What did you do on your layout today?

In a somewhat similar fashion to Mark Boyce, I've been granted a new section of real estate for expansion! The 4'x8' layout that has moved from the dining room table to the office / boy's room to sharing space in my wife's sewing/craft room will be moving again, hopefully for good now. Our son and his fiance have found a place, and will be moving out at the beginning of July. (They moved into the office/boy's room almost exactly a year ago, about 4 months after he had moved out, after problems with the house they were sharing with some friends.)

The overall space is about 20' x 11', however, since I will be putting my office area back, adding a workbench, a chest freezer, and a storage cabinet, I'll be left with about 14'x11', less a corner about 5'x6'. A whole lot more than 4'x8'!! First up will be new flooring to replace the old tile, patching and painting the walls and ceiling. My wife says she will do some scenic backdrop painting for me, I'm excited about that!!

No longer will the layout be on the dining room table, I will be building a "real" framework!

Brian, I bet its fun to run trains at your place! You need to have Clem come over so he can do a ops night and give a review or report! LOL

SlowHands, that's great news, so you have a few holes to fill, paint a room, new flooring! I hope you put carpet and some great padding under it! LOL I know your going to have a great time moving it and building more, so please keep us posted!

Not that I've turned this old Railking PRR RS3 into a dummy unit:

1) Install cab figure:   Check.

2) Install LED headlight.   Check.

3) Install on/off switch for headlight. Hmm...had to get creative. Not much room underneath.   Since it's a dummy, there's no sound, no speaker anyway. This old slider switch just fits in between the speaker grille openings.  Check. 

Very nice job, Ralph!!  Good spot for the switch!

You certainly run a smoky, railroad dirty mood there Brian!!

Lubed four locomotives, put together a fifteen car coal train of fifty ton hoppers pulled by a Norfolk and Western mallet, began weathering three fifty ton hoppers, put together a short freight pulled by a WbB forty four tonner.  Ran trains.  I really enjoyed the time with my trains.  I've not been able to spend that much time with them for a couple months now, due to my work schedule.  

SLOWHANDS, congrats on acquiring more real estate for the layout. It's always a  good thing when we have an understanding CEO. Today I made sure to get to Home Depot to get some paint. I took a painted window with me and I looked for a colors but couldn't find one so I waited my turn at the counter,  gave the window to the associate and ask if she could find a match. She got me a very, very close second which I was happy with and I also picked up a few bottles of Gorilla super glue gel to glue the flats together. The only place I have left to paint is on the three flats I just did on one side a downspout is molded on so I have to paint concrete on the sides of it and with the Aluminum paint I just got I can do that for the downspouts. I'm taking the wife to Cracker Barrel for dinner so maybe that will get me some time after dinner to do some more painting. Pics.............Paul

Slowhands posted:

In a somewhat similar fashion to Mark Boyce, I've been granted a new section of real estate for expansion! The 4'x8' layout that has moved from the dining room table to the office / boy's room to sharing space in my wife's sewing/craft room will be moving again, hopefully for good now. Our son and his fiance have found a place, and will be moving out at the beginning of July. (They moved into the office/boy's room almost exactly a year ago, about 4 months after he had moved out, after problems with the house they were sharing with some friends.)

The overall space is about 20' x 11', however, since I will be putting my office area back, adding a workbench, a chest freezer, and a storage cabinet, I'll be left with about 14'x11', less a corner about 5'x6'. A whole lot more than 4'x8'!! First up will be new flooring to replace the old tile, patching and painting the walls and ceiling. My wife says she will do some scenic backdrop painting for me, I'm excited about that!!

No longer will the layout be on the dining room table, I will be building a "real" framework!

Yay!!!  Congratulations on the new space!!  I'll look froward to seeing what you do with it!!

I am working on this Carolina Matters Mill kit, which with exposed rafters has a lot of small parts.  It is designed with an undershot wheel, but l prefer overshot, so will build it as such.  It has a waterwheel kit which l will use, although since l have scratchbuilt several mills, l have developed a technique for building mill wheels.  One reason not to build it undershot is that not enough Chooch "stone" for that is included, and it is a long drive to a shop that might stock some.  

