Mike23 posted:Well, the first post in this thread was in 2013....I wonder if those guys are still doing their layouts today!
Me, I'm no designer or scenery maker but I did get my hands on a "house on fire" and now need fire engines, firefighters, hoses and the rest! Made room on the layout but really need to see where it's going to sit so I guess that's what I'm doing on my layout today. adding a firefighting scene!
Mike--re house fire.
I signed on here 6 months after the Forum began and over time built and demolished several layouts principally due to job transfers. In the 1990s I built a firefighting scene with MTH"s "House On Fire" for one of my layouts and had saved it for use in my little "retirement" attic operation. Unfortunately a health issue stopped me in February 2010 just as I turned on the power and ran a few trains. The attic layout has been dormant since. The fire fighting scene is pictured below and has been shown on the Forum several times.
The hose lines I used are well over 1/4 scale but various aquarium hose from Pet Smart are just about scale for both drafting and attack lines. On this set up a water line runs underneath the ground from the house tank/pump to the street hydrant, then enters (intake) and exits (discharge) the pump panel midship of the pumper, connected internally via windshield washer hose and fittings. Then through the attack line held on the ladder by the Firefighter and back though the window into the tank.(the line to the ladder truck is dry).
There are about 18 Firefighters and one Dalmatian on the scene, a few fighters came with the house and the others are from K-Line and OGR Advertisers.
I just added a Miller sign to my Chinese restaurant in town. Should they come out with another sign for a Chinese restaurant, I may add it to the roof also.
Thanks for that information Dewey! You old timer!! I have seen that picture on my search. It's a very cool/cute scene with lots to look at! As a retired jake myself, I hope some of my friends will get a giggle out of mine!
I haven't been on for 2 days, so I distributed a lot of "Likes" 
Yesterday I cleared out some space so I can move around in the 11x11 train room. Now that two walls have 30" deep benchwork, I was hitting something every time I moved a 4-foot board! 
First, I had to make room elsewhere for the stuff I moved out. 
It's always something! I'll post a photograph or tqo when I take them.
I worked on my Menard's building flats.
leapinlarry posted:Mike G., your layout is a work in progress, and the end result will be awesome. When you look back, building this room addition to your home, from pouring concrete to adding walls, a roof, heating and air, all the electrical that went into this nice room, you’ve come a long way. It’s an amazing journey, we enjoy hearing what your doing, and thank you for sharing. Stay safe, stay healthy, and when possible, enjoy your trains. Your very good with inventions, the moving crane, and st one time a lift bridge, your a very creative individual and this is why it’s nice to see your accomplishments.
Lee, P51, Wow, the coal cars you’ve built are very realistic, a wow. Your photography and scenic skills are fun to view. You are an excellent modeler. Also your pictures of real life trains are fun to see. Your contributions to this and other forums is well appreciated. Thank You
Lew, your window photography of your neat layout with beautiful Switchers moving Passenger consist and freight car sidings are fantastic. That’s a uniquely wonderful train room, a great escape from the world of troubles. Trains make a lot if difference in our lives, a common bond that gives us much pleasure. Keep your pictures coming, I love it when you show the trains with the sun coming into view. Your whit and whimsical words are inspiring. Thank You
SIDEHACK, WOW, the elevated trestle is fantastic as is the hotel. Your attention to detail is awesome. All the pictures I’ve seen of your nice railroad give me lots of ideas. Your Scenic details are so good, it’s always fun to see your handiwork.
Paul 2, wow, you’ve come a long way and your trackwork is awesome. It’s nice to see so many different ways to enjoy this hobby. Your backdrops, building flats, your industrial project is very nice.
RSJB18 Bob, Wow, your building is coming together and I love those red doors, your weathered effect on the steps and porch, amazing work. Your layout is fun to see, your Switchers and other trains are really cool. Your personality and commitment to fun are very evident. Thank you.
Briansilvermustang, your pictures of real and model trains always make my day. You have such a diversified collection, all I can say is Wow. Keep those pictures coming.
