What did you do on your layout today?

Mike g, I use a plastic spoon to apply the plaster. It should be dry by now so maybe later today I can start gluing down ballast......... Paul 2

mike g. posted:

Evening guys, I didn't get much time in the train room today, but I did get my tunnel and plug built for it. So I am happy, I will post photos at the end of this post!

Bob Havent really thought about trestles, but I am thinking about using Trex decking cut into strips kind of like a girder system so rain and snow can fall threw.

Scott, What a wonderful city scene! Great looking layout!

Lee, thank you Sir! It's no where near your layout, but its fun when I get a chance to work on it! One of these days I am going to have to clean things up so I can sit back with a cold on and just watch the trains! LOL

Ray, Outstanding on printing the mail box! But isn't it spose to be blue! LOL

Carl, You have been working on these cars for a while now and the attention to detail really show! I cant wait to see the finished products!

Here are the photos I said I would post. 

I hope everyone is safe and happy! Please stay healthy!

Mike,

Your progress is inspiring and things are looking wonderful. What did you use to carve the foam in the second pic?

Dave

Paul, thanks for the information. I take it you use the bottom of the spoon to make indents!

Dave, I used my bandsaw and then ran it over my little table top belt sander, I did the same with the door and the tunnel opening.

John, 

You have inspired me! The Army decided to use the B&A to move a tank company.  

Bryce

Yes, I am still painting.  One more coat of paint and then seated people get added.  I need to finish this car because the next two are on their way.

Sincerely, John Rowlen

Mike g, yes I do use the bottom of the spoon LOL.

My buddy Bryan has been working on me to start working on the layout so I finally took his advice. Yesterday my switch came from Ross so last night I started gluing down some cork. Today I finished the sidings. Hopefully after dinner I can paint the cork. Pics............Paul 2

Paul, Looks good!  That Bryan is a slave driver for sure!  

Got lights?

Paul, things sure are looking good! It's good to have friends like Bryan to keep you on track! Side question, I am thinking about building silo' s and wondering how tall yours are?

Bob, the lights really look great! Gives it that finished look. Nice work!

RSJB18, Bob, your building met the Tennessee codes, Job well done.  I really like the color scheme used, and the beautiful front door. The lights are super. It’s a Wow. I’ve been in the yard, painting/staining our deck. Everyone stay safe, stay healthy, enjoy your trains. 

sidehack posted:

This may seem like an inconsequential item but I've always wanted a better looking mailbox so tried 3D printing it.

The one on the left I bought but would not put that on my layout, so the one to the right was my first attempt. I think once smoothed and painted it would look alright on layout.

 

2 piece as printed 

Ray, how much for a pair ?

leapinlarry posted:

RSJB18, Bob, your building met the Tennessee codes, Job well done.  I really like the color scheme used, and the beautiful front door. The lights are super. It’s a Wow. I’ve been in the yard, painting/staining our deck. Everyone stay safe, stay healthy, enjoy your trains. 

Thanks Larry. I'm a licensed master electrician so if I can't get lights right nobody can 😂

Thanks Mike, and Mark for the like. 

I bought a Lionel Z online and Loki helped me test it with some old Fastrack and K-line Plymouth switcher set. 

Today I will try to correct my AF caboose sparking problem.  Ah yes, the good old days of toy trains!  Just love that electrical shorting excitement along with the crackling and smells!   As usual, with my old post war transformer, the circuit breaker doesn't trip.  Then the wife yells down to the basement;   "is everything OK dear?"

dmestan posted:

sidehack posted:

This may seem like an inconsequential item but I've always wanted a better looking mailbox so tried 3D printing it.

The one on the left I bought but would not put that on my layout, so the one to the right was my first attempt. I think once smoothed and painted it would look alright on layout.

 

2 piece as printed 

Ray, how much for a pair ?

Sorry dmestan I don't sell, I had bought one a while back but was the later blue color, not sure where though.

Some photos of them on the layout

Lights lit!

Bob, I love all the lights, but especially the ones on either side of the front door!!!

Thanks Mark. I was unsure about the size when I ordered them but they are perfect.

I found them here.

Thank you, Bob!  I bookmarked the link!!

The Lionel 1927230 "611 Excursion Station Sounds Great Dome" is finished.

All I need to do is cover the glossy glue spots with a Dullcoat.  Hopefully the pictures are clear as my eyesight is very blurred.  That is the reason I have been franticly detailing as many cars as possible.  

