What did you do on your layout today?

For the past nine days, I've been chasing a dead short on the main line.  The last project was a new 50 inch spur off the second level.  I took that out.  Vacuuming the whole layout was next.  The short did not disappear but the layout looks better.  This afternoon I noticed a Lionel clamp-on with no wires attached.  That was the clue I needed.  I found the wires shorted as they tried to leave the layout.

I guess I wanted to do more.  I reinstalled the new spur and wired two switch controllers.  My body made me kill power to the train building and retreat to the big house.  I think I hear my waterbed calling.

Bill

My Super-O layout is coming along nicely. The track is all wired and today and hooked up the last switch and put up the bump and go track on the trestles. Once this is all finished I'll drop it down on short legs to have it even with the ledge on the porch. Next, hook up the accessories and start getting lights and buildings set up. 

While not just today, over the last few days, we have been able to get the double track all set up. The biggest piece was I finally got around to building a new bridge to span our gap. Total price, approximately 8 dollars and some time.

The base of the bridge is tongue and groove pine flooring, you can 4 foot planks for like 3 bucks a piece at Menards. Lot less expensive than an equivalent pice of wood and I was able to make it rather large. Next, a few years ago, I had found what I think are the two sides to an old Lionel bridge(Haggled down to a dollar for them), so they served as the sides and got screwed to the wood.

For the cross bars, I have a giant bucket of bus bars from electrical panels that my dad had found at the scrap yard. Those got high temp hot glued across to form the supports.

Then we got the track work figured out. Haven't decided what I'm going to paint it yet. It is functional and looks ok, so I may just leave it.

Just playing with camera angles again...

@RSJB18 posted:

I bought the Lionel American flag a while back and was planning on placing it on top of the corner I'm working on. After I did the hill I realized that it wouldn't fit. So I took it apart and I'm doing a mini kit-bash. If you weren't aware, proper US flag etiquette states that if the flag is flown from sundown to sunrise, it must be lit, so....I will be using the lights too. They are LED's with a small board that I can hide behind the hill. The fixtures fit perfectly in 5/16" styrene tube that I cut to length and painted flat black. I will keep the base for a future project.

Progress!

The 5th Marine Division stopped by and assisted with the flag raising!

Happy Friday!

Bob

Cool addition to your layout. 👍🏻

@leapinlarry @Don McErlean @NeophyteMRR- thanks for the kind words.
@Aldovar- looks like you and the little man are having way too much fun!
@p51- another great shot.
@Odenville Bill- glad you were able to fix your shorts
@Berkshirelover726- the layout is coming together.

Bob

I wired up the lights for the flagpole today and installed the street light I scratch built. I think it's almost ready to go on the layout.

playing with the filters on my Samsung S8

Bob

Came out great

matt

Took a few photos from around the layout...

@RSJB18 posted:

I wired up the lights for the flagpole today and installed the street light I scratch built. I think it's almost ready to go on the layout.

playing with the filters on my Samsung S8

Bob

Awesome all the way around

Almost finished up the sand house/tower I’ve been working on  for a bit.

Sand house looks great.

We've been in a bit of a lull for awhile but finally got back into it and got some work done on the quarry.  I think this re-lit the fire for both of us which compelled me to spend a bunch of money on some new accessories...hopefully they arrive soon and next weekend we can get some of those on the layout.

CANESRR, looks very nice. I have been contemplating a mountain top quarry. Using the foam in that situation is a great idea. Thank you

Bob - your corner project has turned out great, like the flag pole project, adds another dimension to it all. Well Done!

Canesrr - the quarry is coming along nicely, good idea.

Ross - the sand house / tower looks really good. I have an old Korber one I need to rebuild,  I like having 2 track service.

I've been doing a little scenery, got some more ballasting done, put up some power lines and finished some little fire hose buildings for the yard.

Stay Safe,

Scott

New building in my layout

Jay, I'll be looking forward to what you do with your quarry...next challenge is the rock walls...we'll be trying some mock ups carving the foam and playing with paint colors.  Have some surprise purchases for the little man to bring it to life and keep him engaged (some workers, porta potties, etc.)...more work when he's here next weekend.

B&O Fan, I just wanted to say your scenic work in the above pictures is great, I would like to see more pictures of your layout, and I am partial to B&O, awesome work. RSJB18 Bob, your lighted Flag pole is really neat, great scenic effect, nice mountain side giving your layout a lot of personality. rscott521, that’s a nice building and the lights are great, is this a kit that you made, it looks like a lumber company, it’s a cool accessory. There’s so much talent on this forum thread, Fantastic workmanship. Happy Railroading Everyone

Got a little more work done on the Twin Pines RailRoad and posted a few images in that topic.  I added masonite skirting around the inside of the layout. I think it makes a big difference in how the layout looks. Now the track no longer seems to hang in mid air.

