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New small layout in the works for my Marx trains

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Posted by longbow57ca on Wednesday, October 19, 2016 8:03 AM
Hello My friend, I sure like your small Marx train layouts they look pretty cool and neat. I just love small Marx layouts too. Small layouts are the future of my Marx trains for me too. It is better to have a small layout than none at all I think.Thanks longbow57ca.
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Posted by vsmith on Wednesday, May 18, 2011 11:21 PM

Penny Trains

So, what you're saying is that sculptamold never dries?  Smile, Wink & Grin  And maybe we should change the old saying so now it's like watching sculptamold dry instead of paint?  Laugh

Becky

Penny thats a pretty accurate description. I have painted over the stuff, the paint dried, the Sculptamold is probably still pliable even today two weeks after I painted it.

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Posted by Penny Trains on Wednesday, May 18, 2011 8:07 PM

So, what you're saying is that sculptamold never dries?  Smile, Wink & Grin  And maybe we should change the old saying so now it's like watching sculptamold dry instead of paint?  Laugh

Becky

Trains, trains, wonderful trains.  The more you get, the more you toot!  Big Smile

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Posted by Penny Trains on Wednesday, May 18, 2011 7:58 PM

wallyworld

Great ....now I have you to use as an excuse for rethinking my own layout in terms of Marxism, I like the tiered effect in a small footprint. That was one reason I posted the video of a standard gauge layout. Thanks for the inspirational demonstration.. It's looking better all .e time  Better put some guardrails on that upper level, or maybe a launching ramp..lol. ..Kinda like the bridge jumping scene in the blues brothers. Catchers mitt optional.

Youve indirectly given me a wonderfully demented concept. A tiered motorized "lazy susan" Xmas layout..where the  trains pass through a winter mountain scene with tunnels. The trains remain..sort of stationary while the scenery moves. passes by. Aha! I can already imagine my wife seeing this work in progress..What is THAT?

If I add a rheostat to the turntable motor..maybe Ill have the first ever, launch-able toy train helicopter layout... a Marxist UFO  Er..maybe not.

Why bother with trying to synch the engine speed to the turntable?  All you need to do is attach the trains directly to the tree branches and let the locomotive spin the layout!  Laugh

Becky

Trains, trains, wonderful trains.  The more you get, the more you toot!  Big Smile

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Posted by wallyworld on Wednesday, May 18, 2011 9:53 AM

cnw1995

I've never heard of Paya. What beautiful repros in your earlier photo! This is really coming along.

 

http://www.tintoyarcade.com/categories/Tin-Toys-Paya-Reproductions/

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Posted by cnw1995 on Wednesday, May 18, 2011 8:26 AM

I've never heard of Paya. What beautiful repros in your earlier photo! This is really coming along.

Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.

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Posted by vsmith on Wednesday, May 18, 2011 8:14 AM

vsmith

http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/vsmith/Marx_Layout_20.JPG 

 

Roadways added at the front, also scultamold, otherwise known as "never-dries", infill around the track.

 

P.S.   Most recent acquistion: Big Smile

http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/vsmith/Marx%20Western%20Pacific%20E-8.JPG

 

 

Matching dummy unit just arrived, now if I can just find a pair of New Havens Smile, Wink & Grin

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Posted by vsmith on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 3:52 PM

The layout is coming along ok. I am painting in the water currently and I am considering painting the O27 ties to match the wood ties I added.

I also will move the TV station and put an HO or S house up top there I was reading the latest issue of CTT about forced perspective. Seams like a good idea at that location.

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Posted by wallyworld on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 12:52 PM

VS,

That is a really interesting set, and congratulations on the B unit, as I cant imagine they are easy to find.When I first saw the diesel, I thought it was a Seaboard "Citrus" Scheme. Thats one colorful unit.

IE trolley freight..The $5.00 Paya trolley has been repainted, the frame taken apart  body modified to be a freight motor and is nearly Marxified. The frame is really thin.so I am beefing it up with a custom motor mount I am building so it does not rack or twist under load. Sort of a what if Marx made a trolley freight motor. aside from the completed steeplecab. The trolley looked too Euro whereas your new set suits that. look. My purchases are coming to halt as well..as I have enough tinkering projects to keep me bust..Hows the layout coming along?

