sidehack posted:Ha Ha Mike you know that might work, you could use it in this or any other hobby or....
I might try it but no that is not it
one clue: it may have something to do with your wiring
Rings to run wire through?
Is it to hold your soldiring iron?
Trainmaster04 posted:Is it to hold your soldiring iron?
we have a winner
good going Trainmaster04, you have won bragging rights
This can screw to the back wall on bench so when you are cleaning the iron it doesn't move around as these things are pretty light, some put weights in the bottom.
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Well wife asked if we could get out so I said how about if we go to McDonald's for dinner. Without hesitation she said lets go. So on the way home she said she wanted to watch a program on TV which I would not be interested in and I said OK. While she was watching that I got back down and added more ground foam. I moved my tyemporary bench back on the table and did the section between the next two sets of tracks. This was a good stopping point. After breakfast tomorrow Menards it is and a set of drill bits so I can put some more trees in. Pics...........Paul 2
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Paul, it is coming together nicely, great job on track and scenery
Mike23 posted:You're making a beer can holder?
Mike I don't know about beer but works for soup
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Been working on my Ky strip mine.
O
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Nice scene and equipment.
farmerjohn posted:Been working on my Ky strip mine.O
So THAT'S where Homasote comes from! 
Mitch
Hi Guys, great work id being done by all! I would comment but after 345 emails and 2 pages if getting up to speed there is to much going on and would take half a page here! But I do what you all to know that I am really enjoying all the work you are doing!
I hope to get out to the train room today and get something done. If anything else just turn on the TV and run trains! Really I plan on trying to get some ballast done and work on another retaining wall. We will see how things go! LOL
I hope everyone is having a great day and being safe!
Please enjoy your trains and layouts today!
Spent time working on the rock pile and watching Muffins trains live in the afternoon. 
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Transition wall is ready for concrete painting
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Looks, good everyone!
Heres my latest video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?...amp;feature=youtu.be
farmerjohn posted:Been working on my Ky strip mine.
O
Love this...while we don't have nearly as room to work as you do these are inspiring pictures for us as we work on our quarry!
Worked on my benchwork yesterday 12 inch cross braces and topped it with 1/2 inch plywood today. Probably 500 screws and solid as a rock. The old table was 10 x 18.9. Since I like going in circles and don't enjoy climbing over scenery or pop ups I have rebuilt to 18 feet 9 inches X 63 inches and it is once again on wheels and I now have 3 to 4 feet all the way around. I can reach well past the middle so I'm looking forward to being a looper. 
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Hi Everyone,
Just finished up the finishing touches on some urban house fronts. This was my first time working with these type of fronts and it didn't come without error. I have taken pics through every step. Pic #2 shows where the boo boo came in and when it happened a few choice words filled the train room and maybe the neighborhood. After I spent a crazy amount of time masking off the building to paint the frames and sills, I removed most of the previously painted brick work. This was even after dull cote was used. Afterwards, I ended up brush painting the area with the closest colors I had and it actually worked out fine (pic #3). It created a variation in the color which gave a pre-weathered look.
Dave
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More of this
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luvindemtrains posted:Hi Everyone,
Just finished up the finishing touches on some urban house fronts. This was my first time working with these type of fronts and it didn't come without error. I have taken pics through every step. Pic #2 shows where the boo boo came in and when it happened a few choice words filled the train room and maybe the neighborhood. After I spent a crazy amount of time masking off the building to paint the frames and sills, I removed most of the previously painted brick work. This was even after dull cote was used. Afterwards, I ended up brush painting the area with the closest colors I had and it actually worked out fine (pic #3). It created a variation in the color which gave a pre-weathered look.
Dave
Nice color choices these look very realistic.
Thanks Dave!
Ray, things are looking good at your place!
Dave and Dave nice job on your projects! Dave Ripp. that's one big table!
Dave, wonderful job on fixing your Boo Boo!
I did get out and ballasted more track about 90% done, Also got started on another retaining wall!
I hope you all had a great weekend!
Installed tell tales.
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Lots of excellent posts! Great work and train running everyone! I did a little more on my benchwork. I hope to take some photographs tomorrow!!
Just finished painting the 3D print figures of two of the real-life ET&WNC employees. Even in O scale, it took a lot of small brushes and steady hand time to get the details as good as I could.
I'm going to let this dry, then hit them with some dull coat, then go back and put a thin layer of gloss over the conductor's bat bill, and his shoes. I also might put some soot on the engineer, eventually.
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p51...great job on a very difficult painting project
Hi Guys, I just came across this interesting video about track cleaning. I really makes you think and goes away from what a lot of folks are using. Says not to use isopropyl alcohol to clean track. Please let me know what you all think!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1r2L8NSxOnQ
Have a great Monday and please find time for your layout and trains! Oh and don't forget to have fun!
p51 posted:Just finished painting the 3D print figures of two of the real-life ET&WNC employees. Even in O scale, it took a lot of small brushes and steady hand time to get the details as good as I could.