Update:  Before I closed the car, I decided to add two people behind the man in the dark suit. This is an excursion train and the man needed to be grouped with other family members for the special event train..

Stay healthy and enjoy your model railroads.

Sincerely, John Rowlen

Mark Boyce posted:

Thank you, Bob!  I bookmarked the link!!

They have lot's of neat stuff. The wires on the dock lights are thinner than a hair. Very tricky to work with. After I took the photo, I put the rest of the interior lights in and hooked them all up. When I tested again the light over the loading dock wasn't working. One of the wires broke when I was working on the others . I have to fix it today and then I can put the building on the layout.

Bob

RSJB18 posted:

Mark Boyce posted:

Thank you, Bob!  I bookmarked the link!!

They have lot's of neat stuff. The wires on the dock lights are thinner than a hair. Very tricky to work with. After I took the photo, I put the rest of the interior lights in and hooked them all up. When I tested again the light over the loading dock wasn't working. One of the wires broke when I was working on the others . I have to fix it today and then I can put the building on the layout.

Bob

Bob thanks for the tip on the wires.  I can see that could happen when one broke while you were working with others.  I was just lamenting yesterday how my hands don't do what I want them to do anymore even using tweezers, pliers, third hand.  Some days are better than others.  I'll make a small order when the time comes and see how I can do.  

Mark and Bob

Just want to say that I have been using their products for over 20 years, great products and people, always willing to help in any way.

All the LEDs in the hotel just built are from there as well as many other projects, very easy to use and dependable.

I added scenery on a section on my layout. I change my layout regularly, so this may not be here in a month.

The rocks are from the shores of Lake Ouachita. at Lake Ouachita state park in Arkansas, as well as the shale.

When this lockdown for CoVid-19 is over, and I can get more spices for ground cover, this section will get completed.

Completed more structolite to my curve embankments and added lichen to the base of the mountain.

Mike g, I'll have to measure them because I forgot the length. They are either 16 or 20 inches high. I'll let you know tomorrow. Also they are all three inch PVC pipe.

Don, corner looks good.

Jake v, nice scenery and I like the idea of using those Morton Salt containers.

Bob, the lighting is a nice touch to an already good looking building.

Yesterday I started painting the roadbed but didn't have enough paint ot finish. So today I ran to Home Depot and got another quart. Now the cork is painted so tomorrow I can start to lay down all the ballast. I had ordered more bumpers and a couple of 5 inch fast track pieces for my modular so I don't have to worry about someone forgeting to bring the pieces each time we set up the modules. Also ordered more Gar Graves bumpers but only got a few. Mario has to order more. Pics..............Paul 2

Ray, great job on the mail boxes! They look perfect on your layout!

Bob, Outstanding job on the lights! Even for a master electrician! 

Jake, your scenery looks nice! I couldn't think about changing up my layout every few months! I am with Paul, great idea with the Morton Salt containers~!

Don, beautiful job on the mountain! It really takes away the utilities you have coming out of the wall! Nice job!

Paul 2, Thanks for the information on the silos, I got some 4" for free, do you think they would be to big? The cork area is coming right along! Just wondering why you ballast before you lay track? Either way it sure is looking good!

Sorry guys no work on the layout, Our store got robbed so I have been there the last couple days. I hope to get some time tomorrow to clean things up a little then I can start ballasting again.

I hope everyone has a great weekend and please stay home and safe! Plus if you stay home you can work on your layout! LOL

jake v posted:

I added scenery on a section on my layout. I change my layout regularly, so this may not be here in a month.

The rocks are from the shores of Lake Ouachita. at Lake Ouachita state park in Arkansas, as well as the shale.

When this lockdown for CoVid-19 is over, and I can get more spices for ground cover, this section will get completed.

 

Jake. Those rocks look very good and I too like using natural resources for the layout 

John Rowlen posted:

The Lionel 1927230 "611 Excursion Station Sounds Great Dome" is finished.

All I need to do is cover the glossy glue spots with a Dullcoat.  Hopefully the pictures are clear as my eyesight is very blurred.  That is the reason I have been franticly detailing as many cars as possible.  

Update:  Before I closed the car, I decided to add two people behind the man in the dark suit. This is an excursion train and the man needed to be grouped with other family members for the special event train..