Been enjoying all the posts - keep up the great work.

Got a little work on scenic project moving recently. Finished making the basic trees, more than I will need probably. Painted the area where I will glue grass and brush. Left hills in white until I'm ready to paint those. And, painted an MTH yellow 19th Century reefer shell with a rust roof, gray with a black roof. I plan to make some windows and doors to represent a 1920s camp car off track but along side a spur. Cheers

Had a bunch of boats with no train cars, so I thought storage facility by the water would help

@mike g. posted:

Great wall Jig and looks like you have a wonderful industrial park plan there! Make sure you have fun along the way!

Have a box 0f 1/4" wood  for deck.

Some ballast getting put down:

@SuperChief posted:

Some ballast getting put down:

Nice- almost makes ballasting track fun!

Bob

Trying out some more detailed scenery on my layout. I do not have the skilled chops that many of you have on this forum but as Bob Ross says, "there are no mistakes, just happy accidents".

All I can say is OUTSTANDING work being done by all! I could list everyone but I have been gone for a couple days and it would be one huge post! LOL I do want to say that bob your corner project turned out looking wonderful!

SuperChief, I wish I had one of those for when I ballasted instead of a plastic cup and paint brush to dress it up!

Chris, I don't see anything wrong with what you have there! In fact I think its great looking!

As for me I have done nothing cause we had the grandkids here and the layout was working just fine. The CEO said it seams like every time the kids come I am working on something and they cant see the trains running. So this time no work just running  trains with the grandkids!

I hope everyone is staying safe and warm. Were spose to get snow for the first time starting today or tomorrow so maybe some train room time then!

Looks great Chris...love the Bob Ross figure...we just saw a bunch of those at the Cracker Barrel 😁

working around the docks. Would like to turn the boat into a gambling casino

I installed plaster cloth on the back side of a mountain.

@Chris1985 posted:

Trying out some more detailed scenery on my layout. I do not have the skilled chops that many of you have on this forum but as Bob Ross says, "there are no mistakes, just happy accidents".

That mountain looks great!

@SuperChief posted:

Some ballast getting put down:

Wicked!

@Chris1985 posted:

Trying out some more detailed scenery on my layout. I do not have the skilled chops that many of you have on this forum but as Bob Ross says, "there are no mistakes, just happy accidents".

Looks great Chris. Love the Bob bobble-head! Scenery work is very forgiving. No right or wrong.

One suggestion when working with plaster cloth. After the cloth dries, I paint it with a thinned joint compound to cover the fabric weave.

@Chris1985 posted:

Trying out some more detailed scenery on my layout. I do not have the skilled chops that many of you have on this forum but as Bob Ross says, "there are no mistakes, just happy accidents".

I think it looks great. I've found that the more I do, it its easier to do. After a while, I found it to be more fun that running the train. P.S. You might want to get bricks that are a little smaller.

@RSJB18 Thanks for the tip! Too late for me at this point since I already painted but will remember for next time.

@Jim Van Every nice call on the bricks! I have a bunch of backdrops coming that are trapped in the USPS vortex. Should arrive soon and I will update my photos.

Thanks all for the comments! I am more into the operating/electrical/ programming side of the hobby but the scenery part is growing on me. Just takes patience (that I lack)!

Sorted out power for Menard Buildings on the club 12x15 layout. Per the Menards load estimates, we were expecting about 5 amps total. We used AC/DC converters boards. sourced from eBay. AFTER we melted the Acc terminals on the MRC Pure Power Dual transformer, we determined that the lighting circuit was pulling 10+ amps.

Plan B we picked up a 35A DC power supply. Thankfully the eBay boards accepted AC or DC input. After making everything DC, we are seeing the ~5A load originally estimated. One or two wall warts are OK. Once you go over a dozen or more Menards buildings, one power source with converter boards (mounted in junction boxes) are the way to go.

Made me a new display case over the past few days. Put it in place this evening.

Good lookin shelves, now you need to fill'em with more trains

Exactly!

Painted a little bit on the hills the last 3 days. Still a little shiny. My matte finish isn't very effective. Found a plastic door in the left over drawer for one end of the camp car and made six windows (3 each) for the sides. Lots of folks working on their layouts and trains I see. My basement is not cold but not comfortable to hang out for a long time. I can't finish the project I'm doing until it warms up enough to paint my tree forms earth brown camo before foliage. In the meantime, I need to clean the track before I run my trains. Cheers.

Tried to smooth down my green frog tape, which I use on my cardboard streets on my floor layout. Supposed to simulate grass growing over the ends of the streets to smooth the transition between the cardboard streets and underlying green felt. ( Most of carpeted floor covered by this latter). Tape sticks briefly (for a few days, at least) on the felt. Need roads for my many 1:43-1:50 vehicles.....Sticky tape 4 inches wide simulating asphalt with center white stripes covers the cardboard.