What did you do on your layout today?

Adriatic posted:

lee drennen posted:

Vincent Massi posted:

lee drennen posted:

Thanks Lou

I think the Lionel Standard O cars look the best to me. Here’s a video of it pulling some lionel Standard O and tanks cars I can’t remember the names 

Lee, that's great video, but the new guy needs to ask you a question. I noticed that your caboose is illuminated. Is this by a connection to the track or by a battery-powered light inside?

It’s probably not keeping connection maybe some can tell me how to fix it 

I didn't notice a blink, but cleaning the roller, adding a roller if there is only one, or bulb isolation and adding a diode & capacitor set up are the options. You need a pretty big cap for a bulb, might think about an l.e.d. instead. The same cap might keep an led lit for a quite a while in comparison.  The last ones I did, 4 led stayed lit over 2 minutes after it was removed from the rails. It fades out vs a sudden blink out... but that wouldn't be impossible to reproduce if you wanted a sudden off for some reason.

I’m thinking about a soft white LEDS but I run this caboose a lot. 

Adriatic posted:

lee drennen posted:

Before I went to bed last night I dug out my old Lionel 202 I notice that the decals were starting to peel and the flat paint I used was fading so I put a gloss coat on it to seal it I never wanted a gloss coat in the first place but I don’t feel like restoring it again. This was my  very first locomotive it was orange faded and needing help so I sanded it and repainted it and decaled it. This will probably go on the layout in my new model/train room in the house. 

Lee, you can still hit it with a final satin/matte coat when you are ready. Clear over clear isn't an issue (same type/brand), just scuff it lightly with a fine paper or soft scotchbrite first so it can bite well.

I thought about that and done it before but never had luck with  it always frost on me 

Thanks Lee. I would have preferred to do a full skirt and higher lip on the top to make more terrain but we need to have access to the file cabinets that I built on. Will be a huge improvement when I'm done.

Bob

Before I calling it quits on a productive week I decided to fix the old AHM Boxcar and make it a 3rail by adding some Lionel trucks and give it a test run 

PSAP2010 posted:

Vincent Massi posted:

lee drennen posted:

Thanks Lou

I think the Lionel Standard O cars look the best to me. Here’s a video of it pulling some lionel Standard O and tanks cars I can’t remember the names 

Lee, that's great video, but the new guy needs to ask you a question. I noticed that your caboose is illuminated. Is this by a connection to the track or by a battery-powered light inside?

Vincent, there are pickup rollers on the caboose trucks like those on an engine and usually a copper wiper that rubs on the axles to connect the lights  to track power.

 

Larry

 

 

 

Thank you.

Lee, looks like an easy fix! Looks good!

Brainsilvermustang, I have not seen the inside of a caboose since I was a boy sneaking into the RR cars parked in a hump-yard, back in the late 50's, but as soon as I saw this part of your posting here, I recalled those steps that led up into the caboose cupola, and sitting there for a few moments, as clearly as I can see my hands on this laptop. Thanks for the memories!

FrankM

Adriatic, the stick figure with a smiley face is a low budget (50 cents) wind-up dancing robot. After you wind it up a few times, it stops working. I kept my first one.

Others have been dismantled to supply scrap metal from an ancient dwarven race in a scene from Skyrim. (The knight is loading a gondola with the scrap metal when he is attacked by a dwarven robot--winner takes all.) Unfortunately, I cannot find any photos of the scene. However I did find these two photos from my first train lay-out. I would set them around my lay-out, let the kids break them, and then use them for scrap parts in different areas

     you're welcome Frank.     here's to all the fun things we did back in our younger days...

briansilvermustang posted:

 ...   here's to all the fun things we did back in our younger days...

Amen, to that, brother....

