What did you do on your layout today?

mike g. posted:

paul 2 posted:

Mike, back a number of years ago I emailed Steve at Ross Switches asking the question where did he get his wiring. He stated at the time he got it from WAYTEK. They are in Wisconsin or Minnesota. The reason I went with them was they had 18 gauge wire the same colors as the Z switch machines had plus they had numerous colors of 14 gauge wire so I could re wire my mainlines so a problem could be found easier. Also I got all my terminal blocks from them. To me their prices are reasonable to me..............Paul  

Thanks for the information Paul! I hope I will need it sooner then later! LOL

That is good information, Paul!!  Thank you!

Deuce posted:

carsntrains posted:

Deuce posted:

carsntrains posted:

Apples55 posted:

Deuce posted:

Deuce posted:

I cleaned. Will drill the holes for the switch controllers tomorrow and then we're done until I get the bug to do/add more. Will be nice to just run trains with the boys for awhile.

Got to admit, the Lionel Truck and Passenger Depots look too big against the truck and bus. Not sure what I will do about that. Maybe just go Plasticville with their smaller sized buildings.

 

As for the scale stuff ... the truck is Lionel and the bus is Corgi. Both say 1:50 scale on their respective boxes. I dunno. Something is either too big or too small.

Deuce;

I have a pair of those Lionel passenger platforms as well as several scale ones from Crescent Locomotive Works... the Lionel are definitely not to scale!!!

Yeah but look at the difference in size between the bus, trucks, and say the caboose?? A six foot tall person in O scale is 1.5 inches tall.   The photo could be misleading. But after seeing a standard semi trailer is about 14 feet tall.  The answer is in the measuring tape.  The trailer should be about 3.5 inches tall in 1:48 right?

 

Jim

https://ogrforum.com/...-andamp-mth-trailers

General consensus is that they're too small. I thought the box said 1:50, I'll check when I get home. I know the Corgi's are marketed as being 1:50. I have a couple of 1:43 scale trucks and they appear too big ... too big to put on the layout. I guess I'll just live with the 1:50-not-1:50 scale trucks and buses I've acquired.

 

ETA: Seems the K-Line's are larger. I'm on the hunt for a few on eBay. Will see if they are, and if so ... will throw the Lionel's on the bay to break even.

Deuce if you would please let me know how tall those trailers are.  To see if my eyes are wrong lol.   I'm not scale crazy at all..  I use 1:43 cars and my O gauge people fit in them perfectly! And I have some 1:48 army jeeps that look fine with them. 

Jim 

Jim, 

The top of the cab comes in at 1.75". Top of the trailer is under 3".

I wired the switches and also made and painted markers for each. Will do the same for the uncoupler.

Deuce yep those are quite a bit on the small side!   Some companies "scale size" aint what others are!   1:50 is a touch small anyway.  I think my Menards 1:48 jeeps are on the small side also.   Aint no way a 1.250 or 1.5 inch tall person will fit into them!   LOL    Thanks for measuring those!!!

Folks if you want a new rubber band put into your Lionel sub.   Just take it apart to start with. Mine doesnt spin via the rubber band.  Dont know if it ever did.  I just put one in it to hold the nose on.  : )

Jim

Pine Creek Railroad posted:

Lee,

   Glad you liked the NASA Space Shuttle Simulator, and had a good time.

 each of us Sr NASA Engineers received a Presidential 1st Shuttle Flight Award with Young and Crippens personal thanks, a piece of the actual Columbia Space Shuttle, made into a NASA Coin affixed to it.  The award is one of my prize possessions, shown here with my 263E Tin Plate Train, I thought you might like to see it, because of your interest in both NASA and Trains.

Most cool!

FYI, that's the Orion capsule sim at Huntsville, not a STS one (though it's tough to tell from my photo). If you can tell, I'm wearing a NASA-issued cap for the EFT-1 test flight launch, which took place about a month after that photo was taken (and I'd just come back from KSC, seeing it on the pad, getting ready to go).

I cleaned a dried hairball off the front of my Marx 666 locomotive.  I interrogated all of our cats, but none would confess to the crime.  I have an outstanding warrant out for First-Degree Felonious Puking.

Balshis posted:

I cleaned a dried hairball off the front of my Marx 666 locomotive.  I interrogated all of our cats, but none would confess to the crime.  I have an outstanding warrant out for First-Degree Felonious Puking.

 

I'm so glad my cat has no interest in my layout.