Elliot,   thanks very much for posting the color formula for the Potting Soil color.... I went to the Menard's web site and figured you were talking about the Dutch Boy Paint color...   I don't see Dutch Boy paint at all in the northeast anymore.  Ironic because it's the only paint my dad would buy.   I used more than a few gallons of it painting our entire house in Oradell, NJ when I was in high school.    We won't talk about how many decades ago that was !!!

Chris, if you take the formula to Menards they may be able to make it up in the store. One time I found a color chip from Benjamin Moore but took it to the Depot because I myself like Behr paint and they matched it. I would assume that as long as you have a formula they can make it up.................Paul

Chris, you're welcome. I see you are well outside Menards range, but armed with that formula, anyone should be able to make it, in any brand. It is technically a Dutch Boy formula and name. The alternative would be to take a close up picture of rail, and bring it in for color matching, or simply pick a close dark brown from the available swatches wherever you buy paint.

I think PPG is the parent company of Dutch Boy, if you can find them. That 48 column in the formula is for 48ths of an ounce. If you only need a quart, all values need to be divided by four.

chris a posted:

Eliot,   Looks great, it's got to feel good to be that far along with the ballasting !    I am moving at a snails pace on mine.    Two questions:   What color are you spraying the track with ?  Assuming it might be a custom mix, is there a formula you could pass along ?

2nd question:  are you spraying that color before putting down the ballast ?  

Thanks,   Chris A

Another color option for track is Rust-O-Leum Camouflage 1918 Earth Brown.   Yes, spray track and ties before ballast application.  

Dave

Dave,   thanks for the comment....  I have been spraying all my track with the Rust Oleum Camo. Brown.   For the most part I like it, it does a good job of "muting' the black center rail, but it  is very dark and I'd like to find a way to lighten 10% of the ties, without spending the rest of my days hand painting individual ties... been there tried that. 

Been working on final weathering of the clapboard buildings on the "mine run",  planting remaining trees and vegetation, and I got my new static grass applicator this past weekend.   Spent a lot of time, fun time for the most part playing with the static grass,  working on my static grass application technique...   While I was waiting for grass adhesives to dry, I did some more ballasting.   

There are more photos below, chose not to take up an entire page with photos in the post. 

Since I did not have to be anywhere this morning, I ran trains immediately upon waking this morning..... before having coffee too.  Started clearing some of the piles that have accumulated in the train room.  Good times  

Worked on the three flats with the downspouts. Once dry I can go back and do some touch up. Later today windows start going in the flats. Pics................Paul

Looks good Paul!!  Have a great day hanging windows!

Chris, I am not sure. I was looking at different ways of doing it. I tried the latex paint watered down but did not like the way it turned out. That was the only thing I tried so far. Sort of in limbo with this. Maybe I'll try the spackling. Know the flats need something just leary about trying it.............Paul

Hi Paul,   I deleted my post, because I got to looking at the photos more closely and saw that the brick lines were showing some mortar.... 

 I'd give the spackling a try...  I know these flats are a ton of work, and you start feeling like you'll  never get done...   Try cutting up an old credit card, or one of the many promotional thin plastic cards that come in the mail to make yourself a small 1/2 inch wide x 2 1/2 inch long, hobby putty knife,  it makes it easier to only put the spackling  where you want it, and get it out of the inside corners.     Do make sure to clear coat the test area before you apply it so the red brick color doesn't bleed into the spackling and turn it pink. 

chris a posted:

Dave,   thanks for the comment....  I have been spraying all my track with the Rust Oleum Camo. Brown.   For the most part I like it, it does a good job of "muting' the black center rail, but it  is very dark and I'd like to find a way to lighten 10% of the ties, without spending the rest of my days hand painting individual ties... been there tried that. 

Been working on final weathering of the clapboard buildings on the "mine run",  planting remaining trees and vegetation, and I got my new static grass applicator this past weekend.   Spent a lot of time, fun time for the most part playing with the static grass,  working on my static grass application technique...   While I was waiting for grass adhesives to dry, I did some more ballasting.   

There are more photos below, chose not to take up an entire page with photos in the post. 

