Needs more kitteh sticking his head out. 
Mitch
Big_Boy_4005 posted:In order to facilitate all of this, he has given me some marching orders on things he needs to put together to create a schedule to operate by. All exciting stuff!
This past weekend, I traveled to Brookings, SD, home of South Dakota State University, for my daughter's graduation.
Congratulations young Lady
M. Mitchell Marmel posted:National Train Day, and the Razorback Traction Co./Gi-raffe Express was live at the Frisco depot in Fort Smith...
Naturally, Fortescue J. Gi-raffe and his pals were present...
The Mark VI Fastrack Gi-raffe Brakeman Actuator worked like a charm, even at slow speeds...
Kids and parents alike had a great time!
Across the street: More gi-raffes!
The Fort Smith Frisco depot is known for being made of stone with large quantities of fossils. Here are a couple.
Mitch
Looks like everyone had a great time Mitch.
Are you planning on using those Gi-raffes on your next project? 
RSJB18 posted:Looks like everyone had a great time Mitch.
Are you planning on using those Gi-raffes on your next project?
Could be!
Mitch
Moonson posted:
Frank!
If you say that means a lot. Well, I guess we will change the candy store for a hole in the wall, and the candy store close to the movie theater that will be located in the middle of the downtown.
Andre.
AG posted:Moonson posted:Frank!
If you say that means a lot. Well, I guess we will change the candy store for a hole in the wall, and the candy store close to the movie theater that will be located in the middle of the downtown.
Andre.
You're a fun guy, Andre, and I wish you the absolute best life has to offer. I have been watching your product-line grow and increase in variety with much celebration for your continuing success.
FrankM
Have not done much. Saturday was an all day train outing. Today I had to run to the depot to get flowers but at the same time picked up some more white glue and a bunch of hooks to hang the LED shop lights in better locations........Paul
paul 2 posted:Have not done much. Saturday was an all day train outing. Today I had to run to the depot to get flowers but at the same time picked up some more white glue and a bunch of hooks to hang the LED shop lights in better locations........Paul
Paul, you are such a great guy Flowers for momma! Probably picked up a card also!
Me I got to get the pressure washer running for her to let me know what she wanted washed! LOL
I giggled. Because my steam coach just needs paint touch-up and dullcoat, and it is done. Brass headlamps, bell, and whistle, pilot railing and steps are installed. Next to find a power chassis for an inspection engine project. It should be an easier build as power chassis doesn't have to turn inside a coach body.
Ran trains this morning for a short while and again this afternoon for a bit. After my friend Randy and I installed a new track switch ( on front side of layout ) last weekend and removed a shorted track switch ( located in back of layout ... just a very short siding that held only one freight car ) trains are running very nicely!!
Discovered yesterday that my TMCC hand held remote is not functioning correctly. The hand held remote sends and the base unit receives all commands except for clockwise motion of the red wheel, which should command the locomotive to incrementally speed up. Instead I have to use the boost button to get the locomotive moving forward and hold the boost button down to keep the train at speed. I will have to investigate to see if this sort of thing can be repaired. All other commands from the hand held remote function perfectly, even the red wheel when turned counter clockwise .... the locomotive will slow incrementally as it should. Anyone ever had this problem?
I've got a lot of work to do in re arranging all the scenery and buildings that needed to be removed to facilitate my climbing to the back of the layout to remove the malfunctioning switch and to replace it with a new piece of Gargraves track. I look foward to this project, whenever I get enough time to actually do it. It will take several hours to complete and will be a good way to give this section of the layout a new makeover.
Patrick, sounds like you had a lot of fun which is great! It also sounds like you have a lot of work a head of you and if asked anyone outside of the hobby they would say you must dread it, but we in the hobby all know that that is some of the best fun!
Elliot,
Congats to you and your wife on your daughters graduation!
P51,
The engine looks great. I would leave the stripes on it.
p51 posted:Just got the Whitcomb back together again after putting new decals and detail parts on and I still need to do some weathering with it, but I think it looks pretty good so far.
I'm really glad I put a soldier figure in the cab, as it wouldn't look correct with the engineer figure it came with otherwise.
I'm not going to weather it but just a little, as it's going to represent a brand new locomotive that just got delivered.
That really came out nice and fits in perfect with your layout.. As for weathering. The Army is and was pretty good at keeping their equipment clean. Although the deck would be dull in color, the engine its self would still look fairly new 10 yrs later. So what's next?
p51 posted:Thanks.
