What did you do on your layout today?

Thanks for your support on this guys.

I feel as if my love for the various aspects of this hobby have left me with one foot firmly planted in each of two worlds. I've been in the NMRA for 43 years now. I did over 25 years in the TCA as well, but eventually dropped out when I stopped "collecting" and shifted my focus to realistic operation. There are very few 3 railers that take this tack. The only one that I'm aware of beside myself is Bob Bartizek.

I tend to favor the more technical aspects of the hobby and a little less of the artistic, which may be why I have put off doing scenery for so long. Everyone enjoys this hobby in his own way.

Pat - Earning one's Eagle Scout is another good way of looking at the MMR qualification. The guys locally who have earned this title are:

• Les Breuer
• Mike Engler
• John Hotvet
• Gerry Leone

There are many other spectacular modelers who, for whatever reason, have not earned this title. Some are probably working on it, while others just prefer to do their own thing.

Frank - You're welcome. I'm glad I could shed a little light on that other model railroading world beyond this one. Honestly, from the pictures that I've seen of your work over the years, I think you have reached the qualifications for at least two of the certifications toward MMR, scenery and structures. Here's the list.

Well, time to go carve some more rock, it ain't going to carve itself.

briansilvermustang posted:

          some 3 rail running out side...

    https://www.familygardentrains.../o_gauge_outside.htm

 

                 https://youtu.be/1d-0PlUh73w

                 https://youtu.be/8Rz3nfjumUY

        

Very nice !   First, may I ask if you live in a warmer climate than I do, in Pennsylvania ?   Second, presumably you are using stainless steel track and I suspect it's Gargraves.  If so, does it have wood ties and how are they holding up outdoors ?

           hello Dan... these are pics that I searched   "O gauge 3 rail outside"...

     I am in Ohio, wish I was in a warmer area so I could build one of these RR's...

Had an appointment at the VA Clinic today. Planned on coming home and dealing with

the AF M10005 from yesterday. Short story,  bad news at the VA. Anyway, tried to run the

M10005 to distract myself . I have decided for the interim it is going to be a shelf queen. The loco

will run all day, but as soon as I attach a car, it will not negotiate my 034 curves. I was

planning another layout with wider curves, but that may be on hold indefinitely. I decided to take

 a Marx M10005 down and run it. I did take pics of it next to the AF  one, amazing they are the same

gauge, run on the same power and are so different. 

I forgot the reason the Marx was on the shelf is because it does not run well either. 

Loco and two coaches, it will run forever. Add the observation, train wreck. 

Back to the shelf too

Problem is I am running out of shelves

Hope you're feeling better soon, amigo.  ^.^ 

Thanks, but not the kind of things that are going to get better soon, if at all. Couple of previous

VA doctors really dropped the ball. 

Tch!  Well, get that O42 up and running, if only for morale purposes!   

beardog posted:

Thanks, but not the kind of things that are going to get better soon, if at all. Couple of previous

VA doctors really dropped the ball. 

Beardog- sorry to hear.... puts the problems with the VA front and center.

All of the guys on the forum who have served have my never ending respect.

Bob

ANOTHER SNOW DAY ON LONG ISLAND! Looks like a doosy too- 12-18" expected. Heavy wet stuff too.

Well looks like I'm gonna have to work on the layout again.......

I picked up some more heat-shrink tubing to start working on my block signals. Going to take some experimenting to decide on the best way to wire them up. I'll post pix as I go.

Bob

OK, which of you smart alecks took a picture of my birthday cake and posted it here?

Bob, from what they are saying here on the news your right! Sounds like your in for a big snow fall! I feel for you. Lucky me I took the wife's snow tires off 2 weeks ago and now they are saying we might get snow on Friday and Saturday. But only a trace.

As far as your block signals, just hook up 2 wires and there you go! That's the extent of my electrical knowledge! LOL

Big Ken posted:

OK, which of you smart alecks took a picture of my birthday cake and posted it here?

No one took your Birthday Cake

It's a copyright Google Image.....................

Gary

mike g. posted:

Bob, from what they are saying here on the news your right! Sounds like your in for a big snow fall! I feel for you. Lucky me I took the wife's snow tires off 2 weeks ago and now they are saying we might get snow on Friday and Saturday. But only a trace.