 

Very Nice

I guess this topic and discovery lends itself to what I have done on my layout today.

https://ogrforum.com/...l-90-degree-adaption

Leroof

Chris, The buildings and scenery look great!!

Leroof, That is quit a project you undertook and made an excellent crossing!!

Yes, Chris A, Your work is great, I love all the pictures you have posted. It certainly takes lots of thinking, also lots of time and dedication to accomplish this quality of work. I commend you.  

Trumptrain,I also love your great pictures and creative scenes. Your the man.

Briansilvermustang, you have an enormous engine Collection, keep the pictures coming.Your Layout is cool to..

Mike G, where are the recent pictures of your new train room. I hope all is well.

Paul 2, I love your pictures and reviews. You are amazing at building your railroad.

Ralph M, I like your layout very much to. Great pictures above....

i ran some trains today for the first time in months...

Virtually doubled the capacity of the lower staging yard which we call Hidden Lake.

Thanks Mark. You always have appreciative remarks.

Working on the smoke unit of my Lionel 18009 NYC Mohawk, to improve smoke output.  Now I have to make some time to visit an auto parts store and get some liquid gasket, to replace the gasket on the smoke unit that always breaks when you take it apart.

Leroof, You're welcome!  I like to offer encouragement and really like when someone presents a new idea or solution as you did!

Chris A.The Clipper Mill building looks great along with the 2 other buildings! You sure have an eye for detail for vegetation and trees! Looks wonderful!

Brian, some cool pictures there! Keep them coming!

Paul, Great work on the flats! They are going to look outstanding on your layout!

LEAPINLARRY, I just love seeing pictures of your layout! You must have been at this for a while! 

Sorry it's been awhile for pictures, I am doing fine, but I ordered Sheetrock last week for delivery on Friday so I would have the weekend to work on it! I went with 4 x 8 sheets instead of the 4 x 12 cause all my help bailed! Well low and behold Friday came and went with no sheetrock, I called the store and they said someone bought them out, even though I had already paid for them! ****ed me off! So comes Monday and now I get sheetrock. So I was up till 9 last night hanging sheetrock. Here is what I got done! LOL Silly me I ended up 2 sheets short! Sheetrock is not an older guys game just so you all know! Leave it to the young!

Mike, That is incredible work!!  Yes, I agree it isn't for older guys, I wouldn't even think of doing it!  What you have done looks great!!!

    your room is looking GREAT Mike !! 

            I see you're getting the bridge ready for the doorway...

                                       rolling right along !

Thanks Mark and Brian! I will start mudding either tonight or tomorrow and get the last 2 sheet on Friday! To be honest this is one part of a build I really hate! LOL

Found this PS3 beauty on consignment at my local hobby shop this week for a real good price, and it's also my first Premier Steamer! I found the matching 5-car set as well so I should have those later this week.

                       that is a sharp looking steam engine Matt !!

Last night I did a series of shots on the layout (with various cars, locomotives and a couple of locations I rarely photograph) for a project I'm keeping secret for now, but if it works out, you'll all be seeing the results...

Yes, that's intentionally cryptic.

Mike G:   Train room is looking fantastic....   Been there, done that with the "help" that volunteered, but never showed up....  You have some serious perseverance to move and hang sheet rock by yourself.  I hung my last sheet of that stuff about 15 years ago !!   Great job !!!

Doug N, Mark, Mike & LeapinLarry:  Thanks for all the positive comments, and to those who posted "likes"....   As this scene coal mine and mine run is pretty much front and center in the main room, I want to make the scenery as good as I am capable of....   It's definitely a fun challenge, but I learn something new most every day. 

LeapinLarry, great to hear from you, we haven't corresponded in a long time.   I am anxiously awaiting major shoulder surgery on July 16th to repair 3 roto-cuff tendons, and do something with a dislocated out of it's track bicep tendon....  So that's why I have had so much time this year to work on the layout.  Should be working restoring historic windows, but no can do with one arm !  

BTW Mike G:   I ordered one of those 300W LED dimmer switches that you recommended, haven't hooked it up yet, but decided to purchase it from HD before they ran out of stock.