What did you do on your layout today?

chris a posted:

Mark & Mike,  thanks for the positive feedback....  Bought the Korber building from another forum member not too long ago... As he had already painted it once without mortar lines, I ended up having to weather it several times, with different methods to get it where I wanted it.   What I ended up realizing is that I should be doing this on all my buildings.   Initially weather them once,  paint some bricks different colors, do the brick mortar work, seal it all up with flat clear coat, then go back and start doing variations, patch some mortar, with different color mortar,  india ink washes, dry brushing to get it looking less "perfect" as brick industrial buildings rarely weather uniformly....

Yeah, brick buildings are a pain to get right (I model an area that didn't have any, so I dodged that bullet).

You did a great job and I love the weathering!

It's coming along...

It's nice to see some finishes taking place.

briansilvermustang posted:

clem k posted:

OK I got it all cleaned up, now to figure out what to do with the space ?

          extend the layout into the next room...

                    then run a loop around the complete basement... then... 

 

Go Big or Go Home!

Lirr, things are looking very nice there! I think your right about the walkway, but then again if you didn't point it out I would have never seen it!

Elliot, Sometime I just don't know what to say about all the great work you get done! This just happens to be one of those times! So the best I can do right now is say GREAT WORK! I really love your updates, not only are the pictures wonderful but you always have a great story to go with it!

mike g. posted:

Bob, that's ok, I don't know the words either! LOL As far as the green being to bright, Green is good!LOL

Brian, great pictures, did you every try and see if one engine for the Amtrak will pull 10 cars?

Art, the building is looking nice! A little bit at a time and its going to look great!

As for me I got 1 and 3/4 walls up this weekend! Ran out of 2x4's! But one step closer!

Mike, great progress! I trust it's got plenty of AMPs wired in?

RSJB18 posted:

briansilvermustang posted:

clem k posted:

OK I got it all cleaned up, now to figure out what to do with the space ?

          extend the layout into the next room...

                    then run a loop around the complete basement... then... 

 

Go Big or Go Home!

Yea come on Clem, show us how its done! I am sure Bob and Brian have a few walls they need to go threw!

LaramieJoe posted:

mike g. posted:

Bob, that's ok, I don't know the words either! LOL As far as the green being to bright, Green is good!LOL

Brian, great pictures, did you every try and see if one engine for the Amtrak will pull 10 cars?

Art, the building is looking nice! A little bit at a time and its going to look great!

As for me I got 1 and 3/4 walls up this weekend! Ran out of 2x4's! But one step closer!

Mike, great progress! I trust it's got plenty of AMPs wired in?

Hi Joe, I have 2  20amps breakers, one is for lights and the other is just for train items! I sure hope that's enough!

Looks great Elliot.

Bob

Elliot, it is taking longer to get my jaw off the ground to say "WOW". Just amazing how much you can get done in a day. You would think after watching you all this time it would of set a fire under me but I must have a lot of wet wood LOL. Mitch, I like that tank car. Clem, I agree with Brian and Mike, go through the  wall add some staging sidings back there. Well for me today it was another procrastinating day against wiring. I did get the last of my wiring today so maybe I should put some gas on the fire to start wiring. Wife and I had dental appointments today and with the weather being nice for a change I used my band saw to cut up some wood for the scrap iron yard to have separate bins for metals. On the I think I am going to scribe lines top make them look like large blocks rather them making them look like timbers. I still have to add rust to the inside of the fence and bushes along the outside.  I took the wood I got from Menards on Saturday and made up a shelf under the grain elevator table. Then I went around and gathered all the train boxes I had on the table. Pretty much cleared it off. At least I have some room to start some background buildings. But I think during the day tomorrow I am going to try to do wiring, that is if I don't talk myself out of it again....Pics.....Paul

beardog posted:

it may not be relevant to the switch solenoids, but I had a

marx crossing gate that would hum when it was operated. drove me

nuts, too. I finally figured out it was because the solenoid was not going

the full distance so it would sit there and chatter/hum  trying to 

complete its cycle until the power to it was shut off. With the crossing gate

I solved the problem by trimming off a bit of the downrod on the gate

so the solenoid could go the full distance. As you can see, the rod no longer

touches the table, the solenoid goes full distance and so no noise

John

Beardog, how did you solve the problem of the long end of the gate coming loose and flapping around? I've had two of those crossing gates, and sooner or later (usually sooner), the brass rivet that holds the extension on comes loose, rendering the whole thing more or less useless.  All the Marx crossing gates I see at train shows are the same way.  I've tried crimping the rivet with pliers, but that's only a temporary fix.

