Just got back from Home Depot and now have enough Masonite to finish my retaining walls. Will be very glad to have this phase of construction finished. I won't be sorry to see the plastering done either. I like building buildings and adding people to create scenes far better. Also can't wait to see grass, shrubs, and trees on the layout.
Art
Once again thanks guys. Art, I did the same thing as you with the girders. I started off with just one but ended up ordering a second one gluing the two halves together cutting it to fit. MIKE G, I never tried to wrap one around a box. I did do it to the background mural behind the Menard's power station but when I bent it around the corner the paper stock was not forgiving. I think it was a bit too thick for 90 degree bending.............Paul
Thanks for the info Paul!
Art
Very nice Art!
Dave
Had a good afternoon and got some things completed. All the buildings are taped in place along the wall. The only thing left there to do is run some ground turf between track and the wall. Then I had a couple of HO building flats that I was going to use in another area but I decided to place them behind the buildings where my street is. I like the look and I think I will get a few more to add to them. Then I focused on the last half of the mountain and got the trees in and added some more trees around the tracks in the back. So if I can get down there after dinner I'll start adding ground foam to the area in front of the mountain. Pics..............Paul
WOW Paul, that turned out really nice! You sure have an eye for this stuff! I hope one day I can be like you! LOL
Really great stuff!
Paul, your industrial city and mountainside are really looking great!! I agree to see if some HO sized ones can help give somes sense of depth. I forgot about the great looking brick street and mirror! They look great!
Art, that bridge is really turning out nice!!
Brian, Izzy should be dizzy after watching that fast passenger train pass by!!
In my Blackwater Canyon topic that is linked in my signature line I stated I hoped to start construction this winter. Well my calendar says December 21st is the first day of winter. It just so happened that I had the necessary items on hand, and had some extra time before visiting my elderly aunt to start a bit of construction.
First, I moved some things out of the way from the corner I am starting at. I am going to mount steel brackets from the studs on the west wall where the layout will be narrowest. On both the adjacent walls there will be turnback loops needing much wider benchwork.
This first photograph shows the cleared out corner, two brackets on the floor. The brick wall was the rear exterior of the house until my in-laws had this room built to support their sunroom above.
Here are two brackets bolted to the studs. They extend 20" from the wall, and are rated at 1000 pounds. Overkill, but these were the longest ones I could find. I want them to support 24" deep shelf.
This photograph shows my 2' x 4' module I started months ago to work on some building and scenicing techniques with an end product that I can take outside to photograph locomotives and rolling stock. This module is not intended to be part of the layout, so there was no attempt to follow a track plan. This will be a place where a high line hugging the Blackwater Canyon will be making a turn into town. There will be a lower line below in front with a possible passing siding.
I will be updating my topic in the signature line which is in the Layout Planning Forum. Then I will be linking a new build topic soon after Christmas if all goes well. At that time, I will stop adding to the planning topic and continuing on with the build topic.
Hey Mark, You have a start! Right on track, Looks like you have everything figured out!
The folks that are living next to the main line of the Ole Smoky finally decorated for Christmas!
carsntrains posted:The folks that are living next to the main line of the Ole Smoky finally decorated for Christmas!
Well that sure was nice of them to break out the decorations days before Christmas! Maybe next year you can talk them into lights! LOL Let them know it looks nice!
Finally found some time on Tuesday to work on the layout and promptly put a drill bit through my fingernail. I feel like Caesar when he said, "Sentio aliquos togatos contra me conspirare." Which translated means, "I think some people in togas are plotting against me."
Tom M posted:Finally found some time on Tuesday to work on the layout and promptly put a drill bit through my fingernail. I feel like Caesar when he said, "Sentio aliquos togatos contra me conspirare." Which translated means, "I think some people in togas are plotting against me."
Well, Tom... Julius was right - if I were you, I'd beware the ides of March!!!
mike g. posted:Hey Mark, You have a start! Right on track, Looks like you have everything figured out!
Thank you, Mike! I’ve been figuring for quite some time. It will be interesting to see what problems come up! LOL
Paul,
Don't know if someone already asked but who sells the paper prints of the buildings? (please post web site).
thanks,
Sam
Hi Sam. I believe it's Angie's trackside flats on EBay.
Mike
Sam, Mike W is right. Angie's trackside flats. They sell on the bay........Paul
I've been tweaking and tuning one of my prewar flying yankees for a couple of days. Finallly
got all the lights working. But running it was frustrating, constantly derailing or cycling
to neutral. Tonight I replaced the last postwar Marx switch on my layout with a prewar one.
Miracles, I went and got a glass of whiskey and came back and turned on the yankee. 20 mins
of laps around the layout, no neutral, no derailments. I love old stuff. I had two marx 034
switches on my layout in anticipation of an addition, same problem, everything derailed or reversed
or went to neutral. Even my postwar Marx E7 diesels had a problem. Because there are no prewar
034 switches I just eliminated them. Now everything seems to run fine.
Merry Christmas
Been almost a week since I posted here. Tuesday I worked on the tracks around the turntable. I managed to muscle my belt sander up onto the platform so I could grind rails and ties to finish the last of the track.