Gandydancer, I want to see more of your layout, yours takes us back to Yesteryear, a time when we didn’t have to lock our doors, we visited our neighbors every evening, literally had no worries and those trains of the 1950’s were the beginning of our self freedom. Our own little world, virus free. So, post some more pictures. Thank You
Farmerjohn, Johnny, post some pictures of your wonderful model railroad, such a great track plan, amazing scenes, one of the best layouts I’ve ever visited, Your attention to track side Signals, are very realistic, fun to see. Thank You
Now, Everyone stay safe, stay healthy, reach out to your friends and let them know We Care. Make this time of your life special as many of us have time at home to ti be with our families and can enjoy our trains. Happy Railroading
Larry, your kind words mean so much to me you would not believe! From a man that has one of the most amazing layout to comment on my little piece of the pie is just overwhelming to me! Its words like yours that help keep people like me plugging along! Thank you so very much!
For those that gripe about me not removing any of the photos, if you had an amazing layout like Larry's I wouldn't delete any of yours either~!
Johan, nice job on the wood load!
Scott, outstanding job on the 4 track signal bridge! Looks wonderful!
Lee, I have been switching out my cars as I can with Kadee's, They just seam to work better for me and looks a lot better to me then the claw!
Johnny, Great job on the Miller sign~!
Don, are they selling them or did you scratch build part of them?
Well guys I did get a little time to day in the train room, I got my new plywood down, and laid the cork. I also cut the holes for the tunnel going outside and I hope after dinner I can get back out to heat up some plexi glass for the tunnel. Here are a couple photos!
I hope everyone had a great Friday and plan on having an even better Saturday! Please all be safe!
Mike:
Is the tunnel that you cut both the entrance to and exit from your wife's garden? Also, for outdoor O gauge track, as a former Gar Graves dealer, I recommend Gar Graves stainless steel track with plastic ties The stainless steel is more weather resistant and the plastic ties will not rot like wood ties over time. Keep posting your progress. Your layout looks to be gREAT!
mike g. posted:
Mike, I really like the concept that you can extend your layout to the outside. Only wish that our seasonal weather (Minnesota) permitted the same opportunity. I am anxious to hear more about your plans for the extension. It looks like you might have a covered area for a loop. Anxious to hear more about the planned outdoor extension. Thanks!
Cheers, Dave
Mike, This looks like a mouse hole to me; just like the cartoons!! I too am anxious to see the outdoor section come to fruition. I could do the same thing with my upper right corner. That area is at ground level, however the yard slopes down, so if I took it very far, it would be over my head. 
I would probably see the squirrels running across it before long. The deer would be looking at it at about eye level. I wonder what the bear would make of it. No, the garbage can is around front of the garage.
Mike. Menard's is selling these flats.
Starting on another passenger car, the Lionel 21" 611 Excursion Great Dome Station Sounds car. Here are some photos of the car before work begins.
Update: I was able to finish the lower level painting of the car interior. It has two restrooms and a Clinic with waiting room and two beds for ill passengers with an attached restroom. I will add Preiser People tomorrow and begin painting the seats in the upper dome.
Update #2: I touched up four figures and installed them in the Clinic Area of the 611 Excursion Great Dome. I am now painting seats in the upper level.
Update #3: Painting upper Dome seats and tables. The body shell has the Dome Floor molded into the shell as reinforcement that a normal roof of a coach car would provide. The Dome Windows snap onto the Floor Body Shell and do not provide a rigid shape, so the floor provides the necessary reinforcement for the car. Painting must be done carefully to avoid getting paint on the outside of the car.
Sincerely, John Rowlen
Got all 9 of my 1121’s wired up and even better they all work. Stay safe everyone!
Spent 4 hours this morning installing 2 separate fastrack loops. Lionel double pretzel and a separate outer fastrack loop with 2 sidings.
Table measures 8' x14' using 036 curves.
Hi all,
Randy, the tunnel is the exit and entrance out to the wife's rock garden. I have been thinking of using MTH Scale Trax same that I have inside! But now you have me thinking it over again, but its going to be a bit before I head outside, I just wanted to get the track and tunnel put in so I can stop climbing on the layout so much!
Hi Dave, the track will go out around the wife's She Shed, then in and out of trees down to her rock garden with a big return loop! The only cover will be from the trees!
Mark, are you sure its not a rabbit hole? You never know, anything can happen once you go outside! LOL
Don, thanks for the information!
John, wonderful camp site! Those trailers you have are the same still the Tweakers live in around here! LOL
John, Nice looking car. I bet its going to be great looking when your done as everything else you do!
Well I was able to work on my plexi glass tunnel for the back corner! It took awhile cause I didn't want to melt or break it, I know its long, but I still need to cut it down just a little bigger then the wall thickness. Here is what I ended up with so far!
