What did you do on your layout today?

Having sold some extra On30 stuff to a pal of mine (previously a hard-core HO scaler) yesterday, I made a huge order for detail parts with a company I don't think I can name as I can't be sure they advertise here. I ordered lots of little detail things for structures and along the layout. This is the part of the layout I enjoy the most, making scenes look more complete. I can't wait to get them and start painting/placing everything.

Right after that, I then ordered a 1/43 scale Chevy WW2 1.5 ton truck, out of Estonia as it’s only marketed for Eastern Europe (beats me why, as I think they'd sell well over here). In the states in 1943, they had plenty of them so I was surprised to see a decent model in the scale I want, finally.

I will strip off the Russian markings easy enough and I already have decals for a truck like this (like I used on the other WW2 vehicles on the layout). I might get rid of my 1/43 scale Studebaker S-series 2.5 ton after this model is in place, as I don’t have a lot of room and those weren’t very common. All these larger trucks were only sold in Eastern Europe, oddly (even the GMC CCKW, a very common truck in the US). I ordered all of them from across the pond and none came cheaply...

I also stumbled across a Tamyaia 1/35 scale US shelter half 'pup ten' set, and it occurred to me there was no reason I could make my own in 1/43-1/48 scale. That'll be next. I plan on creating a 2D representation of them lying flat, then folding them into the shape of the finished tents. I was hoping to find a way to make several as a 3D representation already complete, but a paper version will look more correct for the most part and I can make them myself all day long...

Mike, I [once] successfully finessed those liddle springs into place. It isn't impossible because there are nubs on the truck frame and the bolster to retain the springs and you stick one spring-end onto a nub and then squish the other spring-end until it pops onto the opposing nub. Gotta' do the operation where you can find a spring if it goes sproing.  

Bought some track a couple diesels and a little rolling stock.

Colored the waterfall and river bed after dinner with a bunch of colors. They can dry overnight and tomorrow I'll see if I will be happy with them or redo parts of it. Pics..............Paul 2

Paul, the colors look much better than the glacier white of the spackle.  LOL

Jon1443 posted:

Haven’t posted in a while (getting ready for the kiddo!!!) but I’ve been making some progress on the modern control system on a conventional layout. Happy December everyone!!!

 

Very nice! I recognize some relays in there, but what else are we looking at? Can you give us some more context?  And congrats on the kiddo!

Today l finished the separate gas station office, for the Red Mill Store l am bashing from this CCK store kit. Need to build a couple of Johnny houses and add some gas station details.  Gas station office is separate to prevent fire.

Lew, Thanks for the insite on the springs! I already lost 2 into the carpet and had to replace them with black springs as I am out of silver/chrome springs.

Paul the riverbed is looking good! If you don't mind me asking what colors did you use?

No train room time for the next 2 days as the store calls again.

I hope you all have a great day and fun with your layout and trains!

JD2035RR posted:

Jon1443 posted:

Haven’t posted in a while (getting ready for the kiddo!!!) but I’ve been making some progress on the modern control system on a conventional layout. Happy December everyone!!!

 

Very nice! I recognize some relays in there, but what else are we looking at? Can you give us some more context?  And congrats on the kiddo!

On the left is an Arduino Mega with ethernet shield. It connects to Blynk, allowing me to activate the relays from my phone. 3 of the relays are connected to timing relays (although I'm not sure what I'll control with those yet). On the far right, just sticking into the frame are just some 2-channel mechanical relays.

And thank you!!

We had 13 guests in our small house to see our Christmas train display. The Disney train station, which took me 28 hours to assemble with Lego pieces, was a big hit.

Mike g, the colors I used for the river bed were Woodland Scenics Moss Green, Woodland Olive Drab, Woodland Yellow Silt and the black I used was the Behr paint I bought to do the framework on the tables and the sidings on the layout.

Vincent, very nice looking layout. Glad tthe open house went well and all the people enjoyed your layout.

I basically kept the colors as is except for a few areas where I decided to cut back on a certain color. I mixed up some acrylic paint and added river banks on the back drop and paint a bit of river color too. Laid out all the rocks but thought it was a bit too much so I think three will do it. I get them glued down I can start putting in the waterfalls. Going to make it go over the rocks and down around them. Then I can start to put the water in. Pics....Paul 2

Finally updated the firmware/software in my Legacy Base and 2 CAB2's to the V1.6 that I purchased during the recent Lionel parts sale in November.   Second controller seems to be playing nice and operating without the glitches...

Had to remove and replace my engine service "departure track" as the spacing wasn't correct for the new to me  GGD Ogle Coaling tower.  Ended up removing a LH Ross Regular switch and replacing it with a cut down  Ross 096 LH switch to get the track spacing right.  Ironically the 096 is a much smoother transition than the Ross regular which is pretty abrubt at the points.  Then I bent 2 full Gargraves sections to make smooth transitional curves from the turnout to the turntable.   Made some "concrete foundation piers" for the Ogle Coaling tower legs to sit  and finished weathering them this afternoon.    

