What did you do on your layout today?

I received the package of five smoke unit fans from MTH today.  The SD70ACe was quickly in business smoking up a storm!  All the lights and everything are working good!

Nice work there Mark! I bet it will make a nice engine for the upper shelf layout!

I actually have a local guy interested in buying it.  Since I haven’t worked in four weeks and the little dog had to get surgery, I’m awaiting payment from him now!  So it will be back to the WM RSD5 being the most modern diesel in the house!   LOL

Very cool, and no shipping!

Went into the train room and selected locomotives to pull 3 different trains.  Turned the trains on and enjoyed watching them run all  while doing 35 minutes of aerobics.  This was after already cutting the lawn today.   I forget that train watching on my own layout can be a nice thing while working out.

More progress on the CCK Matter's Mill.  Put main building sections together, and finished roofing them.  At least one more overhanging porch roof to do, and will add various decks and platforms. Water staining the wheel spokes, of pressed paper, is not a good idea unless done before punching them out. Tried to put Weaver arch bar trucks on an ore car that came with modern trucks, and the metal crumbled.  Has been a year, but l thought these trucks were plastic. Two other sets were crumbled in the box. Zinc pest with Weaver metal trucks?

COLORADO HIGHRAILER, that is the first I heard of Weaver  die cast trucks zinc rotting. I have a number of them and have not had that problem. So today, which I wasn't expecting I got my package from PATS TRAINS. Ordered a few Weaver/MTH weaver die cast roller bearing trucks. Got that oput of the way and headed for the basement since the grand daughter and her father left yesterday. I decided to shorten the siding for the grain cars to one car. Taking up the track, cork and ballast I then painted the area black for the time being and glued some ties to make a stop bumper. I measured out the area and it looks like I can get at least 5 3 inch PVC pipes in there for grain silos. Still have to buy the pipe. Pics............Paul

As always great work everyone and this thread is real motivation to get things done and then share them. 

Marc, love the subway that is the next area on my layout that I am moving onto.  Hope to get it done before heading back to work in 2 weeks. 

Finished my shelving a few weeks ago but wanted to add some description tags so I ordered a bunch of shelf tags like they use in grocery stores.  Made up a bunch of labels for all the trains.

I was also able to locate and correct a short in my wiring in the red light district so now all of the animated signs are working again.  Also personalized a building that I bought this past April in York.  Made some signage for the buildings, added interior lights, and interior scenery using Photoshop.  The part that really makes it stand out is I put a sign on the side that is supposed to look like a neon sign.  Before I put the sign on I drilled two holes in the building and used 2 blinking led lights inside the building so when I put the sign on certain parts of the sign would really stand out.  You can see in the video what parts that would be. lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3b6naY1OI8M

LMAO 

Bryan, glad you finally got time to put in some time on the layout. The corners of your layout are taking shape especially the red light district. Doesn't it feel good to find the power problem quickly so you can get to your other projects. Hope you get the time to work on the subway area before you head back to school. While finishing up laundry I decided to start adding ground cover at the railroad crossing area. Still have to add some trees and glue everything down. Pics.......Paul

Thanks Paul,

is that a downtown deco building in the corner of your last picture?

Yes Bryan, downtown deco. It was the Cooter's kit where you got an extra set of walls in case you made a mistake. But seeing that I am perfect I didn't use them LOL...............Paul

New addition received today via FedEx from Charles Ro...Lionel 6-84934 LionChief Plus NY Central Hudson with Bluetooth from 2018 catalog.  'Looks good, works great (with lots of sound and smoke).  The drive wheels do not have white sides as shown in the catalogs and there are crew figures in the cab on each side.

'Very happy with my first LC Plus engine.

Great work guy's! Bryan, love the building signs!

Paul, just as normal, things are looking great at you place!

I just worked on a she shed! LOL

I added Lionel GP7/9 Railsounds 3.0 purchased from papertrw to a late 90's Lionel Santa Fe GP9. I had to wait till today as the I was waiting on the cherry switch holder bracket to arrive from Lionel. It's so much better than it was new, as it originally only had Signal Sounds.