Sometimes you can't plan something to come out right as much as you try. I had some plaster wrap left so I decided to finish off the plywood areas with it. I can't beieve that it came out right to the last piece of wrap. Usually I am running out and have to reorder. So after lunch ( no laundry today Mike g ) I can start to plaster the gorge. Pics.......Paul

Okay, in a thread full of highly-intelligent material about wiring, carpentry, etc., I scoured through an open-air market in Mexico for additions to MUK (My Underwater Kingdom).

The evil Baron Barracuda (who menaces MUK's northern boundary) has a new underwater cannon, while the pirate fleet has a new sailor.

I continue to collect material for a future Disney set-up.

And with Christmas only ten months away, I have made two more additions to my 2019 Christmas lay-out.  

                 everything's looking GREAT Dave !!    love this background scene !

I totally agree with Brian's comment above....   Great job with all the backdrops Dave,  you did a great job of choosing them, sizing them and placing them.   They really make the layout look like it keeps on going !!!!

Paul,  the waterfalls are looking really good, keep posting progress photos.  

As for me,  I am soldering about 20 LED lights to some N scale track that I am using as a power busses for my kitbash building....   Soldering isn't my favorite activity, but it'll be worth when it's done.   Hope to have the 6 busses done today, then I can start mounting them to the floors/ceilings and get this large 4 story building "lit".....    

Thanks to Dave on the forum, I got some Bowser trailers and had fun trying to figure the rail runner thing out. Please excuse my mess :-)

Paul2, Luck isn't always bad! It made your day today! great work!

Chris, That's a neat idea with the N scale rail track!

Jack, that sure is a nice looking setup! I bet its going to look wonderful on the tracks!

luvindemtrains posted:

Hello Guys and Gals,

I haven't posted anything in a while but this week I will be making up for that. I have some time off of the job so I plan to get tons of stuff done...stay tuned. Here's the results from painting the walls to have them blend better with the backdrops. Sorry for any mess you see around. I was just so anxious to get it posted. 

Dave

 

 

Fantastic backdrops and city flats!!   Did you layer any of the city buildings?   Great sky!  Did you paint any of the sky or is it all print background?   It all looks great and gives sooooo much depth to you layout.   Very well done!   Now, I'm suffering from backdrop envy!! 

Cheers, Dave

Dave, I keep going back to your backdrops. You did a great job of positioning them. Did you work with individual buildings or were they on one long piece. And where did you get them.

Took a break from plastering. I got a lot done but it is time consuming. I'll finish off the rest after dinner. I am not sure if I am going to use the Gypsolite on the riverbeds or something else. Either way I an going to hold off on the bottom until I get the cliffs and rocks colored.  Pics.....Paul

Looks good Paul! Cant wait to see the next step!

Wow! So many post, so little time!  It's hard to keep up!   It has been a very active month and it must be due to the ice cold weather we have all been experiencing which probably has trapped many of us indoors and forced us to work on train projects.

First of all, I completed my “Elliot inspired static grass applicator.”  Thanks Elliot for the inspiration and the project review you posted several pages ago.  I think I out “cheaped” you as I bought my strainer for a $1.00 at the Dollar Tree.  I purchased the electric fly swatter on the bay for $4.99 which included free shipping.   Found some scrap wire and a used alligator clip in my used wire pile, so my total investment comes to $5.99.   Looking forward to trying it out in the near future.   I’m confident it will work after seeing Elliot’s comparative review earlier in the month.

After viewing Dave’s recent backdrop post, I am a little hesitant to share my little project ~~ So:
If you have been to Duluth, MN you are aware that the depot museum and rail tracks are at close to lake level and the city rises up the hill much like San Fransisco.  So I am in the process of arranging building flats along the wall adjacent to my 4 track yard to simulate a rising industrial cityscape.  I have purchased a few O scale building flats (7) on the "bay" but have also found many more, free printable building, on the web.  I have printed flats in O, S, HO & N scale that I will use to produce a layered forced perspective of the city.  I only have 2.5” of depth to work with so wish me luck!   I attached my prints to black foam core or heavy black card stock depending on how they will be layered.   I hope that, when completed, it will come close to my “minds-eye.”  My only regret is that I will have to live with the wall color cloudless sky.   

