Hey, Dude, how's it goin? I'll take a Harpoon, Joe. Thanks. And some nachos to help everyone's digestion.
Are you going to model the coal mine below the surface? I've got coal on my layout, too, and I've been thinking of putting in a below-surface model at the edge of the layout. Just a foot or two of subterranean scenery. Maybe some N-gauge tracks and ore cars down there, too. How would that look, those of you with any mining experience?
I put together that IHC model house, and last night I decided to add some lights to that one and another in the series. The more recent one is called "Painted Lady House" on the box. I wasn't building a red-light district, so I sprayed both of them white. I should have primed them first, because the one which was originally green came out pretty well, but the second one was orange, and it came out kind of "salmon" even after 3 coats. However, it was no longer a grotesque orange, so I stayed with that. When I put a light inside, though, the old Painted Lady showed her true colors. It didn't have the glowing Chernobyl Valley Railroad look that you get from thin-walled models, but I should have done something about the inside of those orange walls. All the light inside is reflecting off those walls, and it still has a distinctly red-light look to it. Time for some card stock coverups, I think. It's too late to paint it.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Afternoon all... I'll have a Coke please... I'm still trying to wake up!
Just got 15 Athearn Thrall Coal gondolas I won on ebay. Great looking cars! Now I'm trying to find time to build the coal mine for them! This work thing keeps getting in my way! :)
Good morning to everyone, even though it's almost lunchtime. Nice weather here in the Bay State - about 60, which is a lot better than the near-winter we've had for the last few weeks.
I've been cleaning up little things on the layout. I finally got a terminal block and cleaned up some sloppy wiring I'd installed temporarily to run street lights. I also had a house kit that I'd mostly painted but never assembled, so that's sitting on the layout now. It's an old IHC, from their "Victorian Homes" set. Not a bad kit - clean castings, and it comes with window glazing and even a paper sheet of curtains (your choice of 4 colors) for the windows. On this one, I cut the garage door so it could be open, and built interior walls for the garage out of styrene.
Good morning: I'll have a cup of Joe, Joe!
Looks like I'm not the only one busy (not many frequenting the Barn lately) with "everyday"! Seems my week is once again resembling a run-away locomotive with more to do than time will permit.
I worked in the Trainroom a bit on Sun. but mostly I was ripping things up....Again. Just didn't like the "look" of Broadway Street at Sawbill Jct. once I had the structures in place. Thankfully I didn't have all of the street down yet so it's not a major undertaking, except for the removal of two parking lots! Basically it's just a moving around, adding and removing a couple of structures, and the repositioning of a side street. But...All of that remodel is again on hold with a call to sub the remainder of the week. So, with that, I'll check in again, when I can.
Good morning:
I'll have a coffee to go this morning...I want to get out to the Trainroom and get something done!
My week got really busy and I haven't done a thing on the RR of late. First it was additional work at the pool, then it was "spring cleaning with the wife, then it was more work at the pool again with an extra activity scheduled for yesterday.
MR. Beasley, I'll have to give your signage method a try...But I'm not real good with computers. I'll have to get into Paint and see what I can do there.
Jeffery, you steamer scene is looking good. I have something like that envisioned for a track at Whyte (Sawyer Lumber Shops) and your info and pictures will come in handy. Thanks!
Later guys...The Trainroom is calling.
I've been a bit busy in the scenery department. Check it out.
http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/1098084/ShowPost.aspx
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
Morning all. Joe I need a hot coffee and some sausage and gravy. Thanks.
WOW I had it go all the way to page 6 to find this today. Not much happening around here, have had beautiful weather this week, so I have been working outside. I do go in the trainroom and run the train sometimes, but nothing like I used to when the weather was so cold. Oh well it will be to hot to work outside befor you know it, then it will be back to the trainroom for some R & R. You all have a good day. Mike
colvinbackshop wrote: Ryan is the loop you are talking about, the one on your lower level around Spencer? If so, I can see what you are thinking as far as a spaghetti bowl thing going on at the "T" end of the peninsula (assuming, for clarification proposes, top is North), the South end.....But operationally, I like the way it ties the peninsula trackage together. Man, if you could get the far end (south end) of the loop somehow buried that would be really cool.
JB,
Yes, that is the loop in question! It serves a great purpose for getting trains turned around and back up to the upper deck, so in a utilitarian sense it works out great, but prototypically it would scream "model" too much. I am going to try the under the benchwork loop idea and hope it works out. My only concern is grade %'s and the 3" minimum clearance required.
