That looks great Elliot. How anyone could not be impressed with your layout regardless of the current state of it is beyond me.
Bob
looking GREAT Elliot 
M. Mitchell Marmel posted:beardog posted:i am seeing operating flamingo cars in the future
Pink Flamingos cars? What a Divine idea!
Mitch
Well played Sir!
I have completed my second level on the small 5x10' layout. Expanded upper level by 6 1/2" which will allow me to have a loop for American Flyer postwar. Plan is to have total of four independent loops. I run all through DCS system except the Flyer loop will need small independent power source. Lower level has 54" and 42" while upper hopefully will incorporate Flyer 40" and one loop of 36" diameter curves. Like running four separate trains on this small layout making myself dizzy.
RSJB18 posted:lehighline posted:PCRR Dave and Mike,
I like the LEDs already. This just adds to the collection on the ceiling and removes the fluorescent tubes from service.
I have the first 2 banks on dimmers now. The only issue is they do not go completely out when the dimmers are at their lowest setting. I'm told there may be an adjustment. I just need to find it. The new banks are just on a switch for now. I do plan to install a dimmer on these as well. Meanwhile, time to put the layout back together!
Chris
LVHR
Chris- many LED rated dimmers have a low-end trim adjustment on the face of the dimmer. Take the wall plate off and see if there is a small lever or wheel. You can adjust it until the lights go out.
Bob
@lehighline (Chris),
Did you know that Lutron Electronics is located right here in the Lehigh Valley? Did you also know that I am a proud employee of the same?
If you'd like any help with your dimmer/lights compatibility, drop me a line. If it is a Lutron dimmer, call our support hotline. We have some of the best folks working those phones 24/7 (and from 8-5 EDT, those phones ring right here in the Lehigh Valley then it kicks over to Las Vegas).
RSJB18 posted:lehighline posted:PCRR Dave and Mike,
I like the LEDs already. This just adds to the collection on the ceiling and removes the fluorescent tubes from service.
I have the first 2 banks on dimmers now. The only issue is they do not go completely out when the dimmers are at their lowest setting. I'm told there may be an adjustment. I just need to find it. The new banks are just on a switch for now. I do plan to install a dimmer on these as well. Meanwhile, time to put the layout back together!
Chris
LVHR
Chris- many LED rated dimmers have a low-end trim adjustment on the face of the dimmer. Take the wall plate off and see if there is a small lever or wheel. You can adjust it until the lights go out.
Bob
Bob, you know alot! I am looking at some plug in Led shop lights, but they don't say if they will work with a dimmer switch. Any other way to tell before I buy ?
mike g. posted:RSJB18 posted:lehighline posted:
I have the first 2 banks on dimmers now. The only issue is they do not go completely out when the dimmers are at their lowest setting. I'm told there may be an adjustment. I just need to find it. The new banks are just on a switch for now. I do plan to install a dimmer on these as well. Meanwhile, time to put the layout back together!
Chris
LVHR
Chris- many LED rated dimmers have a low-end trim adjustment on the face of the dimmer. Take the wall plate off and see if there is a small lever or wheel. You can adjust it until the lights go out.
Bob
Bob, you know alot! I am looking at some plug in Led shop lights, but they don't say if they will work with a dimmer switch. Any other way to tell before I buy ?
If it doesn't say on the package, then chances are slim. The best bet is to call the manufacturer. Be sure to ask for a specific make and model dimmer suggestion. If you already have the dimmer, then call the dimmer manufacturer and ask them for a list of compatible fixtures.
Remember, it's not enough to be dimmable, the fixtute/bulb have to be compatible with the dimmer. Otherwise you'll get flicker, strobing, drop out, pop on, or just plain crappy dimming.
500 pages and going strong! 
M. Mitchell Marmel posted:500 pages and going strong!
We got us a regular encyclopedia going here!
Happy 500th...
Today some Weaver undecorated trailers arrived. I ran trains this afternoon while looking for a few things in the attic to take to the basement. I decided that tomorrow will be the big day. I am going to wire some track up for the very first time on this layout. I brought a Legacy engine down to test the track as I go along. In the meantime I applied some rust color to the outside of the scrap yard fence. Still have to add rust to the inside of the fence. Pics.............Paul
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Spring cleaning or is that really rearranging ?
Clem
John D. posted:mike g. posted:RSJB18 posted:lehighline posted:
I have the first 2 banks on dimmers now. The only issue is they do not go completely out when the dimmers are at their lowest setting. I'm told there may be an adjustment. I just need to find it. The new banks are just on a switch for now. I do plan to install a dimmer on these as well. Meanwhile, time to put the layout back together!