The cow pasture fence is next, just completed a water source and hay bales for it.
I just finished this. The bench is about an inch long.
Its always the little things that make a layout great. By the way. on OGRs FB page someone described the GN FA1 video as Sexy. Never herd that description before. 
p51 posted:Thanks.
The cow pasture fence is next, just completed a water source and hay bales for it.
I just finished this. The bench is about an inch long.
You sure go the extra mile Lee and it shows in your layout! I cant wait to see the your fence and hay!
Thanks, Mike!
It's sort of hard to see, but I put a little bit of weathering on each end of the Whitcomb, and along the running years but a little highlights and just a tiny little bit of smudges along a car body and the roof as well as the area of people would be walking into the cab from along the walkway.
Other than that, I think the Army would keep it just about as clean as it appears here, especially if it was brand new not long ago when they got it.
This last shot shows the wear I placed from footprints and grime along the steps and walkways, which would accumulate almost right away...
Attachments
Images (4)
Along with the continued fun of making trees, I finally installed the new bridge.
See trains on the bridge:
Attachments
Images (5)
Awesome bridge !! Looks very realistic .
Kittytrain1969 posted:Awesome bridge !! Looks very realistic .
Thank you I am very pleased with the results. Will weather it at a later date.
Kittytrain1969 posted:Awesome bridge !! Looks very realistic .
I agree, very impressive!
mike g. posted:Patrick, sounds like you had a lot of fun which is great! It also sounds like you have a lot of work a head of you and if asked anyone outside of the hobby they would say you must dread it, but we in the hobby all know that that is some of the best fun!
Yes indeed Mike! I had lots of fun for sure! I agree that we in the hobby know that is some of the best fun. I think of creating layout scenes as visual arts. I leave it all to the imagination and get into the creative flow.
It's done! Last coat of dull coat is drying. Next is to take pictures of this steam coach. Took forever to finish this....longest project under construction. I may put this one on the mantle, as it is unique. Other projects in mind...somebody on here said the Walther's C&NW gas electric was similar to other roads'...need to see who else ran a similar car?
Sounds great Colorado! Looking forward to seeing a photo of the finished product. It will be a family heirloom!!
Got a 244 in the mail from a Mercedes-Benz chum of mine, and I decided to recreate my very first train set from 50 years ago...
It was a mish-mash of mixed pieces that my father had gotten from a work chum who had an extensive Lionel collection in his basement, but I loved it to death and it still exists in the care of my nephews in Boise.
This 244 was missing a marker, so I decided to replace it.
Step 1: 5/16" styrene tube, cut to length.
Step 2: Cemented in place with Testor's styrene cement.
Step 3: After the cement dried, a little Testor's model putty in the back and a dab of flat black paint.
Step 4: Added jewels for that Lionel bling look. 
You can hardly tell the repair from the original!
This method is usable for most locos with a missing marker; if the boiler is diecast, I recommend using JB Weld instead of styrene cement.,
Mitch
Attachments
Kyrian and I completed installation of the rail (Gargraves) on the 120' Cabin Lake Subdivision, also referred to by crews by it's old name, the old "Milwaukee Sub". Now on to wiring it all up. Better than all the crawling around over and under the benchwork! Lots of bruises from oooops! It's coming up on one year of effort beginning with the addition of the upper level benchwork. Was a 1 man crew for years, and now that KY has retired, the 2-person crew moves right along!
All I did today was paint the edges and any wood that may show underneath black on the two boards holding the bridge abutments...................Paul
I was told that I could not work on my trains until i get the pool ready to open. I have been busy pressure washing the deck and things. maybe I will be able to work on them tomorrow while she is at work. I need to finish up some wiring under the table.
Finished steam coach, so went through all books l have on Colorado and Southern..looking for gas electric photos, to find one close to the Walthers C&NW kit. There were a lot of gas electrics built, with EMC drive trains and St. Louis or Pullman bodies. Still looking.
Went to the big box home store and bought my roadbed material. I had to wait until I could get someone to help.....my oldest son finally had a day off without 300 other things to do so he went with me. We got it home and he carried it to the basement for me....now I can do whats needed by myself. I'll post as soon as these is something other than a pile of ply!!!
Painted another coat of white on the superstructure. (Still to cut the grey in).
And made a gangway.
Attachments
Images (1)
That's a real nice picture, Lee.
Lee, now that's a great pic!!!!!!
Lee, you continue to amaze with the pics. Great job......Paul
Nothing
Looks good Lee, I sure like the black and white picture!
