What did you do on your layout today?

Chris, It is treat watching these trains run on your wonderful layout!!  I'm partial to the EM-1, but both are fantastic!

Wow, wow, wow Chris, that is spectacular! Thank you

Doing some work on the seedier part of town and nearby gas station.

Super scenic talent Chris! Can't say enough about those trains, especially the passenger cars.

@chris a posted:

OK shot a video of the Sunset 3rd Rail 4-8-4 Northern O5a.  As it's one long main, the B&O EM-1 has to run also.   The second video is just a shorter video coming out of the tunnel.

Very nice Chris. I noticed that the signals are working on the main as the Northern passed through the blocks.

Really like your video, Chris.

I finished painting the Atlas Deep Rock Oil & Gas kit I got for Christmas.  Still working on layout placement then fitting in scenery.

I painted some balsa for the details I am adding to my retaining wall prints. I painted them with some acrylics, I did a brown with some black mixed in first. After it dried I realized the pieces were too dark so I did a couple of washes with some gray's and tans. It's hard to match the colors in the prints but I think I'm close.

It looks better in person than the photo.

Bob

@RSJB18 posted:

I painted some balsa for the details I am adding to my retaining wall prints. I painted them with some acrylics, I did a brown with some black mixed in first. After it dried I realized the pieces were too dark so I did a couple of washes with some gray's and tans. It's hard to match the colors in the prints but I think I'm close.

It looks better in person than the photo.

Bob

Maybe a little red/rust???

Mark, Jay, Steve, Bob, pennsynut - thanks for the kind words.  Sorry if I missed someone.   Yes Mark,  I really like the B&O EM-1, 4-8-8-4.   Especially this one in particular, as I bought it from Will Allen after he had the entire TMCC Railsounds system upgraded  to RS5.0 by Mike Reagan.   Ended up selling the first one I purchased with original RS 4.0.

I need to work on improving my video recording skills

Bob thanks for noticing the block signal system working.....  That turned out to be one of those projects you get 25% into and start wondering "What have I gotten myself into ????",  but it's very rewarding now that it's done.   Thanks so much to Stan2004 for all his help with the relay system design so that it looks 2 blocks ahead in both directions and realistically controls the Yellow Light aspect if there is a train 2 blocks ahead.   Ended up with 11 blocks on the main, signal protected in both directions....

Of course I ended up buying a new temp controlled soldering station, an illuminated headset with 4 different magnifiers on it, just so I could see and solder wire leads to the LED's ...   

You had me fooled Bob,  all this time I have been looking at photos of the retaining walls, around the tunnel entrance, I thought you scratch built them out of wood !   

Bob,  balsa is really porous wood, not sure if this idea would help, but you might try sealing the balsa with clear coat, then weather it, that might minimize the pigments soaking in and producing a result that is too dark.    Now that I think about it, it's probably too late for that idea.

New "Under The Hood" up! 

https://ogrforum.com/...e-cent-wooden-bumper

Mitch

@chris a posted:

You had me fooled Bob,  all this time I have been looking at photos of the retaining walls, around the tunnel entrance, I thought you scratch built them out of wood ! 

Thanks Chris- the prints are very realistic looking. I found a guy in the UK who has a blog (mostly N and HO), who offers many prints for sale. I've used several of them on various projects. This is far from a permanent layout so I don't want to invest much in buildings, etc until I can build a bigger layout. This flat and the fence are also paper prints.

@Apples55 posted:

Maybe a little red/rust???

I was thinking the same thing. I have a brick red that I can tint darker and will give it a shot.

Thanks

Finally found a location to install a siding to park my new Lionel LC+2.0 Big Boy. I have to back it onto the siding off the main, but it's better than leaving it on a main loop or having to take it on and off the layout entirely when I want o run it.

Cut a large notch out of the layout edging to allow room to put in the new switch and the siding onto a nearby bookcase. I used a lighted bumper at the end of the siding. I don't have room on  my control panel for another toggle switch to turn the siding on and off so, instead, I cut the center rail on the first piece of Fastrack; drilled a hole for a push button switch and epoxied it in place from underneath; and soldered wires from the first center rail tab to the switch and then from the switch to the other center rail tab.

