briansilvermustang posted:
Nice Brian. Do you take requests? Lol How about some Illinois Central?
Ordered my track and switches.
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Worked on a team track area. Laid down 3/16" foamcore that I had as scrap pieces, these were placed between outer mainline and siding tracks, and siding track to table edge. The wooded ramp was something I scratched together for my old Fastrack layout so had to factor in height difference for Atlas.
Picked up another piece of 3/16" foamcore from Hobby Lobby, cut and glued onto first layer to bring to top of rails on siding, which is a bit lower than mainline rails as no trackbed.
I beveled the foamcore edges that butted against track to get a better fit. Here's a test piece for example.
I'll "pave" over top of the foamcore with some joint compound, then paint to get an aged concrete look.
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briansilvermustang posted:
Well, I'm impressed 
I just looked through the last two days worth of activity! Wow, what a person can miss when not online a couple of days! I put a bunch of likes in, so for those that got them, I really do like your work or comments. I do have a couple comments.
Brian, could you run that CP passenger train a little faster please, I was still able to glimpse a bit of color there in the blurr! 
Paul2, I like the Fast Loans sign a lot! Miller Engineering signs are wonderful, but I think your sign is of a much more common sight for days gone by!
As far as electrical goes, the place I have had to be most cautious was in the 500KV substations tuning the LC circuit at the base of the wave trap out in the yard. We would do our testing hot. Usually I was in the control house or a cabinet, and the voltages were 125VDC up to 60A, and 240VAC and I forget what they were fused. However, the annual test of the transmission lines included testing and tuning the LC circuit. We were only a few feet below the tap off the transmission line; 115KV, 230KV, and 500KV. You had to disconnect a tap and test. If you stood too tall, you could risk getting into 500KV, fortunately the current was stepped down, but still... Anywhere in the 500KV switchyard, you could hear the crackling of static, especially if it was humid. The static wouldn't hurt you, but it would let you know it if you opened a cabinet door without wearing gloves. 
It's been over 20 years since I did that kind of work. I prefer the lower voltages in telecom where I have been the last 21 year, and even better engineering sitting at the desk now near the end of my employment days!!
I was going to start cutting my Homasote for my roadbed, but it is extremely windy today, so I started working on the shelf part of my layout instead. I had to move the 18" metal wall brackets up 4 inches to get a match for the height of the roll around. Then I put stringers on the two I did and a fascia board on matched to the roll around. I could clamp the roll around to the stationary part, but it is fine for now with the brakes set. I think it is going to work pretty slick. Here are two photographs. My carpentry skills aren't very pretty nor is my used wood, but it all seems solid enough. I still need to put an 8 inch section between the wall and the tabletop, but that material is out in my shed, and I was afraid I may blow away. I thought the dog may fly like a kite at the end of her cable when I put her out. LOL
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RSJB18 posted:Wiring? Piece of cake
Don't know what you guys are worrying about.
Try working around 13,000 volts and then we can talk.
Not to worry here. You don’t get shocked with this, you disintegrate.
Mark Boyce posted:I was going to start cutting my Homasote for my roadbed, but it is extremely windy today, so I started working on the shelf part of my layout instead. I had to move the 18" metal wall brackets up 4 inches to get a match for the height of the roll around. Then I put stringers on the two I did and a fascia board on matched to the roll around. I could clamp the roll around to the stationary part, but it is fine for now with the brakes set. I think it is going to work pretty slick. Here are two photographs. My carpentry skills aren't very pretty nor is my used wood, but it all seems solid enough. I still need to put an 8 inch section between the wall and the tabletop, but that material is out in my shed, and I was afraid I may blow away. I thought the dog may fly like a kite at the end of her cable when I put her out. LOL
Looks good Mark! You should take the "carsntrains" building course. Build it. Then make a plan lol Its fun!!! : )
Jim
Blood, Sweat and Tears
Let's take these three in reverse order.
Tears
For the most part I'm done with tears. I left those behind a long time ago. When I was about 8, my prize piece of Lionel was the O gauge milk car, the one with the brown roof. My layout, on an old ping pong table, had a graduated trestle set climbing a long straightaway and an 027 curve at the bottom, on the far side from the controls. Somehow the milk car got away. It didn't fly so much as plummet. To this day, it still has a broken door from that incident.
The last time I cried over trains was 25 years ago, when I had to close enterTRAINment.
Sweat
That's just standard. I'm sure I've given gallons of it over the years.
Blood
Unfortunately, there has been more of that than I care to give. Most recently was on Tuesday. I needed to get back into this corner and pop up in my access hole, so I could finish painting the rail. I had finished painting and went to get out. I ended up sliding out on my left side. Big mistake. See the blood on the floor?
I showed it who was the boss yesterday, and lopped off the offending corner. Then covered the edge with a scrap of carpet.
It is almost a joy getting in and out of there now.
I went back in there three times, and finished ballasting
Work day again tomorrow. Got some goodies from Scenic Express today, including the rest of the pieces for my viaduct. I do need to finish ballasting the Northtown bowl tracks though.
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Deuce posted:Hot glue and flashing amber lights for the win. Since this will sit over a siding, I figured a flashing yellow would suffice. I sure as heck am not properly wiring up signals on this layout. I like my sanity.
Love your candor it works doesn't i!!
Deuce posted:Hot glue and flashing amber lights for the win. Since this will sit over a siding, I figured a flashing yellow would suffice. I sure as heck am not properly wiring up signals on this layout. I like my sanity.