Your gate in the photo is dead-straight.  How do you do it?

Lee -  thanks for encouraging words on the brick weathering.   For a long time I have been wanting to scratch-build exterior duct work on a building... So the large building flat became the first guinea pig....   It's not too bad once I got the stock cut to the right size for the ducts, and found the plastruct....  Also added security screening to the first floor windows,  a new loading dock and loading dock roof....  Over the weekend I took a stab at building a tall tapered brick industrial smoke stack which will sit to the left of this flat....   Hope to have this whole back drop ready with new scratch built power line poles done and put back in place in the next day or two..  

 Nice job Chris on the flat. The duct work and the loading dock do a good job of breaking up the long flat. I like the bricked out window. The colors of the brick and concrete look spot on. 

paul 2 posted:

Elliot, it is taking longer to get my jaw off the ground to say "WOW". Just amazing how much you can get done in a day. You would think after watching you all this time it would of set a fire under me but I must have a lot of wet wood LOL. Mitch, I like that tank car. Clem, I agree with Brian and Mike, go through the  wall add some staging sidings back there. Well for me today it was another procrastinating day against wiring. I did get the last of my wiring today so maybe I should put some gas on the fire to start wiring. Wife and I had dental appointments today and with the weather being nice for a change I used my band saw to cut up some wood for the scrap iron yard to have separate bins for metals. On the I think I am going to scribe lines top make them look like large blocks rather them making them look like timbers. I still have to add rust to the inside of the fence and bushes along the outside.  I took the wood I got from Menards on Saturday and made up a shelf under the grain elevator table. Then I went around and gathered all the train boxes I had on the table. Pretty much cleared it off. At least I have some room to start some background buildings. But I think during the day tomorrow I am going to try to do wiring, that is if I don't talk myself out of it again....Pics.....Paul

 

WOW Paul the steal yard is looking great! The clean up you did today is wonderful! Gives you a place to do more work on back drops after you talk yourself out of wiring!

chris a posted:

Lee -  thanks for encouraging words on the brick weathering.   For a long time I have been wanting to scratch-build exterior duct work on a building... So the large building flat became the first guinea pig....   It's not too bad once I got the stock cut to the right size for the ducts, and found the plastruct....  Also added security screening to the first floor windows,  a new loading dock and loading dock roof....  Over the weekend I took a stab at building a tall tapered brick industrial smoke stack which will sit to the left of this flat....   Hope to have this whole back drop ready with new scratch built power line poles done and put back in place in the next day or two..  

Chris, the flat is looking great! I really like the duct work! Just a suggestion, as some cargo to the loading dock! Either way I think its going to look great!

I set the gate straigi

Balshis posted:

beardog posted:

it may not be relevant to the switch solenoids, but I had a

marx crossing gate that would hum when it was operated. drove me

nuts, too. I finally figured out it was because the solenoid was not going

the full distance so it would sit there and chatter/hum  trying to 

complete its cycle until the power to it was shut off. With the crossing gate

I solved the problem by trimming off a bit of the downrod on the gate

so the solenoid could go the full distance. As you can see, the rod no longer

touches the table, the solenoid goes full distance and so no noise

John

Beardog, how did you solve the problem of the long end of the gate coming loose and flapping around? I've had two of those crossing gates, and sooner or later (usually sooner), the brass rivet that holds the extension on comes loose, rendering the whole thing more or less useless.  All the Marx crossing gates I see at train shows are the same way.  I've tried crimping the rivet with pliers, but that's only a temporary fix.

Your gate in the photo is dead-straight.  How do you do it?

