What did you do on your layout today?

Thanks Gary, Cant wait to wat this, I am always out to learn more about this wonderful hobby!

Ok Gary, just watched it! Great video on how to!, I will be using it down the road, and if I have any problems I will be contacting you ! LOL

A while back I mentioned an old chopped up layout in the trash and wondered about the owner. Today at a garage sale I found out it was "the kids layout" and it had some O, HO, and N scale ....I had guessed S or ho. Anyhow, walking "Puppi" I asked about there being any model train stuff, and the ladies said there was a small box of "junk" which I bought; then listened to some stories and learned there was some O gauge to be looked at another day too, and we discussed one postwar engine she was interested in having checked out before she buys a new transformer; I offered my track and she will be by before the holidays. I grabbed my bag witbout really looking and left as I had other plans. ... and I'll need to post this and try again in a bit; no attachment tool is showing.

Mark Boyce posted:

Johan, I like the crane and scene in general too!

Mark: Thank you, i am glad you like it. 

Johan

mike g. posted:

Johan, Great looking scratch build! Really nice work, be proud of yourself not everyone can do magic like that!

Mike: Thanks. Maybe not magic, but it´s nice to learn something new. What a great hobby. 

Johan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adriatic posted:

A while back I mentioned an old chopped up layout in the trash and wondered about the owner. Today at a garage sale I found out it was "the kids layout" and it had some O, HO, and N scale ....I had guessed S or ho. Anyhow, walking "Puppi" I asked about there being any model train stuff, and the ladies said there was a small box of "junk" which I bought; then listened to some stories and learned there was some O gauge to be looked at another day too, and we discussed one postwar engine she was interested in having checked out before she buys a new transformer; I offered my track and she will be by before the holidays. I grabbed my bag witbout really looking and left as I had other plans. ... and I'll need to post this and try again in a bit; no attachment tool is showing.

That's nice you are able to help the lady with the postwar engine.  It will be interesting to see what "junk" is in that bag!!

My fun time is over with. I went over to Menards to pick up my REA package. Now I have to get back to building the control panel. Pic...........................Paul

I'm glad this has your attention Mark, I have an HO mystery you may be able to solve.

But starting big, this O sized figure was on a table and though "expensive" I picked it up too.  Maybe I'll place them in "Swan Park" looking up at the water tower or El. 

This is the HO piece in question. I have an identical flat(behind it), except the load jig differs. What was the load for this?There are a few repaints. Quality isn't great, but ok for the price...

and this looked horse car is nice, but was missing its brake wheel...

..or so I thought. It's never been run and the brake wheel is attached eleswhere

It looks like the point to point HO will have some electrical work done soon too.

And now for N scale, of which I only had and Alaskan F for display..

there is about two ft. of track and a bumper.

This base has a similar square boss to the bumper, but I'm lost as to what it is as well. 

The Atlas switcher. no telling if she runs. That will be project #1.

The trucks, plus about a dozen extra are hiding in the bottom of the box

another repaint

More comming....

This is a nice heavy car with a  metal frame.

My "overnight N layout so far. I'll likely do a forced perspective point to point behind the Ho. But this works for now.

Now back to the box. I saw a few boxes of knick knack items and things were grouped by price on tables; my "expensive" O scale monk on the quarter table. The trains were on the dollar table.  ....or so I thought.

The whole box cost me $1.32. All the change I had...$1.25 + 7 cents "tax" just because I wanted to close the deal with a pointed brow and gruffly saying: "Ok, fine...take ALL my money"!

So about a nickle each and a free engine and station; I can't complain

Today I'm stopping there again, just incase

Working on concrete roadway on the lower level,  figured I would shoot some "in progress" photos.   Somehow I ended up making the road in a "different way" again....    Hard to see the weathering in the photos, but I am pretty happy with the end result.... 

Primed the 1/8 inch  masonite light gray, sanded,  then shot it with the cheap flat spray paint from walmart,  then I sealed it with Rust O leum Matte Finish to seal it, just a safety precaution so that I wouldn't pull up the white with the masking.   Then used automotive pin striping (1/8") as the masking for the center and side lines, then weathered the lanes with a "concrete" color, and then finally a second light weatering coat in the lane centers with the same paint color I am weathering the track, ties and ballast....   The pin striping tape did make good "masking"

BAR GP7#63,  as many others have noted, that waterfront scene and the scratchbuilt crane are outstanding....  Very Inspiring !

 

I was all set to go down and work on my control panel when the wife yelled up the stairs she got the mail and there was a package there for me. That had to take priority. I have a hard to find needle in the haystack bucket list and I can now cross this item off. A Weaver NYC TOFC done in silver. It was one of 23 made for the Metca Division of the TCA. Gosh I hope that is it for today on the packages I have to get some layout work done LOL. Pic.........Paul

Just as I was going to try to go do something I found another package on the step. My wire and terminal jumpers came from WayTek. I did get down to the layout but I was suppose to work on the control panel but instead I glued a couple of buildings to the wall so I can start the walls of the Brewery. Came to a standstill ....couldn't find my roll of double faced tape to tape the flats to the Masonite. Guess I am being told to work on the control panel after dinner. Pics..............Paul

chris a posted:

Working on concrete roadway on the lower level,  figured I would shoot some "in progress" photos.   Somehow I ended up making the road in a "different way" again....    Hard to see the weathering in the photos, but I am pretty happy with the end result.... 

