What did you do on your layout today?

Been about a week and a half since I posted here. A lot has happened in that time, but not so much on the layout. The drudgery of ballasting and track cleaning continues, albeit at a slower pace, not because of my toe, but because of other events eating into my train time. Next week should be better. Sunday I had to go to my nephew's HS graduation.

The toe report: Doc said it was looking pretty good, and took me off the honey treatment of the first two weeks, and packed the hole with a collagen based material with antibiotic. No need to change that dressing, so no peeking til next Tuesday. At least the bone is no longer exposed.

From the doctor's office, we went to get the oil changed on the car, at the dealership. My wife and I had been talking about the possibility of getting a new one, since we had had this one for eight years, and it had 130K miles on it. We've been planning our longest road trip ever, five weeks, for later this year, and we were "thinking" about a new one. So while we waited, she talked me into going over and just sitting in one. Expensive, but nice. One of the guys saw us and came over.

I hate all the depreciation you take when you drive off the lot, so I asked if he had anything used. He was getting a couple that were a few model years with a bunch of miles, but then he said he was getting a 2018 that had 8100 miles, and been used by a GM exec, top of the line, for $10K off list. Didn't take long to make that decision. The car was coming in that evening.

Thursday morning found us back at the gym, after two weeks off for the toe. It does keep me off the "dreadmill" , but I like my trainer, and we learned some new machines, mostly upper body, which helps a bit with the layout. After that it was back to the dealership to see the car.

In my world cars have to have names, as they are much like pets, especially because we don't have any of the four legged variety. The old car was named Buck. I came up with that by simply dropping the "i" from Buick. We then proceeded to get DNR license plates that had a picture of a buck on them, to complete the naming process. I had Tammy take a parting selfie of us with Buck. Yes, I'm wearing two pairs of glasses, because they were the last things in Buck, and it was the safest place for them.

Before I move on, I want to pay a small tribute to Buck, and where he took us over the last eight years. A lot of our adventures involved trains, both real and model. Here's a list of just some of the places Buck took us:

• Across North America, from Prince Edward Island to Seattle and San Diego
• From the Eisenhower Tunnel 11K feet altitude through Death Valley at -275 feet
• A bunch of National Parks
• We saw six of the eight big boys
• We spent my 54th birthday train watching trains at the Tehachapi Loop
• The Horseshoe Curve
• The TCA Museum
• Roseville, CA to see the UP rotaries
• Over Donner Pass
• The Pike's Peak Cog
• The Georgetown loop
• The Sugar Pine Mountain Railroad outside Yosemite
• Bailey Yard and the Golden Spike Tower in North Platte, NE
• The Golden Spike National Historic Site in Utah
• Over the Golden Gate Bridge twice
• Burned rubber on Powell Street next to the cable car tracks (that was interesting)
• Visited Laidoffsick
• Soo Line
• Chugman
• Dave Hikel and the NWTL
• Matt at the AGHR
• Rode the SS Badger across Lake Michigan
• Took a car ferry across the Bay of Fundy
• The Museum of Science and Industry
• An NMRA National Convention in Grand Rapids, MI
• Pinball museums in Both Seattle and Vegas
• Lots of hobby stores
• Train watched all over Chicago
• Rochelle, IL at least a half dozen times

I could go on all day, but those are just some of our travels with Buck.

Meet Frosty! (as in the snowman).

This is going to be a great ride, as soon as I figure out the basic functions. I drove home from the dealership yesterday. I was able to start it and turn it off, but the radio and a bunch of other things remain a mystery to me. And to think, I used to be able to program a VCR and even a computer. I've spent years shunning technology, and have become dependent on my wife, so I let her take the car today, while I drove the far simpler truck. I'll get my wheel time in, I'm not worried.

Since we picked Frosty up yesterday, that leaves tomorrow wide open to work on the layout. I like long stretches of uninterrupted layout time.

By the way, here are the ballast pics from the last week.

I got all the way around the curve at Northtown.

And started down the 35th Avenue side.

Everything has to be glued. The track is officially there forever. I can't be re-grooming over 2000 feet of track.

