What did you do on your layout today?

@Lionelski posted:

Car,

I wonder if you sprayed the center section of the car white, then masked the stripe area with automotive pinstriping tape, painted the other colors, and removed the tape, how it would turn out?

@modeltrainsparts posted:

I always spray the area to be the stripe first, let it dry a few days, then mask, paint half of the surrounding area, let it dry a few days, mask again, then paint the other half.

You are both on the mark; that's essentially what I did.  However, automotive pinstripe tape as a mask wouldn't work since it's not available in 2mm width (at least none that I found).  Tamiya 2mm white masking tape works fine.

Worked on Transformer ZW..... and 2025....and...681....... and I swear, my wife’s table was clean and neat when I started...... EEKS?!!!! And running trains in the Dark.... whoop!! Guess marker lights need a little something to temper the BRIGHt

@Mark Boyce posted:

Bob, that height works out nicely for you!!

That was my biggest concern Mark. I couldn't find any info on the MTH site for the dimension to the rail head.

Thanks

@modeltrainsparts posted:

I always spray the area to be the stripe first, let it dry a few days, then mask, paint half of the surrounding area, let it dry a few days, mask again, then paint the other half.

Beautiful car--do you have a train???  Photos/Video???

During the past several weeks I have been working on transforming a K-Line Southern observation into a former business car of the Duluth Missabe & Iron Range Railroad.    Today the “Northland” is currently owned and operated by the Lake Superior Railroad Museum.    Time to share some progress pictures of the process.    Today the outside temperature will be mid 40 so, I hope to take advantage of the warmth and airbrush the exterior Pullman Green finish coat.   It's currently in primer.   Special thanks to John Rowlen for his passenger interior detailing inspiration!  

Now looking forward to getting the vaccine.   Can’t wait!!

Cheers to all in this new year, Dave

Here is my target!

Carl (Pingman) Thanks for the compliment. No, i don't have a complete train, but, run this car as a sleeper with my imaginary LVRR "Maple Leaf" from NY to Toronto.

Tada 🎉  thank you, thank you berry much

@darlander posted:

During the past several weeks I have been working on transforming a K-Line Southern observation into a former business car of the Duluth Missabe & Iron Range Railroad.    Today the “Northland” is currently owned and operated by the Lake Superior Railroad Museum.    Time to share some progress pictures of the process.    Today the outside temperature will be mid 40 so, I hope to take advantage of the warmth and airbrush the exterior Pullman Green finish coat.   It's currently in primer.   Special thanks to John Rowlen for his passenger interior detailing inspiration!  

Now looking forward to getting the vaccine.   Can’t wait!!

Cheers all in this new year, Dave

Here is my target!

Looks great Dave!

Ok, ok, member said “Show me it works”.... Must be from the Missouri “show me”... this is “One small step for Man, one Giant leap for Miggy”. Thanks for all y’all’s  help and patience with the n00b..... I feel amazing for all the successes I have had this season for the carpet Layout-Under-the-Tree.... the Grandkids glee give me hope, and purpose..... salute

@Miggy posted:

Worked on Transformer ZW..... and 2025....and...681....... and I swear, my wife’s table was clean and neat when I started...... EEKS?!!!! And running trains in the Dark.... whoop!! Guess marker lights need a little something to temper the BRIGHt

I think you need a workshop with a decent workbench if you are going to perform these kinds of repairs.

I purchased a Lionel mechanical reefer with sound and smoke and it showed up today. I am happy with the sounds and it smokes really well.  I am just disappointed they couldn’t match the color any better than this. The one the right is the new one.  Oh well they are different in the wild also.

@Miggy posted:

Congrats, WELL DONE!!!

Cheers, Dave

@darlander posted:

During the past several weeks I have been working on transforming a K-Line Southern observation into a former business car of the Duluth Missabe & Iron Range Railroad.    Today the “Northland” is currently owned and operated by the Lake Superior Railroad Museum.    Time to share some progress pictures of the process.    Today the outside temperature will be mid 40 so, I hope to take advantage of the warmth and airbrush the exterior Pullman Green finish coat.   It's currently in primer.   Special thanks to John Rowlen for his passenger interior detailing inspiration!  