While I was there I took a couple of photos from places I don't normally get to with the camera and tripod.   Figured it was best not to fill up the whole page with photos, so most are attached below.

Chris, I have always liked the Ogle tower.  It looks great on your layout!

Paul, It won’t be long now until you have running water!  Nice prep!

Vincent, Thats a lot of folks enjoying your new layout.  It looks great!  Are they all from the Gringo Zone?

Paul2,  I've enjoyed your lake project

Chris A,  the coaling tower would look even better on my railroad.  Just a suggestion.

   I did track improvements all day.  I rewired three more 6019 remote control track sets and gave them a home.  I rewired the South end loop.  I reassembled the the Northwest yards.  I spent 2 hours on hold with UPS getting no resolution.  I'm physically exhausted and mentally drained.  I have a ham radio net to run tomorrow morning then a trailer load of garage junk destined for the city dump.

Bill

Today was the grand re-opening of the "Grand Theater"......circa 1956.

Did my least favorite part of model building, bodywork. Filled in the gaps on the engine house. I'm hoping to sand/paint it over the weekend. While I was working on the layout I added some appropriate signage to the sides of the turntable. 

GANDY..... What a well done scene, great detail (the signage, the posters on the telephone poles, the weeds growing up in the cracks in the curbs),  and the blending of color palette and the weathering !     The photograph is outstanding.     

Lou1985:  Turntable and Engine service facility are looking really good.  

Bill:   Thanks for the thought,  it's no surprise that when you finally get a piece that you've been seeking for close to 10 years, it's really special...   I just came up from working in the trainroom.  I took the razor saw out and started distressing all the wood beams on the Ogle coal tower.   I purchased true 1/4 inch scale steps to replace the ones that are too large, and I'll be counting my inventory of bolt and washer detail castings to make sure I have enough before I go to this weekends local train show.  

Mark:  thank you,  I sure am glad I didn't finish putting down the ballast cinders and dirt on all the engine yard tracks, would have been much more challenging to pull up and move.

Yesterday I worked on changing plastic trucks on Weaver cars to diecast sprung Atlas trucks. Lots more to do.

Lou1985 posted:

Did my least favorite part of model building, bodywork. Filled in the gaps on the engine house. 

AMEN to that statement!!!!

chris a posted:

VERY nice collection of cars there, Chris.

Finally got to the scene module. I added a little more color for the river on the backdrop to widen the river a bit more. Then hot melted to rocks below the falls in place. At the edge of the module I am experimenting. I had a pice of Balsa so what I am trying is I have 3 in 1 adhesive from Scenic Express so I put a bead on the wood and stuck it to the side of the module. At each end I had open spots so I used the same glue to fill in the gaps. My thinking is that once I have applied all the water and it has dried I should be able to pull that glue off. We shall see. While this is all drying I started piecing in the caulk for the waterfall around the rocks. Once I am happy with the way it looks I'll start gluing them all in place. Pics..........Paul 2

Vincent Massi posted:

chris a posted:

VERY nice collection of cars there, Chris.

The cars are great as is the theater!

Made transformer pole, working on hoist

Sidehack, Having worked for the power company from the mid ‘70s to mid ‘90s, I like your model of the transformer pole/platform!

Late this afternoon I got the waterfall all glued in. Then I started adding the water. The little sticks under the module were for leveling it so the water would go around evenly. Things were going pretty good. I had placed newspaper at the end of the river on the floor. Just incase a leak surfaced. And sure enough one did. I couldn't pull the wood of because I would lose more of the water so I got a piece of foam, loaded an edge with hot melt and stuck it underneath. Lucked out problem solved no more drip. I am going to let the water set up a bit and after dinner I'll start putting in trees........................Pics.............Paul 2

Well after 25" of snow fell here in NH from Sunday night to Tuesday late afternoon, I had to call in the National Guard to plow & clean the Mainline and the Shortline of the SENHRR.   I've shoveled my deck twice, raked parts of the roof and still have more to do after my AM doctors appointment.  Our driveway got plowed at 5PM last night.

paul 2 posted:

Late this afternoon I got the waterfall all glued in. Then I started adding the water. The little sticks under the module were for leveling it so the water would go around evenly. Things were going pretty good. I had placed newspaper at the end of the river on the floor. Just incase a leak surfaced. And sure enough one did. I couldn't pull the wood of because I would lose more of the water so I got a piece of foam, loaded an edge with hot melt and stuck it underneath. Lucked out problem solved no more drip. I am going to let the water set up a bit and after dinner I'll start putting in trees........................Pics.............Paul 2

Watching step by step it's really cool to see it go from what looked like it couldn't be good to fantastic.

decoynh posted:

Well after 25" of snow fell here in NH from Sunday night to Tuesday late afternoon, I had to call in the National Guard to plow & clean the Mainline and the Shortline of the SENHRR.   I've shoveled my deck twice, raked parts of the roof and still have more to do after my AM doctors appointment.  Our driveway got plowed at 5PM last night.

