What did you do on your layout today?

@RSJB18 posted:

Got a coat of paint on the plaster cloth. Ground cover and trees are next. Then I have to figure out how to get it set in place.

Bob. Wow that is really shaping up looks very impressive

@RSJB18 posted:

Got a coat of paint on the plaster cloth. Ground cover and trees are next. Then I have to figure out how to get it set in place.

wow that's nice work!

Last night I think I knocked off a chip of the Rail Car repair list. I did some truck and coupler swaps and repairs. These are now ready to go back on the layout roster. The trucks I used on the Reefers are old AHM with Kaydees.

@lee drennen posted:

Bob. Wow that is really shaping up looks very impressive

@ScottV posted:

wow that's nice work!

Thanks guys. I always hated art class in school trying to come up with ideas for projects. I find that with model railroading it comes easier to get the creative juices flowing.

Lee- you seem to have an endless collection of freight cars. I enjoy seeing your rehabs and kit bashes.

Bob

Thanks Bob. I enjoy collecting them and restoring them as well but I need to get focused on the landscape work on the layout and putting down more track.

@RSJB18 posted:

Got a coat of paint on the plaster cloth. Ground cover and trees are next. Then I have to figure out how to get it set in place.

"As the Hamsters said in Secret life of Pets... Used the GIANT Hand... Use the Giant"

(always my go to when derails occur, or Mountain needs to be MOVED) Smile

@Miggy posted:

"As the Hamsters said in Secret life of Pets... Used the GIANT Hand... Use the Giant"

(always my go to when derails occur, or Mountain needs to be MOVED) Smile

The hands aren't the problem, it's the 4' reach. I need longer arms

@lee drennen posted:

Thanks Bob. I enjoy collecting them and restoring them as well but I need to get focused on the landscape work on the layout and putting down more track.

Do you ever get a pair (of couplers) that wont stay connected...... around ANY curve.... like the Staple end Lionel couplers in consist with the MPC couplers? Is there a fix..... I found TAPE works, but sticky to undo ()

Funny about trucks, I do like the old lionel ones, but hey, MPC (Is that the correct term for the new era for Lionel?) They doooooooo Runnnnnnnnn Smooooooooth... must be them needle bearings?

@Miggy posted:

Do you ever get a pair (of couplers) that wont stay connected...... around ANY curve.... like the Staple end Lionel couplers in consist with the MPC couplers? Is there a fix.....

There sure is! 

https://ogrforum.com/...hood-keep-em-coupled

Mitch

@Miggy posted:

Do you ever get a pair (of couplers) that wont stay connected...... around ANY curve.... like the Staple end Lionel couplers in consist with the MPC couplers? Is there a fix..... I found TAPE works, but sticky to undo ()

Funny about trucks, I do like the old lionel ones, but hey, MPC (Is that the correct term for the new era for Lionel?) They doooooooo Runnnnnnnnn Smooooooooth... must be them needle bearings?

Miggy. Sometimes I have trouble with the Lionel ones but most of the time it’s those Weaver Kaydee type. Might have to try the tape thing

I have several Weaver 50’ ribbed boxcars need weight. Years ago, I was maintenance person for larger apartment complexes, each time people moved out, I would fix and replace anything that broken. Most common is vertical blind covers on sliding doors, before toss them out, I cut and take off metal plates as weight at bottom of blind covers. I think I have about 40-50 of them and already knew I will use it inside of boxcars as weight. I used hot glue gun on metal plates then put on floor of the boxcar. C&NW is other words as “Cheap and Nothing Wasted” 😉  Patrick

@CGWforever posted:

I have several Weaver 50’ ribbed boxcars need weight. Years ago, I was maintenance person for larger apartment complexes, each time people moved out, I would fix and replace anything that broken. Most common is vertical blind covers on sliding doors, before toss them out, I cut and take off metal plates as weight at bottom of blind covers. I think I have about 40-50 of them and already knew I will use it inside of boxcars as weight. I used hot glue gun on metal plates then put on floor of the boxcar. C&NW is other words as “Cheap and Nothing Wasted” 😉  Patrick

Great idea Patrick

@CGWforever posted:

I have several Weaver 50’ ribbed boxcars need weight. Years ago, I was maintenance person for larger apartment complexes, each time people moved out, I would fix and replace anything that broken. Most common is vertical blind covers on sliding doors, before toss them out, I cut and take off metal plates as weight at bottom of blind covers. I think I have about 40-50 of them and already knew I will use it inside of boxcars as weight. I used hot glue gun on metal plates then put on floor of the boxcar. C&NW is other words as “Cheap and Nothing Wasted” 😉  Patrick

Well scrounged! 

