What did you do on your layout today?

That's not dust, it's PATINA!  

Mitch 

M. Mitchell Marmel posted:

That's not dust, it's PATINA!  

Mitch 

One of the major spots on my layout is what I call Brickerville.  Today Brickerville got a basic clean up and a big expansion...

Before

After

beardog posted:

Nice layout. Occasionally I get discouraged looking at all the massive, fantastically detailed layouts on here.

Then I just have to realize that that is out of my income bracket, and being handicapped, now out of

my skill set. These guys are all doing great and I enjoy looking at their layouts. Guess I gotta just make

some friends so I can pack up my prewar streamliners and run them at at lightspeed on one of 

these layouts. I'll put that on my bucket list.

I am with you, brother! When I came back into the hobby (after several years down under), I thought that an 8x8 table with a couple of main lines and 12 turnouts would be impressive. Then I joined OGR Forum and was disabused of that notion!  Truly, what some of these modelers have done is simply amazing. 

I am reminded, however, of the notion that any layout is a great layout if it captures your dreams and attends to "unfinished childhood business" (or, as I say in session with my patients, "un-fun-ished business," which is what a bucket list is for!). 

Dr. Joe 

Chris A, 

Wow, your layoutis really coming to life, looking very good. I have been away from the forum do to a trip to So. Korea. I will go back a few pages and try to catch up on the progress of many nice layouts. Thanks for posting your building, a really beautiful one, and I will be adding pictures soon. Happy Railroading.

Welcome back from South Korea, Larry!!!!

Z Stuff DZ-1010 Set Crossing Gate & Pair of Block Signal Detectors

Today I wired up a crossing gate, did all the soldering on the portable workbench before installing on the layout.

This video shows the testing procedures on my portable workbench.

Gary

geez, I thought every one knew what patina is

just ask flea market freddie, antique annie, estate sale esther, picker peter. 

"That's not rust, it's PATINA"

"Trains were cool, too, though I didn't see ONE model train store the entire time I was there..."

Well, you have to go to TOY stores.

p51 posted:

Not much for me. I just got back to the good ol'  US of A from Europe, yesterday. This is why none of you have seen much from me for the last three weeks.

We flew to London, then went to Paris, Normandy, then Spain, Portugal, and Italy. Yes, I rode trains, there, too, including the Eurostar through the Channel Tunnel and passenger trains through Normandy.

These are photos at two of my favorite places, as I was walking up Omaha Beach, and later in front of the church at Sainte-Mère-Église, Normandy, France (thanks to the photo skills of my ever-patient wife). I've been wanting to get there for most of my life. Anyone who has followed my posts or articles in the hobby press over the last year can imagine how special these places are to me.

Fantastic memories!  One of those rare times that you want memories to go on forever.

I hitch-hiked the Normandy area in 1966 ... just 22 years after the landings.  Slept on Omaha in a bag.  Walked extensively through St. Lo and Ste. Mere Eglise as did you.  There were many still alive then who lived through WWII and the June-August, 1945, period.

Things I wouldn't change for anything.  Not even free O Gauge trains.  LOL!  

Added ties and painted my tubular track and now am adding ballast.  Tried kitty litter (no good),  tried chicken grit (too big),  and finally chick grit which Im happy with.  I may add a little ink to tone down the color a bit, but for now I like it.  Also got a "Sarges Supply" quonset hut from "Cars" off Amazon pretty cheap for my junk yard and am sprucing up the landscaping around it so it doesnt look quite so toy like.  Thanks for looking!

- Nick

Looking good Nick! how big is your layout? I see you have 2 transformers must be bigger then what your showing!

Thanks!  Its really not big at all,  8 x 8.  Only one of the transformers is in use.

-Nick

trainroomgary posted:

Z Stuff DZ-1010 Set Crossing Gate & Pair of Block Signal Detectors

Today I wired up a crossing gate, did all the soldering on the portable workbench before installing on the layout.

This video shows the testing procedures on my portable workbench.

