What did you do on your layout today?

Mark, they arrived Wednesday night and began to leave Sunday afternoon, but realized the car they had borrowed did not sound right - ended up being bad tie rods - hence the repair and later than expected departure. Logan and Ryan are very active children and you do not realize the chaos they bring until they are gone. Regardless we totally relish every visit and are sad to see them go. For a variety of reasons my 3 sons were all home for the holidays and was quite a blessing to have everyone "home" for Christmas.    Jeff

Wonderful, Jeff!!

After a very long hiatus I finally got down to the train room after Christmas !!   Dusted, vacuumed and cleaned all the main line track, then got the layout running.  (First time since Spring). 

Anyway, it's good to be back.   Parked the California Zephyr on it's siding, and took out my K Line Hudson and put some heavyweight passenger cars behind it.  Decided to finally open up one of the Lionel 18 inch Heavyweights from the C & O George Washington set, and replace the windows that I purchased from Lionel.  The original windows on my set, had the dreaded spots/blotches on them, plus the window tint was really dark green....  Not an easy car to disassemble but the Lionel replacement windows are much lighter green tint, they almost look clear once installed.   

Here's some photos.... Now I need to go back and speed read about 400 pages of posts in this thread.   Chris

Chris, I'm glad to see you back in the train room again!  Great photographs!

Mark,  Thanks.   Ironic that the first page in this thread that I went back to,   had your description and reference plus live link to the PSX-1AC  Solid State Circuit Breaker TVS unit.   I ended up on your layout thread as well reading about the PSX and watching that great video.   Your layout is looking great!

Mike G:   Really nice job on that creeper.  I need to upgrade the padding on my home made one.  Great idea using that chair, looks very comfortable.  Ditto on the need for a tool/tray !

Chris A - I  too have been away from my layout for the last 9 months.  On Christmas Eve, I went down to the layout and cleaned track and ran some trains.  Christmas always seems to get the old train juices moving in my veins.

Heavyweights are some of my favorite passenger cars.  I need to reorganize and sell off some little used or display only stock.  I'm sure I missed picking up some nice buys here on the forum.

Thanks for the photos.

Thank you, Chris!  I agree with Matt, the heavyweights are my favorites!  Welcome back to the layout too Matt!  I'm glad to see you back posting!

First decals have been put on the AC44C6M!

Hello Chris,

From viewing your layout shots this morning I do believe you have the walls lined with the Pennsy Rock Walls from Scenic Express. The walls look very nice!  I have this morning and yesterday attempted several options on weathering the Pennsy Walls that I have from Scenic. 

I find that they are molded from a foam and the exterior does not accept anything with moisture based. 

In your shots your wall looks as if you have painted an weathered. 

Please share with me your paint and weather technique today.  I appreciate your assistance and thank you.

Seth

And Chris, I meant to add that I enjoy viewing the C&O passenger coaches with the green heavyweight paint.   I do not see those very often in the forum or for sale.

Thanks,

Seth

Seth,  Thanks for the positive feedback.   The walls between the lower and upper track level were cast out of plaster.  The walls below the MTH weathered brick station were purchased in the "Flexible Foam" material which is similar to but not exactly like the rigid foam wall sections. The middle section of the lower walls in front of the station is actually the face of a "Pullout Drawer" that has a control panel on it with the switch controls for that section of the layout upper and lower....

I made my own Latex mold of one if the flexible sections as I knew I would end making around 8 to 10 of the cast ones out of Hydrocal...   Couldn't see spending what they charge per section for 8 of them...

Anyway, sorry for the digression ....  I guess the main point is that I wanted to figure out how to make both the factory foam ones and the plaster ones look the same after weathering, and I wanted them in the dark brown family, not gray.  My solution for that was to use the same Light Gray Auto Spray Can primer on both substrates, it's flat and has sufficient "tooth" to accept colors.

Fortunately, I figured out several years ago, that I'd better start writing down all my color and step by step procedures for concrete, Block, wood and road weathering or I'll never be able to remember what I did should I want to "duplicate" it... So

Formula for Pennsy Stone Block Walls:   Used on 7 x 15 inch retaining wall    2018

Prime with Light Gray Auto Primer

Washes of the following colors mixed 50 % acylic paint/50 % water, a few drops of isopropyl alcohol IPA as wetting agent.

