WOW Elliot, you and the wife sure are busting some butt here! I sure hope you got her very own train! LOL But then again she has you and I would think that's much better then some silly train! Everything is looking great once again!
mike g. posted:WOW Elliot, you and the wife sure are busting some butt here! I sure hope you got her very own train! LOL But then again she has you and I would think that's much better then some silly train! Everything is looking great once again!
She appreciates your thoughts on this. By her own admission, she doesn't feel she needs her own train, but she has had her thumb on the scale for a number of pieces in the collection. Daily progress is what we are going for. Gotta have it looking good by August, so I can spend that month cleaning up.
Here's the waif train from the Springfield show:
The 8512 now features a bridge rectifier and a metal GG-1 horn (melted into position) in place of the broken-off bell. Interestingly enough, the negative pole of the motor was counterintuitively wired to the center pickup originally, which means it ran backwards until I switched the wires around. A DPDT reversing switch, working headlight and trolley pole are in its future...
This hopper car was caked with filth and missing all four wheelsets. A good scrubbing and some donor highspeed wheelsets from my truck box set it to rights.
This 6042 was the only one of the lot with a complete archbar truck. Another archbar truck and some cleaning later, it's ready for service!
This 6042 was so filthy, I had to run it through the dishwasher after clipping off the remains of its shattered archbar trucks. It now sports Timken trucks.
The Texaco tank car was a birthday present from CBS072. It'll be Jack Benny-ed ere long. 
And the cabeese. The broken-off chimney was replaced with one fabricated from Plastruct and sprayed with chrome paint. 
I swapped my 253 passenger set for this Bowser Brill and a bit of cash. A bit of lubing on the motor and gear train, and it runs smooth as silk!
Mitch
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water tower finally finished...
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Great night hosting our Tuesday night train group. I agree with what people said about being able to share the hobby with friends. We really have something special with this group of about 30. Trains ran perfect all night as well as all my accessories that I have hooked up so far. Of course my seedy part of town (with animation and sound) was a complete hit.
Bryan in Ohio posted:Great night hosting our Tuesday night train group. I agree with what people said about being able to share the hobby with friends. We really have something special with this group of about 30. Trains ran perfect all night as well as all my accessories that I have hooked up so far. Of course my seedy part of town (with animation and sound) was a complete hit.
The seedier the better! LOL
Bryan, good times at your house Tuesday night. You got a lot done on the layout and it showed. Everyone had a great time and enjoyed the evening. It was nice to give my body guards the night off so they could enjoy the trains running. Great job Bryan.................Paul
The water tower looks great, Howard!!
Bryan and Paul, I’m glad you had a great evening!! Thirty in your group!! Wow!! Of course I wouldn’t expect everyone to attend each evening, but that is an impressive group!!
Big_Boy_4005 posted: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.
Elliot - Like I've said to others here on OGR, I don't respond to every post but have enjoyed following the progress. The time that you took us through each aisle was one of your best and gave me a true idea of the expanse of your layout. I did watch your video earlier this year and that was an eye opener as well. Thanks for your efforts, be well & God bless!
A small rodent!! Seemed like a great place to him!!
You’re wife is a trooper! That is tedious work! Our younger daughter was in an archeology club in high school. While I don’t mind digging, I didn’t think digging and sifting was a way to spend a hot Sunday afternoon!! LOL. Tell Mrs. Big Boy I said many thanks on all ours behalf!!
Big Boy National Forest!! I know the place!!!
Maybe after running some errands I will take a shot at another AF streamliner. Have three others
at least that all have probs with the reversing units. I have one aluminum zephyr that has the
switch underneath so you actually have to disconnect the loco from the train to reverse it.
Pointless, but I think reversing was a big marketing deal back in the 30's. I think Flyer copied
lionel's, but got sued for it, so they came up with lots of bizarre ways to reverse trains. I never
saw the point of reversing the streamliners anyway, they barely stay on the track going forward.
I think the best solution may be to wire around the reversing units and just make the
trains run forward.
John
Apples55, The flat's turned out looking wonderful!
Mitch, that is one cool looking little train! Hope you had fun at the show!
Gandydancer, great looking water tower! Really turned out nice!
Bryan and Paul, I am so glad you guys were able to have a great time last night running trains! I bet the SWAT team enjoyed the night off also! Really sounds like a great group of guys!
Received a delivery from a certain forum member on the Blackwater Line. We agreed on a fair price for the GP-7. (Don't know why this photo posted vertical ?)
The surprise was in the bottom of the box. Like Christmas when you find a present way back under the tree, and find a second big orange box.
Thanks Mark!
Bob
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Great score Bob! See that's what I am talking about, all the great people here!
RSJB18 posted:Received a delivery from a certain forum member on the Blackwater Line. We agreed on a fair price for the GP-7. (Don't know why this photo posted vertical ?)
The surprise was in the bottom of the box. Like Christmas when you find a present way back under the tree, and find a second big orange box.
Thanks Mark!
Bob
I’m glad it got there safely and you like it, Bob! It is a nice engine for sure! So everyone reading this knows, the PS2 hopper was a free throw in from another forum member to me! I just thought it looked good with the GP7 and passed it along!
Moonson posted:
Gandydancer, I don't think there is a member on this forum - no, wait, in this hobby - who wouldn't love to have that handsome water tower. You did a perfect job with it.
FrankM
Thank you Frank, I sincerely appreciate your comment.
Frank, that is a perfect comment for Gandydancer’s water tower!!
Mark Boyce posted:Frank, that is a perfect comment for Gandydancer’s water tower!!
you guys are way too kind....but thanks anyway!
