What did you do on your layout today?

@lee drennen posted:

A BIG THANKS to Don, Mitch, and Bob for the virtual help on the derailment. The car is back up on the tracks. After all the inspectors left the UP Rail-Truck Service dropped off some trailers to load all the damage freight so the empty car can head to the car shops for some repairs. One trailer is already loaded and the other is staged to load  the other side of the car. The shipment was a total lost.

Lee, great looking "pup" trailers.  The ground cover work and the ballast around the tracks looks realistic...

@RSJB18 posted:

I've got more....😂

That’s pretty cool. You never know what’s in those Boxcars

@Mark Boyce posted:

Excellent job Gents!!  I’ll call my crane to turn around.  It’s still only in Ohio last I checked!  😉

Mark. Send me the bill for your fuel and surcharge thanks for the effort

@Capetrainman posted:

Lee, great looking "pup" trailers.  The ground cover work and the ballast around the tracks looks realistic...

Thanks Paul. I bought these last fall I have 6 Lionel PS-4 Piggyback Flatcars with these on them.

@M. Mitchell Marmel posted:

All drawbars are not created equal.

On the left, a regular Scout drawbar.  On the right, another drawbar after I mutilated sculpted it to fit the 1130.

It did pay off, though.  (excuse the lousy cell phone video)

Note the passenger in the gondola...

Mitch

Mitch. Nice video I like that whistle

@lee drennen posted:

Mitch. Nice video I like that whistle

It's vintage too!

Of course, Fortescue does get a tad winded, but it's worth it! 

Also arriving today, some additions to the tender collection thanks to Bob S!  Thank you again, Bob! 

Mitch

@lee drennen posted:

Mark. Send me the bill for your fuel and surcharge thanks for the effort

No charge.  There is no fee if we don’t get money for you, as the tv ambulance chasers say.  😉

@third rail posted:

Spent yesterday making trees from dried autumn Joy sedums that I harvested last fall.  Sprayed the trunks flat black then hit them with a heavy dose of hair spray & dunked them in a jar containing dried leaves.

WOW, those turned out really well. Thanks for the share, I'm planting Sedums and Hydrangea... Going weed walking today. I have to give it a try. Well Done!

Lee, I am glad you were able to get your box car back upright! There always seems to be folks here willing to help no matter what is needed!

Bob, your little friends are kind of giving us a look into your mind, could be scary! LOL

Thirdrail, wonderful looking trees, Great job!

@M. Mitchell Marmel posted:

Also arriving today, some additions to the tender collection thanks to Bob S!  Thank you again, Bob! 

Mitch

My pleasure Mitch. I'm sure they will see many more years of use.

Full disclosure to the rest of the gang- I made Mitch promise that he would not be painting these tenders Razorback Red!

@Miggy posted:

WOW, those turned out really well. Thanks for the share, I'm planting Sedums and Hydrangea... Going weed walking today. I have to give it a try. Well Done!

Actually I hate the plants! They attract flies and bees like crazy! But they were there when we bought our house and they're really a plant that requires no care,  just tying the stems together to keep them upright.  I wait till late August to harvest them, strip the leaves and tie them to a rafter to dry, takes about 4 months.

@RSJB18 posted:

My pleasure Mitch. I'm sure they will see many more years of use.

Full disclosure to the rest of the gang- I made Mitch promise that he would not be painting these tenders Razorback Red!

You probably should have been more detailed, Bob. Mitch, aka The Duke of Desecration, is known to use other than Razorback Red in his Frankenstein creations

More signal panel wiring...yay!

Dave

Excellent projects everyone!  What a variety!!

I have built all the supports for the realigned overhead track that I moved back towards the wall to accommodate the length of the Atlas bridge.  It made the most sense to extend it overtop of the lower passing siding.  That made for some interesting supports.  I do not like the looks of a lot of these supports, but I have to keep in mind the who trestle system has only been intended to be temporary until I find something I really like.

@Apples55 posted:

You probably should have been more detailed, Bob. Mitch, aka The Duke of Desecration, is known to use other than Razorback Red in his Frankenstein creations

So true Paul. One never knows what will come out of the RBTC Shops.

What do you expect when a Gi-raffe and a Kitteh are running the show! 😂

There was talk of Frisco markings.....

@Mark Boyce posted:

Excellent projects everyone!  What a variety!!

I have built all the supports for the realigned overhead track that I moved back towards the wall to accommodate the length of the Atlas bridge.  It made the most sense to extend it overtop of the lower passing siding.  That made for some interesting supports.  I do not like the looks of a lot of these supports, but I have to keep in mind the who trestle system has only been intended to be temporary until I find something I really like.

Looking good Mark

Well the derailed car was picked up this afternoon and the trailers are loaded and ready for pick up.

@RSJB18 posted:

So true Paul. One never knows what will come out of the RBTC Shops.

What do you expect when a Gi-raffe and a Kitteh are running the show! 😂

There was talk of Frisco markings.....

Yeah... an adulterated GG-1 in gi-raffe car blue comes to mind

And don’t forget there’s a Siamese in Senior Management

@Apples55 posted:

Yeah... an adulterated GG-1 in gi-raffe car blue comes to mind

And don’t forget there’s a Siamese in Senior Management

So true. We had a siamese cat when I was growing up. They are devious 😂

Thank you, Lee!  I'm glad things are humming again on your railroad!  Those trailers really look great!

I figured out that I have 75 signals accumulated over the years, from dwarfs to full signal bridges, and I need some standard mounting/wiring method to use with them. Just randomly attaching each one to the layout and then wiring it in, then moving on to the next one, isn't going to cut it.