Squeeze out nickel to quarter size blobs of paint on a non-absorbent color working pallet... I use an old pane of glass

-  NOTE  Apply with Stamping Technique creating blotches of different colors & Shades

• Burnt Umber,
• Raw Sienna,
• Pewter Gray,
• Khaki and some White

After the 50/50 washes dry overnight,

Apply a Final Diluted wash with 1:3 or 1:4  Burnt Umber &  Raw Sienna,  these are much thinner washes

Chris, that looks spectacular! There so much in the photos from top to bottom. You have such an artist touch.

More progress on the Razorback Traction teardown and rebuild!

https://ogrforum.com/...3#152899749020966693

Chris, it sure is nice to see you back! I always love seeing photos of your layout and projects you have going on! You do such a great job on everything you do! If you run short on things to do and want some extra cash, build me one of those portholes but just a single one! LOL

The new windows look great! Really brings the reality of the cars out!

Graham, the engine is really looking sweet! Very nice work!

As for me I did nothing, but my TVS's came today. I have been packing up Christmas decorations!

I hope everyone has a great day and finds time to have fun with there layouts and trains!

Mike:  It's  Great to be back.   Hope you're felling better !!...  The Pennsy block style tunnel portals are purchased, not made or cast by me...  I bought mine used some time back from Eliot here on the forum.  Here's a link to Scenic Express.   It's best to find these slightly used at train shows for short $$, maybe sometime in 2021.  Anyway, the link will at least show you what you're looking for. 

Today, I have just completed pulling out the Legacy Base, the TMCC Base and GRJ's TMCC signal booster and I am moving all 3 close to the center of the layout.  For whatever reason, I was losing the communication between the Legacy handheld and the base unit when I went to the far end (newest section) of the layout.   Got it set up and will test run it shortly to see if it solves my blinking red light on the Legacy handheld.  Tried upgrading the antennae, no help, and I am not dying to purchase and wire in a 2.4 Ghz booster... that's the last resort.   

Yes Matt, you're right,  I can't get through Christmas without thinking about, working on or running my trains !   Always brings back fond memories.

Chris - Good to see you posting again, great pictures as always. You have quite the touch for weathering and coming up with appropriate color mixes. Looks great, getting close to starting the bash of the 3 lionel kits you told me about.

Have a Great New Year,

Scott

I started taking down the temporary Christmas Village so I can get working on a more permanent layout.

Today's epiphany: I will need more Fastrack switches!

Just got a back ordered MTH ICG engine. I thought the color was off, but looking at the prototype, it looks like MTH got this color correct. Now I can't wait to get the IC orange and white paint job. Most likely the last ever new MTH engines I will purchase. But who knows?

@RSJB18 posted:

I scored the three switches I need for this project on the Cabin Fever MTH auction today . At about $10 each below retail, it won't hurt so much to cut them to pieces.

And a shout out to @CurtisH thanks for mentioning Cabin Fever, I didn't think they would have the switches.

Bob

@RSJB18 posted:

I scored the three switches I need for this project on the Cabin Fever MTH auction today . At about $10 each below retail, it won't hurt so much to cut them to pieces.

Bob

That’s great news for you Bob and what away to end the year on a high note.

Great photos folks. Chris, nice heavyweight cars. Who made the interesting  pullman cars behind the Lionel car? It has been a little slow train time. Still waiting for the second Lionel PRR commuter car that supposedly shipped two weeks ago. Tonight I cleaned my PRR decapod's wheels and rollers and pulled a centerline track cleaning car around the layout.

@RSJB18 posted:

I scored the three switches I need for this project on the Cabin Fever MTH auction today . At about $10 each below retail, it won't hurt so much to cut them to pieces.

And a shout out to @CurtisH thanks for mentioning Cabin Fever, I didn't think they would have the switches.

Bob

Should have kept my big fat mouth shut as you were bidding against me. LOL

Curtis

Does hanging curtains and cleaning track count?  Honestly, it’s the most I’ve done with my layout for over a year!  Chris A I’m glad to see you back and it’s making me feel better about my not doing anything and getting motivated at the same time.  More track to clean, trying a new method and hopefully will have a customer’s grandkid over soon to watch some trains.  Scenic Express here I come for some supplies and also working on ordering another engine to my roster.  

Wayward to 2021!