I started spackling the screw holes on the fascia. I still have to do the backdrop. Fingers crossed that Patrick will be back Saturday, snow expected.
Today I spent 12 hours downstairs, 10 of those inside the big helix. About an hour in, the phone rang. Of course I had left the cordless on its stand back at the dispatcher's desk, so I couldn't get it. For some reason I felt that it was someone I wanted to talk to, and not the usual junk. So I crawled out and checked the caller ID. Took me a minute to figure out who it was, but I realized it was Gary, my operations guy, calling from someone else's house. So I called back and caught him just as he was leaving. He wanted to bring me a basket of goodies.
At the bottom of the bin are some aprons with pockets to hold your radio and the car cards. Then there are four fast clocks. I think I can add two more to the system to get better coverage of the entire room.
After Gary left, I went back to my "cage". It's a little hard to see because of the lighting, but I tied all the feeder wires to the support columns.
Not long after Gary left, my wife came home and brought me her lunch leftovers, which I promptly devoured while sitting inside.
I had previously done about half the posts, so today I nearly finished the other half. I also removed all the staples that had been holding the bus wires to the frame at the bottom, and replaced them with proper wire support loops.
I fell short by one post. I'll get it tomorrow.
Because there are so many detection blocks in the helix, especially the inner track which goes all the way to the top and has 11, I've installed this terminal strip as a jumping off point before heading under the aisle to the detection panel.
This is the last of the wiring on the entire layout. Should be done by the end of the year.
What did I do on my layout today? This is Part 3 • (Part 1 is on page 408 of this thread), near the bottom • Part 2 is on page 409, near the bottom.
1. Last time: I was finishing up the clouds on this panel. It is ready to be installed against the wall with hot glue.
2. I use Glidden paint from a big box lumber yard. The same guys who sold me this 5mm plywood, made in China. The paint was manufactured in Pittsburgh, PA. I think it came by CSX rail to Detroit Freight Depot on Fort Street. Than the rest of the load is picked up by a CN locomotive and travels through, The Detroit Windsor Railroad Tunnel to Ontario, Canada. Great place for rail-fanning, but look out for the RR Police and the border patrol.
3. I been using this color called: Pool Party for years. If you like this color jot down the color’s codes to the left of the blue sample color. Lets go swimming.
4. Last night I went on a business trip to the annual Flying Pilgrims Christmas dinner. I always try to sit with the guys who fly and also do model railroading. I am always the odd man out. The only guy who does three rail, they are all HO guys. We talked about how model trains and model airplanes are both on 2.4 GHz and there is no radio interference.
5. This photo shows the panel in it’s final location. Hard to get a quality photo because the Lionel’s Crane, Menard’s Crane along with the junk yard and a small hill blocks the view.
6. This is a photo of the Michigan State Police Post, located in East Tawas, Michigan. This post is about 150 miles north of my train room. This structure is across the street from the Detroit & Mackinac Railway. The D&M round house has been torn down. The rails are used by The Lake State Railway. This is the one of several structures on my bucket list for this panel.
7. Now it is time for a cup of coffee and think about my options for a structure. State Police Post, or some type of kit bashing project using. Ameri-Towne, Kober Models or Todd Architectural Models.
Hope you find this information useful & thanks for taking a look: Gary
beardog posted:I've been tweaking and tuning one of my prewar flying yankees for a couple of days. Finallly
got all the lights working. But running it was frustrating, constantly derailing or cycling
to neutral. Tonight I replaced the last postwar Marx switch on my layout with a prewar one.
Miracles, I went and got a glass of whiskey and came back and turned on the yankee. 20 mins
of laps around the layout, no neutral, no derailments. I love old stuff. I had two marx 034
switches on my layout in anticipation of an addition, same problem, everything derailed or reversed
or went to neutral. Even my postwar Marx E7 diesels had a problem. Because there are no prewar
034 switches I just eliminated them. Now everything seems to run fine.
Merry Christmas
So now I know what my problem is, I don't have any whiskey in my toolbox!!
I'm glad you got those great old timers rolling!!!
Merry Christmas!!
Big_Boy_4005 posted:Been almost a week since I posted here. Tuesday I worked on the tracks around the turntable. I managed to muscle my belt sander up onto the platform so I could grind rails and ties to finish the last of the track.
I started spackling the screw holes on the fascia. I still have to do the backdrop. Fingers crossed that Patrick will be back Saturday, snow expected.
Today I spent 12 hours downstairs, 10 of those inside the big helix. About an hour in, the phone rang. Of course I had left the cordless on its stand back at the dispatcher's desk, so I couldn't get it. For some reason I felt that it was someone I wanted to talk to, and not the usual junk. So I crawled out and checked the caller ID. Took me a minute to figure out who it was, but I realized it was Gary, my operations guy, calling from someone else's house. So I called back and caught him just as he was leaving. He wanted to bring me a basket of goodies.
At the bottom of the bin are some aprons with pockets to hold your radio and the car cards. Then there are four fast clocks. I think I can add two more to the system to get better coverage of the entire room.
