What did you do on your layout today?

Opened up the George HW Bush Funeral Train Set and looked at and listened to the "Overland" Station Sounds Dining Car.  It has three marches recorded on the Station Announcements and some information on Bush's career.  The regular announcements are not sounding.  The Dining Car has special sounds.

Should I paint the interior of the four passenger cars to match the other 21" cars I have done?  The car interior is very plain without painted seats, tables, etc.  The Lionel figures are smaller and less visible.  They are not interacting with each other like the Preiser 65602 figures I have installed in my other O-gauge passenger cars.

What would you do?  The Preiser 65602 people are 1/45 and 1/50 scale.  The Lionel people look like they are 1/65 scale. They do not sit near to the tables like they are eating, and some have black beanies on their heads rather than hair.  The paint is also shiny.  What would you do?

Sincerely, John Rowlen

Yesterday I started dropping the table into place but ran into a few problems which I did not anticipate. I was happy that all the measuring I did for the table came out right. What I failed to take into consideration was that the basement wall was not perefect so the boards for the backdrop wouldn't let the table drop into place at the backside. So I had to take them all off. At the other end I didn't realize the piping that comes in from the old cistern was right at the corner of the other end. I had to move the legs back and cut a notch out of that corner. Once I did all that the table dropped in perfectly. Now all I have to do is level it and that part is done. I'll have to figure out how I will put up the Masonite. Pics...........Paul 2

My current model build in progress is a background facade for the Baltimore Spice Company, originator of Old Bay. It's been a slow project but getting there. Now it's time to start the parts that join the two wings together. 

Be safe,

Scott

@paul 2 posted:

Yesterday I started dropping the table into place but ran into a few problems which I did not anticipate. I was happy that all the measuring I did for the table came out right. What I failed to take into consideration was that the basement wall was not perefect so the boards for the backdrop wouldn't let the table drop into place at the backside. So I had to take them all off. At the other end I didn't realize the piping that comes in from the old cistern was right at the corner of the other end. I had to move the legs back and cut a notch out of that corner. Once I did all that the table dropped in perfectly. Now all I have to do is level it and that part is done. I'll have to figure out how I will put up the Masonite. Pics...........Paul 2

Paul, you did very well with your plan.  Imperfections in the wall would be hard to recognize until you put the table in.  It looks great!

I added some #10 wire to my two activating clips on my 497 coal loader so I can use a MTH ballast car with a longer wheelbase in it. I may have to monkey with it some more to use the 3469 on it.

Tonight I painted the first coat using an oil based paint on the steel girder bridge.

Placed the Detroit Free Press on the layout to protect the layout from paint “Chaos”.

🌴 Tomorrow after I get back from a short fishing trip, I will paint the second coat.

Gary 🚂

@mike g.  New best friend? 😀   ....if "everyone" around you has a speeder I need to just "end it all" because I "lost" decades ago it seems...

Am I the only one to notice the throttle is for a Johnson SeaHorse?   (now "everyone" does seem to have those around here )

The shifter appears to be an old custom shifter for an old VW bus... is it air cooled too? lol. (some are )

@Adriatic posted:

@mike g.  New best friend? 😀   ....if "everyone" around you has a speeder I need to just "end it all" because I "lost" decades ago it seems...

Am I the only one to notice the throttle is for a Johnson SeaHorse?   (now "everyone" does seem to have those around here )

The shifter appears to be an old custom shifter for an old VW bus... is it air cooled too? lol. (some are )

 

I like the Johnson throttle too. Spent much of my youth with a hand on one of those motoring around the south shore of Long Island.

Which interior do you like?

A.  The little Lionel People.

B.  The Preiser 1/45 and 1/50 scale people.

Thank you for your input.

Sincerely, John Rowlen

John,

I think The Preiser 1/45 and 1/50 scale people look best.

John, the question should be, which people do you prefer with the cabin assembled? And can you really tell the difference. I can get 100 little people for $10, I assume the Preiser people are a buck or two each probably closer to $5. Of course I absolutely love what you do with painting these people. I have decided to put the little people inside my passenger cars and put the better ones outside where they can be seen. What I can't figure out is why (for example) some model power figures look great and others are pathetic. Unfortunately I can see these differences only in person, almost impossible over photos. 

So if you have the cash go for the Preiser, if you have to be a little more careful with spending consider alternatives. 

Regardless - I cannot express enough how impressed I am with how you approach modeling passenger cars. I am sure the photos do not do them justice. I cannot imagine you being satisfied with the "little people". 