Hi Pennsynut,  all the other Pullman Heavyweight  cars in that train are 3rd Rail / Sunset.  The US Post Office car is plastic, the other Pullmans are 21 inch brass cars.  I managed to find them at a local seller at the last Big E show in Springfield, MA in Jan 2020.  Have to admit, I am really missing attending local meets and shows here in New England.

Just placed an order with the Plaster Guys for another 25 pounds of Hydrocal so I can cast another 4 or 5 sections of those Pennsy Stone Block walls. 

I am moving along on my third "covid" model, a bashing of a Stony Creek "Indian Trails Garage" into a Nash auto dealership, by doubling the size of the Bay.   This means that a lot of parts have to be duplicated by hand ...matching walls, doors, etc.

Got one of the new Menards lumber yards for Christmas. I added it to the area with my Lionel saw mill to complete the scene.

Installed some  plaster cloth today.  I like the look of it.  Quick and simple.  Next comes Hydrocal.   

@dan 77 posted:

Installed some  plaster cloth today.  I like the look of it.  Quick and simple.  Next comes Hydrocal.   

Thaddeus

i believe the slang of MOW comes to mind.

So I believe you are in safe! 😄

@mike g. posted:

Well I didn't work on the layout, but I did tear apart another printer for the small motors for other projects on the layout.

Hi Mike and rest of the ogr folks. Happy new year to all. Mike I am curious about your tear out of your printer for motors and such. I have a non-working printer and would like to use the motor(s) for a ski gondola lift project for my grandkids for next Christmas. What do you do for transformer to power the motor? Regards.

@pennsynut posted:

Hi Mike and rest of the ogr folks. Happy new year to all. Mike I am curious about your tear out of your printer for motors and such. I have a non-working printer and would like to use the motor(s) for a ski gondola lift project for my grandkids for next Christmas. What do you do for transformer to power the motor? Regards.

Good Morning, I just use an old HO transformer and run it threw a buck convertor and dial it in till things run smooth. Its funny you say your building a ski gondola, I plan on trying to build one down the road with one of the motors I have from the old printer. The ones I have used in the past are to rotate my construction cranes!

You guys are so talented.

I must do a google on just what is a ski gondola 🤣

my wife just cleaned out a drawer an handed me a hand full of mascara and small brushes to use to clean my engines and rolling stock.

All these will be great to use on my steam engines and any part if the trucks you can get to while oiling.

Does she get any points today ?

A Happy anew Year to the Forum
🥳

@Seth Thomas posted:

my wife just cleaned out a drawer an handed me a hand full of mascara and small brushes to use to clean my engines and rolling stock.

All these will be great to use on my steam engines and any part if the trucks you can get to while oiling.

Does she get any points today ?

She gets scrounge points! 

Mitch

Well Mitch

I should have mentioned the yellowish mascara is not used to clean engines but to weather my rock walls on the layout tunnel

More scrounge points as you say....

As is normal for my railroad, this took a few days.  I own three Lionel #1055's, no reverse or magnatraction.  One is my first Lionel engine.  That engine will remain stock.  For Christmas I bought a set of #210's and a #218.  These were bought in rough condition.  I pieced the 210 shells back together, serviced the powered unit and put a roller pickup in the dummy unit for lights.  The 218 had no shell and did not run.  I had to correct three cold solder joints and service the motor.  Today I ran them all together for the first time.  I shot a little video.  Next up is custom paint.  I like 200 series ALCO's.

Bill

@pennsynut posted:

Hi Mike and rest of the ogr folks. Happy new year to all. Mike I am curious about your tear out of your printer for motors and such. I have a non-working printer and would like to use the motor(s) for a ski gondola lift project for my grandkids for next Christmas. What do you do for transformer to power the motor? Regards.

Yep- an old HO (DC) transformer works great.

@RSJB18 posted:

Yep- an old HO (DC) transformer works great.

Nice job there Bob!

Thanks for the ideas Mike and Bob. I have a lot of ideas clanking around for 2021.

Hi guys, I didnt do much. just added 6 power polls and some wire. I know its hard to see, but the CEO likes it so its good enough for me! Man what a PIA! LOL

A couple of photos for you all! You know Lew says no photos it didnt happen! LOL

I just replaced the pickup rollers on my #2355 Western Pacific F3's. I had noticed that not only were the old ones deeply grooved, but they had become fused and did not roll at all.

Like most Lionel post war models, my old F3 responded well to a "little love" and now runs great!