Mark Boyce posted:RSJB18 posted:Received a delivery from a certain forum member on the Blackwater Line. We agreed on a fair price for the GP-7. (Don't know why this photo posted vertical ?)
The surprise was in the bottom of the box. Like Christmas when you find a present way back under the tree, and find a second big orange box.
Thanks Mark!
Bob
I’m glad it got there safely and you like it, Bob! It is a nice engine for sure! So everyone reading this knows, the PS2 hopper was a free throw in from another forum member to me! I just thought it looked good with the GP7 and passed it along!
That's what its all about here. Great folks supporting a great hobby. Gotta pay it forward now!
Thanks again Mark.
Bob
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gandydancer1950 posted:Mark Boyce posted:Frank, that is a perfect comment for Gandydancer’s water tower!!
you guys are way too kind....but thanks anyway!
Same here Howard- the tower looks great. Should fit in perfectly on your layout.
Bob
Howard, I am chiming in late but the water tower turned out great.............Lunch and I am off to the basement to start the unmentionable...........wiring............Paul
paul 2 posted:Howard, I am chiming in late but the water tower turned out great.............Lunch and I am off to the basement to start the unmentionable...........wiring............Paul
LOL Sure you are Paul! I am sure you might find something else down there! But if you do I hope you all the best luck!
Thanks for the words of encouragement Mike. Right after lunch I am really getting into the wiring and not going to look for anything else to do or finish....................Paul
paul 2 posted:Howard, I am chiming in late but the water tower turned out great.............Lunch and I am off to the basement to start the unmentionable...........wiring............Paul
I know how you feel about wiring Paul. After the flood I had to disconnect some layout wiring to disinfect the basement floor. Well........I have yet to hook it back up! Some folks love wiring....I don't. I have to be in the mood to force myself to do electrical.
That water tower is awesome. Here is this tiny load of Balsa I purchased today from a local fellow who called and said he had a little bit of balsa I might be able to use. That is 29 ~ 4 x 6 x 48 chunks with varied hardness, 150 1/16 - 1/32 6 x 48 and a stack of skins and a few 1/2" pieces. There is more he will give me when he digs to that section of his basement, he is cleaning out and has had this stored for 30 =/- yrs. The price I paid was a God send when He knew I needed to make some cuts to the project budget. This is a life time supply! 
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yay, the flamingo frosty bar
gandydancer1950 posted:paul 2 posted:Howard, I am chiming in late but the water tower turned out great.............Lunch and I am off to the basement to start the unmentionable...........wiring............Paul
I know how you feel about wiring Paul. After the flood I had to disconnect some layout wiring to disinfect the basement floor. Well........I have yet to hook it back up! Some folks love wiring....I don't. I have to be in the mood to force myself to do electrical.
DID SOMEONE SAY WIRING????????
RSJB18 posted:gandydancer1950 posted:paul 2 posted:Howard, I am chiming in late but the water tower turned out great.............Lunch and I am off to the basement to start the unmentionable...........wiring............Paul
I know how you feel about wiring Paul. After the flood I had to disconnect some layout wiring to disinfect the basement floor. Well........I have yet to hook it back up! Some folks love wiring....I don't. I have to be in the mood to force myself to do electrical.
DID SOMEONE SAY WIRING????????
Holy wire nut, Batman!!
Im glad you guys are poking fun, cause I know my time is coming! LOL By the time I am done with you guys and my questions you will wish they would remove me from the forum! LOL
mike g. posted:Im glad you guys are poking fun, cause I know my time is coming! LOL By the time I am done with you guys and my questions you will wish they would remove me from the forum! LOL
Wiring? We can get Bob to make a coast to coast trip to help you out! LOL
Well I stopped to take a break. I actually started to wire. I made up two terminal blocks putting jumpers on the one side to make it all one. One is for power and the other strip is for ground. I got a couple of power wires hooked up and decided to run a train down through the track. It got further but I see I need to get some ground wires hooked up before I can run down the section of track. I also decided to mount the blocks on the outside of the table and later make up some covers to protect them. Couple of pics and they are not photo shopped, it is the real deal...Paul
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Mark, I think it might be better for Bob to help me from his nice warm house with a drink in his hand! LOL
Paul, not only me but everyone else that is reading this is so PROUD of you for taking that big leap! Great start!
RSJB18 posted:DID SOMEONE SAY WIRING????????
If I had to chose a response to that, it'd be like this:
In all humility, I am a relatively smart person and have a darned high IQ, but there are two things I have long given up with trying to understand:
- Electricity in any practical concept
- Reading sheet music
I can explain the overall concepts of each, maybe even to the level of being able to teach it in school. But I simply don't get either. And I'm sick of people telling me how easy it is. Yeah, for some folks. Not me. After a good 20 years, I cut bait with the idea of getting it. I know there are some things I get that others simply cannot (I can shoot almost any weapon, almost with the first shot/launch, hitting a target right away and I can draw pretty well) but I don't think that everyone else gets these concepts as I do.
Mark Boyce posted:mike g. posted:Im glad you guys are poking fun, cause I know my time is coming! LOL By the time I am done with you guys and my questions you will wish they would remove me from the forum! LOL
Wiring? We can get Bob to make a coast to coast trip to help you out! LOL
You know Mark, I think I might even post a picture of my layout plan on the electrical forum tomorrow just to get a jump start on wiring help! LOL
Big_Boy_4005 posted:
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.
Altitude Change.
Bruce
BruceT47 posted:Big_Boy_4005 posted:
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.
Altitude Change.
Bruce
What Bruce said. The fact that the paint is water based and still usable it quite astounding. I have oil based paints that are quite old and still usable, but have never had a latex paint last more than a few years, unless it was never opened.