Today l did some more work on the mill, adding loading platforms and one kit hoist and another bashed one for a second on the rear deck. Trying  to decide how to install water wheel and direct "water".  Kit uses undershot wheel, l prefer and have built overshot mills with elaborate flumes. Kit requires a diorama with millpond..l leave that for later when scenery is done.  There are breastshot ones, too, but overshot is supposed to be the most efficient. It will demand a bashed flume, as will the breastshot.  I am really disappointed Weaver arch bars crumbled...l use a lot of arch bars for period cars, and had few sets left.  Is that outfit in Mo. who bought some of the Walthers and other parts offering them?

Hello to all, I have been recovering from major right shoulder surgery 13 days ago.....  Am just now able to type short messages.   Seems pretty successful so far, I am actually typing with both hands which I guess is miraculous...  Been to PT twice already, they seem pleased with my limited range of motion.... Now that my daughter is home for a month, I hope to go down and run some trains today.   

Mike G.   Your train room looks great !  Glad you're ready to get started building the layout.   

Chris A

Train time still is limited to almost none. Been a busy summer for sure. Bought my daughter a 2018 Honda Civic Thursday, her first car!

Everyone keeps doing great work. Paul-you are perfect- you always get it right the first time

Chris- I'm guessing rotator cuff? I know several people who have lived through that surgery, the rehab and PT are brutal from what I've heard.

Mike- She Shed ON!

Lou- Nice job on the sound boards. I have the same GP- maybe a future project.

Bryan- LMAO!

HMORGAN25- beautiful! The Hudson is my all time favorite steamer.

Put these together for yesterday's SWSat

RSJB18 -   Actually 3 out of 4 rotator cuffs were 100 % completely torn and one of two bicep tendons dislocated, so that tendon had to be cut off and screwed into the humerus.....  Should be fun going through TSA screening with all the metal anchors!!! 

 It's going to be a long recovery, but I am trying to stay optimistic.... have to do like 4 weeks of stretching exercises so that as it heals and grows scar tissue, I can maintain as much range of motion as possible.   Then months 2,3 and 4 we start working on strengthening all the atrophied muscles....  

OUCH!!!!! Did you fall and tear them or was this a long time coming??

Chris, glad the surgery is done and over with. Now the word patience comes into play. What you went through cannot be rushed. Everything will be back to normal in due time. My wife went through the same thing. Eash passing day in between her PT sessions I had to work her arm not going past where the therapist told me to stop. It was a long time coming but rushing it would not of done any good. Before you know it Chris you will be back to a normal routine again........Paul

Getting started on my first perminant layout.

yes,  fell on a handicap ramp, how ironic, at an off site airport parking facility back in Feb. that was too lazy to put down sand and salt.....  top of the ramp was covered and dry, bottom half sheer black ice..... never saw it coming. 

Chris- sorry to hear that. I run campus facilities at a university. Ice and snow are a never ending battle in the winter. Hope your recovery is a speedy one. As long as you can still run the throttle the time will pass quickly  

Bob

Chris, I sure hope things keep going well with the shoulder recovery! Thank you for the kind words about the train room, I hope to get some lumber next week to start on part of the bench work! At the same time I will pick up some lumber for the wifes She Shed! Picture below! LOL

RSJB18, the layout sure is looking great and a very nice set up! But most of it sure looks FUN!

JOESAGE, sure looks like you have a good start there, keep us posted. Question, where did you get the busses from?    

The beginning of the wife's She Shed! LOL                             

                          Mike, you've been busy,  lookin' good !!

chris a posted:

Hello to all, I have been recovering from major right shoulder surgery 13 days ago.....  Am just now able to type short messages.   Seems pretty successful so far, I am actually typing with both hands which I guess is miraculous...  Been to PT twice already, they seem pleased with my limited range of motion.... Now that my daughter is home for a month, I hope to go down and run some trains today.   