Gary

Gary, Very nice demonstration.  I do not understand you mean by your last sentence about the little black thing to shield the tracks better. 

Mark Boyce posted:

Gary, Very nice demonstration.  I do not understand you mean by your last sentence about the little black thing to shield the tracks better. 

Hi Mark:

Sorry for the poor sentence structure at the end. I noticed the error but if this was a YouTube video, i would have cleaned it up in the editing process. Just shot it on my iPhone and sent it in as a raw mp4 file to be used with the OGR video player.

I should have said: The electric sensor in the black base of the slave & master crossing gates must be aligned.

Below is the diagram from Z-Stuff.

Gary

Gary, Okay, now I see what you were referring to.  I watched it twice wondering where the sensor was "hidden" when you placed your hand in front of it.  Excellent update!!  Thank you!  I don't know that I will ever use ones with gates, because in rural areas where my layout will be set there were no gates, just flashing lights or crossbucks with no lights at all.  Of course the ones with just flashing lights would have to use the same sensing mechanism as the gates.

My dies cast trucks came yesterday. Today I washed up the Korber flats to make them ready for paint. The rest of the flats are suppose to get here Monday. At least I got that done. Tomorrow  I have to get a couple of 1 X 4's. Thought I had one so I have to get them so I can start my pull out shelf under the table top. .........Paul

I think I am seeing light at the end of the tunnel, and I am not hearing any whistle blowing.....   Just got the last pieces of the scratch-built loading dock glued up and had to take some photos before I call it a night.    Spent at least 1/3 rd of my time making jigs to cut and assemble all the parts for the dock, but without the jigs, I'd never have gotten it done.   

LeapinLarry, thanks for the kind words.  Welcome back from S. Korea, that had to be an interesting trip with all that's been going on the past couple of months.   

Paul,  looks and sounds like your making progress.   

Today; I am still working on the installation of Z-Stuff for Trains, Crossing Gates. (DZ-1010)

This video is a time test on the crossing gates. Checking to see if the gates go down and stay down until the last car in the train passes the railroad crossing.

Gary

Wow, Elliott, the nail in the toe had to really hurt, please do what the doctor says, get well soon. One day working on my layout, I ran a drill bit right through my index finger, I cannot tellnyou how much pain it was, but, it hurt bad. I simply wrapped up my hand and went to my doctor.  So, be Careful....

Chris A, Your mine area looks real. I am glad to see so much talent displayed here on this thread. Great pictures, I like the 3759 in the distance.  Wow...Your eye for detail is very evident. Keep us posted....

Lou1985, your roads look great, the trains beneath look great, keep the pictures coming, very nice work....

ROSS, I like your tunnel transformations, and the color scheme you’ve chosen. I really like the way you have the signals set up to. Please add pictures as you do more work. Nice scenery, looks really good.

STPAUL, I like your comments, always Positive.

Mike, how is your new train room coming along. I really like your carpentry work. Be careful, keep us tuned in....

Mark Boyce, I like the pictures of your new layout and also your positive remarks on many of the above comments and pictures.  This makes this forum a lot of fun to watch. This is a great hobby, great people, simply a lot of fun people, exchanging ideas in a fun way.  Happy Railroading.  

trainroomgary posted:

Today; I am still working on the installation of Z-Stuff for Trains, Crossing Gates. (DZ-1010)

This video is a time test on the crossing gates. Checking to see if the gates go down and stay down until the last car in the train passes the railroad crossing.

Gary

Looks good Gary. I had to go with the Lionel's 153IR Controller because of where the crossing was located on my layout. Now I have to get bell sounds for when the gates go down.

Larry,  Thank you!!  Have you seen where I was just granted the family room where my Ceiling Central RR is.  Twice the space!  My wife finally realized we didn’t need three sitting rooms now that we are empty nesters.  I didn’t rap a hint either!  

I’ve seen photographs of a couple of those places in Seoul.  A young woman from our church taught English there for a couple years, and a classmate of one of our daughters has been over there since they got out of college; Wow it’s been 5 years now.  Both are great young people!!