Hey, not sure if I already posted this image in the Beer Barn, but here is a great shot I found on the Shorpy web site: http://www.shorpy.com:
Ryan BoudreauxThe Piedmont Division Modeling The Southern Railway, Norfolk & Western & Norfolk Southern in HO during the merger eraCajun Chef Ryan
Mike, that sounds a bit like the problem I'm still having with my Hudson. It makes it around fine by itself, but once I put on the load of passenger cars, it hops the track. It's not actually on a turnout, but right after it, on the straight path. The track does curve right after the turnout.
I had it working for a while last week. I shimmed up the outer rail of the curve a bit, and the same rail on the turnout. The track wasn't perfectly level, so of course the Hudson invoked its big-steamer privilege of derailing at the slightest imperfection in the trackwork. That track is glued down on foam roadbed, but not ballasted yet. I think it settled again after I shimmed it, so I may have to repeat the process.
When you put a load on the engine, the backward pull on the coupler tends to make the engine want to straighten out more. So, it rides more on the outer rail of a curve, and it will try to climb up the inside edge if it gets a chance. On a big steamer, that can happen if there is a dip in the track and the rear drivers tip into it while the fronts are climbing out.
Mrning all, a cup of coffee over here Joe, and better make it to go. Thanks.
I managed to get to the trainroom Sun. evening and ran some trains, I still have the turnout that derails the locos. If the locos are running alone or with a very few cars, they make the turn-out OK. If you have a very lengthy train, The loco will derail with a loud BANG. I have never had a problem with any of the rolling stock. I don't have a track gauge, I figure the rails are to far apart. What do you think, Any way of repairing the turnout without replacing it?
Got to go, I have enjoyed the good company this morning. See you all later. Mike
Coffee time again. How about some scrambled eggs and sausage, too? Thanks.
Y'know, Chuck, I still remember my first pro baseball game. I must have been no more than 5 or 6, and a Dodger fan. We had box seats that day, and I got to see the players up close - Duke Snider, Don Zimmer, etc. Ebbets field in Brooklyn. The first hard contact with the ball was a routine fly to center, but having never seen one in real life, it was quite impressive. It seemed like it was going to leave the stadium and Brooklyn, too, and go straight into orbit.
Thanks for the compliments on the layout. It's been two years now, and most of it is coming along nicely. I'm a bit concerned that I'm working on the perimeter, and leaving the center to finish later. That's going to create reach problems later. I've been putting off the turntable work (the "pit-bash" of the Atlas) but I've got to get to that. I miss having a place to stash the engines.
Howdy, everybody. Joe, I'll have a Kirin, and see who else needs a top-off.
Mister Beasley, maybe I should hang around with you. Some of your luck might rub off. Of course, there's the little (??!!) matter of three thousand or so miles from here to there.
Looks as if the weather gods were kind to the Marathon. Your NorEaster sort of fizzled out before the race got serious.
Back when, I was a Dodger fan (even while dating the daughter of the Giants' ticket manager!) Then they up and moved to L.A. - and I upped and moved to Japan (by way of Korea...) I stopped paying attention to baseball about the time that mid-level ballplayers started making more than the President.
Nice photos! Proof that you don't have to have a huge layout to have a nice layout.
I have happy news to report. Since there is now enough permanent track installed on my layout to allow some limited operation, the last of my temporary trackwork (including snap switches and some steel rail sectional track ) is now history. All of the rail currently in place is intended for hidden staging, but it's all fully operational (even if the panel is rather temporary.)
Well, tomorrow is coming, whether or not I like it. Have to pick up (and install) a full length mirror (wife's birthday present from me.) Should be interesting.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Just a quick nightcap after hockey. Got a great deal on some goalie pads tonight. The guy at the other end of the rink had just bought a new pair, and sold me his year-old ones for a hundred bucks. These things go for upwards of a grand, so I was pretty happy.
JB, I don't use anything special for making signs. If I'm actually designing it from scratch, I use the simple Paint program. Most of them I download and save as picture files. Then I import the pics (either mine or the downloads) into Word (Insert-Picture-From File) so I can re-size them easily. I print to either card stock or decal paper and the computer part is done.
The "No Parking" sign was done in Paint I downloaded a "stencil" font I liked and just wrote out the words. Then I did a "negative" conversion and I had it. It's a clear decal, so I painted a white rectangle on the building with cheap acrylics, and applied the decal over it. I use the white background a lot on these things, and it seems to work very well.
