Portable Layout Building Log

[ttrigg]

First 20 miles was jammed, but open freeway after that. I've got a short video of the Pizza and your little one, what do you call it? Bite Sized Pizza?

[ttrigg]

NKEVEShQeeg

[vsmith]

Thanks for the vids Tom, glad you got back OK, good to see you again.

What were your impressions of the show? There's been talk on LSC and MLS about the lack of new stuff in G, the only thing besides B'manns big plastic brick of a Toby was Pikos new Camelback (which I am most definetly going to have to acquire somewhere down the line for the harbor layout) and the no-name new all-black version of Accucraft's 7/8" Fairymead, the actual Fairymead itself I thought was by far THE prettiest locomotive I've seen in a long time. Anyway they already announced the show dates for next year, the OCC organizer promised to see if they can put me in a better spot next year. 

[ttrigg]

My impressions: There seemed to be MUCH more isle space between the layouts than on previous years. As for the lack of new stuff, to me, there seems to have been a lack of new items beginning about 3 years ago across the industry. I blame that on the recession, some say we are recovering but economy growth of 1% or less does not give the manufactures any wiggle room to spend big cash to produce new items. Going out on a limb with this next statement. I'm guessing that 60% to 70% of us in large scale are at retirement age and can afford our hobby, Mother nature has been thinning our group with regularity. Our market group is not that dependable for long term purchasing power that is needed for return on investment by manufactures. Fewer younger hobbyist, except in clubs, means a shrinking pool of purchasers.

I went there with 4 goals in mind, spend a few minutes with you, looking to purchase a Shay and a Climax, and a new "Z" scale engine for my "backyard layout in a backyard layout". For those who have not seen it, it is a 12x18 inch "Z" scale layout that only goes in the backyard of one of the houses on my layout. It only goes out during special runs along with all the "county fair" stuff that is NOT weatherproof. In previous years there have been at least 2 vendors with Z stuff. This year I only found one and he had near nothing in Z, only about 20 cars and one diesel engine, and I'm looking for a 2-6-0 or 2-6-2. 

I found the Shay I was looking for, but not the Climax. Instead I picked up a K-27, both at what I call GREAT prices. The pair ran about 75% of what the K-27 alone would have cost me here in San Diego county. The last year I had saved up for this years show and had budgeted "folding green" for the show. Half the folding green went back into savings for the next show. First time ever to leave under budget. I also picked up some nice "redwood trees" for the garage layout I've been planning. Best looking trees I've seen in years. They look like TREE's and not wire-form skeletons with colored foam. 

Have you heard anything about a show at the Fairplex this year? The show at SD Fairgrounds in December has shrunk to the point that the primary reason for me to go is to see new additions on the Del Oro layout. However, I'm sure you would have fun there as nearly a third of the show is "parts bin" vendors. Example, a standard moving company "book box" full of Lionel goes for around $5.00. Everything from "N" to "G". I picked up a pair of Lionel "searchlight towers", missing the searchlight, for use as a future town water tower, $0.75 for the pair.

I almost went back on Sunday. I spent the entire night thinking about the "photo drone" not too far from where you were at. A 4-bladed helicopter with pan and tilt for a GoPro camera. Video screen on the controller so you can see where you are flying. Got to thinking it would make for some good filming of trains. It had GPS stabilization, so it would stay in one place automatically. Been kicking myself in the "tail feathers" for not getting it on Saturday.

Yesterday, my doctor told me I should be healed enough by August to go back to work on the brick walls for my new backyard layout. (Broken hip last August.) Looked at my sketches for the garage layout I told you about and the new stuff would not handle the turns very well. Thinking about changing the plans to a sectional layout so I can move it around to get the car in the garage for street sweeper days. 

[OldSF]

Tom and Vic,

From hearing from my vendor in Houston there is only 2 places left you can get real trains. They range from N-O scale but can order the other like G-Z.

If this is fact that Lionel had to much inventory last Christmas and dumped it quickly on Amonzon which a man came to his shop and told him he just bought same set for $100.00 and MSRP $300.00 which slit hobby shop owners necks, very bad Christmas last year.

I came back to the hobby and found most of the links I did like are out of business too.

William

[vsmith]

Some updates on the Pizza:
FINALLy got something done I've been wanting to do for about a year now, and added some details I wanted to do since finishing the anti-child-at-the-controls cardboard box building. 

Bit of a ruckus when Slim and Archie while holding their daily highly illegal poker game on the roof of the drug store, came a 'disagreement' when they both tried playing the identical poker hand...

But that ruckus was nothing compare to over by the Jailhouse ...something was up

unlike Officer Dounught, nothing get by Sparky the Police Dog!

Whats got Sparky's attention, Uh oh looks like theres been a jailbreak, dangin'itall the county should have known better than to build the jailhouse out of that cardboard adobe !

Thats it for now, but a heads up, my photo storage site is getting near full so I have no choice but to start deleting some the oldest pics regarding this pizza building thread, I will keep the most relevant pics but I have so many over the years its just time for alot of them to go.

[vsmith]

Another update, showing the latest videos of the Pizza

A second short video, showing a birdseye view over the layout, just for fun

 

[PJM20]

Lookin' good Vic!