I started up the other side of aisle two, with the plan to meet up somewhere in the middle.

This one is specifically for Mike, he asked me about my ballasting tools. The little shovel is for scooping from the bucket and dumping on the track. It can be a rather precision tool if handled with care, necessary around switch points. the brush is for spreading and working it in.

It goes pretty fast when there are no switches.

I'm just a little further than this now. Another slow down is filling the gaps along the fascia, so the ballast doesn't run through.

I'm going to have a 20 foot free run, down to the next batch of switches. We'll see what I get done this weekend.

Elliot,

Congrats on Frosty. I figure if the car is going to be talking to me, she needs a name.  I'm currently in a Santa Fe named Feona.

Smart to take a goodbye selfie of Buck. What great service he provided. I like to think his next chapter will be full of adventures but he'll always remember you.

Elliot, I'm glad the toe is healing!

Wow, that is a lot of places Buck took you!!!  Frosty should be a good car too.  What is the make and model?  I'm not up on late model cars; both of ours are 15 years old.  Yes, the time will be coming to say goodbye too!

The track all looks great!  Your tools are very high tech indeed!    Keep it simple!!  

The shovel reminds me.  Both our girls got buckets and shovels for their sandbox when they were little.  Our older daughter named her shovel Edward.

Elliot, that is good news. Holding back and taking it slower most likely made the difference. I enjoyed your telling of your car and the places it took you. What you have ballasted so far looks great. I hit a slow spot. Flashing takes a while to get off the flats. I managed to paint a few of them though. Tomorrow is another day. To see how good I did with the trimming of the flashing I popped the windows into one flat. Still have to figure out what color I am going to do the windows and what I can use to put a 45 degree angle on one edge of a flat. I was using my Dremel but it was not doing a good job. I was thinking of getting out my palm sander and try that. Open to any suggestions.  A couple of pics..................Paul

Perseverance with the files paid off, Paul.

paul 2 posted:

Elliot, that is good news. Holding back and taking it slower most likely made the difference. I enjoyed your telling of your car and the places it took you. What you have ballasted so far looks great. I hit a slow spot. Flashing takes a while to get off the flats. I managed to paint a few of them though. Tomorrow is another day. To see how good I did with the trimming of the flashing I popped the windows into one flat. Still have to figure out what color I am going to do the windows and what I can use to put a 45 degree angle on one edge of a flat. I was using my Dremel but it was not doing a good job. I was thinking of getting out my palm sander and try that. Open to any suggestions.  A couple of pics..................Paul

Paul I think the easiest and best results way to cut a 45 degree angle on an edge is on either a table saw or a band saw.  Anything else would be very hard to control in my opinion.  Looking good.

Art

Paul,   When I converted my Korber Joe's Pickle bldg. into a flat, I wanted to add some narrow walls at 90 degree angle to the front wall...  I chose not to cut up one of the 4 wall sections and made some 1.75 inch deep walls out of 1/4 inch plywood then joined them on the back side of the front wall in a simple butt joint....   With the concrete columns on these flats, it's not too challenging to blend the seam, and weather over it..... If you're wanting the 45 degree miter to join two walls together, you can definitely get away with the 90 degree joint, and put the seam on the side....  Here are two photos which might help show what I am trying to describe with too many words.   It's pretty challenging to miter the corners on these Korber castings especially since it's a pretty tall building.

Chris A, That flat is exceptional, really handsome and effective, in every aspect. Congratulations on your success with it.

FrankM

chris a posted:

Paul,   When I converted my Korber Joe's Pickle bldg. into a flat, I wanted to add some narrow walls at 90 degree angle to the front wall...  I chose not to cut up one of the 4 wall sections and made some 1.75 inch deep walls out of 1/4 inch plywood then joined them on the back side of the front wall in a simple butt joint....   With the concrete columns on these flats, it's not too challenging to blend the seam, and weather over it..... If you're wanting the 45 degree miter to join two walls together, you can definitely get away with the 90 degree joint, and put the seam on the side....  Here are two photos which might help show what I am trying to describe with too many words.   It's pretty challenging to miter the corners on these Korber castings especially since it's a pretty tall building.