Best ... Jeff

Trainroomgary, Wow, I like the beautiful girder bridge effect and that’s a creative idea. Thank you for showing us your train room. John Rowlen, your a very patient painter, your passenger cars are so cool, great work, and today we listened to the George Bush Overland Passenger Car, (very few people) and it’s a Wow. Now, we used some of the girder bridge effect on our layout... Stay safe, stay healthy, and pray continually. Happy Railroading 

I re-numbered a couple of CanFor boxcars and set up a unit train.

Yesterday I said I was going to go fishing before I painted the second coat on the steel girder bridge. Let’s go fishing.

Before refrigerated cars, The railroads used to pay hunters and fishermen to bring fresh food to the passenger cars at predetermined stops.

“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” • OK • “Go fishing before you work on your train layout and you will have a fish sandwich for lunch”.

I am using Silver Rust-Oleum, an oil based paint. Also have an empty can of sweet peas and paint thinner to clean out the brush. Yes; I like sweet peas and fish.

The Union Pacific on the way to Cheyenne.

The Rio Grande & Pere Marquette on the main lines.

The final look for the steel girder bridge.

🌴 Gary 🚂

@John Rowlen posted:

Which interior do you like?

A.  The little Lionel People.

B.  The Preiser 1/45 and 1/50 scale people.

Thank you for your input.

Sincerely, John Rowlen

To be fair, both set of figures need to be displayed in the same environment and the same relative positions. To be fairer, there is no environment or relative position in which Lionel figures should be compared as equal to your amazing work.

I am making some more trees. The old Scentare tree kits. 

Thank you for your input on the choice of figures for the Bush Funeral Train.

I hate to alter the cars and their values that might be dependent on being factory-original. Is being "Factory-original" as big a collector issue as it was 30 years ago?  With people weathering and detailing their railroads, I see nicely weathered freight cars selling for more on Ebay, than the factory original cars.

It appears to be a matter of preference and appearance.  I will paint the interior of the "Overland" Dining Car, add seat backs, and evaluate the appearance before removing the Lionel people.

Note:  I did not add seat backs because they would be in the way if I decide to use an Excel Knife to cut the Lionel People off the seats.  The people are held in place with a very tacky rubber cement-like glue.  The residue needs to be scraped off the seat before painting.  Also, the vertical supports under the tables have been cut away by the factory to create leg room for the Lionel figures, which would never even touch the table bracing.  Now the tables tilt down/inward.  Some left over plastic was still hanging under the table tops and needed to be removed.

The plastic seat backs are painted and will be cut in the jig I made.  Then I will glue them in place.

Thank you again for your input.

Sincerely, John Rowlen

Starkweather Station.....made of paper

Gandydancer1950,

Starkweather Station is very nicely detailed.  How do you keep humidity from affecting the paper building?  It is a very good station. ... and train layout.

Sincerely, John Rowlen

way to hot and humid ,so have been rebuiling parts of the layout,,,,i had to take down shelves an stuff for the electrican ,so painted and rebuilt that end of the layout and change to this great stone facing instead of the tunnel portals,,,

Terry, I'm with you; It is too hot and humid for outside work.  I did some outside each day this week as it was getting hotter.  It's the first summer since I retired.  After doing errands today, I'm ready to do something on my layout.  

Your layout and the stone wall look great!  That's a lot of nice shelves loaded with trains!  I've only seen what you bring to Fort Pitt meets, and I have missed the last few--now all is on hold.  

I hope to have something to post later.

Starting to work on downtown. Testing sidewalks and street widths.

@John Rowlen posted:

Gandydancer1950,

Starkweather Station is very nicely detailed.  How do you keep humidity from affecting the paper building?  It is a very good station. ... and train layout.

Sincerely, John Rowlen

John, I reinforce it with wood, popsicle sticks and/or illustration board on the inside. This station is on a part of my layout right next to my washing machine and hot water tank without any problems.

Guys everything is looking very good I’m enjoying your work a lot. 

Tonight I hand painted this old Revell Kenworth Narrow Nose I’m planning  on making this a Northern Pacific tractor when the decals get here. I still have some more details to add to it I’ll keep you guys posted. I’m wanting to have some western railways on my layout for a change 

Worked during the week, Tuesday to be specific, as the summer camp I work at was canceled due to the hurricane.  Weathered a Camelback I bought a while back.  Also added fireman figures to the tender as well

Before
.  
After


I also added a load of real coal into the tender

                                                                     More lights...