Mike G.   Your train room looks great !  Glad you're ready to get started building the layout.   

Chris A

Chris, I hope you get better soon.

briansilvermustang posted:

                          Mike, you've been busy,  lookin' good !!

Brian, I am just like everyone else here! Just trying to keep the CEO happy! She get her play room and I get mine! LOL

Got trucks and couplers on 5 Weaver TOFC's. They are all set to go to the attic. Have two more to go but I had to glue a couple of small things on each of them so I am waiting till the glue dries Then I will have 7 ready to go to the attic.............Paul

Chris- I hope you sued them !!  I slipped on a wooden one that was wet and luckily I hit my head and was relatively unscathed.

chris a posted:

Hello to all, I have been recovering from major right shoulder surgery 13 days ago.....  Am just now able to type short messages.   Seems pretty successful so far, I am actually typing with both hands which I guess is miraculous...  Been to PT twice already, they seem pleased with my limited range of motion.... Now that my daughter is home for a month, I hope to go down and run some trains today.   

Mike G.   Your train room looks great !  Glad you're ready to get started building the layout.   

Chris A

Chris , I’m sorry for your injury! Hope you are mending well. 

Sounds like a good case. HC ramps must be especially free from ice.  But I suspect your lawyer would be s lot happier for your sake if you declared a news blackout online. Insurance Co lawyers can’t twist your words if you don’t write them. A word to the wise.

More Halloween town bench work....spend more time working on the set than running it.

chris a posted:

RSJB18 -   Actually 3 out of 4 rotator cuffs were 100 % completely torn and one of two bicep tendons dislocated, so that tendon had to be cut off and screwed into the humerus.....  Should be fun going through TSA screening with all the metal anchors!!! 

 It's going to be a long recovery, but I am trying to stay optimistic.... have to do like 4 weeks of stretching exercises so that as it heals and grows scar tissue, I can maintain as much range of motion as possible.   Then months 2,3 and 4 we start working on strengthening all the atrophied muscles....  

Chris,  I recall you saying the surgery was coming up.  I'm glad you are on the long road to recovery!!  I hope you can get to running some trains soon!  Please keep us updated!!

Finished, with materials provided, the CCK Matter's Mill...this kit was designed to be partly "buried" in unincluded scenery of a diorama, with an undershot wheel.  I will probably do an overshot wheel, which will demand more Chooch stone for a spillway ( and dam), if l elect to include it, but will then require a timber flume, all scratch built....

Thanks to all for fast recovery wishes.   Yes Jim, I did retain a reputable law firm to represent me.   Unfortunately, I have to finish all medical and PT treatment before litigation and negotiations begin, so I remain cautiously optimistic that there will be a favorable settlement in early 2019.   

Yes Paul, right now I have about 5 different stretching routines that I go through slowly at least 4 to 5 times per day.   It definitely helps, and keeps things from binding up and getting "frozen" as everything heals.   I am glad I got to PT for the first time within 10 days of the surgery, otherwise I think my range of motion would already be much worse.   I definitely don't heal as well at 59 going on 60 as I did even 10 years ago, but I am sure there are many of us here at the forum that have experienced that humbling reality!   

I did manage to go to train room yesterday and weather a WM 40 foot boxcar, it was great to actually do something productive.... I'll try to post a photo later today/tomorrow....   

Chris, That all sounds great!  I'm glad you got to spend some time in the train room!

Got the TOFC's I worked on yesterday in the attic. Laundry this morning so while down there there are some wood chip hopper kits to be put together. Like to get them done today. Later this afternoon I'll run to Menards and get some PVC pipe for silos and sand paper to add to the roof of the angular building. .......Paul

Chris, I am glad your getting around! Take it slow and easy, weathering some cars sounds like a good idea to keep you into the hobby as you heal!

Paul, sounds like you had a good time with your wood chip cars! Question, are you going to have to bring them all back down when you finish the basement layout? Also you might have done it before but can you share some pictures of your attic layout?