 

I set the gate straight for the photo, mine flops too. Next time I epoxy something it will get epoxied

straight. Won't be visable and will fix the problem

Dave and Mike,  thanks... Yes I lucked out with the bricked out windows... Found some brick patterns in O scale  on line, and printed them out... It turned out to be a really close match to the Korber brick on this building.... Close enough that I also used  it straight off the printer on both of the 2 inch deep walls on both ends and the brick smoke stack that I fabricated ...  Problem is it's been 6 months since I printed it so I am not sure I can find my back there to print more!!

Mike,  a great suggestion on adding some cargo and empty pallets to the dock area... I have to do some more weathering on the concrete loading dock tonight, right now it only has  a light coat of Camouflage "Sand" color sprayed over the pink insulation...  After dinner, I should be able to go over it with acrylics then glue it in place.   

Ran train for about 10 minutes.  Enjoyed every minute!!

On spring break this week so I host my Tuesday night group tomorrow and Friday night group at the end of the week.  Obviously  this is GREAT motivation to get stuff done.  Wife has been out shopping for the food and prepping it tonight while I've been down wireing buildings in the red light district and sound modules all day.  Now time to tackle install and wireing of 5 Miller signs for the clubs and bars before i call I call it a night.

Bryan in Ohio posted:

On spring break this week so I host my Tuesday night group tomorrow and Friday night group at the end of the week.  Obviously  this is GREAT motivation to get stuff done.  Wife has been out shopping for the food and prepping it tonight while I've been down wireing buildings in the red light district and sound modules all day.  Now time to tackle install and wireing of 5 Miller signs for the clubs and bars before i call I call it a night.

 

Looks great Bryan! I hope you have fun running 2 groups this week. Be nice to Paul, he is a little frail sometimes I think. I don't think his bodyguards are up for another run around! LOL

Elliot, those bluffs are going to look great!!

Paul, the scrap yard is looking good!  I see you organized so there is more room !!

mike g. posted:

Lirr, things are looking very nice there! I think your right about the walkway, but then again if you didn't point it out I would have never seen it!

Elliot, Sometime I just don't know what to say about all the great work you get done! This just happens to be one of those times! So the best I can do right now is say GREAT WORK! I really love your updates, not only are the pictures wonderful but you always have a great story to go with it!

Hey Mike

Thanks for your kind word. I find that when you get thrown a curve, it can be an opportunity for something you didn't think about before. In this case, the walkway as a nice scenic detail . I made a note so I don't forget.

And to all who have commented and liked my posts, thanks very much. Its encouraging to know that you are all enjoying and spurs me on. Lots of inspiration from all the nice work everyone is doing.

The cat's away so the mice are playing.  Had the last few days all to myself.  The women in the family are in Paris so I took it upon myself to rebuild my layout in it's entirety.  Not that my layout was old, it's that I conceived it as a post-war layout but got involved with too much of a good thing.  

What I have now is a post-war layout.  Simple but effective track plan that allows three trains to operate.  Two freight and one passenger.  Plus loads of operating accessories.  

Amazing what can be done in just four days when you're alone.  I don't like being alone for too long however.  Picking the ladies up tomorrow night.

I will try to post some pictures soon.  Here is the track plan.  It fits in a 3' x 12' space.  There are six blocks and four turnouts.  I can run a passenger train around the outer loop and have two freight trains parked on the two inner passing sidings.  I can park the passenger train on block #4 and still run each of the two freight trains, letting them stop at the various operating accessories.  

It's an overly simple solution.  I don't know why it took me so long to discover it.  

Dan Padova posted:

 

I will try to post some pictures soon.  Here is the track plan.  It fits in a 3' x 12' space.  There are six blocks and four turnouts.  I can run a passenger train around the outer loop and have two freight trains parked on the two inner passing sidings.  I can park the passenger train on block #4 and still run each of the two freight trains, letting them stop at the various operating accessories.  

It's an overly simple solution.  I don't know why it took me so long to discover it.  

 

Dan;

The phrase "elegant in it's simplicity" come to mind. Very nice job.

I took down another shelf queen. AF Burlington Zephyr.

Tinplate version. I thought I had this one running before.

Guess not. Anyway, I actually have a few of these so after

fiddling with a couple of them I finally got this one to run. 