Didn't get to the basement till this afternoon. Calling for rain here later. A few days ago we had a pretty heavy rain and up until then I thought I had the water seepage fixed. I had used Hydraulic cement to pact along the wall but this time I decided to try the Flex-seal liquid. Darn stuff is not cheap but if it works I will be happy. So that being done I added another cross bar to the sign and applied the second coat of paint to the back door of the Pawn Shop. Yesterday I stopped at Michael's and got some wire to make some supports for the awning and the hanging sign. I know the wire probably came with the kit but they are now more then likely with the lost directions LOL.  Now back down and work on something.....................Paul

Balshis posted:

I cleaned a dried hairball off the front of my Marx 666 locomotive. I interrogated all of our cats, but none would confess to the crime.  I have an outstanding warrant out for First-Degree Felonious Puking.

 

If you have tunnels, check in there. They are favorite sites for covert hairball preparation and spreading, as well as lurking, unnoticed by those of us on the cat's staff.

FrankM

Moonson posted:

Balshis posted:

I cleaned a dried hairball off the front of my Marx 666 locomotive. I interrogated all of our cats, but none would confess to the crime.  I have an outstanding warrant out for First-Degree Felonious Puking.

 

If you have tunnels, check in there. They are favorite sites for covert hairball preparation and spreading, as well as lurking, unnoticed by those of us on the cat's staff.

FrankM

Spoken like a true servant (aka- cat owner)

Well I finalized my layout design using AnyRails (attached if anyone is interested) and figured out how much more lumber I need to build the tables.  The hard one, telling my wife how much room it'll take up is still under consideration.  Maybe I'll just make it in the garage and move it to the basement covertly.  

RSJB18 posted:

Moonson posted:

Balshis posted:

I cleaned a dried hairball off the front of my Marx 666 locomotive. I interrogated all of our cats, but none would confess to the crime.  I have an outstanding warrant out for First-Degree Felonious Puking.

 

If you have tunnels, check in there. They are favorite sites for covert hairball preparation and spreading, as well as lurking, unnoticed by those of us on the cat's staff.

FrankM

Spoken like a true servant (aka- cat owner)

Oh yes, I was the servant, all right; actually the entire staff of one. But I can't say  I figured it out on my own. I think it was a test. I didn't know Noel (all-white; blue eyes) had ever been up on the layout, let alone in the tunnels, until I saw the first clue: tufts of white fur clinging to the utility-poles, along a main roadway.

I followed the white tuft path until I saw a pair of blue eyes peering out at me, crouched down and laughing - I'm sure of the laughing part.

It was then I tried moving the litter-hut from under the layout, to a new location, but that never received approval from the white mistress.

FrankM

Kirk R posted:

Well I finalized my layout design using AnyRails (attached if anyone is interested) and figured out how much more lumber I need to build the tables.  The hard one, telling my wife how much room it'll take up is still under consideration.  Maybe I'll just make it in the garage and move it to the basement covertly.  

Looks really cool!   How big is the closet the tunnel goes into?  Are you going to use it like a staging yard?   I ask because this is where I screwed up.  Even on a 17 foot straight I only have one siding long enough to park a 6 car passenger train.   Other two longer trains I have to leave on the two mains. 

Jim

Moonson posted:

RSJB18 posted:

Moonson posted:

Balshis posted:

I cleaned a dried hairball off the front of my Marx 666 locomotive. I interrogated all of our cats, but none would confess to the crime.  I have an outstanding warrant out for First-Degree Felonious Puking.

 

If you have tunnels, check in there. They are favorite sites for covert hairball preparation and spreading, as well as lurking, unnoticed by those of us on the cat's staff.

FrankM

Spoken like a true servant (aka- cat owner)

Oh yes, I was the servant, all right; actually the entire staff of one. But I can't say  I figured it out on my own. I think it was a test. I didn't know Noel (all-white; blue eyes) had ever been up on the layout, let alone in the tunnels, until I saw the first clue: tufts of white fur clinging to the utility-poles, along a main roadway.

I followed the white tuft path until I saw a pair of blue eyes peering out at me, crouched down and laughing - I'm sure of the laughing part.

It was then I tried moving the litter-hut from under the layout, to a new location, but that never received approval from the white mistress.

FrankM

WOW I see 3 campers in that mountain of a display!!!    Awesome!

Jim

carsntrains posted:

Kirk R posted:

Well I finalized my layout design using AnyRails (attached if anyone is interested) and figured out how much more lumber I need to build the tables.  The hard one, telling my wife how much room it'll take up is still under consideration.  Maybe I'll just make it in the garage and move it to the basement covertly.  

