What did you do on your layout today?

I have the Septa trolley but I’m always on the look out for a PTC, PCC in the traditional livery. That’s a nice trolley operation you have set up.

Jeff, good shot at your first try! What I do is buy the mini snow covered trees after Christmas for next to nothing and then just spray paint them dark and light green.

Seth the corner building looks wonderful! I also have 2 brick buildings to do.

Brad, outstanding job on the hospital! I think you hit it spot on from the photo you provided!

Brad, I just subscribed to, and watched, your YouTube video. That’s a really interesting and nice operation you have. However, you need a turn around loop for your trolley line. The subway looks good too.

New 3D print hopper, just waiting for the decals to dry before I start weathering. I just drilled and tapped the bolsters and coupler pockets.
I numbered it 36 for the year my parents were each born. That number car was in use to the end of the railroad in 1950.

Number 44 above shows what it should look like when it's done.

We get to go to page 1001?

Planted the trees in my layout. I guess the family of bears felt right at home.

@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:

I have the Septa trolley but I’m always on the look out for a PTC, PCC in the traditional livery. That’s a nice trolley operation you have set up.

MTH did make a PTC PCC.

No longer in my fleet, alas.

Mitch

@ScoutingDad posted:

Seth - I have two used MTH corner stores coming to fill a "hole" in my layout.  I was planning on spray painting the brick and then laying in the mortar and then dull coat. I might modify the windows as well and add interior detail.  Any other modification suggestions?

I was never a big fan of the MTH shiny plastic building look until I saw how they can be changed into something more appealing by forum members.

With your plans to highlight the mortar joints on the buildings.  I have learned this winter to use pastel powders to weather the brick and structure trim in precise locations on your structures.  It allows to show a color such as where moss and algae grow on a moist side of a structure.

The primary part to the structures I would definitely add would be lighting.  I am truly partial to illuminating buildings on the layout for operations after dark. I’m new to the LED lighting and have recently installed Woodland Scenic plug in lighting.  I have discovered at a local train shop they have various lighting strengths and brightness in the LED.  Their controls will allow for intensity and setting moods.  You can illuminate interiors as well as exterior.

I believe signs on the buildings adds ownership and character to the structures. Along with advertising signage, as I will use one example that we saw on the Forum was a Sealcrest sign.  The name provided age or vintage as well as familiarity to the layout.  I’m certain it was fun to it’s creator.

I will take this opportunity to complement you on your wonderful work in design if your layout and scenes.

John

Lighting is a key component of layout buildings. This is an Ameritowne building I recently completed on my layout. The coach lamps and loading dock light are from Evan Designs. The interior lights were scratch built.

Pole has an Evan's fixture on it.

@ScoutingDad posted:

We get to go to page 1001?

Planted the trees in my layout. I guess the family of bears felt right at home.

The trees you made look really good.  The only ones I've seen with perfect branches come out of a box with lights attached.

@M. Mitchell Marmel posted:

MTH did make a PTC PCC.

No longer in my fleet, alas.

Mitch

Mitch, when you had it in your fleet was it a good runner, I'm thinking about buying one.

Thanks

Jeffrey

@mike g. posted:

Jeff, good shot at your first try! What I do is buy the mini snow covered trees after Christmas for next to nothing and then just spray paint them dark and light green.

Seth the corner building looks wonderful! I also have 2 brick buildings to do.

Brad, outstanding job on the hospital! I think you hit it spot on from the photo you provided!

Thank you, @mike g.!

Yes @Tranquil Hollow RR I do need a trolley turn around!  Ah, for more real estate!

@M. Mitchell Marmel that is the trolley that failed for me.  Very disappointed, too, as I once lived in Philadelphia and rode the #10 line frequently.

@RSJB18 love your lights!  I put two of the Evans Designs lights inside the hospital.  With paper window treatments in place, they make just enough light to be muted as late night might be.

Mitch, that’s the one I’m searching for.

Thanks for the feedback Seth and Bob for the helpful hints. I tried and liked the pastel chalks I used on the Bachmann/Plasticville Station kit bash. Takes a bit getting used to how much chalk to apply and what colors. The finger works best once brushed on. Haven't bought anything yet from Evans - but on the to do list. Also toyed with the WS lighting options to add to the LEDs I already have.

Mitch / Jeffery - that trolley looks really neat for a city layout. Maybe one day - for my next layout ...   

As for the trees - I think I like the wire or natural material for trees with static grass best. Now for bushes, I have an idea for using the filter material, however the green poly modelers use, looks good as well. I assume the glass fibers are stiffer.  I'll keep these trees in place , but perhaps make a couple or three wire pines to go in front of them. Without my glasses I can't see the detail from that far away anyway so maybe it doesn't matter - but I would know.

@Jeffery Boat posted:

Mitch, when you had it in your fleet was it a good runner, I'm thinking about buying one.

As good as any Protosound 2 PCC.  Never tried programming it for station stops or out-and-back, but the E unit and station announcements worked fine.   