Received my repaired Standard gauge motor yesterday from the repairman. Needed new wheels & the reverse fixed so I took the "loaner" motor out of the Lionel 380 and put the repaired motor back in. Then put the "loaner" back in the #8. All run well.  Emptied the last moving carton I had, removed two  3 car sets of Ives Standard gauge passenger cars  The original paint is faded and flaking but keeping the original. Wiped them all down with the cleanng towelettes. Will oil the wheels and run them this week.

         night shift...

Paul, it sure sounds like your moving right along! See that's what happens when your inside instead of being outside with yard work! LOL

Chris the building and loading dock are looking very nice! I cant wait to see the finished product!

Gary, Nice job on the gates they look wonderful ! Do the lights on the arms also flash when all hooked up?

Larry, looks like you had a nice trip ! Did you peak into N. Korea? LOL  The train room is slow and I have to give my dentist some of the money saved for the train room. Oh well there is always next paycheck!

Brian, More and more trains! The pictures of the different trains and the amount of them makes the normal persons head spin! LOL Nice pictures one again!

Ran Canadian National...

          that is a really great scene there, backdrop blends in really nice !!

mike g. posted:

 

Gary, Nice job on the gates they look wonderful ! Do the lights on the arms also flash when all hooked up?

 

Hi Mike: Thanks for watching & commenting on the video, about the Z-Stuff Crossing Gates. No lights on the arms, but there is a Green & Red light on both of the approaching dwarf signals. I would recommend any item made by Z-Stuff. I have several of their track side signals. 3 - Color Signal DZ-5050 also the Upper Quadrant Flag Signal DZ-1040.  I have also talk to the owner Dennis.

Just last month I had a visitor to my train room, who I met on the OGR Forum. A husband and wife team.  They told me they have also been to your train room.  Here is the tip. Him and his wife have traveled the world in a sailboat. 

Gary

GANDYDANCER, I'm with you. CN, one of my favorites too. Suppose to rain here this afternoon so I ran out to the Depot to get the wood I needed for making my work table. So with with the possibility of rain and the wife having a game tonight I should be able to get some train work done................Paul

trainroomgary posted:

mike g. posted:

 

Gary, Nice job on the gates they look wonderful ! Do the lights on the arms also flash when all hooked up?

 

Hi Mike: Thanks for watching & commenting on the video, about the Z-Stuff Crossing Gates. No lights on the arms, but there is a Green & Red light on both of the approaching dwarf signals. I would recommend any item made by Z-Stuff. I have several of their track side signals. 3 - Color Signal DZ-5050 also the Upper Quadrant Flag Signal DZ-1040.  I have also talk to the owner Dennis.

Just last month I had a visitor to my train room, who I met on the OGR Forum. A husband and wife team.  They told me they have also been to your train room.  Here is the tip. Him and his wife have traveled the world in a sailboat. 

Gary

You have me stumped Gary,  as my train room is not completed! But I did meet a nice couple at the family store!

trainroomgary posted:

mike g. posted:

You have me stumped Gary,  as my train room is not completed! But I did meet a nice couple at the family store!

I just e-mail you their names.

Gary

Yep Gary, very nice couple! Was a joy visiting with them!

Got all my wood measured so I can cut it tomorrow for the pull out table top. Spent the better part of the evening getting the flashing  out of the window openings on the Korber flats. Working on the last flat. The plastic in the windows is fairly thick. Razor knife couldn't cut through it. So I got a drill and started drilling a lot of holes around the edge so I can punch it out then clean up what's left with the razor knife. Had to take a break I was going crossed eyed. Tomorrow the rest of the flats are coming. I'm glad I didn't wait to d this all at once..............Paul

I’m looking forward to the pull out table top!  Yes I can see you would get buggy eyed!  I hate trimming window flashing.  You have to be so careful 

Paul, I am sure by morning your eyes will be back to normal! But I cant wait to see what you have been doing! Are you sure your not watching Basketball?

Finished my control panel and began laying down some ballast!