Looks really cool!   How big is the closet the tunnel goes into?  Are you going to use it like a staging yard?   I ask because this is where I screwed up.  Even on a 17 foot straight I only have one siding long enough to park a 6 car passenger train.   Other two longer trains I have to leave on the two mains. 

Jim

Jim, the closet is something like 7' wide with two full size double doors.  My thought would be to use it to stage trains to go out on the two outer loops.  Will put shelves along the back of the closet for some of my other inventory.  

cmscanuck posted:

Ran some more trains and added trim to the basement/train room.

Although I tend to prefer the down and dirty look for a layout, I really liked the clean a and green look of yours, Chris, with your gleaming 022 switches and O Gauge track. Trains looked and ran beautifully as well.

Frank, it's nice to see a panoramic shot of your magnificent layout in the above photo.

carsntrains posted:

Moonson posted:

RSJB18 posted:

Moonson posted:

Balshis posted:

I cleaned a dried hairball off the front of my Marx 666 locomotive. I interrogated all of our cats, but none would confess to the crime.  I have an outstanding warrant out for First-Degree Felonious Puking.

 

If you have tunnels, check in there. They are favorite sites for covert hairball preparation and spreading, as well as lurking, unnoticed by those of us on the cat's staff.

FrankM

Spoken like a true servant (aka- cat owner)

Oh yes, I was the servant, all right; actually the entire staff of one. But I can't say  I figured it out on my own. I think it was a test. I didn't know Noel (all-white; blue eyes) had ever been up on the layout, let alone in the tunnels, until I saw the first clue: tufts of white fur clinging to the utility-poles, along a main roadway.

I followed the white tuft path until I saw a pair of blue eyes peering out at me, crouched down and laughing - I'm sure of the laughing part.

It was then I tried moving the litter-hut from under the layout, to a new location, but that never received approval from the white mistress.

FrankM

WOW I see 3 campers in that mountain of a display!!!    Awesome!

Jim

Ahh the things we do for our little furry friends.

Balshis posted:

I cleaned a dried hairball off the front of my Marx 666 locomotive.  I interrogated all of our cats, but none would confess to the crime.  I have an outstanding warrant out for First-Degree Felonious Puking.

Mitch 

carsntrains posted

 

Folks if you want a new rubber band put into your Lionel sub.   Just take it apart to start with. Mine doesnt spin via the rubber band.  Dont know if it ever did.  I just put one in it to hold the nose on.  : )

Jim

  Getting me to take a bath wasn't an issue as a kid. I got in more trouble taking too many.  The subs where an all time fav of mine.  In my top #3 really.    I still have my US Marines flat, but no sub. I wore one out, and don't know what happen to #2.   It took more than one rubber band and they were pretty thick, wide, and strong as well.  Winding was done till they knotted up beyond belief, more than say a wood airplane (these and bass/ balsa gliders, popular cheap fun in my era) .  I used Vasoline as a grease somewhere on it, but don't recall what pieces it was applied to. Vasoline because there weren't better light greases readily available. 

  Get it spinning and go fill the tub

Some switching operations.  Relocated two box cars and two gondolas to different didings.

Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Frank, it's nice to see a panoramic shot of your magnificent layout in the above photo.

Thank you, Arnold. Here's another angle on that same area, but a little more to the west, featuring those tunnels where the cat was temporarily ensconced...FrankM

With the flexseal paint I glued the back door to the Pawn shop on, got the last two crossbars on the sign, And just in case my switches might come shortly I started putting down cork on the grain elevator table. Still have to do the other track. I'll get to that after dinner. My package of sidewalks was suppose to come yesterday and as of right now they haven't shown up today. Maybe, hopefully tomorrow and I can get them painted and start placing them on the lower street. Pics......................Paul

Adriatic posted:

carsntrains posted

 

Folks if you want a new rubber band put into your Lionel sub.   Just take it apart to start with. Mine doesnt spin via the rubber band.  Dont know if it ever did.  I just put one in it to hold the nose on.  : )

Jim

  Getting me to take a bath wasn't an issue as a kid. I got in more trouble taking too many.  The subs where an all time fav of mine.  In my top #3 really.    I still have my US Marines flat, but no sub. I wore one out, and don't know what happen to #2.   It took more than one rubber band and they were pretty thick, wide, and strong as well.  Winding was done till they knotted up beyond belief, more than say a wood airplane (these and bass/ balsa gliders, popular cheap fun in my era) .  I used Vasoline as a grease somewhere on it, but don't recall what pieces it was applied to. Vasoline because there weren't better light greases readily available. 

  Get it spinning and go fill the tub

It takes 3 thick rubber bands

Moonson posted:

Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Frank, it's nice to see a panoramic shot of your magnificent layout in the above photo.

