What did you do on your layout today?

Thank you, Mike!    I see two ways to go, yes there are more for sure.

One is to not put anything under the upper Fastrack, just put a support that straddles the lower level at every track joint.

Two is to cut thin plywood, Masonite, or something else under the upper track and put in maybe half the number of supports.

I have already clipped the lower level track pieces together with office binder clips to ensure the track sections don't pull apart.  That would be best on the upper level if there is no upper level roadbed.

I'll ponder it and get back.   

Mark Boyce posted:

Ah, no hills on a temporary layout is sooo much better!  The identical track sections are laying around. Now to see if I can come up with a good way to quickly support an upper level.  

Sommat like this, perhaps? 

Mitch 

Mitch, I haven’t seen those.  Do they stack up?

Daniel J. Gonzalez posted:

 

NSRailfan100 posted:

I was able to weather 20+ weaver coal cars with an airbrush! I was quite skeptical at first but turns out airbrushing is very easy if you take your time! I recommend to try if you are interested in weathering your trains!

I have looked, just not too sure if the expense is worth it for me.

If you don't mind me asking, what unit do you use and where did you buy it. If the price is right I might look into it. I could imagine it make life a lot easier.

Thanks!

I just got an airbrush kit and 3 gallon oil less compressor. I spent a little under $80 for both! Both have worked out very well for me so far.

Today I cleared the clutter off my workbench surface.  Now I can get down to working on a few projects.  Ran trains the whole time while putting things in their proper place and or creating a proper place for them.  

Also went to Home Depot, Michaels and Hobby Lobby to get material for new projects.  One project is to create a Christmas store in memory of my Mom who was the "Spirit of Christmas" around our house!  She absolutely loved the entire Christmas season!  Her name was Mary so I'm going to create the " Mary Christmas Shop " with the slogan " Have a Mary Merry Christmas!"   I'm using the MTH Christmas store ( which I just purchased off the Bay ) as a basis and have many ideas to expand upon the basic MTH offering.  When it's completed I'll snap some photos and show it here on this thread.  

I'm also thinking of  creating an Eggnog Manufacturer in memory of my Dad whose homemade eggnog packed a more than hefty punch!  

The second project  is to build a  4 x6 foot  whimsical Christmas layout for underneath  my tree this year.  I'll use either Lionel Fast Track ( if I have enough ) or second choice MTH Realtrax, which I know I have enough of.  At any rate it all should be lots of fun!  

While at Hobby Lobby I purchased some large black foam boards to put around the perimeter of my benchwork.  Once installed, the foam boards will hide all the boxes stored under the table.

 I'm really looking forward to these projects!  

I haven't had hot buttered rum since Christmas when I was about 8. A very Euro minded family, one drink or a beer once in a while was no big deal. I never got hung up being able to drink at 19 and rarely have more than one of anything today...if at all ... I can still taste it.    I drink buttered coffee on occasion.  I might have tonight but the female mastiff swiped my last stick the night before last. (The only things not safe alone are chicken and butter, she goes to the cage herself after a theft too. Always has )

I railed and ran my Marx E El Capitan today.  Not buttered rum, but that was enough fun I guess

Recent photos of trains on my layout. 

There is always something new that a person can do to a layout.  Nice video of your trains running on your layout, Pat.

BAR GP7 #63 posted:

decoynh posted:

BAR GP7 #63 posted:

decoynh posted:

Welcome Johan.  I am glad that you like my area of the USA trains.  New England has some great railroads.  MTH Trains also makes 0 gauge European trains, Orient Express and so on.  We are glad that you enjoy this hobby.  I'm 75 and still learning.

Matt: Thank you. I have two BANGOR & AROOSTOOK GP`s, one BL2 and maybe 30 BAR cars, also have 1 MEC  and 1 B&M Alco S2 with some cars. They are all MTH PREMIER series, expect another GP is Atlas Master Series. I really hope MTH can paint sometimes BAR EMD F3 or E7 -versions. Would be a nice get Aroostook Flyer or Potatoland Special passenger train. Your layout looking nice, keep up your good work. Today i added some new houses our layout, they are 3D printed Maine area style houses.