Stay healthy and enjoy your model railroads.

Sincerely, John Rowlen

 

John as always  they look nice 

paul 2 posted:

Mike g, I'll have to measure them because I forgot the length. They are either 16 or 20 inches high. I'll let you know tomorrow. Also they are all three inch PVC pipe.

Don, corner looks good.

Jake v, nice scenery and I like the idea of using those Morton Salt containers.

Bob, the lighting is a nice touch to an already good looking building.

Yesterday I started painting the roadbed but didn't have enough paint ot finish. So today I ran to Home Depot and got another quart. Now the cork is painted so tomorrow I can start to lay down all the ballast. I had ordered more bumpers and a couple of 5 inch fast track pieces for my modular so I don't have to worry about someone forgeting to bring the pieces each time we set up the modules. Also ordered more Gar Graves bumpers but only got a few. Mario has to order more. Pics..............Paul 2

Paul. That elevator turned out great very nice progress a job well done 

RSJB18 posted:

Lights lit!

Bob. Love those lights 

Guys sorry I’ve been absent been kinda busy at work these last couple of weeks. But not we are slowing down big time. I was sent home early yesterday so I got a little yard work done and some layout work done not much but I took off next week to try to stay out of the City during the high peak of this virus so maybe I can get some work done on the new part of the layout. 

Nice work everyone. Thanks for the compliments on my building.

Sorry to hear about the store Mike. When it rains it pours.

I fixed the broken wire yesterday and finished the wiring. I'm putting the interior and exterior lights on separate switches. Need to get under the layout and run the wiring to the build site today. Then I can finally set the building in place.

Moved a MTH 395 light tower to the other side of my layout and starting to cut out a new wood board for a new control panel. This is all to make room for my new Postwar Lionel Z transformer which will replace my Lionel 1033 transformer that run accessories. So instead of 90 watts of power with 20 volts, I will have 250 watts of power with 25 volts of power available. I will still use my Lionel ZW to run Postwar engines however and two MTH Z-1000 transformers to run my modern engines.

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.

I feel your pain Lee 

Mike. I’m also sorry to here that 

Ray. Your layout is to notch glad you joined us 

Jake. I hope some day to build a layout like your with traditional three rail and rolling stock and vehicles. 
 

Everyone else I missed great work I enjoy looking at your work. Be safe 

Mike g, the the first thing I did this morning after breakfast was to measure the height of my silos. I did all of mine except for a shorter one 16 inches tall. So in 1/4 inch scale they top out at 64'. I had thought about going with 4" PVC but settled on the 3" to get more in a given space. When I visited Elliot last year he had both 3" and 4" on his layout and both work well. As to your question about ballasting I have done it both ways. before track and after track is laid down. Got yard work to do but I hope to add some ground foam in front of the silos later today. The building for the top of them is on hold till Plastruct opens back up and I can get my parts......................Paul 2

Great work gentlemen, lots of progress being made, from building Silo’s, to doing neat tablework, to doing what we like best, working on our railroads. Unfortunately, warm weather, painting decks, clearing the fence row vines, and other outdoor maintenance is now keeping me to busy to work on the layout. I look forward to a rainy day.....  I did check things out today just figuring out what to do next..... Happy Railroading, and Happy Easter to all. 

Today so far I added more color to the plaster. I'll go back down and get some ballast down. Put down the plaster tape in one small section that still needs plaster. Hoping I have enough left in the jar to do that. Pics.............Paul 2

Bob,  the building looks great,  really nice job with the lighting. 

LeapinLarry:  Happy Easter to as well sir.  Thanks for sharing the wonderful layout photos. 

Paul2:   Your like a Ever Ready bunny, the area is really shaping up,  keep up the good work.

I finally finished taking off all the old signal heads that I had spent hours putting on my kitbashed Plasticville signal bridge and just finished installing all the new brass NJ Internation  B & O  CPL  heads....  Made the pointed finials at the top of the posts, out of 1/8" diameter nails and soldered in the last of the required resistors....

Ready to start painting the brass parts and blend in the weathering, then plug it into the relay control which is already wired and ready to accept these signals.   

The last photo is what it looked like the first time "I finished it" about a year ago.....  Before someone asks, yes I thought about trying to use the original set up but the LED's were wired backwards for Common Cathode... Bummer so it was totally incompatible with the new Common Anode set up.