Thank you, Arnold. Here's another angle on that same area, but a little more to the west, featuring those tunnels where the cat was temporarily ensconced...FrankM

Frank your layout is fantastic!

gandydancer1950 posted:

Adriatic posted:

carsntrains posted

 

Folks if you want a new rubber band put into your Lionel sub.   Just take it apart to start with. Mine doesnt spin via the rubber band.  Dont know if it ever did.  I just put one in it to hold the nose on.  : )

Jim

  Getting me to take a bath wasn't an issue as a kid. I got in more trouble taking too many.  The subs where an all time fav of mine.  In my top #3 really.    I still have my US Marines flat, but no sub. I wore one out, and don't know what happen to #2.   It took more than one rubber band and they were pretty thick, wide, and strong as well.  Winding was done till they knotted up beyond belief, more than say a wood airplane (these and bass/ balsa gliders, popular cheap fun in my era) .  I used Vasoline as a grease somewhere on it, but don't recall what pieces it was applied to. Vasoline because there weren't better light greases readily available. 

  Get it spinning and go fill the tub

It takes 3 thick rubber bands

3 thick rubber bands?   I think it only had one in it from Lionel.  Cant remember because it was in many many pieces lol 

Jim 

Thank you, Gandydancer!

FrankM

Last night I spent an enjoyable hour switching box cars and reefers in the city.  Manuvers are a little easier to plan after a few dry runs. Tonight, I plan to run 3 or 4 road trains.  A  4 passenger train, a 5 car mail train, a 9 tanker train and a 9 car of mixed freights. 

carsntrains posted:

gandydancer1950 posted:

Adriatic posted:

carsntrains posted

 

Folks if you want a new rubber band put into your Lionel sub.   Just take it apart to start with. Mine doesnt spin via the rubber band.  Dont know if it ever did.  I just put one in it to hold the nose on.  : )

Jim

  Getting me to take a bath wasn't an issue as a kid. I got in more trouble taking too many.  The subs where an all time fav of mine.  In my top #3 really.    I still have my US Marines flat, but no sub. I wore one out, and don't know what happen to #2.   It took more than one rubber band and they were pretty thick, wide, and strong as well.  Winding was done till they knotted up beyond belief, more than say a wood airplane (these and bass/ balsa gliders, popular cheap fun in my era) .  I used Vasoline as a grease somewhere on it, but don't recall what pieces it was applied to. Vasoline because there weren't better light greases readily available. 

  Get it spinning and go fill the tub

It takes 3 thick rubber bands

3 thick rubber bands?   I think it only had one in it from Lionel.  Cant remember because it was in many many pieces lol 

Jim 

Jim, Lionel operating instructions called for three rubber bands to operate the submarine.

   Do rubber bands have a size number or similar identification system?  I never actually bought any myself. Had tons of free ones left from delivering news papers as a kid, and they just recently began failing from dry rot so I tossed them.

   I thought it was three, but couldn't recall. I don't think 4 worked better either, too tight. You might have to search for a balance with modern ones, seems everything else has changed at least slightly, why not those?

Adriatic posted:

   Do rubber bands have a size number or similar identification system?  I never actually bought any myself. Had tons of free ones left from delivering news papers as a kid, and they just recently began failing from dry rot so I tossed them.

   I thought it was three, but couldn't recall. I don't think 4 worked better either, too tight. You might have to search for a balance with modern ones, seems everything else has changed at least slightly, why not those?

Jeff at The Train Tender has the correct ones.

Frank, those pictures and the way you get it all to look so good. You got a gift for scenery along with great perspective. So real. You could be standing on hill looking out over the view. I got the other cork laid down for the other track so tomorrow morning I can paint them. At the corner where the track goes off the table I have to make up a corner to fit in between the two tables there. The plan is to put a Menards double track bridge in there at a 45 degree angle to go to the future tables along the back of the basement. My awning is ready to be attached to the pawn shop. I made up some wires that will hold up the hanging sign and the awning. Also tomorrow I can put in the last part of the sign frame. A wrap for tonight.................Paul

  It wouldn't surprise me if the NEW subs had only one, just so nobody gets a propeller boo-boo 

   This and a fire car thread had me looking back to the better days of my youth, and I thought of something that answers why my 175 rocket launcher hits the ceiling. And not just hits, but hits pretty hard. It was from a Mercury X-set and the original rocket had the capsule and parachute, it weighed a tad more, and didnt fly straight very well either (made in Korea? ), so it must have needed the extra boost for the extra weight.