Beautiful job, Chris!  

Elliot,, What great news about the toe. I am sure glad it is healing nicely! Now to that great story of Buck, you sure know how to tell a story that can be sad & Wonderful all at the same time! I really hope you enjoy Frosty!

Ok On to track stuff! LOL I think the track looks great and thank for sharing the information about the ballast tools! Sure beats the price of a Ballast car, Which makes me happy. I build my own ballast car but need all options!

Paul I think the flats are going to turn out looking like the rest of your layout, Just WONDERFUL!

Chris, your flats look factory made! Nice job matching the ends up. After reading your & Paul's posts on flats it sure is a sweat way to go to get more. I will be checking that and backdrops out when the time comes!

I think today is my day. Calling for rain. I might have to take a few minutes to console the wife after the game last night. This morning I took a set of windows outside for one of the flats and sprayed them with a color I found laying around. Once they dry I'll set them in place and see how the color looks against the brick color. For the rest of the day it will be cleaning up all the flashing and hopefully get paint on the remainder of the flats. Pics........Paul

Nice idea Paul, flats are coming along! Side question, what does the wife do now that basketball is over? How do you get that free time as when the Cav's were playing?

Thanks Mike. Yes her Cavs lost. Funny thing is she is more into sports them I am LOL. I would rather watch a old movie. I have to say she is actually one in a million. If I really wanted to I could go and work on the layout whenever I wanted too. But it is nice to take an evening and watch TV together. While the paint was drying on the windows I decided to try my hand at mortaring one of the flats. Had some spackling and I mixed a color I got from the Depot in one of those little jars for .50 cents. but when I applied it it was too thick and I couldn't wipe it off so I nixed that idea and washed off it off. I have another idea after watching some videos on mortaring. Next I am going to try acrylic white watered down with water into a wash. ...............Paul

Thanks guys.

John - Buck was a great ride. I wish we had been standing a little further away, up on the sidewalk, when we took the selfie, to get more of the front end in. Oh well. There was never a time when Buck didn't start. That's reliability! One of the things I noticed was the ride wasn't as quiet and smooth as it had been. Too many Minnesota pot holes. We were going to have to do struts and a few other things before the trip, and it just seemed like the right time, plus the deal made it a no brainer.

Mark - Yeah, I'm not a real car person either. I'm all about getting from point A to point B. Comfort is fairly important. Style, considerably less so. However, Frosty has it all. He's a Buick Enclave Avenir, with the Avenir part being the top of the line package, all the bells and whistles. Unlike your daughter, I don't name my shovels, but that's exactly what it is, a kiddie sandbox shovel. I just found it in the house and adopted it. It belonged to one of my kids. Mine now! BTW, you're going to get a chance to meet Frosty. We'll be in your neck of the woods September 25th and 26th. I'll email you with the details

Paul - I won't go so far as to say I'm out of the woods with the toe. That was a pretty nasty injury, and anything can happen suddenly to change things, but so far so good. I probably won't be able to wear my shoe when you come to visit next month. With any luck, I'll be able to wear it when we come out to see you on our trip in September. I love what you're doing with all those flats. I need to do a bunch of that too.

Mike - When I was younger, I hated writing, and I wasn't very good at it. I was always a pretty good story teller, though I was rather long winded. Posting to forums has fixed both of those problems. Economy of words, and just type what you would say if you were face to face. My longer posts take a long time to write for two reasons. First I am a terrible typist, and second I reread them multiple times and edit them. Ballasting isn't that hard, but it is time consuming getting it where you want it. I'm not sure if a commercial spreader would work as well as the brush and shovel, on my layout. Because of the way I did my roadbed, it takes a lot more material to fill in the sides.

FrankM, John, Chugman, Mike:  Thanks for the kind words about the building flat.   

Paul,  best thing I have found for tinting spackling is my india ink alcohol wash, just a drop or two will turn it gray.   You really just want the pigment.  I am not surprised that adding colored latex paint made it unmanageable. 

