Laid down ballast and glued it in place on that section of track. The rest of the afternoon I spent measuring and cutting wood for the table. I got most if it done. All that is left is put a leg down at the wider end, put a couple of upright pieces of wood to hold Masonite by the old shower and screw down the plywood. Hopefully I continue after dinner. Pic...............Paul
Your moving right along Paul, I will check in after dinner! LOL
Ran trains while throwing away some junk stuff in the train room. Nice to make some space
Deuce posted:For those who run on a table (like a 4x8), how did you treat the wood? I was thinking of going with either a black stain, or flat black paint. Not sure how well a "ebony" stain would work though, and figured maybe I'd just spray paint it all black.
Deuce;
I didn't treat my plywood, I covered it with sheets of half inch homosote for some insulation under the Fastrack. It is a kind of grayish/tanish color and I'm now covering sections a bit at a time with various forms of ground cover.
It is pretty forgiving... if you miss a spot, it looks like dirt!!!
If I remember your pictures correctly, your top is OSB. I don't think that will take any color stain well.
caught her running trains at lunchtime.....
briansilvermustang posted:caught her running trains at lunchtime.....
Put a ZW in front of her and she just might Brian.
It was bound to happen sooner or later, as much time as she spends in the layout room!!
briansilvermustang posted:caught her running trains at lunchtime.....
Brian, she is just checking out your work! She doesn't want you to have to do it over a second time! That's what a good inspector does!
will you hurry up and get these things running a full loop around,
I'm really tired of watching them just go back and forth...woof !! 
I have been getting a lot done lately with my push to get at least something done every day if only for an hour or two. Yesterday I pulled my grain elevators out and finally added the concrete retaining wall behind them with Masonite. The track behind is one of my interchange tracks that has a 2 1/2 percent grade so it all had to be individually cut. I then painted it an aged concrete color. Then I painted the rest of Atlas track on the siding that serves the grain elevators. Next I filled in an area behind the fascia in front of the elevators with 1/2" plywood. I then painted it an earth brown color. Then I tried the elevators and adjacent buildings for fit again and decided I could enlarge the siding to accommodate another grain hopper. Then I cut a finish piece of wood for where the retaining wall starts and the rocky hillside ends and painted it an aged concrete color too.
Then I surveyed and decided how to handle a problem area where I have a center support pier on my highway bridge that spans my river area that I am working on. I will have to custom make an extension out of pink foam and paint it to look like concrete.
Now back to work. Going to mix up a few batches of plaster and get caught up with where I have just put plaster cloth on so far.
I will post some new pictures on my progress on my layout thread soon.
Art
I took time to run the new CP Rail GP35 engines that just arrived from Eastside Trains. I had to install thinner traction tires because the brake shoes were grinding the outside edges of the traction tires. I powered the CP Rail Gp35 Dummy #5009 with a powered GN GP35 I purchased from Grybowski Trains. The consist of three lit, smoking, and sounding engines looks great on my sweeping O-72 to O-99 curves.
Now I begin building the second level reverse loop that services the Lionel Coal Tipple near the docks along the river. This will take some time building the plywood roadbed and the plastruct girder edge attached to the roadbed edge. A fancy metal custom built girder bridge would look nice, but my budget calls for plywood and plastic and patience, lots of patience and paint weathering.
still learning but my cord field and pumpkin shed
Corn field looks good, Pennywise!!
thanks
In the spirit of the original post of this thread, I am trying to accomplish something on the layout each day, even if it is something small.
The layout is "postwar Lionel dealer display inspired."This morning after taking the dog out, I painted for a few minutes. I probably should put a clock on the wall in there as time really seems slip by fast!
I picked up this green paint from Menards last week. By the way, I had great service at the Menards paint desk...must be something in the water at Menards. The green is a slightly deeper/darker than the picture shows. I'm really happy with the way it looks so far.
The little bits of progress are addicting. Can't wait to get more done!
Over the last week I've been weathering some freight cars. I really like the grimy, exposed to the elements, shop worn look .... just like the real railroads. I plan to continue my weathering project over this month. Here are some pics.
Not sure what it is about me, but I'm notorious for getting 90% of a project finished, and letting the last little bit go undone for a long time. Today was the day I made good on a bunch of them. The last switch in the small hidden yard ladder had been causing derailments. I had diagnosed the problem long ago, but never crawled down there to fix it. Checked that one off.
Then there was the engine pocket at Shoreham. I had installed the switch, probably a year ago, and never laid the piece of track that came off it. That one's done.
Earlier this year, I moved the control panel for the small hidden yard over to the dispatcher's corner. That left the Midway switch as an orphan. Back then, I made and installed the new "baby" panel, but never hooked up the wires.
Wires connected, switch back in service.
Here's another one. That little cross brace has been sitting undone for more than a year. I did all the others almost two years ago, but because I couldn't reach this one without crawling back there it stayed undone, until today. BTW, that's a TMCC ground plane wire.
While I was at it, I put in a couple more on the new wall I put up last week. Still a few more needed, but I can get those Thursday. I turned the cameras on, and it looks really cool with the new walls at the ends of aisles one and two.