I have added lights to the parking lot at the general store and Cedar Rapids station.

After seeing Kevin's wonderful road striping post, I am now motivated to finish striping my road.  Very nicely done Kevin!

I am also in the process of reassigning a couple of old Lionel New York Central gondolas to the Missabe.  They are currently primed and ready for a gloss black coat before adding DM&IR decals.  They will reside in my “yet to be completed” scrap yard under the magnetic crane.

Paul, your canyon scene is really taking shape!   It has been fun to watch it develop.   Nicely done!

Thanks everyone for sharing your progress, skills, ideas, and the inspiration! 

Cheers to all and stay warm!  Dave

Three sets of Alco's that needed some TLC today.

1) My Railking PRR RS-3's original 3 volt  battery pack gave up the ghost and I replaced it with a BCR-2. 

It's often lashed up the my RS1. 

2) My Lionel PRR FA2 had a broken step which I replaced and there were some issues with the wiring/lighting in each unit that I remedied. Some of my favorite locos. Odyssey locos that really perform well. 

3) Updated the ornamental horns on this WM FA2 to match the circus paint FA1 I just did. This is a "Frankenstein" loco: Weaver body (with fixed pilot), MTH chassis, fuel tank, trucks  and cab interior, Williams motors and E-unit. It's wired to startup in reverse because I always run it as the trailing loco in my WM FA lashup.  

-RM

wow!!  Was everybody else off of work today!!   Tons of stuff going on here!    

Bob your trim looks good!  Giving me some good ideas!!

Paul the gorge is looking...…… gorgeous!!!   AH couldn't help it!   : )   Really it does look good and another inspiration to me!  

I about tore one side of the end of my right pinky off today..  Not paying attention while sawing out a windshield.  Cable gave and got that finger hung on a chrome retaining clip.  Rusty of course.   First thing this fine Monday lol  UGGGGGGGG 

Waiting on some turnouts and cows I ordered on the Feb. sale.  Still aint seen my brother lol 

Jim 

Dave, your projects match all the great work on this forum! Your layout looks wonderful and up with most if not better! I also have the Magnetic crane, but I think I am going to have to scratch build my tracks for it as I am using MTH ScaleTrax.

Ralph, your work on your engines is very impressive to me as I haven't got that deep into engines yet! I guess that's a good thing that they all still run! One day I would like to make them all DCS PS2/3!

Jim, I am sorry about your Pinky! I hope you didn't bleed to much, cause its a mess to clean up! Really though I hope your ok and heal fast! Mine has healed enough that it doesn't hurt when I bump it! I hope you get your turnouts and COWS LOL soon!

I just worked a little on my brick walls, Man am I going to have to make a lot more! I also glued down some cork for one switch!

CHOFF, I have some of the same buildings. After I get my track laid I will have the wife come out and help me in placement of the building! I don't have a vision like most, but sure in the hell am enjoying the build!

choff posted:

Choff, your photo of "Drain Surgeons" and of the gas station illustrate what I consider an important principle: You are going to run out of run eventually, so try to confine yourself to "great" displays, rather than "good" displays.

choff posted:

I really like that gas station!  I got a wally's from menards and wish I would have gotten the one you have!    Looks a bit more down south than the wallys that looks more northeast! 

Jim 

The eleventh box of Preiser 65602 are finished in Lavender for women and Ghost Gray for men.  I took some figures from four more boxes to complete four of the man feeding the baby, the boy in a jacket, and the woman with the baby in front of her.  Two of these figures used a darker blue paint that I have lightened with white for the next box of light Blue clothing.

The second photos shows all five colors of clothing for women: blue, green, pink, yellow and lavender.

The third and fourth pictures show the man with the baby and the boy in a jacket.  I did this color batch at one time because of the darker blue that I used.

Back to work.  Have a good evening.