Now looking forward to getting the vaccine.   Can’t wait!!

Cheers all in this new year, Dave

Here is my target!

Cheers!! Very Nice... Impressive... and Love the DMIR. You inspire me to attempt a Work Caboose in DMIR colors....

Thanks, salute

@Miggy posted:

Tada 🎉  thank you, thank you berry much

Very nice!  Will have to remember the washers; that hadn't occurred to me.

@Miggy posted:

Ok, ok, member said “Show me it works”.... Must be from the Missouri “show me”... this is “One small step for Man, one Giant leap for Miggy”. Thanks for all y’all’s  help and patience with the n00b..... I feel amazing for all the successes I have had this season for the carpet Layout-Under-the-Tree.... the Grandkids glee give me hope, and purpose..... salute

Attaboy! 

Mitch

"Under The Hood" updated with brush spring removal and replacement! 

https://ogrforum.com/...3#153322190352889033

Mitch

Razorback Traction rebuild has a small update! 

https://ogrforum.com/...8#153322190354660908

Mitch

All I can say is wow to everyone! What great work being done! As for me nothing done today as we had a wind storm come threw lastnight and power out most of the day! Everything is fine on the home front, it just sucked cause no train room time!

@mike g. posted:

All I can say is wow to everyone! What great work being done! As for me nothing done today as we had a wind storm come threw lastnight and power out most of the day! Everything is fine on the home front, it just sucked cause no train room time!

No generator Mike? You could get at least an 1800 W to run the trains 😂

@RSJB18 posted:

No generator Mike? You could get at least an 1800 W to run the trains 😂

Yep, we have one, but its for the house. Not the garage and Train room! LOL

@Loose-Caboose posted:

I think you need a workshop with a decent workbench if you are going to perform these kinds of repairs.

and.... AND..... Dishwasher access to clean up the shells! Sillyface

@mike g. posted:

Yep, we have one, but its for the house. Not the garage and Train room! LOL

I'm putting a 18KW on my house this year. Will run everything. ESPECIALLY THE TRAINS! 😁

Mike

I am just relieved for you that the only loss you guys experienced was the power and nothing else.

Hi Bob, after last night the CEO and I were talking about that today!

Seth, Thank you sir! It was a nasty storm but all is good!

Masked and sprayed the other three LIONEL offset domes with white paint.  Will come back to them with the 2mm mask, then apply the dark green paint.  Progress. 

I finally took the tree down so I can see what I have to work with a bit easier. Sorry for it being sideways but I was working out the best way to set up my 456 and 397. But, of course, I had to get some trains out and have some fun. My dad and I will pick the platform up and put legs under it so it will be easier to work on. I'll keep you all updated.

I am truly excited for you.  Three loops with a consist on each, lots of action for the eye to watch.

While watching your outside rails with load of barrels,  it hit me.  I need to make me a load of barrels for my gondolas on my lathe.  My lathe is still in the box from when I moved.  Or, I can cut one inch or 3/4 " dowel sticks to fill the gondola and leave the lathe in the box.

Thanks for getting my thought process moving tonight.!

@Berkshirelover726 posted:

I finally took the tree down so I can see what I have to work with a bit easier. Sorry for it being sideways but I was working out the best way to set up my 456 and 397. But, of course, I had to get some trains out and have some fun. My dad and I will pick the platform up and put legs under it so it will be easier to work on. I'll keep you all updated.

How do you keep the train on the elevated section?