Nothing is more fairly distributed than common sense: no one thinks he needs more of it than he already has.

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Posted by vsmith on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 11:26 AM

This just arrived, its a mechanical Paya repro of a train set issued in 1928, I have to say its alot nicer looking in person than the pics show, motors not very strong - only get a few runs around the circle, it runs more sans cars but I suspect once its oiled it will run stronger. I am looking for the steeplecab replica made by the same company. I am going to use the Paya track to set up a dedicated circle for this era stuff and hopefully a period live steamer if I can find an affordable one.

PS Wallyworld:  I've got a dummy Western Pacific A unit on the way to go with the powered A unit above. I suspect that will be my last purchase for a while, other than opportunistic purchases (I've still got my eye out for a WP B unit) other than that its back to the really old school stuff like the Paya retro set. Smile, Wink & Grin

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Posted by wallyworld on Friday, May 6, 2011 7:33 AM

Wow is that a great looking diesel or what? Oh..the layout..( hee hee) I can see now more clearly the challenge of using that bread dough sculpta mush on some pretty sheer topography..You must have patience..more than I possess..tenacity? Looks like it is morphing more and more to a really great layout. The effect on the retaining wall for the bridge tender is terrific.

Nothing is more fairly distributed than common sense: no one thinks he needs more of it than he already has.

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Posted by vsmith on Thursday, May 5, 2011 11:21 PM

Progress:

Adding the topmost level, thats a old Plasticville TV station kit on it.

 

 

 

Roadways added at the front, also scultamold, otherwise known as "never-dries", infill around the track.

More roadway at the side, with a old Plasticville switch tower

 

Added some walls around the bascule bridge control house, with Faller building paper facing

 

P.S.   Most recent acquistion: Big Smile

 

 

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Posted by vsmith on Thursday, May 5, 2011 11:17 PM

Sculpta-P.I.T.A.

 

Its still moist BTW Bang HeadSmile, Wink & Grin

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Posted by wallyworld on Thursday, May 5, 2011 7:51 AM

Just don't lose it and take a high pressure washer and blast the layout. It beats that old technique of that dern wire screen propped up with sticks..ugh. Talk about a mess. A hair dryer is called for ! Do'nt feel bad I am using foam road bed ballast and took great care to round up the stuff neatly..got out a premixed bottle of matte medium and it beaded and rolled right off the stuff. What the...?!  I added liquid detergent and Mr Knucklehead spilled half the bottle  on the carpet., which then called for the unscheduled appearance of the boss.."What are you doing? I could hear you cussing downstairs." Heck it, I glued the carpet !  She sighs frowns and does not want to know the details as I managed not to add ballast to the puddle.The mantra was , this is a fun hobby, this is relaxing, this is great, as I diluted and soaked up the scenic slop.Sh--t happens.

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Posted by dougdagrump on Thursday, May 5, 2011 12:38 AM

Vic, You could always steal borrow somebody's blowdryer.

Remember the Veterans. Past, present and future.

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Posted by vsmith on Wednesday, May 4, 2011 11:08 PM

Sculptamold.....ACK!!!! Bang Head

I used contractors spray foam in the past but its very very tricky to work with, I had a box of Sculptamold thats been around for about 2 years. So I used the stuff to fill in the backside of a plastic tunnel portal and fill in the raised sides of the roadways I put down on the layout, its literally like modelling with oatmeal. Temps have been in the 90's and very dry but the stuff just takes forever to dry out, it took the thin roadside areas over two days to dryout the thicker stuff on the top layer is goin on 4 days and its still moist and pliable, if this stuff doesnt dry out enough by this weekend I'm chucking it and using spray foam again, I'm a patient guy but this is ridiculous. Sigh

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Posted by wallyworld on Tuesday, April 26, 2011 10:50 AM

My eyes never got bored. Whoopee, It will be great to see what's next! I have another overpriced Hafner engine on the way and your video made me think of your own windups. It would be cool to see them all on this layout doing crazy eights..

Nothing is more fairly distributed than common sense: no one thinks he needs more of it than he already has.