Sincerely, John Rowlen

You’re welcome Vincent Massi posted:

PSAP2010 posted:

Vincent Massi posted:

lee drennen posted:

Thanks Lou

I think the Lionel Standard O cars look the best to me. Here’s a video of it pulling some lionel Standard O and tanks cars I can’t remember the names 

Lee, that's great video, but the new guy needs to ask you a question. I noticed that your caboose is illuminated. Is this by a connection to the track or by a battery-powered light inside?

Vincent, there are pickup rollers on the caboose trucks like those on an engine and usually a copper wiper that rubs on the axles to connect the lights  to track power.

 

Larry

 

 

 

Thank you.

You’re welcome, Vincent,

Larry

I installed Kadees on my Atlas O caboose today and fixed the handrails in the roof. I have been meaning to converting it to kadees for a while, but haven’t been able to find the time. The new handrails are made from Music wire. Next step is to 3D print new pilots for the CR C630. I also 3D printed a few HO well car bodies, here is half of the prototype next to an Athearn car. I have 1 assembled and 1 under construction. I have yet to decide what paint they will where. I am hoping to have 20-25 of them.

Finished applying the 2 MM static grass to the home made conifers today.  Next time I have the airbrush out, I'll probably darken the needles a few shades.  This was the only color grass I had in 2 MM.....   The 3rd one is tough to pick out, it's just right of the telephone/power pole. 

Still working wiring up all the warm white LED's in the 4 story building,  maybe I'll be able claim victory tomorrow or Weds. 

RSJB18 posted:

Thanks Lee. I would have preferred to do a full skirt and higher lip on the top to make more terrain but we need to have access to the file cabinets that I built on. Will be a huge improvement when I'm done.

Bob

Bob

Whatever you do I’m sure it will look good looking forward to more updates

briansilvermustang posted:

 

 

 

 

 

Nice pics as always Brian

Ralph M posted:

Three sets of Alco's that needed some TLC today.

1) My Railking PRR RS-3's original 3 volt  battery pack gave up the ghost and I replaced it with a BCR-2. 

It's often lashed up the my RS1. 

2) My Lionel PRR FA2 had a broken step which I replaced and there were some issues with the wiring/lighting in each unit that I remedied. Some of my favorite locos. Odyssey locos that really perform well. 

3) Updated the ornamental horns on this WM FA2 to match the circus paint FA1 I just did. This is a "Frankenstein" loco: Weaver body (with fixed pilot), MTH chassis, fuel tank, trucks  and cab interior, Williams motors and E-unit. It's wired to startup in reverse because I always run it as the trailing loco in my WM FA lashup.  

-RM

Ralph I really like those FA1 they are very beautiful on your layout 

mike g. posted:

Lee, looks like an easy fix! Looks good!

It was pretty fast outside I had to use the Dremel tool on it to remove the bolster on the AHM car The Lionel truck already has the bolster on it the one that I used

lee drennen posted:

Ralph M posted:

Three sets of Alco's that needed some TLC today.

1) My Railking PRR RS-3's original 3 volt  battery pack gave up the ghost and I replaced it with a BCR-2. 

It's often lashed up the my RS1. 

2) My Lionel PRR FA2 had a broken step which I replaced and there were some issues with the wiring/lighting in each unit that I remedied. Some of my favorite locos. Odyssey locos that really perform well. 

3) Updated the ornamental horns on this WM FA2 to match the circus paint FA1 I just did. This is a "Frankenstein" loco: Weaver body (with fixed pilot), MTH chassis, fuel tank, trucks  and cab interior, Williams motors and E-unit. It's wired to startup in reverse because I always run it as the trailing loco in my WM FA lashup.  

-RM

Ralph I really like those FA1 they are very beautiful on your layout 

It's okay Ralph. Anything you do to help out a PRR locomotive is good.

Ran the FA1 

briansilvermustang posted:

 

Yay D&H!!!