:Ain't no biggy. This'll do it.
I love it! But I don't think you and I together could lift that saw!!!
paul 2 posted:Today I got my 1 X 4's cut and screwed to the plywood. I decided to paint the sides as I did with the rest of the tables. So when it is dry I can run my centerlines and glue down some cork roadbed later today after dinner. Pic...........Paul
Ta dahhh!!! Paul, it looks great!!
TedW posted:Put the mountain back on the layout and ran trains to check clearances. And changed out the static display of sunset passenger cars for a few Superchief stainless. Have started the waterfall on some plastic coated paper, but I don't really know what I'm doing, so who knows what will come of it.
Awesome Ted! Best I can do under my tree is a carpet central.
Bob
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RSJB18 posted:TedW posted:Put the mountain back on the layout and ran trains to check clearances. And changed out the static display of sunset passenger cars for a few Superchief stainless. Have started the waterfall on some plastic coated paper, but I don't really know what I'm doing, so who knows what will come of it.
Awesome Ted! Best I can do under my tree is a carpet central.
Bob
Given the monster I've created, this is probably the way to go, and more fun. Mine's taken on a life of it's own...
Nice Carpet Central!! I can set up the carpet central, but the little dog doesn't like me running it. That is why I built the table top in one of our married daughter's old rooms. My wife is convinced she doesn't like the headlight, because she waits for it to come around, then nudges the loco off the track. I need to try pulling the bulb out this Christmas and see if she is right.
TedW posted:Put the mountain back on the layout and ran trains to check clearances. And changed out the static display of sunset passenger cars for a few Superchief stainless. Have started the waterfall on some plastic coated paper, but I don't really know what I'm doing, so who knows what will come of it.
wonderful layout!
paul 2 posted:Today I got my 1 X 4's cut and screwed to the plywood. I decided to paint the sides as I did with the rest of the tables. So when it is dry I can run my centerlines and glue down some cork roadbed later today after dinner. Pic...........Paul
Looking good Paul! I see your already getting the Christmas stuff out!