As far as your block signals, just hook up 2 wires and there you go! That's the extent of my electrical knowledge! LOL

LOL Mike- not quite that easy but not as difficult as it looks either.

RSJB18 posted:

mike g. posted:

Bob, from what they are saying here on the news your right! Sounds like your in for a big snow fall! I feel for you. Lucky me I took the wife's snow tires off 2 weeks ago and now they are saying we might get snow on Friday and Saturday. But only a trace.

As far as your block signals, just hook up 2 wires and there you go! That's the extent of my electrical knowledge! LOL

LOL Mike- not quite that easy but not as difficult as it looks either.

I rewired my signal bridge with LED's and it took like 4 guys from here to talk me threw it! I had to make a isolated section of track, some relays, some little thing to drop the voltage. Man I hope it still works when I get around to putting it on a layout! LOL

beardog posted:

Thanks, but not the kind of things that are going to get better soon, if at all. Couple of previous

VA doctors really dropped the ball. 

I am very sorry for you!!  I'll be praying your health improves. 

My dad had the VA drop the ball a couple years ago, and we didn't realize Dad wasn't of sound enough mind to question it.  He is sort of getting back on track now.  We do take comfort that we see the VA has addressed some of their issues that have a positive effect for Dad.  He is a Korea War era vet, Army.

Yesterday I ran trains for several hours.  While doing so I repaired a pantograph on my scale Williams GG1.  That locomotive is now pulling a mail and express train on the outer mainline.  

I also weathered a flat car and created some scenes ( for next week's edition of TEAM TRACK TUESDAY and this week's edition of Switcher Saturday here on the OGR Forum ) .... and took some additional photos too! )  and took photos.  Of course it was ALL YUGE fun!!!

Here are some photos from yesterday's shoot.  The shot of the mountain ( Mt. Randolph ... named for my friend Randy Harrison who helped me LOTS with building my layout )  is looking east while the city shot is what I call Patsburg Westend.... obviously looking west. 

North Penn 'O' Gaugers

Proud customer of Henning's Trains in Lansdale, PA  

www.SCARMHiRailers.com A collection of SCARM Files for O-Gauge accessories.

John, Bob,

Thanks for the replies. I pulled the cover off and found the adjusting lever. The light now work as desired. The only thing I noted is since I have a mix of brands, some bulbs respond slightly differently. Not a problem, just something I noticed.

Chris

LVHR

briansilvermustang posted:

 

Wow, Brian it looks like you got a lot done on your layout recently.

Art

Patrick, nice pics. Especially the long shot of the city..............Paul

Hey Paul- any progress with the test runs?

RSJB18 posted:

Hey Paul- any progress with the test runs?

Yea Paul, whats going on?

Sorry guys. No progress over the last few days. I was going to wire yesterday but balancing the checkbook took part of the afternoon. Even with the wife's help I was mentally drained finding my mistake. Right after lunch I am going to make a stab at it. I got enough ground wire to start but just got done ordering more wire. ...........Paul

Its all good Paul! Just don't want Bryan to catch up with you! LOL

I'd post a picture or two, but who really cares to see a DZ-1000? Today I passed the 1/2 way point in wiring switches. Just finished #13 of 24. My earlier post with "22" was a mis-count.  Including two manual switches, I have a total of 26 Ross switches. I have also resolved power feed issues for 3/4 of the layout. ALWAYS connect both outside rails. That was the biggest mistake I made on this layout, lesson learned.

Wiring DZ-1000s to the MTH AIU is the way to go. These Ross switches operate smooth as glass, better than the local controller. The accessory output on the CW-80 is more than up to the task of powering all of these switches.

It's snowing here too. Back to the attic.

RSJB18 posted:

ANOTHER SNOW DAY ON LONG ISLAND! Looks like a doosy too- 12-18" expected. Heavy wet stuff too.

Well looks like I'm gonna have to work on the layout again.......

I picked up some more heat-shrink tubing to start working on my block signals. Going to take some experimenting to decide on the best way to wire them up. I'll post pix as I go.

Bob

 

Explain these a little, Bob.  Not for the faint of heart?  Whatdaya have to put together?

Gilly@N&W posted:

I'd post a picture or two, but who really cares to see a DZ-1000? Today I passed the 1/2 way point in wiring switches. Just finished #13 of 24. I also have power feeds for 3/4 of the layout complete.