So I've come up with a plan. Once I have tested it and have it operational, I'll take some pix and pass it on.

Don Merz

Nothing to speak of on my layout, but I've done a photo essay on the late Joe Hardy's layout...

https://ogrforum.com/...estate-a-photo-album

Mitch

Well, my project took a lot longer than a day. I decided I wanted a lower loop below my main layout. Some of my ideas included a different style than the traditional landscaping I had done before. I also wanted to use Atlas track instead of Fastrack. I wanted to create space on the ends to leave room for some Menards, MTH or Woodland Scenics prebuilt structures that could just be plug and play. After using a track plan program, many trips to the hardware store and countless nights of sanding and painting, I am ready to show the progress so far.

That is a really nice looking lower level NS1975!  The black paint really looks sharp!

@Mark Boyce posted:

That is a really nice looking lower level NS1975!  The black paint really looks sharp!

Thank you! It is a dark charcoal grey color. I think it brings out the colors in the train, which is what I was going for.

This evening I began my initial step in the weathering process for the Woodlands Scenic’s Corner Emporium.  

I also positioned the Korber building I recently assembled onto the layout.  It’s near the correct position but not wired into the accessories power as yet...

Very neat layout NS1975!

Mark I enjoy seeing your progress tonight!

And Lee, my guess the company’s  insurance adjusters will be able to use your video of the accident.  Just like being there!  I just caught the end of Mizzou vs. Ark game in the SEC basketball tournament in Nashville.

Thank you, Seth

@RSJB18 posted:

So true Paul. One never knows what will come out of the RBTC Shops.

What do you expect when a Gi-raffe and a Kitteh are running the show! 😂

Norma and Fortescue don't know WHAT you're talking about! 

Mitch

@RSJB18 posted:

So true. We had a siamese cat when I was growing up. They are devious 😂

Sylvia says:

Mitch

@NS1975 posted:

Well, my project took a lot longer than a day. I decided I wanted a lower loop below my main layout. Some of my ideas included a different style than the traditional landscaping I had done before. I also wanted to use Atlas track instead of Fastrack. I wanted to create space on the ends to leave room for some Menards, MTH or Woodland Scenics prebuilt structures that could just be plug and play. After using a track plan program, many trips to the hardware store and countless nights of sanding and painting, I am ready to show the progress so far

"What MARK Said".  Very Nice, Well done. Great Photos, thank you for the share

@M. Mitchell Marmel posted:

Sylvia says:

Mitch

Fits the profile 'Nodding head in agreement"

@lee drennen posted:

A BIG THANKS to Don, Mitch, and Bob for the virtual help on the derailment. The car is back up on the tracks. After all the inspectors left the UP Rail-Truck Service dropped off some trailers to load all the damage freight so the empty car can head to the car shops for some repairs. One trailer is already loaded and the other is staged to load  the other side of the car. The shipment was a total lost.

Lee, What a great story! Thanks for the fun, And, AND the fact that you have Matching Trailers to help off load the spill, "Brilliant!" (Third rock from the sun)

@NS1975 posted:

Well, my project took a lot longer than a day. I decided I wanted a lower loop below my main layout.

GREAT JOB, REALLY LOOKS NICE.

"Tsunami UPdate" The Coffee is served in bottomless mugs to the crew. Fresh Kolaches are on site and the Progress is great! Thanks all for the Crew, Dozers, Superman and Batman, Fortescue and the Rest! This has given us a way to initiate the 4x8 plans. The EWES were kept in the UP Trailers so they could stay warm and not be bothered by the GI-Raffes. Thanks to all <salute> (yeah, I don't get out much.....)

Seth. Yes the video with help in the receivers defense.

Miggy. Thanks for the complement that’s what this forum is about FUN. Looks like thing are under control at your end.

Bill. Glad your project is completed.

Great work everyone!

NS1979, what a wonderful addition to your layout, Looks very sharp and professional !

Miggy, I am glad your crews are on site and looks like they will have things cleaned up in no time.

Nothing new from me, just a big smile reading what everyone else is doing!

I hope you all have a great weekend and find time for fun on your layouts!

Scott, looking good.  I had to look up Kolaches since I never heard of them.  They sound tasty!

@third rail posted:

Boats of this size actually plied the Great Lakes before the construction of the Welland Canal.  They would bring ore from Labrador to the mills in Ontario or the U. S.. I have a book about early lake boats,  most were built in the late 1800's early 1900's. My boat plans called for an 8 foot length but I had to reduce the size by removing one hatch to the hold.

This was an intense build,  took a long time even though I worked on it part time.

Here are a few more pictures.

I need to rig the masts and spar, add more railings.

Finished the hand rails on the ore boat and installed a Seuthe smoke unit in the funnel. 

Got the Plastruct tanks done and laid out my fuel depot. See my TPRR topic.

Mark - Kolacky is a cookie made with either sour cream or cream cheese in the dough made into little rectangles, filled with apricot, poppy seed, cherry (any thick fruit filling) folded over to cover the filling in the middle baked (to resemble stained glass) and then dusted with powdered sugar. I have never had a decent one prepackaged - its either home made or from a good bakery - or from a restaurant who makes them. There are also yeast raised kinds which are also good.

i never look at my layout from this angle - I had to be a contortionist to get this camera angle.

Bill. That ore Boat is awesome and the cars lined up beside it looks convincing.

Scoutingdad  The fuel Distribution place looks good