What did you do on your layout today?

p51 posted:

dobermann posted:

Finished this

Wow, you're just cranking these out, aren't you?

They look great!

Thanks. They'll still need a black wash, some details added and weathering powders before they're placed. Shipping's been killing me so I'm waiting until I can order some things like electric meters in quantities more than 1. 

I probably have 10 more Downtown Deco buildings. Easy builds. I really like them. Like River Leaf Models kits if you stay with it you can finish 1-1 1/2 each day

joe

The grand children are over for an over night trip. We played out side, most of the day, but it was 84ºF so we came inside for a snack and ran the trains.

I've been attempting to make my layout "underneath" friendly. The two pictures should tell the story. I find it really problematic trying to get under the layout so I decided to bring the underneath up to a reasonable place to work. 

                Brian

Brian,

Making your layout fold up is excellent for working underneath!  You did a fantastic job on the carpentry and the wiring is looking good!

Hi B F King / Brian

Gary

Yesterday: Photos taken. My classroom O-scale layout has to be removed, and be put away in storage. A twinge of sadness, but it must be done. Two layout boards, 4x8 and 2.5x7. We ran my Lionel O-scale Polar Express. All the buildings and figures are Dept. 56 Seasons Bay. Atlas O three rail track.

    Fireplace matchsticks, hot glue, 1:24 alternator, a plastic doll suitcase, 2 eye screws clipped & bent, heated and melted in place, all because I didn't want to throw away the skull and crossbones stickers

I'm thinking maybe as is my the mine, factory, or with a sprayer on an old MOW car.

trainroomgary posted:

Hi B F King / Brian

Gary

That's a really good idea.  I would have to go all 'Tool Time" and put a hydraulic lift on it.

In between doing bench work I am still putting together projects for the eventual layout.  Worked on this last night (while watching another Cleveland sports team disappoint) and finished it this morning.

Nice Bryan.

Nice looking building Bryan. However I remember your red light district from the last layout and it seems the dark side of town is getting larger. I think you better add to the police department next.  Surprised it came out so good considering you were watching the Cavs game last night....LOL...........Paul

A double post today since I just finished up adding all the decking to the layout.  I was able to save all the sheets from the last layout and it barely covered just the subway section of the new layout.  Heading down to the Bahamas tomorrow so no progress reports until Mid June....that should give Paul some time to catch up. 

Bryan, hope you have a great vacation. By the time you get back, you will know if the Cavs are World Champs or not. Also, remember there are the Cleveland Indians. There doing just fine this year. Your layout looks interesting. Soon as you get back, and 4th of July comes I'll let you know about ours. Things are going ok for us and my wife. Thanks.  Tom Sr.

Very nice posts Bryan.

Larry

I have got the Markle, Ind. elevator kit shaped up, and  am thinking about what glue to use to attach all the corrugated real metal strips to the outside of the building.  Yellow wood glue won't hold, I would like to use two part epoxy but that will take forever mixing, and a quantity of it...and things like Testor's wood and metal may not hold either, but I guess I will go with that.  It will take a lot of this builing....

So kind of you Bryan to go on a vacation so I can catch up. But so far I have not had much luck to work on the layout because Mother Nature will not give me any rain days. This weekend may be different but from all the other days it was to rain I am not counting on it. But on a high note today the Postal carrier dropped off a package I had been waiting for,  a Genesee Beer three car set Buffalo Creek Graphics made a number of years ago. One happy camper I was today. Plus negotiations went well with the wife for more area in the basement for tables. So take your time in the Bahamas. No need to hurry back. You and your wife enjoy yourselves and by all means if you want to extend your stay that will give me more time to work on tables. Anyways here is a pic of the set I got today.........Paul

Bryan,

That is great looking!     Enjoy the trip to the Bahamas.

colorado hirailer posted:

I have got the Markle, Ind. elevator kit shaped up, and  am thinking about what glue to use to attach all the corrugated real metal strips to the outside of the building.  Yellow wood glue won't hold, I would like to use two part epoxy but that will take forever mixing, and a quantity of it...and things like Testor's wood and metal may not hold either, but I guess I will go with that.  It will take a lot of this builing....

Sand the metal if real smooth, and maybe even prime it for better adhesion with "hard glues".

Contact cement, or even rubber cement should work well.

Did my semi-annual workbench tidying.  In addition, here are some works in progress:

L-R:  The MTH semaphore received a new arm and screw terminal  (incidentally, the Lionel semaphore arm can be used on an MTH signal, but the mounting hole needs to be drilled out to accommodate the larger pin used); the Lionel signal and gate were cleaned and checked, with parts to be ordered from Train Tender; the 068 mast was transformed from a twisted heap of wreckage to a slightly dented heap of wreckage (again, a mast top and warning buck will be ordered from TT); and the Marx crossing gate was the recipient of a solenoid coil rewinding, which was a rather entertaining activity involving Bic mechanical pencils... 

The silver baggage car in the foreground is a former Pennsy unit, odd man out with my MPC heavyweights but a perfect match for my Amtrak consist once I order decals.   Incidentally, I found the recommendation for Rustoleum American Accents Silver Metallic spray here on OGRR, and it is a very good match for the Amtrak units...

Naturally, Shop Supervisor Norma Bates Kitteh was on hand to ensure all the work was performed properly.  

Mitch

The train stuff is OK but I love Norma Bates Kitteh  !!

I went all "Chris Lonero" on an 0-4-0 & toy tender.