@Brad Trout posted:

@M. Mitchell Marmel that is the trolley that failed for me.  Very disappointed, too, as I once lived in Philadelphia and rode the #10 line frequently.

Mitch

Just finished my latest hopper car...

Mitch, wonderful looking trolly!

Jeff, the trees look just fine and like you stated the bears seam to like them!

Lee, outstanding work! They fit right in on your layout!

You guys all make me jealous with your amazing work!

Mark asked me:

“Seth, the mortar joints look great!  What method did you use?”

The  brick walls are first sprayed with red primer.

using pill cups left over from when mother in law was in nursing home,

I squeezed into one cup a nickel size blob of antique white acrylic paint.  I stir in water with a quarter inch pointed brush to a consistency of whole milk.  Add a drop of dawn dish detergent. And stir.

I have an old cotton t shirt, add water to a six inch round.  Squeeze out most of the water to use to wipe off the layer of antique white from the brick....

As I continue to stir, I apply the antique making certain the mortar joints are filled with the color.  Depending on the heat an humidity of your environment, paint your entire brick side, only one side each time, and wait three to five minutes. Or whenever you feel best. The wait time depends on you as you first experiment.

With the wet cloth and finger, lightly rub the brick until clear from the paint and the brick is all one solid red brick.  As you rub move cloth from finger to a clean space in the cloth. So not to continue to smear the color over the red brick.  Do not press the brick with the cloth for the paint will disappear from the mortar joints. Reminder, one wall at a time to pint and wipe off...

Add new water on the cloth  until the brick wall becomes clean and the mortar shows thru...

I do not like the bright red brick with the antique white showing.

So the following day I added a burnt red pastel chalk brushed on the whole wall. This tones down your wall.  The more you brush with the dry brush I feel the better the look of the brick...

Thank you, Seth.  I have used a similar method, but I haven’t brushed on pastel chalk after the mortar color has completely dried.  That would definitely tone things down and blend it well.  I will have to add the chalk to ones I did.

Seth, you reminded me of a video I saw a while back. Very similar technique. Except this guy put a base coat down followed by another brick coat which he dabbed off in places. He finished with the mortar and a lot of scrubbing. The two tone effect is quite good.  link follows Galgoram Hall   I saw another which I cannot find where the guy mixed IPA in with the mortar instead of water. It looks to wick really well along the grout lines and avoided the brick surface. I did that on a building and was pleased with the effect.

Great work getting accomplished on the layouts!

Mark - your lift bridge project came out great. I was pondering trying much the same from Mike's design.

Seth - nice work on the mortar lines!

Brad - enjoyed your you tube videos, nice work on the subway stations.

Lee - Really nice job on the 3D print of the hopper!

I have completed another background building structure. Still need to get the lighting completed and one final dull coat spray. This will be put on a raised section with retaining walls as a transition into a more rural setting. Fun build from ITLA in Canada. Loads of detail parts.

Stay Safe,

Scott

Scott, thank you!!

That background building looks great!!

Scoutingdad

“saw another which I cannot find where the guy mixed IPA in with the mortar instead of water. It looks to wick really well along the grout lines and avoided the brick surface. I did that on a building and was pleased with the effect.”

IPA.
Tonight I can’t come up with this acronym 🙄

@B&O Fan posted:

Great work getting accomplished on the layouts!

Mark - your lift bridge project came out great. I was pondering trying much the same from Mike's design.

Seth - nice work on the mortar lines!

Brad - enjoyed your you tube videos, nice work on the subway stations.

Lee - Really nice job on the 3D print of the hopper!

I have completed another background building structure. Still need to get the lighting completed and one final dull coat spray. This will be put on a raised section with retaining walls as a transition into a more rural setting. Fun build from ITLA in Canada. Loads of detail parts.

Stay Safe,

Scott

Sorry I do not know how to reply without the tremendous duplication ....

these photos of your building are wonderful

Question

are the buildings already painted and or assembled before you order them from ILTA.?

Meant to spell it out - IPA is isopropyl alcohol aka rubbing alcohol. Same stuff used to wet ballast before the glue mix. I tried denatured alcohol but it tends to gel the glue. Not that different chemically, puzzling why it does that.

On the Waxhaw division in the larger yard. I think i have my trackage lined up as per the final plan. It is laid out on some Cork roadbed sheets which gives it the yard feel. The mainline in the foreground has the regular single track roadbed style.

I will need to do some tapping on the track ends to close up some gaps at the track joints, screw the tracks down and solder in the jumpers to power up the tracks. All the turnouts have caboose hand throws . Polled some freight cars through the trackage and things work well . One turnout needs a little tweaking as some cars wobble a bit bring pushed an pull through the turnout. No derailments.

So here we are at the yard entrance. Used the MTH tower here because it was a bit larger than others and seemed appropriate.

