Father's Day Layout

[bman36]

Hey Everybody,
Just wanted to share on my yearly endeavor. Each year come Father's Day my wife and I have committed to setting up a Garden Railway as part of a display at our church. Normally we set up in a grassy area that is closely mowed and has a few nice trees and shrubs. A week before the big day I found out we would be moving to the other end of the property to a new area. No gardens here...just asphalt! Oh boy. What to do? Setting up on the blacktop seemed out of the question. The display also included some cool bikes, hotrods, RC cars and planes, a paintball firing range and a whole lot of other stuff. Being a truck driver I was blessed with a cool idea. Use a semi! Talked to a few people about my idea and went for it. Loaned from Western Star a georgeous new unit all decked out with a whole lotta' chrome and stainless steel. Then got a hold of a 48' drop deck trailer and drove them over. Next my wife, a friend and myself built a double dogbone type layout right on the deck. We used landscape bark, bedding plants and all the stuff we could bring from home. Ran my Aristo FA1 on one track and my Shay with skeleton log cars on the other. Was it awesome! Most had never seen a Shay in action before and were fascinated by the mechanism. In short it was very much worth the effort. Took about three hours to set up and one hour to tear down afterwards. Getting to drive that shiny new rig was a real treat too! My brother-in-law took a million pics with his new camera and I am waiting for them to be sent over. Will send a few out as soon as I get them. Looking forward to next year! Later eh...Brian.
[tup] [:D]

[vsmith]

Brian, we cant wait to see the photos. Really innovative idea. Vic

[Anonymous]

Nice one Brian, looking forward to the pics. I wonder, did you get a better audience with it being on a big shiny truck? and will this be the norm every year now?
Cheers,
Kim
[tup]

[bman36]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kimbrit

Nice one Brian, looking forward to the pics. I wonder, did you get a better audience with it being on a big shiny truck? and will this be the norm every year now?
Cheers,
Kim
[tup]

Kim,
My wife and I were talking about it afterwards and yes definately we will do it this way from now on. The truck was the perfect drawing card. Also elevating the layout worked wonders for viewing. Being about three feet off the ground was perfect. I have many ideas in my head to add for next year. Wish we had a club here so as to assist in the effort. After setting up, dusting off the rig was in order as well as making everything "glisten". A lot of work but worth every minute of it. BTW anyone wanting pics whose email I don't already have can post here. I will do my best to get to all of you. Wish I could put pics on here. Later eh...Brian. [:D]

[jmozz]

Brian what a great way to show people a family hobby God bless jmozz

[bman36]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jmozz

Brian what a great way to show people a family hobby God bless jmozz

Appreciate it...thanks! As I said before...worth the effort. Definately breaks the stigma of what church is today. We try to be cutting edge if we can. Later eh...Brian.

[Anonymous]

I would love to see the pictures.Troy

[Anonymous]

would love to see the pics!

[grandpopswalt]

Brian,

Good for you! You're doing good work for both your church and for the hobby. You're probably a part of that 10% who do 90% of the work in your community. We, the other 90%, salute you!

Walt

[Anonymous]

Brian, looking forward to seeing the pics. As Vic said inovative IDEA![tup][tup][tup][tup]

[bman36]

Hi Guys,
Just an update that I too am still waiting for photos. Talked to my Brother-In-Law yesterday...very busy. Might not be before Sunday before I get them! Patience, patience. Tap tap tap. Later eh...Brian.

[Anonymous]

Brian I have been trying to think of something smart rsed to say but I can't keep up the good work

Rgs Ian

[Anonymous]

Brian, I had suspected that you were one of the good guys before I meet you. Now that we have meet face to face I KNOW you are one of them. Keep-on with what your doing it seems to be working.

Larry

[bman36]

Larry,
Coming from you that is a real compliment! PICS ARE IN GUYS!!! Sent them off this morning. To those of you requesting pics here on the forum please put your email address into your previous post and I will forward pics asap. The email on this forum does not allow for attachments. Later eh...Brian.

[grandpopswalt]

Hi Brian,

I'd love to see pictures of your display. Can you include your e-mail address in your personal profile? It will not be shown to the person writing to you, only your name will be displayed, then if you wi***o exchange e-mail, you can let the sender know what your address is.

Walt

[Anonymous]

Brian, The pics were great. Many Thanks! It was also nice to put a face to a name.

[bman36]

QUOTE: Originally posted by carpenter matt

Brian, The pics were great. Many Thanks! It was also nice to put a face to a name.