It has the dreaded AF manual reverse, as opposed to the

dreaded AF automatic reverse. There seems to be one

tiny spot you can position the manual reverse and the

train will run. Sorry about the poor video, the silver trains

seem to reflect more light

Thanks guys! Doing scenery feels a little weird after all these years. I've been much more of a technician, focusing on layout design and construction, control systems, electrical etc. Don't get me wrong, there's still plenty of technical stuff left to do, but for the next six months, scenery will be the priority leading up to the convention.

------------------

Today, after my nap, my wife and I went downstairs for a couple hours. She kept sifting chicken grit, while I cleaned some of the rail where the ballast was complete at Western. I also dug into a huge box full of "green stuff", sorting clump foliage and trees that had been packed away for nearly a quarter century. Just about as fresh as the day they were made.

beardog posted:. 

It has the dreaded AF manual reverse, as opposed to the dreaded AF automatic reverse. There seems to be one tiny spot you can position the manual reverse and the train will run.

Would contact cleaner help on the reverse contacts? 

Mitch 

Apples55 posted:

Dan Padova posted:

 

I will try to post some pictures soon.  Here is the track plan.  It fits in a 3' x 12' space.  There are six blocks and four turnouts.  I can run a passenger train around the outer loop and have two freight trains parked on the two inner passing sidings.  I can park the passenger train on block #4 and still run each of the two freight trains, letting them stop at the various operating accessories.  

It's an overly simple solution.  I don't know why it took me so long to discover it.  

 

Dan;

The phrase "elegant in it's simplicity" come to mind. Very nice job.

WOW Dan! You may just have set the OGR Forum record for quickest build/ re-build in history!

Sometimes simple is best.

Bob

thanks Mitch, with these old trains I go thru gallons of it. Usually it

helps, this time not so much

Best laid plans can sometimes not materialize. Today was such a case. Grocery shopping this morning and laundry this afternoon really left no real time to work on the layout. Although the one bright spot was Mr Brown dropped off 5 more Weaver undecorated trailers. I could say that tomorrow will be more fruitful but maybe I'll wait till the end of the day to say that. I would do something tonight but tonight is Tuesday and another Tuesday night train crew session. Pic of my purchase..............Paul

RSJB18 posted:

Apples55 posted:

Dan Padova posted:

 

I will try to post some pictures soon.  Here is the track plan.  It fits in a 3' x 12' space.  There are six blocks and four turnouts.  I can run a passenger train around the outer loop and have two freight trains parked on the two inner passing sidings.  I can park the passenger train on block #4 and still run each of the two freight trains, letting them stop at the various operating accessories.  

It's an overly simple solution.  I don't know why it took me so long to discover it.  

 

Dan;

The phrase "elegant in it's simplicity" come to mind. Very nice job.

WOW Dan! You may just have set the OGR Forum record for quickest build/ re-build in history!

Sometimes simple is best.

Bob

I probably have, I suppose.  As I was building the layout I just took part, operation was getting too complicated.  Too much switching using post-war locos.  Also, the grades and large bridge were blocking my view and some smaller locos, like the #51 Navy switchers had a difficult time climbing those grades.  I was trying to get too much into a small space.  Scenery and operating accessories. 

I really wanted to focus on operating accessories.  So by simplifying the design, I have actually made it possible to operate more trains in the same space.  Have you ever started a project knowing that it just didn't feel right, but went ahead with it anyway ?  That's where I was.  

Still no photos yet, but they're coming, just like Christmas.....LOL

paul 2 posted:

Best laid plans can sometimes not materialize. Today was such a case. Grocery shopping this morning and laundry this afternoon really left no real time to work on the layout. Although the one bright spot was Mr Brown dropped off 5 more Weaver undecorated trailers. I could say that tomorrow will be more fruitful but maybe I'll wait till the end of the day to say that. I would do something tonight but tonight is Tuesday and another Tuesday night train crew session. Pic of my purchase..............Paul

Nice Paul! Your going to need a rail yard for all your trailers! Looks good. By the way I already asked Bryan to take it easy on you tonight and I don't think your swat team is up to the call of duty! LOL

Push Trains

The grandchildren came over today at 6:30 AM.  We ran the trains with power to the tracks and then went to what we call a push train.