Primed the 1/8 inch  masonite light gray, sanded,  then shot it with the cheap flat spray paint from walmart,  then I sealed it with Rust O leum Matte Finish to seal it, just a safety precaution so that I wouldn't pull up the white with the masking.   Then used automotive pin striping (1/8") as the masking for the center and side lines, then weathered the lanes with a "concrete" color, and then finally a second light weatering coat in the lane centers with the same paint color I am weathering the track, ties and ballast....   The pin striping tape did make good "masking"

BAR GP7#63,  as many others have noted, that waterfront scene and the scratchbuilt crane are outstanding....  Very Inspiring !

 

Chris A: Thank you, i like also your scenery work, very nice looking layout.

Johan

Paul- I get the feeling that you are finding excuses to not start the control panel. Either that or your credit cards are working overtime. I hope you tip your delivery men well at Christmas.

Chris A- the roads look great! very nice.

Bob

paul 2 posted:

I was all set to go down and work on my control panel when the wife yelled up the stairs she got the mail and there was a package there for me. That had to take priority. I have a hard to find needle in the haystack bucket list and I can now cross this item off. A Weaver NYC TOFC done in silver. It was one of 23 made for the Metca Division of the TCA. Gosh I hope that is it for today on the packages I have to get some layout work done LOL. Pic.........Paul

Paul it looks like you have as many of these Trailer On Flat Cars as Brian has engines.  Very nice.  They must make quite a consist.

Adriatic, I have no idea what kind of load went on that flat car.  It looks like something snappend into place the way those prongs are made.  I would say you got your money's worth.  And then some for sure!!  

Chris, The concrete road looks great!  It looks like it was just poured a few months ago, got a bit of weathering on it, but hasn't seen a Pennsylvania winter and the overload of salt yet!  Excellent job!!

Paul, Are you going for the complete collection, one of each of the Weaver Trailer on flat cars that were ever made!  Good job!

Chris, excellant work on the road. When your done with it and the scenery it is going to make for one heck of a nice picture.

Mark, I don't know if I am on a quest for them all. They seem to pop up every so often. I managed to get 7 unpainted trailers that I would like to do in different Logos. Plus if I could find the parts I have numerous flat cars I could convert into TOFC's. I do have one more flat coming sometime next week. One word to describe "OBSSESION" LOL ....Paul

Adriatic, What a great find for the money well spent! I was looking at the flat car and to me it looks like it should hold 3 cars on it, as it looks to have molded in wheel chalks! I cant wait to see what you get from there next!

Paul, Look at you, you got some more Menards stuff with your new washer! LOL Great looking TOFC! You should let us know what your looking for so we can keep our eyes open for you! I am guessing that with all that wire you can now start on the control panel!

Chris, just like everything else you do the roadway looks great! I really like the weathering and the aged look! One thing though, I sure hope the timber holding up your wall is going to be relocated! LOL

briansilvermustang posted:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brian, you have the best collection of Burlington Engines I have ever seen! I love them all! Thanks for sharing them with us!

Johan, Mark, Paul and Mike:  Thanks very much.   It taken some practice but I am finally getting comfortable using the airbrush..... OK,  it's taken a significant amout of practice.   Bought one of those knock off kits made by "PointZero",  think I bought it from Amazon....   The reviews were all pretty positive, and I have to agree with the reviewers, it works just fine. 

Heck it came with 3 air brushes, the compressor and a bunch of accessories for less than $90.00.   After a bunch of research, and reading articles on line, I have figured out how to mix inexpensive craft store acrylic paints.   Every time I use it, the results get a little better.   If you've considered buying an airbrush, but don't have, or don't choose to spend, hundreds of dollars, this is a really good sub $100.00 alternative....  

Yes Mike, I haven't glued that stone retaining wall in place yet.  Need to make a top plate for it, and weather it to look like a concrete  cap....  Good catch, 

chris a posted:

Johan, Mark, Paul and Mike:  Thanks very much.   It taken some practice but I am finally getting comfortable using the airbrush..... OK,  it's taken a significant amout of practice.   Bought one of those knock off kits made by "PointZero",  think I bought it from Amazon....   The reviews were all pretty positive, and I have to agree with the reviewers, it works just fine. 

Heck it came with 3 air brushes, the compressor and a bunch of accessories for less than $90.00.   After a bunch of research, and reading articles on line, I have figured out how to mix inexpensive craft store acrylic paints.   Every time I use it, the results get a little better.   If you've considered buying an airbrush, but don't have, or don't choose to spend, hundreds of dollars, this is a really good sub $100.00 alternative....  