 I had the best luck using the really light fast drying spackling like DAP  "Fast N Final"...  You can get there with watered down acrylic latex paint, but you'll spend alot time trying to get it off and not pull it out of the mortar lines.....particularly the inside corners on those flats...  You can cut up an old credit card, or one of those lightweight plastic promotion cards that come in the mail, and make a small putty knife that's great for applying and removing the spackling and gets into tight corners. 

Also, don't forget to seal the brick color with some flat inexpensive, or expensive dull coat  or matte finish or the mortar will inevitably pick up the red oxide color and drive you nuts.   All the flat coatings dry really fast, I don't wait more than an hour, then move onto to mortar work. 

Big_Boy_4005 posted:

Thanks guys.

John - Buck was a great ride. I wish we had been standing a little further away, up on the sidewalk, when we took the selfie, to get more of the front end in. Oh well. There was never a time when Buck didn't start. That's reliability! One of the things I noticed was the ride wasn't as quiet and smooth as it had been. Too many Minnesota pot holes. We were going to have to do struts and a few other things before the trip, and it just seemed like the right time, plus the deal made it a no brainer.

Mark - Yeah, I'm not a real car person either. I'm all about getting from point A to point B. Comfort is fairly important. Style, considerably less so. However, Frosty has it all. He's a Buick Enclave Avenir, with the Avenir part being the top of the line package, all the bells and whistles. Unlike your daughter, I don't name my shovels, but that's exactly what it is, a kiddie sandbox shovel. I just found it in the house and adopted it. It belonged to one of my kids. Mine now! BTW, you're going to get a chance to meet Frosty. We'll be in your neck of the woods September 25th and 26th. I'll email you with the details

Paul - I won't go so far as to say I'm out of the woods with the toe. That was a pretty nasty injury, and anything can happen suddenly to change things, but so far so good. I probably won't be able to wear my shoe when you come to visit next month. With any luck, I'll be able to wear it when we come out to see you on our trip in September. I love what you're doing with all those flats. I need to do a bunch of that too.

Mike - When I was younger, I hated writing, and I wasn't very good at it. I was always a pretty good story teller, though I was rather long winded. Posting to forums has fixed both of those problems. Economy of words, and just type what you would say if you were face to face. My longer posts take a long time to write for two reasons. First I am a terrible typist, and second I reread them multiple times and edit them. Ballasting isn't that hard, but it is time consuming getting it where you want it. I'm not sure if a commercial spreader would work as well as the brush and shovel, on my layout. Because of the way I did my roadbed, it takes a lot more material to fill in the sides.

Elliot, as to your answer to John, yes the winters make for too many potholes in Pennsylvania too.  Just this Thursday I took the Hyundai Sonata to my tire/repair shop because the rear tires were wearing in an odd manner I had never seen before.  The outer edges were fine, but they are cupping or feathering as the man said on the more middle part of the treads.  He told me the whole suspension is wearing and causing it.  There isn’t much I could do except rotate the next set of tires often.  15 years of potholes.  My wife’s Caravan of the same age looks like it belongs in the student parking lot at our older daughter’ Alma Matre in Ohio whet there is no inspection so cars are litteraly falling apart in the lot!  LOL

Yes my father-in-law’s feet would never heal and he lost part of one foot and was in the hospital for surgery on the other foot when he had an unrelated fatal heart attack.  You are so right, you need to be so diligent!!  I’m praying for it to all heal up great 

Filled, sanded and then painted my layout tables.  Yep... green... actually it's "Espalier".  Since the walls are mirrored it actually looks huge but it's only 10'x14'.  One more coat and then it's time to lay some rail.

green paint and pink flamingos go together well.......

Chris, great advice your giving Paul, I am glad you did, cause I had no idea!

Kirk, There is nothing wrong with green! Its a great base color for what every comes next!

Big_Boy_4005 posted:

Thanks guys.

John - Buck was a great ride. I wish we had been standing a little further away, up on the sidewalk, when we took the selfie, to get more of the front end in. Oh well. There was never a time when Buck didn't start. That's reliability! One of the things I noticed was the ride wasn't as quiet and smooth as it had been. Too many Minnesota pot holes. We were going to have to do struts and a few other things before the trip, and it just seemed like the right time, plus the deal made it a no brainer.