Mitch

@CGWforever, that’s a neat way to add weight to our box cars, and if you all remember when The Weaver Company was in business, on the Weaver home layout, you would see engines lashed up pulling over a 100 car freight trains. The weighted cars track better, great idea. RSJB18, Bob, your hidden talents are coming to full view, nice Tunnel Portal and wall work, really great idea, great colors. Happy Sunday Everyone.

Great pics and beautiful layout LeapinLarry.  Always look forward to your pics

Well hello everyone! I hope you all are doing well, from the looks of all the great work everyone is keeping busy! Bob, its looking good I am sure you will find a way to get it back in the corner!

Lee, wonderful job on the trailers they look ready for the road!

Patrick, I know one thing. Free is good and has always been my friend! LOL Great idea!

Mark, wonderful job on the shelves. I am sorry about your Menards bridge, but now you can get one that will fit your layout better! Always think positive !

Well I hadn't worked in the train room for a while as the CEO had other plans for my labor! LOL But I did get a chance to get out there today and was looking at where my crane was and that there were no roads to get to the other end of the layout. So I up and moved my crane, made some roads that still need alot of work, and decided to add a switch so I could have one small siding for my auto carrier that I bought just for the scratch built auto ramp. Here are a couple of photos I hope you all had a great weekend and found time to have fun!

mike g.  Thank you, Mike!  You are right, I will come up with a better bridge for the situation.  The last two days I have been working on measuring and making a drawing that approximates what you sent me, but fits my layout.  One question, From the drawing and the pictures you sent me, it looks like you used some kind of rod through the wood at the pivot point.  I have some all thread that is long enough, I don't know how well that will work.  Did you use a rod through a conduit or something so it is metal turning on metal instead of the wood? 

@Mark Boyce posted:

mike g.  Thank you, Mike!  You are right, I will come up with a better bridge for the situation.  The last two days I have been working on measuring and making a drawing that approximates what you sent me, but fits my layout.  One question, From the drawing and the pictures you sent me, it looks like you used some kind of rod through the wood at the pivot point.  I have some all thread that is long enough, I don't know how well that will work.  Did you use a rod through a conduit or something so it is metal turning on metal instead of the wood?

Hi Mark, I just used long enough bolts threw bearings. I might have some if you need. I just drilled a hole that was tight enough for me to tap the bearing into place.

@mike g. posted:

Hi Mark, I just used long enough bolts threw bearings. I might have some if you need. I just drilled a hole that was tight enough for me to tap the bearing into place.

That’s a great idea.  I have some parts in the shed.  If not, the hardware store is down at the bottom of the hill where I can see B&P, B&LE, and AK Steel trains when they run.  Thank you!

@Mark Boyce posted:

That’s a great idea.  I have some parts in the shed.  If not, the hardware store is down at the bottom of the hill where I can see B&P, B&LE, and AK Steel trains when they run.  Thank you!

I will try to get some better pictures of that area tomorrow.

@mike g. posted:

I will try to get some better pictures of that area tomorrow.

Okay!  Thank you!

Working on this old AHM Reefer I painted and decaled some time ago. I added the Reefer Hatches and walkway tonight. Next will be the stirrups, ladders and couplers then on to the layout roster. My goal this week is to get 4 more cars done.

Lee - what do you do to put the stirrups on? I am constantly breaking the stirrups off my Atlas Steam Era Classic reefers.  Thanks   Jeff

The before and after pics of this custom Plasticville home is on the "Plasticville: Customs, paint, bashes" thread, if interested.

Today it was added to the layout to house the citizens of Warrenville:

@Strap Hanger posted:

Next up I think I’ll take a stab at Pearl Paint and then Carnegie Deli. 

Ah, CBGB. As for Pearl Paint, I assume the one on Canal Street up on the second floor?  I made may  trips there in the 70s and 80s.

I started adding some fence for my cows.