They each get a non-powered locomotive and then they built their own train with three freight cars and one caboose.

They seem to have just as much fun with their push trains, more of a hands on approach. The public library that we walk to has a large train table with wooden tracks and trains. We could not go today because it rained all day.

They are still here in my train room, just hanging out with grandpa.

Gary

Don't worry about Paul tonight Mike, he will be very safe.  Don't need any "accidents" on my own property where he could file a claim against my homeowners insurance. 

As for the layout got it all cleaned up and ready to go for tonight. 

Gary looks like you and you dynamic duo had a great day!!

Bryan, I'm glad you are have Paul's well being at heart!!  I'm looking forward to hearing about a great train night over the border in Northeast Ohio!!!!

Mark Boyce posted:

Gary looks like you and you dynamic duo had a great day!!

Bryan, I'm glad you are have Paul's well being at heart!!  I'm looking forward to hearing about a great train night over the border in Northeast Ohio!!!!

Thank-you Mark. I really appreciate your support. Gary 

Bryan in Ohio posted:

Don't worry about Paul tonight Mike, he will be very safe.  Don't need any "accidents" on my own property where he could file a claim against my homeowners insurance. 

As for the layout got it all cleaned up and ready to go for tonight. 

 

Man that sure sounds like fun! I wish I lived near others with trains!

trainroomgary posted:

Push Trains

The grandchildren came over today at 6:30 AM.  We ran the trains with power to the tracks and then went to what we call a push train.

They each get a non-powered locomotive and then they built their own train with three freight cars and one caboose.

They seem to have just as much fun with their push trains, more of a hands on approach. The public library that we walk to has a large train table with wooden tracks and trains. We could not go today because it rained all day.

They are still here in my train room, just hanging out with grandpa.

Gary

Gary, that is so cool! I play push trains all the time for right now! LOL And I have a blast! Wish my grandkids would get into it, I am working on them. They have a hard time putting down the tablets!

Im with Mark, looks like a great time had by all!

Took me WAY longer than I planned to finally install these on the rear wall of my layout - even when you're retired, life (and table saw accidents) keeps getting in the way   

I picked these up,from Todd Architectural a couple of weeks ago. I plan on eventually adding lighting, but for now, with so much else to do (and an impending total knee replacement), the lighting will have to wait.

Eliot Scher was instrumental in the design of this five story building (and I recently got to see his version which is a bit wider than mine). Absolutely love the sign!!!

And here are the original flats I added last year (with added lighting)

Doug does some great work with these buildings. I have a couple more (two of the Corrigan Station elevations) on order which will pretty well fill up my back wall.

Once again, my wife spent a couple hours sifting chicken grit. I continued sorting out the humongous box of trees and shrubs. Seems that sometime in it's 25 year history, a small rodent took up residence in the box. Cushy digs.

About a half hour in, my wife announced that she was almost done with the last bucket of grit, so I ran out and picked up three more 50 pound bags. That should be enough to finish East Minneapolis.

The Big Boy National Forest!

This is one of my favorite pictures of the bluff. Water seeps out from between the sandstone base and the limestone cap. I won't be modeling winter on this part of the layout, so no icicles, but the "saw tooth" limestone will be included.

When I cut the top pieces, I left them oversized so I could do this feature. Today, I added a strip of foam to thicken the cap. I'll be carving this section and the one to the right in the next day or two. Then I plan to repaint the lower and upper, because the lower is way too dark on this end. Easy fix.

Down at the opposite end, I needed to create a transition from bluff down to roadway. Nothing like the combo of a table saw, and a chop saw.

Unfortunately, I need to add a small piece of backdrop, where I misjudged slightly. Another easy fix.

Okay, this can of paint is 37 years old. I bought it when I lived in Denver, and painted my portable layout layout with it. The lid was really on tight. Using the key, I eventually got it open, but heard a bit of a whoosh of rushing air, like opening a soda. Took me a couple minutes to figure out what happened. Stirred the paint, good as the day I bought it. Have you figured it out?

Might go down for another session tonight. We'll see.