Everyone have a great night and I will check in in the morning on all the great stuff your doing!
Mike:
I am not familiar with MTH Scale Trax. My suggestion was for stainless steel track to avoid the rust that tinplate track would suffer. I am still quite eager to see the outdoor portion of our layout develop, also.
Mike, the tunnel liner looks great! How do you bend it? With heat?
Yes it could be a rabbit hole too! We have them too. If you fall down the hole, you may find me, the Mad Hatter!!
Yes everyone I’ve heard suggests stainless rail and plastic ties.
Added lights today to my train station.
The tunnel looks good Mike. I like the idea of having the train go from the inside to out. Very cool.
The station looks nice Keith.
Still working on my building. I glued in the window film over the last couple of days. I'm painting the inside on a few to block the light. Nothing photo worthy but I hope to be finishing it up this weekend.
Bob
Morning guys, thanks for the nice comments on my tunnel.
Randy, I will get out and take some photos of where the outside track will run and post them later today.
Mark, Yes I used a torch and a steel pipe, I laid the plexi glass over the pipe and heated it with the torch, when it started to bend I just kept pressure till I had it folded in half. Today I will cut it to length and paint it with some flat black paint and try to install it. Then I have to make a plug for it and an outside door for bad weather.
Keith, nice job on the lights! Gives it a wonderful night scene!
Well guys I get a full train day today, don't know how much I will get done as I have a lot of projects going at the same time like a fool! I should do one then move on, but I always see something I want to do and jump on it. Next thing you know I have 10 projects instead of 1. But I am working on getting better about that!
I hope you all have a great day and find time to have fun with your layout and trains!
Please be safe and stay healthy!
Just checked in before I head outside to tackle the yard. Everyone is posting a lot of good stuff. Most of what I have been working on is now on hold till I get stuff I ordered to finish off the area. Maybe once I get back inside I may mix some plaster and do a couple of areas where the track is down. But maybe I should just tear into under the tables so I can find that darn remote. The trials and tribulations of being a senior..................Paul 2
Finally got around to cleaning the track, that was long overdue. Also, I installed two Menards Plug-n-Play vehicles and worked on the small industrial park.
More pulpwood.
p51 posted:Just got started on the decals, this is going to take quite some time.
Each letter is an individual decal, each side of the car, for 5 cars..
To make it more difficult, these are wood kids, so the sides are really not very smooth at all.
Lee, I have had good experience when I added decals to a glossy surface and after they set, I would seal them with a matte finish. That might also work on wood surface but you would need to first applying a gloss finish. Are you using Solvaset or a similar setting solution? Any thoughts?
Cheers, Dave
This isn't on my layout per se but it's close so please humor me. I completed some rudimentary pine shelving today. I have some Trainshelf aluminum shelves already but I needed more shelf space and Trainshelf is now out of business 
. I won't be in this house too much longer (fingers crossed) so I just need some utilitarian shelving to get everything on display for now. Mission accomplished and I have a few empty shelves waiting for MTH preorders.
darlander posted:p51 posted:Just got started on the decals, this is going to take quite some time.
Each letter is an individual decal, each side of the car, for 5 cars..
To make it more difficult, these are wood kids, so the sides are really not very smooth at all.
Lee, I have had good experience when I added decals to a glossy surface and after they set, I would seal them with a matte finish. That might also work on wood surface but you would need to first applying a gloss finish. Are you using Solvaset or a similar setting solution? Any thoughts?
Cheers, Dave
I painted the outside of these with gloss paint, but as it's a wood surface, it's not terribly smooth.
Today, I'm using Micro Set, and I'm planning on putting some gloss coat lacquer over top of that, when everything dries. Then, some dull coat over that, and then weathering...
DMASSO posted:I worked on my Menard's building flats.
Hey Don, those are looking good. It’s been a long time I hope all is well with you.
The fifth car, I'm waiting for the last decal to dry. I had one letter decal come off on me, and I had to re put it on. The rest have had gloss lacquer placed over the lettering. It shouldn't be long before I can hit it with some dull coat and get to weathering.
It took 102 individual decals for these five cars.
So much great work going on. Sidehack that "drum roll" was well worth it. The scene looks better than I imagined. You have a very good eye my friend. Mike you are getting a ton done on the layout. I too, am curious to see how you will extend the layout outside. Scott, real nice job with the signal bridge. I envy you "electrical people". I know all the leds for the original bridge are the same color. Where did you get the color led's you replaced them with? FarmerJohn, the camping scene makes me want to put my Boy Scout uniform on and go for it. Really great scene.