Looking back on that location

Here is a nice overhead shot looking down towards the Morrison doors building . This structure is interesting on all four sides so it needs to be in a signature location

Still on the flyover. Looking back in the opposite direction . And yes someday i will unpackage the MD building.

looking from the mainline side. Looking for  a small station building to place on the small shelf area just to the right of the main. 

here are a couple og views from ground level. This one looking by the coal tower

This one shows us the start of the storage area .Three log and one short track

and one last ground level peek-a-boo shot standing next to the Menards feed and grain mill. The longer track extends to the Feed and grain and thinking of adding some piping to unload covered hoppers here.

Now it will be on to the scenery projects. Some is started but lots to go. Hope you enjoyed the little tour for today.

@RSJB18 posted:

Lighting is a key component of layout buildings. This is an Ameritowne building I recently completed on my layout. The coach lamps and loading dock light are from Evan Designs. The interior lights were scratch built.

Pole has an Evan's fixture on it.

Bob. Those pics are awesome! The lighting is beautiful. Your skills are exploding these past few years

I added a back drop to the other side of the layout this evening now you get to see more angles of the layout

I guess that’s what many of us are attempting to achieve, that yard feel!

enjoyed your cork lines in your photos

thank you!

@ScoutingDad posted:

Meant to spell it out - IPA is isopropyl alcohol aka rubbing alcohol. Same stuff used to wet ballast before the glue mix. I tried denatured alcohol but it tends to gel the glue. Not that different chemically, puzzling why it does that.

I’ve tried the alcohol route with several paints, acrylic was the worse for , as grandpa said,

troubled up things 😆

so in order for the joints to fill, I stayed with water an only added the Dawn...  

stay with it Man, you are doing great...

and

one day your pines will fall from the weight of the inches of ice and snow...🙁

Bob, the night time ambiance is great. It has such an authentic look.

@Seth Thomas posted:

LIRR Steamer

On the Waxhaw division in the larger yard. I think i have my trackage lined up as per the final plan. It is laid out on some Cork roadbed sheets which gives it the yard feel

I enjoyed reading the description and the terms used,

”yard feel”

I guess that’s what many of us are attempting to achieve, that yard feel!

enjoyed your cork lines in your photos

thank you!

Thank You Seth. I like to think that my descriptions would help draw the post readers into the layout experience as I would see it. Its sort of like we are talking together about it. Sharing what i am doing.

Happy you are enjoying it

@Seth Thomas posted:

Sorry I do not know how to reply without the tremendous duplication ....

these photos of your building are wonderful

Question

are the buildings already painted and or assembled before you order them from ILTA.?

Seth,

The ITLA building comes as a kit. It's laser cut MDF and birch. What's nice about it is that due to the way they configure the wall system, you can put it together in several different ways to accommodate your available space. So, lots of painting and gluing of parts. Fun one to do.

Thanks,

Scott

PAGE 1000!!!!!!

@ScoutingDad posted:

Meant to spell it out - IPA is isopropyl alcohol aka rubbing alcohol. Same stuff used to wet ballast before the glue mix. I tried denatured alcohol but it tends to gel the glue. Not that different chemically, puzzling why it does that.

Whew!  I was thinking India Pale Ale, which may give some indication of where my brain is at on Saint Patrick's Day... ;-)

Mitch

OK now that would be - funny?  - smelly?  - using India Pale Ale as a wetting agent prior to ballasting. Wonder what kind of growth one would see from that. Maybe a replacement for static grass or ground cover!

Well folks on the Waxhaw Division heard about the big celebration for the achievement of 1000 pages on this post. Here are two citizens getting ready to board the arriving RDC which will take them to the 1000 post party.

There was some thought about souvenirs to commemorate the event. Here we have a freight car with 1000 post page memorabilia loaded up and ready to be picked up

And I did promise to take Morrison's Doors out of the package and so it has happened to commemorate page 1000.

And when the event celebration is done, our Waxhaw citizens will make there way down to the Menards Hobby shop and maybe pick up some supplies for the layout future.

This is really a great thread with everyone doing great work and having fun.  It has been inspiring to me along the way . So here is an overall view of the Layout built for the Waxhaw division so far while this thread is going on

So as we head for page 2000 on the thread, here is a peak at coming attractions. I need to cover an access hole and i am thinking about a Styrofoam cover using some buildings which are the foam covered with building paper and maybe some smaller buildings and some plasticville structures in a small urban area built on the foam cover. It will be lightweight and easy to remove when necessary/

Folks this is astounding that we have 1000 pages of such a wide range of talent and insight. We have all learned from each other and have provided encouragement, suggestions, and it’s been fun. A special thank you goes to jdeveejr who got this show started        on 1-3-13. So now we are at 39,965 posts!

@LIRR Steamer- great work. I like the idea for the lift out.

Yes- 1000 pages for this thread is quite an accomplishment. I think I've been here since about page 249 in 2016. Been a fun ride and it's always fun too see the work other modelers are doing.

Here's part of my first post. Come a long way since then.

And the same corner today

Bob

Great contrast Bob.