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Posted by vsmith on Tuesday, April 26, 2011 9:14 AM

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Posted by David Barker on Monday, April 25, 2011 5:22 AM

So very good, thanks for sharingSmile

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Posted by vsmith on Sunday, April 24, 2011 11:42 PM

Made one final track change, found a Marx switch that didnt cause the E-units to go haywire each time an engine crossed it so, decided to add it it, and give it turnout and go back to the original plan. Afterall I had the OGR door challenge in the back of my mind when I planned this.

I'll find some other use for the truss bridge.

   Have fun with your trains

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Posted by Northwoods Flyer on Sunday, April 24, 2011 3:58 PM

wallyworld

Youve indirectly given me a wonderfully demented concept. A tiered motorized "lazy susan" Xmas layout..where the  trains pass through a winter mountain scene with tunnels. The trains remain..sort of stationary while the scenery moves. passes by. Aha! I can already imagine my wife seeing this work in progress..What is THAT?

Wallyworld,

Gilbert used a similar concept in several of their commercials.  I could only find one posted on YouTube.  The opening and closing of the commercial show a steamer led train on a rotating layout.  I have seen others in this series that are on  the American Flyer Boys' Railroad Club collected TV shows.

This should take you to the YouTube posting

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLcjMzWNb-g&feature=related

Northwoods Flyer

The Northwoods Flyer Collection

of

American Flyer Trains

"The Toy For the Boy"

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Posted by vsmith on Sunday, April 24, 2011 2:37 PM

That sounds like fun, plenty of time between now and xmas.

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Posted by wallyworld on Sunday, April 24, 2011 10:15 AM

Great ....now I have you to use as an excuse for rethinking my own layout in terms of Marxism, I like the tiered effect in a small footprint. That was one reason I posted the video of a standard gauge layout. Thanks for the inspirational demonstration.. It's looking better all .e time  Better put some guardrails on that upper level, or maybe a launching ramp..lol. ..Kinda like the bridge jumping scene in the blues brothers. Catchers mitt optional.

Youve indirectly given me a wonderfully demented concept. A tiered motorized "lazy susan" Xmas layout..where the  trains pass through a winter mountain scene with tunnels. The trains remain..sort of stationary while the scenery moves. passes by. Aha! I can already imagine my wife seeing this work in progress..What is THAT?

If I add a rheostat to the turntable motor..maybe Ill have the first ever, launch-able toy train helicopter layout... a Marxist UFO  Er..maybe not.

Nothing is more fairly distributed than common sense: no one thinks he needs more of it than he already has.

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Posted by vsmith on Sunday, April 24, 2011 1:05 AM

Marxist layout continues II

This is what I was takling about, the old Atlas HO bridges I modified for the layout

3 Atlas Truss bridges modified to cover the span of this side:

This at the back of the layout, 3 Atlas Girder bridges cut together:

The upper level will be mostly urban setting, so the girders fit in nicely.

Down to only 2 power packs, the last one I got turned out to be busted, oh well, at least they arent a rare item.

More to come, got some old Atlas HO bridge girder loads to added at the front of the upper level ;)

   Have fun with your trains

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Posted by wallyworld on Friday, April 22, 2011 7:57 AM

Looks great. You should or could have built Marxist display layouts for Louis. A revolving beacon would look equally great centered on that  top circle.I just built a Marxist coffee table layout for the wind ups after finishing the main layout. I knew I had gone over yesterday, when I boxed up the high rail stuff and put it in the spare bedroom. Over and done. Keep on keeping on. I look forward to a video.

Nothing is more fairly distributed than common sense: no one thinks he needs more of it than he already has.

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Posted by vsmith on Friday, April 22, 2011 12:28 AM

I painted and cut them from basswood strips.

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Posted by balidas on Thursday, April 21, 2011 10:33 PM

I like the shot with the bascule bridge. Looks good.  Are those ties precut?

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Posted by vsmith on Thursday, April 21, 2011 9:35 PM

Marxist layout continues

Added additional ties at the track

color looks closer in reality

Begining to add Faller building paper facing

More to come, got some old Atlas HO bridges need to modify them for something I have in mind ;)

   Have fun with your trains

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Posted by LL675 on Sunday, April 17, 2011 11:45 AM

that looks great. I'm like Marx more and more. I've been picking more up lately.

Dave

It's a TOY, A child's PLAYTHING!!! (Woody  from Toy Story)

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