Gooooood morning / evening guys. Joe, I'll take a tall tap if you please.
Well...Here it is Monday again / already and back to the grindstone! Actually tomorrow and for the most part, the remainder of the week look to be really busy for me. Between yesterday and today I spent about four hours in the Trainroom. Today I finished up the barber shop / dentist (the LASERkit) structure except for the roofing. It turned out pretty nice! I still don't have any signage but at least the structures are getting done.
Oh...And along with the barber shop, I also finished laying all of the track on the North benchwork.
Mr. Beasley, do you have a special program that you do your signs with?
Mike, I checked out the "Lake Beaches" thread. Nice job on your beach!
Now that I have track on the N. wall and around the corner...I too, need to start work on Greenwood Lake and I want to have one beach there. The sand I have here is still too course, even after a good sifting...I need to make a road trip!
Two places that I have found REALLY fine sand (and I wish that I would have brought some home, instead of just thinking about doing so) was a beach in Oregon and in the very far N.W. corner of MN on the Eastern edge of the Red River Valley.
Latter...I'm a pumpkin and need to hit the hay!
Morning all, Joe Set me up with a cup of black coffee and some fried eggs and toast, Thanks.
Mr.B...Great work on the cobblestones and the market. I guess your guys are like mine, to busy to to go home at night, just work 24/7. I also like the overall pics, gives some prospective.
Colvin...Leaving the wall in is what I had in mind or at least most of it. I plan on working up there this weekend trying to get it ready to start the benchwork.
I did go back and answer the post on ''Lake Beaches'' that eaglebeak started. I know how it feels when you ask something and don't get an answer you like. Maybe I could help.
It is cold here in Okla. this weekend (again) 38 degrees as we speak and supposed to get to around 32 tonight, good day to work on the new trainroom, and hang around the BeerBarn tonight. I see Joe has my breakfast ready, see you all later. Mike
Evening all..
Jeffrey, that's one REALLY big bottle! And as long as you're pouring I'll take a shot of Jack too....Thanks.
Thanks for the "over all view" pictures Mr. Beasley. It does help put the areas we talk about on our pikes in prospective.
Ryan is the loop you are talking about, the one on your lower level around Spencer? If so, I can see what you are thinking as far as a spaghetti bowl thing going on at the "T" end of the peninsula (assuming, for clarification proposes, top is North), the South end.....But operationally, I like the way it ties the peninsula trackage together. Man, if you could get the far end (south end) of the loop somehow buried that would be really cool.
Mike: Couldn't you just leave that center wall in place? Talk about a "backdrop" or a "view block"...Wow, that could really give a sense of distance!
As for weekend plans.....I sure hope to spend most of it in the Trainroom working on structures at Sawbill Jct. and getting some more track down on the North benchwork.
MisterBeasley wrote: OK, here's the promised night shot: And here's an overview of the whole layout.This is taken from the east end, which is mostly finished. I kind of stalled out on the turntable while skiing took most of my weekends, so that area doesn't have much in the way of scenery. The Coal and Oil company is in the foreground on the right. Next up that side is Woolworths, then the plaza and the rest of the downtown area, in front of the Moose Bay Bridge. The far end of the layout doesn't have much scenery yet, just some buildings plopped down.This shot is from the front, looking back the other way a bit. I cropped out the unfinished part.Oh, happy Friday the Thirteenth, too!
OK, here's the promised night shot:
And here's an overview of the whole layout.
This is taken from the east end, which is mostly finished. I kind of stalled out on the turntable while skiing took most of my weekends, so that area doesn't have much in the way of scenery. The Coal and Oil company is in the foreground on the right. Next up that side is Woolworths, then the plaza and the rest of the downtown area, in front of the Moose Bay Bridge. The far end of the layout doesn't have much scenery yet, just some buildings plopped down.
This shot is from the front, looking back the other way a bit. I cropped out the unfinished part.
Oh, happy Friday the Thirteenth, too!
Wow, Looks great. That shot really gives us a great perspective. You have so much going on with the scene.
Sue
Anything is possible if you do not know what you are talking about.
I'll stick with white wine tonight, since that's what I started the night, make that evening, uh, afternoon, with. A Pouilly Fuisse, if you please. No, no dang lime. (Oh, wow, man. I spelled that right the first time.)