Wiring DZ-1000s to the MTH is the way to go. These Ross switches operate smooth as glass. The accessory output on the CW-80 is more than up to the task of powering these switches.

It's snowing here too. Back to the attic.

I for one haven’t seen these switch machines wired to Ross switches.  I know most have, but it would help me a little to put the pics and instruction/methods in the thread bank.

TedW posted:

Gilly@N&W posted:

I'd post a picture or two, but who really cares to see a DZ-1000? Today I passed the 1/2 way point in wiring switches. Just finished #13 of 24. I also have power feeds for 3/4 of the layout complete.

Wiring DZ-1000s to the MTH is the way to go. These Ross switches operate smooth as glass. The accessory output on the CW-80 is more than up to the task of powering these switches.

It's snowing here too. Back to the attic.

I for one haven’t seen these switch machines wired to Ross switches.  I know most have, but it would help me a little to put the pics and instruction/methods in the thread bank.

Tom, I'm with Ted.  I would be happy to see also if you can.

I spent about four hours working on the bluff yesterday. In addition to doing a bunch of carving, I cut some of the foam for the upper section. It looks so different now. Again, all of this was done using stacked strips of ceiling tile, a utility knife, and a wire brush.

This is what the area really looks like. In case you are wondering what the track crew is doing in all these pictures, they are fabricating new switches on site, and will be installing them later. These shots were taken over a number of days, and are not in any particular order. Right now the real focus is on the rock.

It's impossible to copy exactly, but I'm trying to capture the flavor. Paint will help, so will trees.

The native stone is really a buff colored sandstone . It's just covered with years of grime.

The bluff gets steeper as it moves west. At the near end I started with a 45 degree slope, then moved up to 55, and finally 65. The table saw made easy work of that. I applied some special foam adhesive, and tacked it in place with a few drywall screws. I'll remove the screws.

The foam will be carved, painted, and mostly be covered with trees.

I have a bunch of reference pictures taped to the upper fascia.

Hobos camp in out cuz house is on fire

Here's what's cook in

Elliot, That is an excellent simulation of the weathered sandstone rocks!!

Justhavnfun, that is a really nice piece of meet those hobos have there!  good scene!

I purchased some aluminum model tubing, as I am going to hand build diesel fuel columns for my track. I hope to start making them tonight.

Problem of having my mother-in-law live with us ... she knows everything that comes through the front door, and the lady ratted me out last night. Which prompted the wife to ask, again, how much I've spent on that train table. My response was: I didn't keep track, and I'm not planning on adding it all up, and if I did, I doubt you or I would want to know.  I also said I was pretty much done buying things for the table.

I almost looked at my MiL and said "Snitches get stitches." but I refrained. Not sure I could have mustered the degree of levity required to pull off the comment at that moment in time.

I'm with TEDW and Mark Boyce in that I'd love to see DZ-1000 with Ross switches (manual would help) as I have several on my new layout I'd need to wire and don't have any manuals.

Elliott - That looks amazing!  When you get the trees on the upper portion it will look exactly like the real thing.  Its really coming together.

Art

TedW posted:

RSJB18 posted:

ANOTHER SNOW DAY ON LONG ISLAND! Looks like a doosy too- 12-18" expected. Heavy wet stuff too.

Well looks like I'm gonna have to work on the layout again.......

I picked up some more heat-shrink tubing to start working on my block signals. Going to take some experimenting to decide on the best way to wire them up. I'll post pix as I go.

Bob

 

Explain these a little, Bob.  Not for the faint of heart?  Whatdaya have to put together?

Ted- I bought these on ebay cheap from China.  The LED's need to be installed in the signal bodies and wired. I just realized that they only came with 10 resistors and I have 20 LED's. Gotta order more resistors. Not sure about the assembly yet- I may pick up some project board so that everything can be mounted right behind the face of the signal. The only other thing to do is fabricate a base and back cover which I may do with styrene.

I plan to power each color separately and control them with isolated blocks on the layout.

Elliot- your modeling skills look fine to me. Like riding a bicycle, you never forget. The cliff walls look great.

Bob

Whew, Bob.  This’ll be interesting.  I wouldn’t know where to begin...  my Lionel Dwarf signal has three wires, red,black,yellow;  red/black-power/ground, yellow to insulated rail.  No idea how the connections are made inside.  Is that what you’re thinking?