I could only attempt that with it standing still.... (Remembers.......the.......very.......frightening 5% grade climb on wobbly trestles supports, on carpet, my error!! And AND attempting to navigate a small Helix <big word, small circle> Chilling and I tried the GG1(FAT BOY) shoulda grabbed the lightweight dependable MARX 400 (Named Timex. yup takes a licking.. keeps on ticking)

Luckily now, I have a Safety Crew that helps me think through and investigate crashes. The GG1 landed on soft pile carpet and there were no injuries to Engineer or fireman.

@lee drennen posted:

Alan maybe it was from this one from my Mom & Dads home town of DeSoto Missouri. Seems like when I was a kid visiting my Grandparents I don’t recall the canopy on it it looked more like the Bar Mills

Thank you, Lee!!! Your station would make a great model also. Is it still standing?

Yes it is

Carl, sure looks like your cars are coming along very nicely! I cant wait to see the finished product!

Cody, I bet that layout was a huge hit during Christmas!

Seth,If if it was me I would just cut the dowels, A lot less of a mess to clean up! But then again I don't have a lathe to work with.

I hope to get out to the train room and work on my crane again today! Wish me luck! LOL

I hope everyone has a great day with there trains and layouts! But most of all I hope everyone has fun!

More Kevin Smith nostalgia I made up

@Berkshirelover726 posted:

I finally took the tree down so I can see what I have to work with a bit easier. Sorry for it being sideways but I was working out the best way to set up my 456 and 397. But, of course, I had to get some trains out and have some fun. My dad and I will pick the platform up and put legs under it so it will be easier to work on. I'll keep you all updated.

Very Nice, What is the automated Accessory in the lower, corner, close to "Slippers" please... looks like my Grandson Needs on of those.... Is it Culvert loader?

thank you. Well done..

I've finally started working on my grain elevator and made some good progress last night.  This is my first scratch build and so it seems to be going better than what I imagined.  It is a mixture of balsa and basswood. 

I still have to finish cleaning the track, but I'm only about 1/4 of the way into it.  Using mineral spirits for the first time to clean the track and so far so good, except for the fumes.  Some of my biggest trouble spots are now working perfectly.  It does seem to make the track more slick and caused one of my trains to stall on a grade that normally wouldn't stall. 

Today I done something I’ve been wanting to do for many years to these old o27 Piggyback Flatcars. I used some wood I got at Hobby Lobby for the Planks then sanded them  all around and added styrene stock for the rub rails. The hitch has taunted me for years how to make them until today I finally found something that would work. I’ll keep you posted what’s next. It’s time to paint

Lee Drennen, again thank you for the compliments, and hopefully your feeling much better by this time. Your a good modeler of building rolling stock, amazing workmanship. Also, Lionelski, I hope you and your family are feeling much better to, this pandemic is a mess. Post more pictures of your great layout when time permits. Now we are on page 978, what a long and fun to review thread, full of many nice pictures of layouts, beautiful trains, a plethora of good ideas for newer model railroaders. Happy Railroading Everyone

Larry thanks for the complement I really enjoy it but sometimes it’s  hard to concentrate when your not breathing well or having Brain Fog. Your not to bad at the handy work yourself by looking at your layout very impressive always enjoy what’s next on your layout.

Lee, that’s what makes the hobby fun. Kit bashing instead of out of the box drop on the layout and run. Personally I think it’s much more enjoyable.

@romiller49 posted:

Lee, that’s what makes the hobby fun. Kit bashing instead of out of the box drop on the layout and run. Personally I think it’s much more enjoyable.

Yes Rod I agree 100% just something about seeing your handy work rolling around the layout is true satisfaction to me instead of the same cookie cutter stuff that’s out there it’s nice also but some how I have to tweak it to my liking.

Guys...please talk about your health issues privately via email.  Several regulars on here have contacted us and have asked that we keep this thread about the trains (we agree) as we need a place to go to get away from sickness discussions.

Not much!  Added some HO scale Caboose Industries ground throws to some of my switches.   My switches are activated by under mounted Tortoise switch machines so they are only cosmetic.    Nice to make use of some old stock from my parts drawer.   Might even to get a few more!

Cheers, Dave