Chris
LVHR
Chris- many LED rated dimmers have a low-end trim adjustment on the face of the dimmer. Take the wall plate off and see if there is a small lever or wheel. You can adjust it until the lights go out.
Bob
Bob, you know alot! I am looking at some plug in Led shop lights, but they don't say if they will work with a dimmer switch. Any other way to tell before I buy ?
If it doesn't say on the package, then chances are slim. The best bet is to call the manufacturer. Be sure to ask for a specific make and model dimmer suggestion. If you already have the dimmer, then call the dimmer manufacturer and ask them for a list of compatible fixtures.
Remember, it's not enough to be dimmable, the fixtute/bulb have to be compatible with the dimmer. Otherwise you'll get flicker, strobing, drop out, pop on, or just plain crappy dimming.
Mike- John beat me to it. Couldn't have said it better myself. LED's are a little tricky when it comes to dimming and matching dimmers with fixtures, and his advice is sound.
We were on the learning curve on my campus for a while when LED's first came out. Most of the new stuff is much better now.
Bob
Its the Daytona 500 of OGR threads! WHOOHOO!
I just wanna be on p500. Is that cheating? 
Mill City posted:Happy 500th...
Happy 500! Looking for the next 500. That picture looks like the front of the birthday cards my brother-in-law sends me. He is only 7 years younger than me.
Paul, you are finding these Weavers like they are still making them!! Congratulations!
Thanks Bob and Brian.
Bob and everyone else - I don't think he's doing this to be mean. He just feels that there should be some minimum standard to be maintained. I'm not a bad modeler, I just haven't done any to speak of in years, and none on this one until now.
Check out his layout, and the others on the convention tour in September, then you'll understand a little better. Four of those guys are Master Model Railroaders. If you don't know what MMR is, the specs can be found here.
Tell me what you think. You might consider a trip out here to see all of these. I've seen most on the list, and they boggle MY mind.
Ok, guess I am seriously confused? Master model railroader? Minimum standards? What is this, the model railroad Police?
Are they coming to my house to critique my layout? This sounds like something this hobby, remember HOBBY,
doesn't need and certainly not something that belongs on this forum.
beardog posted:Ok, guess I am seriously confused? Master model railroader? Minimum standards? What is this, the model railroad Police?
Are they coming to my house to critique my layout? This sounds like something this hobby, remember HOBBY,
doesn't need and certainly not something that belongs on this forum.
I don't really see how this doesn't belong on this forum. What I'm sharing here may be a bit personal, but it's totally train related.
Yes, you missed part of the conversation. It happened many pages ago. Actually, it happened three years ago when the National Narrow Gauge Convention, local committee announced that they had won the bid for 2018. At that time they asked me if I wanted to be on the layout tour. Since then, I have been working toward the goal of getting onto the tour. I need to jump through their hoops to be included. Nobody is coming to anyone's house, unless they want them to. I do.
Frankly, I hope everyone here would want me to be on the tour because people from all over the country and even the world will be attending. Mine would be the only 3 rail layout on the tour. It gives our corner of the hobby some exposure, that it doesn't usually get.
This has nothing to do with the NMRA. There is no organization associated with the NNGC, just the local convention committee. I know the guys on the committee. They've been to visit my layout, and liked it, but now I'm getting push back from the gate keeper as it were. I'm dealing with it, but I'm a bit frustrated. I WILL GET THIS!
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The NMRA Achievement Program is how one earns the title Master Model Railroader. Think of it like becoming a doctor of model railroading. It takes years of dedication. Nobody forces anyone to do anything, but for those who choose to participate, and complete the requirements, they earn the title and the respect of their fellow hobbyists.
I've known about the program for over 40 years. Perhaps if I had started 20 years ago, I might have gotten it by now. But I didn't. Building this layout will get me a bunch of the certificates, but not all that are required. My problem is I have little interest in some of the required aspects of the program, which has always kept me from starting.
To tell you how rare MMR's are, since the start of the program in 1961, there have only been 608. You're not even looking at 11 per year average. Pretty thin air at the top of the mountain, but nobody makes you climb.
Grabbed my yard lights from the LHS today. While I was there I looked around and grabbed some crates to be loaded onto a flat bed. Also grabbed some ore car loads, and a male pigtail for the Plug-N-Play powered FT piece.