Johan

Wow, Johan, you have a good collection there.  For the last few years, I have been trying to collect the trains that run through our little town here in New Hampshire. PanAm lines & Guilford are also local trains. The MBTA is also seen at times.  CSX is another train that operates some local freights in the east USA.  How expensive is it to ship from USA to Finland?

Matt: Almost forgot my MTH B&M BL2. Usually shipping (cars) cost 20-40 dollars and locomotives 50-60 dollars. Usually i buy all my locos from USA or Canada, but sometimes i can found something here in Europe. Also ebay working very well. I have maybe 300 blu-rays & dvd`s only USA & Canadian trains, always try get all Maine area train films.

Johan

 Very nice work Johan. It almost looks like home. Your details & weathering are realistic. 

Ive seen videos of the show in Germany before. My neighbor grew up in Hamburg during the war & he emailed me some videos.   Have fun & try not to spend all your money. 

Mark Boyce posted:

Ah, no hills on a temporary layout is sooo much better!  The identical track sections are laying around. Now to see if I can come up with a good way to quickly support an upper level.  

Mark, Can you use Gargraves that you might have, for the upper level.  Whatever you do, it’ll be good. 

Matt, What is in the picture above is one 048 section coming off each straight, then two full and one half 036 section so it will fit on a 4-foot wide sheet of 2-inch foam.  My GarGraves is all all 042 and 054, so half circles of 042 would come out close to the same.  I have a little bit of bendable GarGraves that I bought for my jogs in two walls on my Ceiling Central RR also.  I think I'll make up an 042 half circle and see how it looks.  Thank you for the suggestion.  I agree, either brand will work out okay, with the right support

Johan, keep the pictures of the progress coming. You are creating some great scenes.

Chris, your module is taking shape. Hope the back gets better.

Pat, very nice video.

Matt, you have done a nice job with your layout.

After spending a long weekend with the kids and grandkids I got home Monday and I had some nice pacakages waiting for me. I had to buy the video of Norm's layout, my cars came from the Canadian club and the Schaeffer beer reefers arrived from the NJHR's. Have to do some errands and laundry but hope to do some work on the liftout section. I have to redo a couple of the ground wires. I made the mistake of connecting all of them when I should of left three wires for the crossing signals. Pics ..............Paul

Mark Boyce posted:

Mitch, I haven’t seen those.  Do they stack up?

Yeah.  Those are, if memory serves,  Model Motoring (or maybe Tyco) bridge piers,  and the idea was to stack them in order to raise the roadway in a grade.  Just checked,  and 1:67 slot car track is about the same size as Fastrack,  so if you can get ahold of a sufficient quantity, they should do the job.  Say!  Here's an idea:  Have you considered Legos?  

Mitch 

Paul, nice haul awaiting you for sure!!  I received a copy of the Norm-Griffith Club video too.  I haven’t opened it yet!

M. Mitchell Marmel posted:

Mark Boyce posted:

Mitch, I haven’t seen those.  Do they stack up?

Yeah.  Those are, if memory serves,  Model Motoring (or maybe Tyco) bridge piers,  and the idea was to stack them in order to raise the roadway in a grade.  Just checked,  and 1:67 slot car track is about the same size as Fastrack,  so if you can get ahold of a sufficient quantity, they should do the job.  Say!  Here's an idea:  Have you considered Legos?  

Mitch 

Mitch, You are brilliant!!  LEGOs; my older daughter would love it!!!  She uses a LEGO base and blocks to build up a holder for her castings of custom designed doll parts.  They are easy to come by as well!  Easier probably than the 067 slot car supports, though with the Internet, either may be as easy as pie!!!

 Thank you for the ideas!

Patrick, sounds like you have some wonderful projects planned this winter! Way to honor your mom! I cant wait to see what you come up with. What a great looking layout you have! Must be fun to just sit back and run trains!

Butch, I was just telling the wife a couple days ago that I use to drink Hot Butter Rum's while I was up skiing. Then while working in the train room yesterday with a little nip in the air, here she come with a nice warm one just for me! What a great day!