I'm going to let this dry, then hit them with some dull coat, then go back and put a thin layer of gloss over the conductor's bat bill, and his shoes. I also might put some soot on the engineer, eventually.
Great job Lee! How do you get them to stay standing?
mike g. posted:p51 posted:
Great job Lee! How do you get them to stay standing?
Thanks!
I glued them to the top of the can.
Still, the aluminum can top doesn't accept glue very well. I used Gorilla Glue, the wood glue, to hold the figures down. One partially broke free from just the pressure of the brush against it. Even using super glue didn't work very well.
The only white paint I had was oil paint in a tube. I used that to mix various shades of blue for the engineer, and the conductor's tie. I had totally forgotten that oil paint takes forever to dry. The engineer figure, about 16 hours later, is just as tacky as it was when I painted it. It's going to be several days before I can do anything with that. Once it dries, though, I'm going to dab darker blue around the overalls, to make it look like areas have worn where they normally would, such as the seat, knees, and top edge.
mike g. posted:Hi Guys, I just came across this interesting video about track cleaning. I really makes you think and goes away from what a lot of folks are using. Says not to use isopropyl alcohol to clean track. Please let me know what you all think!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1r2L8NSxOnQ
Have a great Monday and please find time for your layout and trains! Oh and don't forget to have fun!
Interesting and enjoyable video Mike, and his points are made well, especially if you run N, HO or, I guess, modern Legacy, DCS, etc trains.
Me? I run Pre and Postwar Lionel on traditional tubular track and have used Isopropyl Alcohol for 35 years for track cleaning with no problems.
I will, after seeing this video, try electrical contact cleaner on my N gauge wheels and amusement part ride loop
mike g. posted:Hi Guys, I just came across this interesting video about track cleaning. I really makes you think and goes away from what a lot of folks are using. Says not to use isopropyl alcohol to clean track. Please let me know what you all think!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1r2L8NSxOnQ
Have a great Monday and please find time for your layout and trains! Oh and don't forget to have fun!
Mike, I use isopropyl alcohol to clean track because.....it cleans. That is, it is a mild solvent safe for plastic roadbed. I use Fastrack which is tinplated steel, and water will indeed seek out any pits and scratches in the tinplating and "rust" any exposed steel, BUT in our dry house the water in the alcohol evaporates long before any oxidation can occur.
I should say I did use alcohol.....but the little bit we have is now reserved for sanitizing stuff until someday when th stuff is available again. 
Ralph M posted:Stuck at home with trains and a camera so therefore it's MOVIE MONDAY! Here are 4 brief videos for your amusement. Stay safe.
Great videos Ralph. You have a very nice layout too.
I've noticed that manufacturers are making similar recommendations to avoid alcohol. I have heard that it can degrade electrical continuity, especially on smaller scales.
A word of caution on the cleaning products sold in electronics stores-I have found that they will attack painted surfaces. One of my GP-9's had permanent "freckles" on the painted surface because I was a little too liberal with the electrical cleaner.
I like to use a little of my wife's "Goo-Gone" to break down the black residue on track and wheels. Be careful to use only small amounts and wipe it off when your surface has been cleaned.
I've used 91% Isopropyl alcohol for many years, for cleaning track and wheels , with white glue to hold ballast and foilage etc. and now for cleaning the bed on the 3D printer. So luckily have a good supply. Just used it today on the transition wall for climbing ivy and some old staining.
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Ray:
Are you saying you use a mixture of 91% Isopropyl Alcohol mixed wit white to make the ivy stick? If so, what si the ratio of alcohol to glue?
Thank you.
Randy, yes I first put a 50-50 mixture of white glue and water on the area where I want the ivy, then place the ivy on it and pat down a little, then add drops of alcohol with an eye dropper on top but not to much just so the glue spreads out into the ivy. And I also added a drop or 2 of soap detergent to the glue mixture so it helps to spread it.
Ray:
Thank you. I have always had marginal luck with white glue and water. I will try your method now.
Hi Everyone, I just thought I would pass on the information I found while watching Ralph's videos. I was on the side line up for next. I think I will give it a try as I have a little on hand.
Ralph what wonderful videos! Thanks for sharing with us and what a great looking layout!
Lee, I guess my eyes are not as good as they use to be. I didn't even realize it was a pop can till you stated so!
Ray, outstanding job on the concrete wall to go next to your hotel! I wish I knew enough to work with CAD and a 3D printer!~
Well guys, I did get out to the train room today and reached a mild stone on my layout, I was able to get all the track I have down ballasted with about a 1/4 of a bag of brennens better ballast. Which is good and bad. Good that I had enough to get what I had down, bad that I still have to buy 9 more feet to reach the tunnel for going outside! LOL
I was also able to add a little more to my new retaining wall that I am building for the run that I put in last weekend I think! Here are a couple photos for you all to enjoy. Please forgive the mess. LOL
Plus while I was working on that, the postman brought me some new to me reading product! I got the tip on this from Chris A, about its article in trackside signals, I hope to learn a lot from it!
I hope everyone had a great Monday and found time for there layouts and fun with there trains!
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