After Gary left, I went back to my "cage". It's a little hard to see because of the lighting, but I tied all the feeder wires to the support columns.
Not long after Gary left, my wife came home and brought me her lunch leftovers, which I promptly devoured while sitting inside.
I had previously done about half the posts, so today I nearly finished the other half. I also removed all the staples that had been holding the bus wires to the frame at the bottom, and replaced them with proper wire support loops.
I fell short by one post. I'll get it tomorrow.
Because there are so many detection blocks in the helix, especially the inner track which goes all the way to the top and has 11, I've installed this terminal strip as a jumping off point before heading under the aisle to the detection panel.
This is the last of the wiring on the entire layout. Should be done by the end of the year.
Can you sleep in your jail?
Merry Christmas Eliot!
Elliot,
Wow, you are almost done wiring the layout!! That will be a celebration in and of itself!! Great photograph once again of you in your "cage". The aprons are a great idea for holding remotes waybills, etc when operating a large layout!!!
Merry Christmas!!
Gary,
I didn't know Glidden was owned by PPG. Here it is "The Glidden Company is a division of PPG Industries, which is one of the largest paint manufacturers in North America." I was just in downtown Pittsburgh Saturday to hear our younger daughter who is a soprano with the Mendelssohn Choir accompanied by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. They perform in Heinz Hall, a couple blocks from PPG Place, the big glass building there. (Yes, they get a country boy to the big city once in a while)
Wow! You have a Trainroom Gary coffee mug!!! That's fantastic!!
BTW, the backdrop is looking mighty good!!
Merry Christmas!
Mark - Nice job on the Christmas layout.
Merry Christmas!
decoynh posted:Big_Boy_4005 posted:Been almost a week since I posted here. Tuesday I worked on the tracks around the turntable. I managed to muscle my belt sander up onto the platform so I could grind rails and ties to finish the last of the track.
Can you sleep in your jail?
Merry Christmas Eliot!
I would say there is enough room to sleep there! Elliot, how do you get in and out? Do you have to call your wife to open the door?
decoynh posted:Mark - Nice job on the Christmas layout.
Merry Christmas!
Thank you, Matt!!
Merry Christmas!!
Brian
New Haven is expecting snow & ice today. “Make sure the sand bins are topped off!!!”
On the Angie's trackside flats, not finding anything on ebay. Please do a copy/past on one of her web items.
thanks,
Sam
Found the flats. Did a google on it. I had too many spaces on the words as her 'location' is all one word.
For those looking for it:
http://stores.ebay.com/angietracksideflats
thanks,
They look great.
Putting my new MTH 18 inch Passenger cars(10) in Reading & Northern Livery on the layout then running them with my Lionel R&N SD38 in a lashup!!!!!! Great fun tonite!!!!
Elliot, I think if I were you I would get a hard wired phone inside the Helix, that way you never forget it! LOL Things are looking really great and it was nice you were able to have lunch in there also! What a nice wife!
Gary, thanks for the lesson plan, turned out looking wonderful, I will have to give it a try one day!
Brian, from what Matt is saying you better get your snow plows out and ready!
Ready Matt & Mike !!! 
" Let it snow...." 
Ok Brian, either that is really GREAT work or that is really outside! Either way great pictures!
Scale snow...
Grabbed a Lionel Truck Loading Dock for the layout. Now need to figure out where I'm going to put it. I grabbed a trestle for the O27 track, just need to figure out if the FasTrack will fit underneath, and if I need to acquire any more of the highest trestles so I can get some good overlap of the O27 and O31 FasTrack tracks (if desired). I planned on having the O27 fit inside the O31, but if I can cross over it for a couple of feet or so that might be neat. Especially if I can extend it over the siding on the O36 outermost track. The O31 track in the middle is not going to run the full length of the table. I imagine it'll surround the factory or farm area in the middle of the layout. I should really join the outer and middle tracks, but I don't want to worry about blocking right now. That's a bit above my beginners paygrade. I'm just happy I figured out how to turn power on/off to a siding.
Thanks guys and Merry Christmas to all of you.
I'll be spending mine working on the layout, just the way I like it.
Matt - I could sleep in there, but my bed is much more comfortable. However, in my younger days, I did nap under the layout at enterTRAINment. I brought a pad and crashed on the concrete, to the sound of trains running above.
Mark - There are a couple of ways in there, one from the Red Wing side, but my preferred access is through the opening under that terminal strip. It is just under 20", so I'm crawling on my belly. That's why I spend 15 - 20 minutes thinking of all the things I need for the task (and using the bathroom), before taking the plunge.
Mike - With any luck, when I'm done with this, I shouldn't have to go back there very often. Some of the feeder wires weren't connected to their buses. There were just enough to get power up to all the sections. Most engines made it up, no problem, but some liked to stall in a couple spots. One theory was that unconnected ground wires were creating stray TMCC signal. I'm anxious to power up and see if that theory was true, and the problems are corrected.
briansilvermustang posted:
Ready Matt & Mike !!!
" Let it snow...."
I guess that you're ahead of me. Great job getting ready for snow.
Converting a spare bedroom for train storage, and ham radio.
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