Scott, I like the fence work and your blog. Nice history there.  Jeff

@ScoutingDad posted:

Lee - what do you do to put the stirrups on? I am constantly breaking the stirrups off my Atlas Steam Era Classic reefers.  Thanks   Jeff

Jeff I just glue them on with Gorilla super glue and hope for the best

@CGWforever posted:

I have several Weaver 50’ ribbed boxcars need weight. Years ago, I was maintenance person for larger apartment complexes, each time people moved out, I would fix and replace anything that broken. Most common is vertical blind covers on sliding doors, before toss them out, I cut and take off metal plates as weight at bottom of blind covers. I think I have about 40-50 of them and already knew I will use it inside of boxcars as weight. I used hot glue gun on metal plates then put on floor of the boxcar. C&NW is other words as “Cheap and Nothing Wasted” 😉  Patrick

I think our Favorite Member of the Razorback Lines in GI-Raffe ville might say you get some "Scrounge" points there... wellplayed sir, Well Played

@Will posted:

Ah, CBGB. As for Pearl Paint, I assume the one on Canal Street up on the second floor?  I made may  trips there in the 70s and 80s.

Exactly, Will, the original store that was on 308 canal street. It looks very doable and will fit in with my layout perfectly. This is the image I'm going to copy with that nice, red fire escape - http://www.nychinatown.org/sto.../canal/308canal.html

Looks like another busy weekend. Everyone is doing some great work.

Thanks for all the comments on my project. I didn't think it was possible to grow grass in New York in January but I managed to make it happen. More detailing to do next, so I'm off to one of my LHS's today to restock on Woodland Scenic supplies.

@snmerr posted:

I started adding some fence for my cows.

HMmmmmmmmmmmmmm.... Verrry nice snmerr..... EWE think I might try something like that for my growing herd? Santa wants them off the mountain.

I thought about knitting warm sweaters in the spring. What do EWE think. <g>

I needed two custom length RealTrax straight sections for my current  “final” layout plan, 8” and 12”.  Using a hacksaw with wood blocks as guides, I took 2” out of one piece and inserted it into another.  I used thick CA to join the pieces and a drill underneath to open up soldering points to the rails.  Rail joints were cleaned up with a Dremel and hand files.

Pleased with outcome and amount of effort required.   These sections are the older solid rail RealTrax.   I have newer hollow rail 30” sections on order to replace the longer runs.

Bob, corner build is looking really nice! Cant wait to see it in place!

Mark here are a couple photos of the area we were talking about. I hope it helps!

Mike, Those photographs make it so much clearer.  I was imagining the bolt having to go the whole way from the front of the table to the back.  in my case, about 26 inches.  Matching these photographs with the drawings you gave me earlier make it look much easier!!  Thank you very much!

This weekend I reconfigured my operating session card system. Several years ago I posted my card system FWIW based on borrowed ideas. Of the six sessions, I only completed three. The problem was I tried to include too many scenarios in any session. I was stuck in session one for a long time and couldn't run other locos and trains and switch cars to different industries. The new experiment involves six sessions.

Sessions 1 and 4: Road orders for WB Local passenger train run and an EB mail express train run that reverses those trains, their next direction, and starting points. Each train makes water stops and station stops along the way.

Sessions 2 and 5:  Yard orders to build a WB oil tanker train and an EB mixed freight train, then running those trains in similar fashion as the Local and mail express. A coal train is substituted for the Tanker train in session 5.   

Sessions 3 and 6: Yard orders: (a) build switching train for industries. (b) build tanker or coal road train. (c) build mixed freight road train. Switch orders to spot, hold or take cars. The road trains are then ready to run for the next sessions 2 and 5.

I will see if this abbreviated system allows for more train running without too many time consuming complicated manuvers. Cheers.

Almost done with touch-up to the shells and end pieces for these 4 LIONEL 15" offset dome cars for my Northern Pacific North Coast Limited train based on PW F-3 A and B units.

Will need to start on another A unit to make ABA, and replace single motor power with dual motor A unit.

Progress.

@Pingman posted:

Almost done with touch-up to the shells and end pieces for these 4 LIONEL 15" offset dome cars for my Northern Pacific North Coast Limited train based on PW F-3 A and B units.

Will need to start on another A unit to make ABA, and replace single motor power with dual motor A unit.

Progress.

This is starting to look like a labor of love Carl. I'm impressed with your perseverance to get it right. 👍

@RSJB18 posted:

Looks like another busy weekend. Everyone is doing some great work.

Thanks for all the comments on my project. I didn't think it was possible to grow grass in New York in January but I managed to make it happen. More detailing to do next, so I'm off to one of my LHS's today to restock on Woodland Scenic supplies.

Bob that turned out great! The grass is Definitely greener in New York than Missouri

My lawn is pretty brown at the moment. 28 degrees with snow forecast for tomorrow 😂😂

Thanks @lee drennen