A 1 X 6 piece of wood shelving cut to length, plus 1/4" foam FT roadbed raised the siding to level with the layout surface and still leaves enough room to display some racing/sports memorabilia.

Whenever I want to run the engine, I just push the button and the lighted bumper lets me know it's powered up.

Richie, that is a great solution.  Yes indeed, you want that engine in full view and don't want to be lifting it on and off the track.

Excellent solution, Richie, though I suggest some sort of barrier to prevent a very expensive oopsie...

Mitch

Looks like we have a winner! Shout to Paul @Apples55

A little red seems to have done the trick! Thank you sir!

Before

After

Bob

@RSJB18 posted:

Looks like we have a winner! Shout to Paul @Apples55

A little red seems to have done the trick! Thank you sir!

Bob

Glad I could help, Bob. See... I not just a bad influence

In lieu of monetary remuneration, I accept bottles of Irish Whiskey and D&H or NH goodies!!!

Bob, your retaining walls came out great.

Mike g, I like your idea for the Morton Salt silos.

Chris a, good to see you back on here again. Great videos and great work on you layout.

Today I took the time to run trains. Something I have not done since the end of summer.  Got me away from the computer and oprdering stuff for a while LOL.................Paul 2

@Mark Boyce posted:

Richie, that is a great solution.  Yes indeed, you want that engine in full view and don't want to be lifting it on and off the track.

Mark,

I know you're a fan of Western Maryland. That's a Legacy F7 AA WM diesel set in the background with either a Williams or Atlas B unit (can't remember which) in the middle. One of my favorite and most reliable engines.

I improved the only grade crossing in town today.  I had some MTH wig wag signals that I added to the layout.  These were originally signals that also had the overhead lights, unfortunately those parts were damaged during a recent move.  I lopped them off and added 19 cent rubber caps from Ace Hardware above the crossbucks.  Paired with the gateman, I think they look pretty nice.

@Richie C. posted:

Mark,

I know you're a fan of Western Maryland. That's a Legacy F7 AA WM diesel set in the background with either a Williams or Atlas B unit (can't remember which) in the middle. One of my favorite and most reliable engines.

Richie, Thank you for pointing it out.  I see it in Speed Letter.  Very nice.

Hi everyone for some reason I haven't been getting emails from OGR the last couple days. I will have to check my settings.

So the last couple days I worked on the layout. I was able to get lights wired to the hummer on the bridge behind Batman. Also in the new train platform in the new park area. Then I redid the piping from my silos to the building, I didn't like the round pipe. Here are a few photos.

The best part was I got my board back from GGG and got my engine running again!

@mike g. posted:

The best part was I got my board back from GGG and got my engine running again!

Mike, I'm really glad you got your engine running again!!

Yesterday I cut a piece of hardboard for the switches to shutoff power to my sidings and Ceiling Central Railroad when I want to park an engine.  When I went to layout the board for drilling holes, I saw my toggle switches were only rated at 6 amps.  I decided I should buy switches rated at least 10 amps.  The order has been placed with Digikey.  I'll wait until I receive them before doing anything else on that.  I think I'll start work on my powered lift up bridges.

Thanks Mark. I wish I could figure out how come I am not receiving. Notification from here. All my settings are still the same.

Cutting and gluing balsa on the retaining walls. I ran short one piece for the tunnel portal so I had to paint one more last night. Starting to come together.

Added some figures to a repair shop.  This is my first attempt at a video upload so fingers crossed...

To add four offset domes to my NP North Coast Limited train, I applied the Scalecoat II NP Light Green to the four LIONEL 15" aluminum offset dome cars yesterday and let it dry the prescribed 24 hours.  Coverage looked pretty good so proceeded with the next step:  applying the SCII white paint for the stripe that separates the light and dark greens.