Wow Matt!  I’m glad the National Guard came through opening up the mainline!  Don’t you hate it when you have to go to a doctor appointment on a snowy day?!  Stay safe!

Dave, thanks for the compliment. 

Not much going on. Had to go to the second poage to get to the topic.

Today I learned that the next time I make a barricade to hold the water back not to use the 3 in 1 Scenic express adhesive. It had a chemical reaction to the Realistic water. I still like what I did but I think the next time I will try hot melt to see if that might work better.

Today I shimmed up the module by adding a liitle more to the one end so it is a tad higher, add a couple of small pieces of caulk to a few spots on the waterfall. Then I added the second coat of water. After I did that I started putting in some trees. So all and all it was a pretty good day so far. I am looking for everygreens I think I have buried somewhere but if  I can't find them I'll have to order some more from Scenic Express unless Hobby Lobby might carry some. Pics............Paul 2

^^^^^ Wow.. This is coming along nicely!!

That is my reaction too WOW!  Getting to look very realistic, great work.

I got nothing done today except wifely duties.

Ray

Paul, The module scene is really looking great!  There are always ways to recover from things that don't work out quite as planned.

In planning to just do a 'quick and dirty' Christmas scene on part of my new layout, I removed all the buildings and foam hillside.  It is ready for me to put down the snow blanket once Mrs. B. clears a path to get it since she has been digging through boxes for her many Christmas decorations.

Mark, thanks. I like your idea of quick.

Got a bit more done before I decided to call it for the night. I looked for the evergreens but I may have used the last of them up. Have a few larger ones but they will be higher then the backdrop. I'll have to order a bunch from Scenic Express. I added a few mopre trees and started placing some bushes. I went back and added more paint on the backdrop and brought it out on the waterfall a bit. Pics.............Paul 2

Paul, Thank you.  yes I still can’t do much recovering from knee replacement.  I just do a little at a time!  

I moved a few switch controllers from the table top to their rightful place on the control panel.  You can also see a recent Menards purchase, the Illinois Central Gulf coal hopper, in the second photo.  

Paul - nicely done. If that scene was here in NH, I would add some guys cutting firewood or somebody fishing. But as is, it is well done. 

Nothing exciting, I've just been buying more track and switches. I've got a week vacation coming up in a few I hope to get my new bench work squared away.

Mark Boyce posted:

Paul, The module scene is really looking great!  There are always ways to recover from things that don't work out quite as planned.

In planning to just do a 'quick and dirty' Christmas scene on part of my new layout, I removed all the buildings and foam hillside.  It is ready for me to put down the snow blanket once Mrs. B. clears a path to get it since she has been digging through boxes for her many Christmas decorations.

 

Mark, where did you get the backdrop scene? It is beautiful and kind of an instant Christmas scene-maker.

I see you have an adequate supply of coal for stockings lined up.  

Morning guys, I have to say you have all been doing great work! Its hard to catch up when you have been here for a couple of day! But I will give it a try and ask a few questions along the way!

Vincent, Wonderful Disney train layout. It's nice to see you have such a good turnout for your train display!

Paul, Thanks for the information on the colors you used for your river! Your scene is looking so amazing as it goes along! The trees and bushes really add a touch of realism! I have to say you do some of the best scene work I have seen on here!

Chris, What a bummer that you had to swap out switches but well worth it! Such a great looking Coaling tower and looks wonderful on your layout!

Howard, what a great looking scene! The Grand Theater is a big plus! With all the extras on this scene such as the cars, the weathering of the street area really makes it stand out! Very nice work!

Mark Nice start to the Christmas layout. With the help from Mrs. B. you will have it up and running in no time! I am sure she has some ideas of where to place here buildings and I am sure you have your ideas of placement of all the people. I am sure its going to look great!

So I have a question and I hope someone here can help me out. I am getting my parts from Shapeway today and it says to soak in acetone. I don't have any so I was wondering if paint thinner is the same thing. I don't want to wreck the parts and they are not cheap!

I hope everyone has a great weekend and find time for there trains and layouts!

Thank you Lew and Mike!

Lew, I have no idea where that backdrop came from.  We have had it for quite some time.  For all I know, my wife may have picked it up at the thrift store.  I have another that is longer but not a photograph.  It is with the snow blankets and fake snow, so I will try it too!

Yes, we have plenty of coal for the kids who were bad!  LOL

Mike, Yes we have so many ceramic buildings, I have them stored in three places.  I switch themes from year to year, but this year the ones that are easiest to get to will win out .LOL