Mark - Yeah, I'm not a real car person either. I'm all about getting from point A to point B. Comfort is fairly important. Style, considerably less so. However, Frosty has it all. He's a Buick Enclave Avenir, with the Avenir part being the top of the line package, all the bells and whistles. Unlike your daughter, I don't name my shovels, but that's exactly what it is, a kiddie sandbox shovel. I just found it in the house and adopted it. It belonged to one of my kids. Mine now! BTW, you're going to get a chance to meet Frosty. We'll be in your neck of the woods September 25th and 26th. I'll email you with the details

Paul - I won't go so far as to say I'm out of the woods with the toe. That was a pretty nasty injury, and anything can happen suddenly to change things, but so far so good. I probably won't be able to wear my shoe when you come to visit next month. With any luck, I'll be able to wear it when we come out to see you on our trip in September. I love what you're doing with all those flats. I need to do a bunch of that too.

Mike - When I was younger, I hated writing, and I wasn't very good at it. I was always a pretty good story teller, though I was rather long winded. Posting to forums has fixed both of those problems. Economy of words, and just type what you would say if you were face to face. My longer posts take a long time to write for two reasons. First I am a terrible typist, and second I reread them multiple times and edit them. Ballasting isn't that hard, but it is time consuming getting it where you want it. I'm not sure if a commercial spreader would work as well as the brush and shovel, on my layout. Because of the way I did my roadbed, it takes a lot more material to fill in the sides.

Elliot,

 I just remembered I was going to comment on your trip this way in September.  I’ll look forward to seeing your email when it’s time 

If flamingos need water they won't thrive too well on my layout as I have no water features planed.  Now if they can drink beer... then they'll be happy campers.  But balancing on one foot will be even more challenging.

Mine seem to survive well on whiskey and wine and they usually have both feet firmly

planted on the ground. Send me your email to discuss further. 

John

oops, send email to jgerding49@sbcglobal.net

Hi Guys- My train time is still limited to lurking the forums. I am nearing the end of the line on the outside Spring clean up so maybe, just maybe, I can get back to installing the signals I made over a month ago soon. Figures that all the weekends lost to wet weather were wasted on other things than trains. We did just buy a portable AC unit for the basement (aka my son's X-box lair), so I'm looking forward to a more comfortable work/ play environment when the Summer heat gets here. Of course the trains will appreciate it too.

Chris A- A few posts back you mentioned using a 7" blade in your table saw. That is a really good idea that I will have to try one day. Thanks

Paul- I have been using DAP water-based caulk for filling trim joints and nail holes for years around the house. Very water soluble and easy to clean off any over application. Not sure about tinting it but I'm sure it can be done. It takes paint perfectly too. I have to agree- your CEO is a saint to let you indulge in your hobby as much as she does. Sorry about the Cav's but 5 against 1 is not a fair fight. Then again I'm a long suffering Knicks fan so........

Elliot- Congrats on Frosty. I'm not as fussy with our cars  as I used to be. They are merely a tool that is used to get from point A to point B now. I do keep them clean and both are usually garaged. We need to get my daughter a new car (her first), this summer as she has decided to commute to school in the fall instead of living on campus. My wife needs a new one too. Not looking forward to the BS the sales people throw at you (sorry @leapinlarry ). For once can't they just tell me the real price from the start and knock off the games. Glad to hear the foot is doing well. Diabetes takes its toll on the feet for sure. The layout is looking good too. Keep up the great work.

Mark- great to see the furniture getting cleared out of the new train room. The more you can get done now the sooner you can start building in the Fall.

KirkR- nice table. Can't wait to see trains running.

Bob

Brian, Way to spread the love! Not everyone can do that and its great to see it being done by those who can!

Bob, don't worry train time will come. I know what your saying thought I haven't really done anything on the train room to say.

I haven't done a lot on the train room lately as I had to use train room money for dental work, that wasn't covered! So this weekend has been nursing a soar jaw, watching old John Wayne movies. The wife and her friend went to the casino yesterday and while they were gone I did sneak out and wired in a dimmer switch for the train room. I hope to get insulation done next weekend!