Paul2, Sure got some nice looking cars there! I hope you don't have to work to long on the lift out section! Have a great day !

Well Matt, here is the 042 half circle.  It's a little bigger than I expected; maybe closer to the edge than I had hoped, although I didn't jam the track sections in until they meet.  The jury is still in deliberation.

Mark Boyce posted:

Mitch, You are brilliant!!  LEGOs; my older daughter would love it!!!  She uses a LEGO base and blocks to build up a holder for her castings of custom designed doll parts.  They are easy to come by as well!  Easier probably than the 067 slot car supports, though with the Internet, either may be as easy as pie!!!

 Thank you for the ideas!

My pleasure!   

I would think that 2x2 squares would be fine for the pillars, with 2 x whatevers for the crosspieces...  ^.^ 

Mitch

You could sand off some of the Lego nubs if they bother you. I'd leave some under the roadbed to keep it from shifting.  Other than the top, the rest will look like brick. Consider a flat, brick red or cinder block grey craft paint so they can be washed clean and returned if only borrowed from younger folk (gotta set those social examples )

Mark Boyce posted:

Ah, no hills on a temporary layout is sooo much better!  The identical track sections are laying around. Now to see if I can come up with a good way to quickly support an upper level.  

                                   2 levels,  only stack the back straight...

                                               some thing like this...

I was pretty excited on Friday when my order from Scenic Express made it to my doorstep just a day after ordering it, but was quickly disappointed when I opened it and found out my concrete walls were backordered.  So no work was done on the layout, but we ran some trains.  My son did give me a few ideas for some scenery though.  

      Looking GREAT  Ted !!           cool video !

Thaddeus, Nice video!

      another idea Mark, using plywood to support the 036 upper level loop...

                maybe add a siding on each level to store some extra cars...

Mark Boyce posted:

Matt, What is in the picture above is one 048 section coming off each straight, then two full and one half 036 section so it will fit on a 4-foot wide sheet of 2-inch foam.  My GarGraves is all all 042 and 054, so half circles of 042 would come out close to the same.  I have a little bit of bendable GarGraves that I bought for my jogs in two walls on my Ceiling Central RR also.  I think I'll make up an 042 half circle and see how it looks.  Thank you for the suggestion.  I agree, either brand will work out okay, with the right support

That's what is good about OGR, sometimes other members think out side the box.  Your idea of laying the upper level on masonite makes sense & fewer supports will be required.  Good luck on whatever way you choose to go.

Thaddeus posted:

I was pretty excited on Friday when my order from Scenic Express made it to my doorstep just a day after ordering it, but was quickly disappointed when I opened it and found out my concrete walls were backordered.  So no work was done on the layout, but we ran some trains.  My son did give me a few ideas for some scenery though.  

Nice video, Thaddeus. Those beautiful passenger cars definitely qualify as “varnish”!!!

briansilvermustang posted:

 

      another idea Mark, using plywood to support the 036 upper level loop...

 

                maybe add a siding on each level to store some extra cars...

paul 2 posted:

Johan, keep the pictures of the progress coming. You are creating some great scenes.

Chris, your module is taking shape. Hope the back gets better.

Pat, very nice video.

Matt, you have done a nice job with your layout.

After spending a long weekend with the kids and grandkids I got home Monday and I had some nice pacakages waiting for me. I had to buy the video of Norm's layout, my cars came from the Canadian club and the Schaeffer beer reefers arrived from the NJHR's. Have to do some errands and laundry but hope to do some work on the liftout section. I have to redo a couple of the ground wires. I made the mistake of connecting all of them when I should of left three wires for the crossing signals. Pics ..............Paul

Paul: Thanks. I like those reefers, specially BC -reefers are really beauties. Please, where i can order that Norm´s layout dvd?