Sanity is overrated 
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Mark, started to take shape. Nice job...................Paul;
paul 2 posted:Still just little things. I needed to take up some cork because I didn't draw a center line through the grain elevator so when I measured for that I found that I had to take up cork and move it over, I spent the next twenty minutes or so looking for my Chisel. I finally found it but to my surprise in looking for it I found the assembly directions to the Pawn Shop under a pile of stuff. But still thanks to those that help me. And it is a short day. I have to get my stuff ready for the train show at the Independence High School Fieldhouse tomorrow 6001 Archwood rd Independence OH. It is from 10 AM to 3 PM Saturday March 3rd. But I am heading up there tonight to set up so I don't have to get up early and do it tomorrow. I got the lettering cut out for the sign, that's a slow process. And then I glued them to the sign frame. After it dried a bit I placed it on the roof. Then I went back to laying cork. All the cork is down. It probably won't be till Sunday that I can work on the layout again. Pics.......................Paul
Looks good Paul! I hope you have fun at the train show! Buy something nice! LOL
Mark, things are looking nice! What the wood looks like doesn't matter, FREE is always good!
Elliot, your track painting looks wonderful along with the ballast! Sorry you got cut, but I am glad you took care of that no good corner! I hope today is going to be a better day and you have fun with what ever you have planned for the layout!
Deuce, I don't see anything wrong, remember its your layout, make it as you want it! There are to many things building a layout that can test your sanity! So just have fun!
Mark- the wood will all get covered up with scenery so as long as its solid its good. I never did any sub-station work but that crackle is a sound you never forget. Seen my share of transformer failures though.
Elliot- we have all bled for our railroads at one time (or more than once)
Deuce- flashing lights are the best. No worries that they are not realistic to the train movements. Plenty of time for that when your kids are older and you build a more serious layout.
Paul- Have fun at the show today.
Hey Mike- You framin' or surfin'????
Big storm blew up the east coast yesterday. Hope everyone made it through OK.
Bob
Hi Bob, I framed some yesterday and will do some more today! Its kinda slow when your by yourself, Plus some of its heavy for a old guy so I have to work around that also.
I will post some more pictures later today!
Sounds good Mike. Love to help if I wasn't 3,000 miles away.
ditto !!
To be honest, sometimes it's self gratifying to look back and say I did that by myself, other times it sure would be nice to have another set of hands!
Bob, side question, since you know electrical, how many outlets can I put on 1 20 amp breaker?
mike g. posted:To be honest, sometimes it's self gratifying to look back and say I did that by myself, other times it sure would be nice to have another set of hands!
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briansilvermustang posted:mike g. posted:To be honest, sometimes it's self gratifying to look back and say I did that by myself, other times it sure would be nice to have another set of hands!
Nice try Brian, that would work for beer drinking, but not to have someone at the other end of a beam! LOL
got 'em ready... 
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mike g. posted:Bob, side question, since you know electrical, how many outlets can I put on 1 20 amp breaker?
Mike- no maximum by code. when I used to wire houses I would average 8-10 receptacles on 15 amp circuits. For 20 amp circuits that would be fine. Really depends on what you plan to plug in. I would recommend one or two dedicated 20 amp circuits for the trains and then a separate circuit for convenience outlets around the room. Lighting can have it's own 15 amp circuit too.
Bob
RSJB18 posted:mike g. posted:Bob, side question, since you know electrical, how many outlets can I put on 1 20 amp breaker?
Mike- no maximum by code. when I used to wire houses I would average 8-10 receptacles on 15 amp circuits. For 20 amp circuits that would be fine. Really depends on what you plan to plug in. I would recommend one or two dedicated 20 amp circuits for the trains and then a separate circuit for convenience outlets around the room. Lighting can have it's own 15 amp circuit too.
Bob
Thanks Bob, I sent you an Email as not to hijack the topic here! The only thing goin to be plugged in is Z4000 and some other train stuff. and that it. This new room is for Trains stuff only!
Thanks Mike and Bob. Gonna try to have a safe day today. Gotta finish ballasting and gluing Northtown.
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.
http://couchkitties.comicgenesis.com/d/20180303.html
Mitch
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briansilvermustang posted:
I think the nicest by far are the ones that are down and dirty.
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paul 2 posted:Mark, started to take shape. Nice job...................Paul;
Paul, Thank you!!
Mike and Bob,
Thank you for the vote of confidence!! Yes, I could stand on it, but I would fall getting up there!! While 165 pounds isn't much of a load, I won't have near that much in one spot anyway!
Deuce posted:The littlest came out to watch today. I could see the wife taking a mental tally of everything on the table. Good thing she didn't look underneath! Ha ha ha.
Deuce... my office is the 2nd floor of a barn we used to live in until we finished building the house. As long as my wife doesn't snoop around a closet up there I think I'm okay for the time being! And she's out for 4 days with my daughter at the end of this month so that'll be my time to add 60 more square feet of tables for my layout with my 5 year old son. If my track arrives then we'll lay some rail too!
Mike I think it looks great! You have done a wonderful job by yourself. Although, that inspector looks like a tough one! I would say he won't let even the smallest infraction slide!!
looks GREAT Mike bet your ready for them 4 beers now...
oops, make that 5... 1 for the inspector...
getting CLOSER !!! pull out a chair, and grab a cold one !!
I can see one of these parked on the siding by the brewery...
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Mike, wow, you have made headway. Great job.....Paul