Everyone have a great Sunday! Also a wonderful time with family and trains!

RSJB18 posted:

Hi Guys- My train time is still limited to lurking the forums. I am nearing the end of the line on the outside Spring clean up so maybe, just maybe, I can get back to installing the signals I made over a month ago soon. Figures that all the weekends lost to wet weather were wasted on other things than trains. We did just buy a portable AC unit for the basement (aka my son's X-box lair), so I'm looking forward to a more comfortable work/ play environment when the Summer heat gets here. Of course the trains will appreciate it too.

Chris A- A few posts back you mentioned using a 7" blade in your table saw. That is a really good idea that I will have to try one day. Thanks

Paul- I have been using DAP water-based caulk for filling trim joints and nail holes for years around the house. Very water soluble and easy to clean off any over application. Not sure about tinting it but I'm sure it can be done. It takes paint perfectly too. I have to agree- your CEO is a saint to let you indulge in your hobby as much as she does. Sorry about the Cav's but 5 against 1 is not a fair fight. Then again I'm a long suffering Knicks fan so........

Elliot- Congrats on Frosty. I'm not as fussy with our cars  as I used to be. They are merely a tool that is used to get from point A to point B now. I do keep them clean and both are usually garaged. We need to get my daughter a new car (her first), this summer as she has decided to commute to school in the fall instead of living on campus. My wife needs a new one too. Not looking forward to the BS the sales people throw at you (sorry @leapinlarry ). For once can't they just tell me the real price from the start and knock off the games. Glad to hear the foot is doing well. Diabetes takes its toll on the feet for sure. The layout is looking good too. Keep up the great work.

Mark- great to see the furniture getting cleared out of the new train room. The more you can get done now the sooner you can start building in the Fall.

KirkR- nice table. Can't wait to see trains running.

Bob

Thank you, Bob!  Like you so many other things both time, space and money take precedence over trains.  Oh well, as it should be.  I am concerned that we will have to get a car before long.  Both are still running without major repair, but both of them have seen 15 winters of ice, snow, and salt. 

Slow day. Took a while to find my palm sander. I wanted to bevel the ends of the one flat so the other flats would sit against it better. Still have to paint it but I finally got all the flashing done on it on the first batch of flats. Still have to clean up the flashing on the second set of flats. After asking the wife if she like the color I was using for the windows and she gave her okay I gathered up all the windows and painted the rest of them. I had some flat aged concrete paint left so I started doing one flats to see how it would look. As to doing the mortar lines I am still up in the air for a decision. Pics.......................Paul

Paul, I think your wife has good judgement on an appropriate color!  The aged concrete color looks good on the walls too!  Keep on painting!

Paul, I too also like the colors! The age concrete looks good! Keep u the good work!

Paul,    progress looks great !   

Did some more work on the Mine Run then decided it was time to clean up the layout and shoot a video as several folks have asked for a better depiction of what I am building here.... 

I put up a thread with the video, here is the link: 

https://ogrforum.com/...ate-video-by-chris-a

I bought a Go Pro camera in Europe last month, so I mounted it in a HO flat car today, and took this video:

https://youtu.be/K8W8QLOiPxQ

p51 posted:

I bought a Go Pro camera in Europe last month, so I mounted it in a HO flat car today, and took this video:

https://youtu.be/K8W8QLOiPxQ

Not only a great video, BUT awesome sound - stereophonic on my IMac.

Lee, enjoyed the video of a trip around the layout. Especially done in black and white. ..........Paul

Chris and Lee, thank you both for the video's, Its neat to see 2 different perspectives of train layouts! 

Chris, I like your layout video cause it has descriptions of each area, the time you are spending to get the details down for a realistic look and what your plans are.

Lee, I like your video cause the detail it shows in a somewhat finished layout! Kinda reminds me of watching an old war movie!

I thank you both for the nice videos to go with my coffee this morning!

Mike,  thanks.   Glad to hear you are making major progress on the train room.   

My son came home last night, we ran some trains, and he took a bunch of photos for me.  His camera and skills are  light year's ahead of what I am capable of !!!