Here is the Lionel George HW Bush Funeral Train "Overland" Station Sounds Dining Car with the interior painted and cleaned.  It was suggested that I compare the Little People in the same background of a detailed dining passenger car.

I repositioned the Lionel People for these four photos to see how the appearance compares to my Preiser 65602 Seated People Cars.  If I keep the little people in the car, I will correct the paint flaws on the figures.

I am opening the "City of Portland" Dome Dining Car to do the same painting and detailing.  If my work is successful, I will have more reason to keep the little people in the car.  The factory removed the underside table supports in the regular Dining Car.  I want to see if the Dome Dining Car was carved up too.

BIG Question:  Who was riding on the George HW Bush Funeral Train, in what cars, and what were they wearing?  It was a funeral, so clothing choices may need to be altered.

What did the Dining Car serve?  It was a short trip for travelers, so food may have been limited to prepared comfort foods of Ham, Chicken and Egg Salad Sandwiches for children, family members, press, and the crew.  Beverages of coffee, tea, bottled water and canned sodas could be served by a limited waiter staff.  It would be interesting to see if any pictures and details of that day get published in book form.

Decision Made:  Preiser 65602 Seated Figures will be added to the Bush Funeral Train "Overland" Dining Car, "City of Portland" Dome Dining Car, and "Kenefick" Business/Observation Car.  I may paint the Bush Baggage Car floor.  The Honor Guard Stays.

The "City of Portland" Dome Dining Car is a newly designed car and not yet available in the Union Pacific Excursion series, except this Funeral Train Car.  There is a Union Pacific Challenger Dome Dining Car in the Challenger 2-pack #3.  There are posts in the Dome Dining Car to hold a Camera Board for the Camera Vision Dome passenger cars.  Perhaps the Union Pacific Excursion Dome Dining Car will be a camera passenger car yet to be released..

Sincerely, John Rowlen

SIRT;  That interchange scene is just about the most realistic modeling I have scene. Superb work!!

Don

Steve, I agree with Don 100%.  It looks just like getting on the Pennsylvania Turnpike before they did away with toll takers.

SIRT, your scene is awesome, great modeling and neat idea. Thank you for posting the beautiful pictures. Happy Railroading 

Winston,

Nice work with the streets and sidewalks thus far. Please take us through each step with this project. I know that many have used this technique but I have only seen the end result.

Dave

Been a few days since we've done this, but a friend of mine had given me some G gauge buildings that were his dads. I used them as background fronts along the back wall of the layout. They are pretty big compared to everything else, but we also have LEGO and hotwheels all over the place too.

Videos of laying new ties on the 12 inches to the foot railroad:

https://ogrforum.com/...3#149098340275503033

Worked on some old Tootsietoy trucks for my New O27 Layout I’m going to start soon. I’ve decided to dismantle my old HO layout and redo the top for O27 I just can’t do HO any more 

Test fit of Scenic Express road system. 

@lee drennen posted:

Worked on some old Tootsietoy trucks for my New O27 Layout I’m going to start soon. I’ve decided to dismantle my old HO layout and redo the top for O27 I just can’t do HO any more 

Lee, the cleanup and paint looks great on that old Tootsietoy!  I made the decision when I was about 55 to give up on HO too.  Not for any reason other than my eyes and hands.  At almost 64, I'm glad I did!

Winston. Road looks great nice pics

Mark. I’m doing it for the same reasons and I really want a traditional O27 layout also 

Placing Preiser 65602 Seated People in Lionel's 21" "City of Portland" Dome Dining Car.

I decided to paint Preiser 65602 Seated People for my George HW Bush Funeral Train passenger cars. Here are pictures of the grinding process to place the seated figures against the table when seated.  I used a Dremel Hand-held with sanding drum to make the cylindrical cut into the figures.  Some are straight forward cuts and others like the woman with the cane are off-set from the side.

Just a little was removed from the bottoms of the figures. I used Krazy Glue to fasten the figures on the seat and against the round table.

Here are some pictures of the figures as they are placed at one table,  I have two more tables to do, in order to cover up the glue residue from the Lionel Little People that came in the car.

Sincerely, John Rowlen

John, They look great seated there!

Morning guys, just wanted to check in and wow what great work being done!

Nothing new from me as I was informed by the CEO that trains and the train room are for rainy days and winter! Summer and sun are for yard chores! LOL I still try to sneak in to the train room.

Which brings up my question, I want to take down the storage shelfs I have over the layout so I dont have to get up on the layout to change trains out. I am looking for some suggestions!

I hope everyone has a great Humpday and finds time for there trains and Layouts! Buts most of all please have fun!