Keep it coming everyone!
Dave
p51 posted:The fifth car, I'm waiting for the last decal to dry. I had one letter decal come off on me, and I had to re put it on. The rest have had gloss lacquer placed over the lettering. It shouldn't be long before I can hit it with some dull coat and get to weathering.
It took 102 individual decals for these five cars.
Lee, They look fabulous!!!
mike g. posted:
Mark, Yes I used a torch and a steel pipe, I laid the plexi glass over the pipe and heated it with the torch, when it started to bend I just kept pressure till I had it folded in half. Today I will cut it to length and paint it with some flat black paint and try to install it. Then I have to make a plug for it and an outside door for bad weather.
Please be safe and stay healthy!
Mike, That method makes a lot of sense!! Definitely needs a plug after installed! However, I was thinking about my critters getting in insead of the weather! That would be something to come to the train room and seeing a bear paw poking through!! 
I mentioned I made some room in the train room.
Today, I finished the sub-roadbed in the first corner. This is what the supports for all the grades will be resting on. Only 4 more feet of fairly easy work to the next corner. Oh, I see I left the paper plan on top. I put it there to check placement. Oh well Lew, you will have to take my word for it that there is something supporting that paper.
Mark:
You are making great progress. Keep the photos coming.
Hey all,
I added a second loop with my son to his bunk bed layout so he could run his Marx and prewar trains. Video here: https://youtu.be/PS0hStx3-pA
AND.....I built a foldaway workbench first the train room. Someone was looking for a workbench idea a couple weeks ago. I haven’t found the post so I thought I’d post a video here too: https://youtu.be/scxceUc7_QM
Take care and stay safe!
While testing how my five new hoppers handle on a train, I couldn't resist taking video:
https://youtu.be/Nxra3Hzar6Q
luvindemtrains posted:So much great work going on. Sidehack that "drum roll" was well worth it. The scene looks better than I imagined. You have a very good eye my friend. Mike you are getting a ton done on the layout. I too, am curious to see how you will extend the layout outside. Scott, real nice job with the signal bridge. I envy you "electrical people". I know all the leds for the original bridge are the same color. Where did you get the color led's you replaced them with? FarmerJohn, the camping scene makes me want to put my Boy Scout uniform on and go for it. Really great scene.
Keep it coming everyone!
Dave
Dave,
I got the LEDS off the Bay, found an assortment pack available with 3mm and 5mm LEDS that came in a nice little case. I'm sure I'll find a use for the leftovers.
Take care,
Scott
Mark Boyce posted:
Today, I finished the sub-roadbed in the first corner. This is what the supports for all the grades will be resting on. Only 4 more feet of fairly easy work to the next corner. Oh, I see I left the paper plan on top. I put it there to check placement. Oh well Lew, you will have to take my word for it that there is something supporting that paper.
Mark, that is nice progress! 
Lee- the cars look great in motion.
Mark- It's starting to look more and more like a layout each time you post pix.
Mike H- Can never have enough shelves.
Don- the new Menards flats look sharp.
Oscale Lover..- welcome to the biggest thread on the forum.
Yesterday the 5-finger sky hook was employed to change out rolling stock and motive power. Mid-Atlantic lines C&O, B&O, WM, will be running for a while. Did a few more little things on the building too. Finally, another dozen boxes were packed away in the attic. We bought an exercise bike recently and the box is long and flat and fits train boxes perfectly. No pix but I'll take some today and post later.
Bob
mike g. posted:Hi all,
Randy, the tunnel is the exit and entrance out to the wife's rock garden. I have been thinking of using MTH Scale Trax same that I have inside! But now you have me thinking it over again, but its going to be a bit before I head outside, I just wanted to get the track and tunnel put in so I can stop climbing on the layout so much!
Well I was able to work on my plexi glass tunnel for the back corner! It took awhile cause I didn't want to melt or break it, I know its long, but I still need to cut it down just a little bigger then the wall thickness. Here is what I ended up with so far!
Everyone have a great night and I will check in in the morning on all the great stuff your doing!
Mike, every Pike needs a tunnel through a wall:
In my case it provides storage for the Dinner Train.....behind Roomie's ironing table.
Access to this requires an OGR Forum Supporting Membership