Finally, and I do mean FINALLY, I'm done with benchwork!!!!! I secured the piece I had cut on Sunday, and formed the first section of track.
Without the piece in place, it looked like the grade was going to be horrible. But in fact, it is less than the grade on the mainline (foreground). The helix has gained an inch between the switch coming off it (not shown, behind right) and the diamond.
I had considered putting additional support under this section, but opted to just leave it alone. It has a slight dip, but it seems to be working in my favor in terms of vertical transition.
CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION!!!! (no it's not exactly Champagne, we don't even have the correct glasses for it, but it was good.)
To borrow from history...
a BIG THANKS to Mike G !!!
received my auto ramp that Mike built....
boy is this really cool
thanks again Mike !!!
awesome....
briansilvermustang posted:a BIG THANKS to Mike G !!!
received my auto ramp that Mike built....
boy is this really cool
thanks again Mike !!!
awesome....
My favorite Vette. '63 split rear window.
All I can say is GREAT work being done by everyone! Elliot nice to see you getting things finished up so you can move on! Art sounds like you got a lot done in just one day, I cant wait to see the pictures!
Brian you are more them welcome, I hope you enjoy!
Mike: Nice job on the auto loader !!
https://ogrforum.com/...i-raffe-express-ep-5
If anyone can spare some EP-5 trucks for a worthy cause, Fortescue would greatly appreciate it!
Mitch
cabinet Bob posted:Mike: Nice job on the auto loader !!
Thanks Bob! That's the 4th one I have done sofar!
roughed up some more box cars last night....
Izzy didn't care for the paint fumes to much....
OK, 
we done yet ???
Nice work there Brian! I hope you got Izzy some fresh air!
yep, it was then time for a movie and ice cream...
leapinlarry posted:Today, we gave the Freedom Train an Excursion run....Neat Horn....Colorful Set...
Rather odd looking gi-raffe ya got there, buddy. 
Mitch
(which raises an interesting question: How many bobbing head critter cars are there, anyhow? Apart from gi-raffes and Toys "R" Us, all I've ever seen is the occasional elephant car...)
M. Mitchell Marmel posted:Rather odd looking gi-raffe ya got there, buddy.
Mitch
(which raises an interesting question: How many bobbing head critter cars are there, anyhow? Apart from gi-raffes and Toys "R" Us, all I've ever seen is the occasional elephant car...)
Not to further encourage Mitch but....
I bet a Lionel Brakeman car could hold any assortment of appropriately scale animal figures.
Last night I was lining up some trains for a photo shoot on Saturday, and decided to put all three of my wartime-painted ten-wheelers for the first time since I weathered them over a year ago. This represents all the working narrow gauge locomotives on the ET&WNC during 1943, when I model it:
And the other end...
M. Mitchell Marmel posted:Rather odd looking gi-raffe ya got there, buddy.
Mitch
(which raises an interesting question: How many bobbing head critter cars are there, anyhow? Apart from gi-raffes and Toys "R" Us, all I've ever seen is the occasional elephant car...)
I think he has a cold.
M. Mitchell Marmel posted:Rather odd looking gi-raffe ya got there, buddy.
Mitch
Poor Mitch...he sees giraffes everywhere now
p51 posted:Last night I was lining up some trains for a photo shoot on Saturday, and decided to put all three of my wartime-painted ten-wheelers for the first time since I weathered them over a year ago. This represents all the working narrow gauge locomotives on the ET&WNC during 1943, when I model it:
And the other end...
Great looking equipment!
M. Mitchell Marmel posted:Rather odd looking gi-raffe ya got there, buddy.
Mitch
(which raises an interesting question: How many bobbing head critter cars are there, anyhow? Apart from gi-raffes and Toys "R" Us, all I've ever seen is the occasional elephant car...)
Wasn't there a Lionel Lenny the Lion "bobble head" car??? Might be problematic in one of your consists - he'd probably think Fortesque was a snack.
RSJB18 posted:Not to further encourage Mitch but....
I bet a Lionel Brakeman car could hold any assortment of appropriately scale animal figures.
Ectually, I AM working on a Fortescue brakeman car concept, wherein Fortescue does the faceplant under the telltale... ;-)
Deuce posted:M. Mitchell Marmel posted:Rather odd looking gi-raffe ya got there, buddy.
I think he has a cold.
Adriatic posted:Poor Mitch...he sees giraffes everywhere now
ROFLMAO!
Apples55 posted:Wasn't there a Lionel Lenny the Lion "bobble head" car??? Might be problematic in one of your consists - he'd probably think Fortesque was a snack.
Well, Fortescue can take care of himself...
Mitch
Moved the thing up to the xmas site in the bay window. Everything hooked up as designed and planned. Add the fascia board when my friend finishes, and it’s done. One hitch, I use two tracks/four drops and hooked up the black from one track and the red from the other to xfrmr and, no power to my track! 
Doh! Took a minute for this old brain to sort that one. 
The layout looks great there, Ted!!
looks great Ted ! cover shot this time !! 
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