Came home and my circuit breakers arrived along with my KW transformer and some kit pieces to build an oil column and two diesel fuel columns. Now I just need some brass piping.
Getting the title of Master Model Railroader is like making the all stars or better still, earning eagle scout. It is a title given to the select few of the best modelers in our hobby and is not easy to achieve. Elliot, I am rooting for you and hope you are successful in your efforts.
Big Boy 4005, Gracious of you to provide all that information and perspective, above, in your recent replies. I had only a vague idea about such standards and such an organization, but now that I have those links, which took me to the "Model Railroad Layout Tours," I nearly gasped at the long list of drool-worthy layouts, complete with beautiful photos on the tour. I only hope I have the time to see them all, via my computer, let alone consider tweaks and adjustments, thus newly inspired by your replies to BEARDOG, to my own creative efforts. You've taken considerable time and remarkable patience and diplomacy in typing out such helpful replies.
Thank you, again, for providing a very interesting resource through the perspective of your objective viewpoint and knowledge (!)
FrankM, Moon Township, USA and Layout Refinements.com
Elliot, Things are really looking nice on Hoffman! I cant wait to see it painted! As far as the information you shared about the MMR is very impressive! Thanks for sharing it with us!
John D. Thanks for the great information. I will be sure to check things out before I buy my LED Lights. I am hoping to just get the ones you plug into an outlet, but if not so be it! LOL
Paul, very nice trailers and the rust is looking like it belongs! It might be me or the picture but it looks like your crane has jumped the tracks! LOL
As for me nothing new, but the wife was out looking at the progress of the new train room and stated it would be cool if I put a small door in the end of the building so I could run a train out the side down around our fish pond! Blew me away as the fish pond is a good 20 feet away. But is she likes the idea and wants it who am I to question her! LOL
Big_Boy_4005 posted:Thanks Bob and Brian.
Bob and everyone else - I don't think he's doing this to be mean. He just feels that there should be some minimum standard to be maintained. I'm not a bad modeler, I just haven't done any to speak of in years, and none on this one until now.
Check out his layout, and the others on the convention tour in September, then you'll understand a little better. Four of those guys are Master Model Railroaders. If you don't know what MMR is, the specs can be found here.
Tell me what you think. You might consider a trip out here to see all of these. I've seen most on the list, and they boggle MY mind.
Just looked at the cab-view video of his layout WOW! 
mike g. posted:Elliot, Things are really looking nice on Hoffman! I cant wait to see it painted!
John D. Thanks for the great information. I will be sure to check things out before I buy my LED Lights. I am hoping to just get the ones you plug into an outlet, but if not so be it! LOL
Paul, very nice trailers and the rust is looking like it belongs! It might be me or the picture but it looks like your crane has jumped the tracks! LOL
As for me nothing new, but the wife was out looking at the progress of the new train room and stated it would be cool if I put a small door in the end of the building so I could run a train out the side down around our fish pond! Blew me away as the fish pond is a good 20 feet away. But is she likes the idea and wants it who am I to question her! LOL
DID SOMEONE SAY G-SCALE GARDEN RAILWAY!
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RSJB18 posted:mike g. posted:As for me nothing new, but the wife was out looking at the progress of the new train room and stated it would be cool if I put a small door in the end of the building so I could run a train out the side down around our fish pond! Blew me away as the fish pond is a good 20 feet away. But is she likes the idea and wants it who am I to question her! LOL
DID SOMEONE SAY G-SCALE GARDEN RAILWAY!
That is certainly the way I would go! G scale outdoors is something I am still looking forward to at some point since I have all the trains and most of the track I need, but the O gauge layout has first priority at this point for the next couple of years.
Construction suggestion......
Oh don't worry guys, when she said that my mind just started spinning! LOL Bob, is that O or G scale?
P.S. Love the BNSF Engines!
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Way to go Brian!
thanks Mike ! can't wait till it gets warm out !!
Ditto- 10"-15" of snow expected here tonight and all day tomorrow.....UGHH 
Mike- I think they were G gauge. pure coincidence that I found a shot with BNSF locos.
Bob
Bob, I am so sorry your going to be getting more snow! But then again its a snow day and if you get tired of trains you can always build a snowman!
As far as the train size I was asking cause I would like to try and stick to O gauge!
you can always build a snowman!
or run some trains in the snow...
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I'm with you Mike. The O gauge stuff is expensive enough. A guy I work with has G and you need to take out a loan to buy some of the big locos.
I think I spent less to buy my first car 
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Now that's what I am talking about Brian!