This is a test of an approach:  spray light green; mask that and apply white paint; then mask that using Tamiya 2mm tape; and, spray the dark green.  So, now I'll wait 24 hours; apply the 2mm mask; and, apply the dark green tomorrow.  Fingers crossed that this will work.  Only doing one car now as proof of approach; the other three await the results.

Alternatively, I have on hand fresh 2mm white decal stripes which I can use if the painted white stripe doesn't work.  I'd prefer the paint since the decals would need to be spliced to cover the length of the car.

Photos to follow.

I reworked the inner part of the layout to add bypass of the two main lines to allow 3 trains to run continuously at once.

I also went down to my local hobby shop with my wife. The LHS had a good selection of menards buildings. My wife liked the brewery and lumber yard buildings so I picked up the brewery and added it to the layout.

Does anyone know what filmmaker Kevin Smith's View Askewniverse is like. I have recreated several buildings from Kevin Smith's hit movies:

Quick Stop Grocery/RST Video: Clerks 1 & 2, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Jay and Silent Bob Reboot

Mooby's: Dogma, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Clerks 2, Jay and Silent Bob Reboot

Church: Dogma

Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash: Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Comic Book Men

Bob, The retaining walls are looking outstanding!

Steve, Very cool video! Nice work!

Carl, wow that's a lot of work! I am sure it will turn out looking amazing just like everything else you put out!

JStewart, Good choice on the Brewery! If I had the room I would pick one up, but some how I am running out of space! LOL

Mpeck, I am sure your right there, But I really wouldn't know as I have never seen any of the movies listed! Sorry!

Well guy I worked on the walking bridge between the 2 parks on both sides of the entryway into the train room. It took me a good part of the day but I think it turned out looking ok. FYI there are 126 planks that make the bridge deck! LOL Here are a few photos for your enjoyment!

I hope everyone has a great weekend and finds time for there train and layout! But most of all I hope you all have fun!

Mike that foot bridge looks great, but it isn't for the faint of heart.  That would be quite a fall to the rocks below! 

@mike g. posted:

Mike: The bridge is GREAT!!!! Your craftsmanship is superb! Bravo!!!!!

Reconfigured the approach to my industrial zone now that it has a large peninsula addition added on which also now has passenger service.

Up to now the industrial zone was approached via a switch back but with the increased traffic flow the new track work will allow direct access to the mainline.  Just backed the first string of 80 footers through the maze of points smoothly.  Nice.

Little late on my annual time frame changeover. Once a year I change from diesel to steam era's. So this year all the steam era is put away and my display ages thirty years. I'm know diesel era. Business changes, motor vehicles change and of course all my motive power and rolling stock. I'm almost done.

What a great idea and way to keep interested. I love the late 60's early 70's era but sometimes wish I could run steam era to. You have a nice solution for those who don't want to mix eras.

I built this kit from Bar Mills. Believe it or not, they modeled this from a prototype somewhere. I like Bar Mill's kits very much. It was an absolute joy to build from start to finish.

I will be adding lights and other details soon.

Clem, after seeing photos of your layout, that is one huge undertaking ! It's nice to hear your almost done with it so you can sit back and enjoy for awhile!

Alan, that Texaco station looks great! Nice work!

@mike g. posted:

Clem, after seeing photos of your layout, that is one huge undertaking ! It's nice to hear your almost done with it so you can sit back and enjoy for awhile!

Alan, that Texaco station looks great! Nice work!

Hey Mike!!!! Good to see you again. Hope you're doing well.

Thanks Alan!

I went out this morning to take a couple photos for SWAT and while I was out there I added some people to my second park and train platform, also a couple folks to the new pedestrian bridge. Here are a couple photos.

@mike g. posted:

Thanks Alan!

I went out this morning to take a couple photos for SWAT and while I was out there I added some people to my second park and train platform, also a couple folks to the new pedestrian bridge. Here are a couple photos.

The bridge looks great Mike. I hope those folks can hold on tight when the bridge is up!

Bob

@RSJB18 posted:

The bridge looks great Mike. I hope those folks can hold on tight when the bridge is up!

Bob

Thanks Bob, I tested it a few times and they seam to do just fine! LOL