  The platform icbm launch car was strong too and would tip the car over or.bounce it off the rails. Gramps put a different spring in that one to tame it.

Once the Mercury capsule was lost, the standard ICBM was all that I could get to replace it.

Moonson posted:

Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Frank, it's nice to see a panoramic shot of your magnificent layout in the above photo.

Thank you, Arnold. Here's another angle on that same area, but a little more to the west, featuring those tunnels where the cat was temporarily ensconced...FrankM

Stunning.

Frank, I think you're as good at scenery as God is!   LOL

Your scenery is as beautiful as nature's beautiful views. 

paul 2 posted:

Didn't get to the basement till this afternoon. Calling for rain here later. A few days ago we had a pretty heavy rain and up until then I thought I had the water seepage fixed. I had used Hydraulic cement to pact along the wall but this time I decided to try the Flex-seal liquid. Darn stuff is not cheap but if it works I will be happy. So that being done I added another cross bar to the sign and applied the second coat of paint to the back door of the Pawn Shop. Yesterday I stopped at Michael's and got some wire to make some supports for the awning and the hanging sign. I know the wire probably came with the kit but they are now more then likely with the lost directions LOL.  Now back down and work on something.....................Paul

 Flex -Seal is good stuff. I've not used it on cement but........

    I had a kitchen sink trap pipe let loose from a man-kid dumping Coke leftovers out of the can into the sink's side where we put the dirty dishes instead of the open one(who knows why not the open side) but never running water to flush it from the trap. That side doesn't see water except for about once a week. The Coke baths were a few times a day for 3-4 years.

  The Coke's acid ate away at the old pipe quick and left a quarter size hole on the bottom of the U. Tight on cash and nothing to loose, I took a hint from the commercials and taped some aluminum screen 1" x1" tight to the pipe and sprayed clear FlexSeal on it. (A pal had a can handy. He used it to seal alarm wiring holes and said it was great stuff.) The first coat held the screen in place, and the tape was taken off. More coats sealed it all up.

I forgot all about it. That was two years ago. It is still holding fast.

There is Seal-all as well. Seal-all is automotive stuff. A gasoline proof goo in a tube. If you ever tried to seal a hole an old cars metal gas tank, you likely found the gas tank leak epoxy putty to leak after a very short bit.

  And seal all wasn't strong enough to hold back the pressure from a hole on the bottom if you filled to near a full tank. But we found by applying the epoxy first that stayed fast. Then Seal-all spred on top sealed up the epoxy weeping. Another thin layer of epoxy kept the seal all from pealing at the edges or being torn off, etc. These repairs lasted a few years each at least; even through the Michigan winters.

Frank, great looking layout! I am sorry about the cat, I think if it was me I would have just ran a train threw the tunnel! LOL

Paul, the building is looking nice! Sure is great to see more road bed going down again!

Spose to be nice this weekend, so I hope to get some more framing done on the future train room!

paul 2 posted:

Frank, those pictures and the way you get it all to look so good. You got a gift for scenery along with great perspective. So real. You could be standing on hill looking out over the view...........Paul

Thank you, so very much, Paul, for that exceptional review. There are so many hobbyist-modelers on this forum whose layouts I admire, that to get such enthusiastic approval from you is very, very pleasant to experience. Thank you, again.

FrankM

Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Frank, it's nice to see a panoramic shot of your magnificent layout in the above photo.

Thank you, Arnold. I appreciate and enjoy your continued interest in and approval (even the hyperbole !!!  of my layout efforts. I must admit, it is fun hearing from you via your "Likes" and written replies.

I don't know where it all comes from in me, but I have often found myself really looking closely while driving (sometimes drifting a bit too close to the rumble-strips or shoulders) or hiking and devouring what I have seen and felt in the scenic world around me. Then, afterward, as the modeling of a vignette is taking form in front of me, I just apply a heavy dose of imagination and work until the result feels truthful.

FrankM

mike g. posted:

Frank, great looking layout! I am sorry about the cat, I think if it was me I would have just ran a train threw the tunnel! LOL

Hi Mike G. Thank you!

And regarding the cat, she was great company. All I needed was a little masking-tape to remove the clumps of fur and all was well.

FrankM

Frank- your layout is spectacular. One of the best I've ever seen.

Bob

RSJB18 posted:

Frank- your layout is spectacular. One of the best I've ever seen.

Bob

Thank you, Bob. That's very nice to hear. Considering the wonderful layouts we have all seen shared in OGR's Forum and magazine, it's great to have you say you consider me among such excellent company! Thanks, again.

FrankM