Whilst mulling over the unsatisfactory selection of Lionel Amtrak decals for my former Pennsy baggage car, I said to myself, "Self, you have 30 years of Mac graphics experience, sticker paper and a perfectly serviceable Color LaserJet on your desk!  Why not roll your own?" 

To think was to act, and here are the results (with factory Amtrak car for comparison)! 

Not bad for 45 minutes' work, sez I!  Amtrak graphics file available on request.   

Mitch

Working on the piers for the upper circle today. Using a drill press with a spade drill bit to cut holes in the 2" wood blocks for the 1" plastic solid dowels and rings. Tom showed me how to do the first one, then made me  do the other seven. Sprayed the wood blocks gloss black to match the table legs.

Carey TeaRose posted:

Working on the piers for the upper circle of track today. Using a drill press with a spade drill bit to cut holes in the 2" wood blocks for the 1" plastic solid dowels and rings. Tom showed me how to do it on the first one, and made me drill the other seven. Sprayed the blocks gloss black to match the layout table legs.

Today was Alco Day at the Razorback Traction Co., as my MPC Amtrak consist with the freshly painted and stickered baggage car met my refurbished postwar freight consist:

A shot of the freshly stickered ex-Pennsy baggage car in the consist:

Naturally, Road Supervisor Norma Bates Kitteh was on the scene:

Mitch

Carey TeaRose posted:

Yesterday: Photos taken. My classroom O-scale layout has to be removed, and be put away in storage. A twinge of sadness, but it must be done. Two layout boards, 4x8 and 2.5x7. We ran my Lionel O-scale Polar Express. All the buildings and figures are Dept. 56 Seasons Bay. Atlas O three rail track.

Carey - If I were a kid at your school, I'd definitely have wanted to be in your class!!!  Awesome layout!!!!!  Your students are lucky to have you, for sure!!!!

Carey TeaRose posted:

Yesterday: Photos taken.My classroom O-scale layout has to be removed, and be put away in storage. A twinge of sadness, but it must be done. Two layout boards, 4x8 and 2.5x7. We ran my Lionel O-scale Polar Express. All the buildings and figures are Dept. 56 Seasons Bay. Atlas O three rail track.

 

I've only caught part of this.

Why? 

Finished this. Security bars are a little rough so maybe I'll replace them later or not

Adriatic posted:

Carey TeaRose posted:

Yesterday: Photos taken.My classroom O-scale layout has to be removed, and be put away in storage. A twinge of sadness, but it must be done. Two layout boards, 4x8 and 2.5x7. We ran my Lionel O-scale Polar Express. All the buildings and figures are Dept. 56 Seasons Bay. Atlas O three rail track.

 

I've only caught part of this.

Why? 

the school year is ending, everything in the classrooms have to be moved out for cleaning in the summer. These are set up on 3-x6 folding tables- no supporting understructure of their own. And I have to intern not at this school (for various reasons- too long a story) to be able to complete my teaching credential by end of school year 2017.

trumptrain posted:

Carey TeaRose posted:

Yesterday: Photos taken. My classroom O-scale layout has to be removed, and be put away in storage. A twinge of sadness, but it must be done. Two layout boards, 4x8 and 2.5x7. We ran my Lionel O-scale Polar Express. All the buildings and figures are Dept. 56 Seasons Bay. Atlas O three rail track.

Carey - If I were a kid at your school, I'd definitely have wanted to be in your class!!!  Awesome layout!!!!!  Your students are lucky to have you, for sure!!!!

What Patrick said.  A loverly layout!  I'm sure it'll be up and shining again in the fall! 

Mitch

Worked on my 726RR. Used some of the new parts to hook up the side rods  and all that "monkey motion".  So far, so good but noisier and slippery compared to my 736.  Would like to get a 726 with Magnetraction one of these days.

Completed a reconstruction of my yard on a section of my layout including signal wiring.

Today: Another coat of gloss black paint on the eight wood bases of the upper circle piers. Epoxy'ed them together to the solid plastic dowels and rings. Next is careful measuring of the size of track circle, and the ordering of the tempered glass circle from a local glass shop.

Installed LED lighting in an MTH NYC wood sided caboose.  It was little tricky due the the side lanterns but it worked out.  I had to add a 2k resistor to dim it down.

My granddaughter was playing on the layout and broke a Downtown Deco building so this is what we did today. Sometime in the next few days I'll start a 4x8 fast-track layout for her. Already ordered some Plasticville buildings and I have some scenery stuff she can have.

Whats the recommended subsurface for fast-track? I have a sheet of homasote and a sheet of pink foam in the garage not being used. I was leaning towards the pink foam to be able to vary the surface. I also have a 10# bag of sculptamold for texture in case fast-track works best on plain plywood.

I used one inch thick foam over top of 3/4" plywood for my Fastrack.  I used drywall trim screws to secure it in place.  The heads fit down in the provided holes. 

jmiller320 posted:

I used one inch thick foam over top of 3/4" plywood for my Fastrack.  I used drywall trim screws to secure it in place.  The heads fit down in the provided holes. 

Would those be #6 x 1-5/8 drywall trim screws?

Yes, #6 and I used the shortest I could find.  Just be careful you don't screw them in too tight.

Ran trains for 15 minutes.  Good times!!

Randy Harrison posted:

My good friend Pat Whitehead (Trumptrain to the forum) came to my house today and showed me the technique of making a rock face with aluminum foil as the base. He did a FABULOUS job. Thank you Pat! You can see why his layout, the Free State Junction Railroad is up for a feature in the OGR Magazine this Fall.

Thanks for the nice compliment Randy!  It was lots of fun working on your layout with you last week!!