Yes Mike, I haven't glued that stone retaining wall in place yet.  Need to make a top plate for it, and weather it to look like a concrete  cap....  Good catch, 

I knew you wouldn't let us down!

Chris, I floundered with my Badger air gun for so long, that I put it away 20 years ago or more.  A couple of years ago, I gave it to my artist daughter, and she thinks it's the greatest thing since sliced bread! 

I have the Tankar tank car body done, in a red, as shown in a color photo on the web (the real one l found and photoed, abandoned, was all black).  I used press on lettering for "Tankar" and, contrary to my usual experience with those, they turned out great! I need to scratch build the trestle to elevate the tank, and a tiny office.

I completely understand Mark,  the first couple of times I used mine, I was wondering... "What the heck was I thinking, I had told myself earlier that I wasn't going to buy an airbrush !!!! "     

Since I don't give up easy, I eventually got somewhat proficient....  Now I realize there are certain effects that I can't easily achieve with any other method.   On the other hand, one can get some great results with pastels,  washes made with either acrylics or inks, dry brushing etc.....       

  I ran N scale

   The Atlas 0-6-0 dockside has a cracked frame at the fireman's side's wiper rivet, and runs faster in reverse. But it runs pretty good overall. I'll just "have to" run it cab forward. Oh darn!  

 

          looks like it is going to be a great weekend out...

Created this sign for the playground area.  Story behind it is this.  My good friend Bob Orlando passed a little over a year ago and he always did a Christmas theme layout in his living room each year.  He would buy a 4x8 2" piece of foam and then afterwards get rid of it and start over fresh the next year.  He heard I was starting this baseball field project and he said why don't you build it on this piece of foam that I am just going to get rid of anyways.  So I took him up on his offer and it was only about a 2 weeks later, after he dropped it off, that he passed away.  So every time I would work on the field it brought back memories of my friend so I wanted to do something to memorialize him and his contribution to this project.  The bottom picture is just the sign photo shopped in where I plan on putting it.  

Bryan, The sign looks great!  The weathering is quite nice!  What a great tribute to Bob's memory!!

Great sign, great story, but most of all really sounds like he was a great FRIEND!

Bryan, that's a great story and a nice way to honor him with a place on your layout............Paul

Adriatic posted:

I'm glad this has your attention Mark, I have an HO mystery you may be able to solve.

But starting big, this O sized figure was on a table and though "expensive" I picked it up too.  Maybe I'll place them in "Swan Park" looking up at the water tower or El. 

This is the HO piece in question. I have an identical flat(behind it), except the load jig differs. What was the load for this?There are a few repaints. Quality isn't great, but ok for the price...

and this looked horse car is nice, but was missing its brake wheel...

..or so I thought. It's never been run and the brake wheel is attached eleswhere

It looks like the point to point HO will have some electrical work done soon too.

And now for N scale, of which I only had and Alaskan F for display..

there is about two ft. of track and a bumper.

This base has a similar square boss to the bumper, but I'm lost as to what it is as well. 

The Atlas switcher. no telling if she runs. That will be project #1.

The trucks, plus about a dozen extra are hiding in the bottom of the box

another repaint

More comming....

Adriatic,

 I am not sure but that flat car may have been designed to haul 3 concrete sewer pipes. I remember my brother having one like that. If not maybe it was for circus wagons.

Mike, that does seem reasonable!  Somehow back in the dark recesses of the archive in my mind, I think I can picture something like that.  That would be in the black and white days. 

My son, Jim, was over and installed a custom-made 3-track signal bridge tonight.  He made it from 3 Lionel 450 signal bridges and replaced the lights with LED's.  He used relays to operate it.  It is bi-directional with heads in both directions.  I weathered and repainted it.

I will try to post some pictures tomorrow.  

Playing around with some backdrops that I found on-line. I can only print them 11X17 so it repeats but its better than the cream color paneling. This was a free download so the resolution didn't scale up to the larger paper. Doesn't look to bad IMHO. Still more research to do.

Bob

BEFORE

AFTER

          looks good Bob !

Thanks Brian

 

 

 

I just added a few pictures on my other thread on my layout progress of my REA building and my new signal bridge.  I also mentioned that I was having problems with clearances on my current projects at my Chicago Union Station.  I added and finished out a section of road and a parking lot across from US.  I didn't test the clearances very well and when I was running a passenger train this morning I heard a loud clunk.  That's never a good sound.  

I have remove the addition and redesign the supports so the track has more clearance.  And my new bridge supports are also about 1/4" to wide for my 21" passenger cars, so all that will have to be removed and redone.  3 steps forward and two steps back.  At least we are one step further down the road.

Art

Cleaned up some of the basement layout. Have my local train group coming over this afternoon. I added the Menards Material Handling plant to the Morton salt and Vetters. As soon as I plug them in they all flickered so I knew it was too much for the walwart. Disconnected the Morton salt and the other two work great. Tomorrow I can maybe get back to the layout...........Paul