Matt,
Glad you liked them. Now you know who I am eh! Even with the messed up hair and all. I think I got 3 hours of sleep the night before. After we were all cleaned up and had taken the truck and trailer back I treated the family to The Keg for steak. I could barely stay awake at dinner! All in the name of Large Scale...Later eh...Brian. PS...Clicked on the email link so anyone who wishes photos can just email me.

[Anonymous]

Hey Brian,
Got your photos, they were great.....job well done!
I printed them all up and showed them at a club members open house on Sat. You would have blushed at all the compliments our club members were giving your awesome production. Your grain elevator was also a big hit with every one who saw the photos.

OLDer DAD

[bman36]

QUOTE: Originally posted by OLD DAD

Hey Brian,
Got your photos, they were great.....job well done!
I printed them all up and showed them at a club members open house on Sat. You would have blushed at all the compliments our club members were giving your awesome production. Your grain elevator was also a big hit with every one who saw the photos.

OLDer DAD

Larry,
OLDerDAD??? Was it your birthday perhaps??? Now I'm blushing is right. Mark from SPJRR emailed me on the photos. Thanks so much for sharing them with everyone there! Plan on coming back to town in August so we hope to catch one of the clubs open houses. Would be great to meet a few members. Glad you liked the pics. Won't have too much time the next while for working on the elevator as my yard is in serious need of attention. Lot's of projects as always. Later eh...Brian.[8D]

[grandpopswalt]

Brian,

Really enjoyed the pictures, thanks. Everyone that I've showed them to was also impressed by what you've done, great job.

Walt

[bman36]

QUOTE: Originally posted by grandpopswalt

Brian,

Really enjoyed the pictures, thanks. Everyone that I've showed them to was also impressed by what you've done, great job.

Walt

Hey Walt,
Like I said before....it was pure fun! Very much looking forward to next year! Was giving this some thought while on my last roadtrip. It sure would be a great way for a club to promote Garden RR'ing. Would'nt have to be a semi trailer. Any long trailer would do. Then you could set up at fairs or community events. Some sort of tent or canopy would be nice to keep the rain off. But then would it be an indoor or outdoor layout???[;)] Thanks again for showing it around. Later eh...Brian. [8D]

[Anonymous]

Brian,
I turned 63 on June 22.
OLDer DAD

[bman36]

QUOTE: Originally posted by OLD DAD

Brian,
I turned 63 on June 22.
OLDer DAD

[bday][bday][bday] Keep on RR'ing Larry! Just remember gray hair is a sign of wisdom!!! Later eh...Brian.

[vsmith]

Happy B-day Larry[:D] Hope you didnt eat ALL the cake[;)]

Hey Brian,

Finally got your pic's to a computer that didnt need 20 minutes to open your ZIP file...That is a terrific way to display a garden RR. Hope it wasnt too high for the kids to enjoy. I think you might have found a new way to do your show each year. Vic.

[bman36]

Vic,
Sorry about the ZIP file. I had no idea that was how it was sent. Shows how much I know about computers. Thought it was like all the rest. Oooops. The kids found the height alright on the trailer. Their dads would hoist up the really small ones and some stood with their feet inside the rims. Need stanchions next year also. One kid was throwing bark at the track while his dad watched. Learning as we go. Stuff like that does'nt bother me much otherwise we would'nt do it. Later eh...Brian.

[vsmith]

Brian, mind if I post a couple shots over on the MLS forum? I think this is a really unique way to display a layout and some over there would be very interested in it.

[bman36]

QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith

Brian, mind if I post a couple shots over on the MLS forum? I think this is a really unique way to display a layout and some over there would be very interested in it.

Hey Vic,
No problem at all. Go for it! I personally have never been on there. Will have a peek if you show me where. Later eh...Brian. [8D]

[vsmith]

Hey Brian, Its posted, here's the link:

http://www.mylargescale.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=23528

[bman36]

Vic,
I dunno' what to say....except thanks eh. This really is the World's Greatest Hobby. Glad everyone can enjoy it across the net. BTW I kept my cool behind the wheel with all those ponies. WAYYYY too much money riding on the pavement. It would take a couple of my homes to replace it! Besides I'll be knocking on their door again next year. Later eh...Brian.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the pictures Brian.That is one very large and shiny truck.
It was a great idea and it appears that you enjoyed yourself
in the process.Good one !
Troy