Johan

Johan, I ordered the video from TM Books and Videos. Here is something to try. If these don't help somebody might chime in with the proper information..........Paul 

Call (800) 892-2822

 

m.me/TMBooksVideo

info@tmbv.com

 

http://www.tmbv.com

paul 2 posted:

Johan, I ordered the video from TM Books and Videos. Here is something to try. If these don't help somebody might chime in with the proper information..........Paul 

Call (800) 892-2822

 

m.me/TMBooksVideo

info@tmbv.com

 

http://www.tmbv.com

Thanks Paul. 

Johan

Thaddeus, That is a shame you have to wait on the retaining walls, but the trains running are great!

Johan, More great photographs!!

Brian, All good ideas.  I have scads of ceramic Christmas buildings I need to fit as many as possible on to meet Mrs. B.'s approval.  That is why after the over and under proved to not be practical, I thought of just one loop of track.  An identical loop over it to maximize building real estate would be best.  I've been busy all day at my Mom and Dad's empty house, then at the personal care home with them and the nursing/physical therapy staff for my mom.  I just got in.  I'm going to look at some of the support options we discussed (Brian, Mitch, Matt).

Here is an idea I had last evening and tried it out today.  Free material.  My in-laws put in a new front stoop roof and railing about 10 years ago, and there was an almost complete bag of spindles left behind in the garage when my mother-in-law sold us the house.  I cut pieces with a neat miter saw I retrieved from my dad's house and put it to use for the first time.  I cut and glues pieces for the prototype.  I will need to make the opening wider than 4 inches on the rest so I can have clearance on curves, but you get the idea.  In the rear, I think I will build up a mountain like Brian suggested.

As you can see, I need to clean up leaves now, and get back to this project later. 

   very cool idea Mark !!   they will look good !  might have to borrow that idea !

Looks like a great idea Mark! will give it a nice open look!

Have fun with the leaves! LOL

Mark Boyce posted:

Here is an idea I had last evening and tried it out today.  Free material.  My in-laws put in a new front stoop roof and railing about 10 years ago, and there was an almost complete bag of spindles left behind in the garage when my mother-in-law sold us the house.  I cut pieces with a neat miter saw I retrieved from my dad's house and put it to use for the first time.  I cut and glues pieces for the prototype.  I will need to make the opening wider than 4 inches on the rest so I can have clearance on curves, but you get the idea.  In the rear, I think I will build up a mountain like Brian suggested. 

As you can see, I need to clean up leaves now, and get back to this project later.

Looks great, Mark! Well done!

Glad to see Old Glory flying too!

Mark Boyce posted:

Here is an idea I had last evening and tried it out today.  Free material.  My in-laws put in a new front stoop roof and railing about 10 years ago, and there was an almost complete bag of spindles left behind in the garage when my mother-in-law sold us the house.  I cut pieces with a neat miter saw I retrieved from my dad's house and put it to use for the first time.  I cut and glues pieces for the prototype.  I will need to make the opening wider than 4 inches on the rest so I can have clearance on curves, but you get the idea.  In the rear, I think I will build up a mountain like Brian suggested. 

As you can see, I need to clean up leaves now, and get back to this project later.

I like it Mark.  Paint it gray/cement & it will look like cement piers.  A Mountain with over and under tunnels will be cool or even only an under tunnel with the upper area open.  Very nice.

Chalk up 2 brilliant ideas from Mark.  To be fair, one is from his daughter and will come in handy when I begin some casting projects.  I just know there are other uses for the vinyl railing posts around the layout, especially where durability is reqired.  Thanks Mark!

Bruce

M. Mitchell Marmel posted:

RSJB18 posted:

I finished removing the spray paint from my Pennsy ALCO. Looks pretty good IMHO.
Cleaned and greased everything and put it on the track for a test run. It moves but not well for a K-line. Back to the bench today for further investigation.

I've purchased my entire collection used- this was by far the worst engine I've gotten, but I knew that going in from the pictures in the listing. I like the challenge

Attaboy!  What did you wind up using to remove the paint?  

Mitch

(who is now humming "George Washingmachine Bridge")  

It was in one of my posts Mitch. Guess you missed it.

Thanks

BAR GP7 #63 posted:

Beautiful work- so inquiring minds want to know..... what runs on the two rail (HO?)

Bob