Mike, there's a guy on this thread
http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/1091337/ShowPost.aspx
that's looking for info on a lakeside scene with swimmers. As I recall, you did one of those. I'm sure he could use your help.
Rats. I was really, I mean really bothered by the gaps between the sections of the cobblestone plaza. So, I tried to fill the gaps, and in the process I think I messed the whole thing up. It's back on the layout, but it looked better before, and I think I'm going to have to re-do the whole thing, starting with new castings. Oh, well, it's only Hydrocal, paint and time. I've got plenty of all three.
Oh, are you passing the Jack. I will take mine on the rocks, please.
I had to work today, and Larry will not make it home until Tuesday. My weekend job will be to install a retaining wall and ballast a new section of track. Yesterday, I painted the ties; rusted the rails; and cleaned and tested the track. This is a team project you know. I just have more time to work on it.
What does everyone else have planned for the weekend.
Thanks Jeffrey, I'll have a Jack also.
I was just up-stairs looking around at what I hope will be the future RR Layout, I still don't know what I want to do. I am thinking that since this house is 80+ years old, I would like to leave at least part of the center wall intact. It wasn't included as an original wall but has been there since about 1966. This old house has been seatleing a lot in the past few years, I think I might be wise to leave all the support I can. Hay Jeffrey, I am about finished with my drink, how about if I buy the next round! Mike
I'll have a Jack Daniel's and a round all round for everyone!
Afternoon all, I got off early due to lack of anything to do and it was raining like never befor!
So here I am and I think I'll have a beer then maybe get to the trainroom and see if I can make a few miles. I did clean the track and loco's the other day and they sure run good. One question, Is there any cure for an Atlas turn out that the loco's derail on? I don't have a track gauge, but I am sure the rails are to far apart. Is there any way of repairing the track or do I have to replace it! It is really in a hard place to get to. Mike
colvinbackshop wrote: Opppsss!Sorry Ryan! I was just talking to an old friend, Chris, about grades in my helix. I stuck his name in when actually addressing you here at the Barn....Maybe it's time for a beer!!Joe, I'll have a tap, please.
Opppsss!
Sorry Ryan! I was just talking to an old friend, Chris, about grades in my helix. I stuck his name in when actually addressing you here at the Barn....Maybe it's time for a beer!!
Joe, I'll have a tap, please.
Yea, that's okay! I've been called worse before!
The total drop would be a maximum of 6" and then the rise would be another 6" up. And it would be to hide the loop under the existing roadbed and sub-roadbed. My original plan had the loop to go over some other tracks, but it looks too un-prototypical in that scheme.
It's quitin' time so........
..........I think I'll have a beer!
Good morning gang. Just a coffee please. I've already had my oat meal...
Just got in from the Trainroom! Yes, I actually did some work on the pike. But...For the most part the mission out there this morning was to finish dying Pointe shoes for tonight's performance. Even though I had the majority finished (done over the weekend), I had one more pair to do. She was waiting for a pair of new shoes (or so I was told) but I did an old pair today, so who knows! Good thing I'm just a volunteer.
After I got the shoes done, I did do a little more landscaping on the North benchwork, contouring some landforms with mud and getting some more roadbed down too. Also did some more assembly on the DPM and the LASERkit structures. I really like the way both of these kits are coming together.
Chris: Twelve inchs is a bit of a rise! Are you going between two modeled levels or just trying to hide the loop? If it's just to hide a loop...minimal clearance (just enough to see and get your hands in) should suffice. Depending on how long of a train will be pulled through, a 4% can be done but I would suggest a 2% would be more better managed.
Gotta' run
Thanks for the nudges and hints on the helix / loop situation.
I am trying to prevent the spaghetti bowl effect with the reverse loop. If I can get it to turn under the existing track work and then come up from under and make it back with out having to overhaul all the existing benchwork it might work out.
My prelim estimates show that the loop would have to drop at least 6 inches and then rise another 6 inches to make it back to the main line. My fear is that the grade will be too steep to make the proper clearances.
Oh, is there any bloody mary left in that caraffe....
Yes, I will have to agree, It is good to see some of the modelers comming back to the barn. Joe, I need a large black coffee to go, thanks.
Just thought I would check in and get a cup for the road befor I hit the grindstone. Mr.B I really like the way the cobblestone is comming around, I will be checking the WPF(Weekend Photo Fun) for some more pics. Have you got any of the entire layout? I would like to see where all this artwork is going to. Got to go for now. see you all later. Mike
Hey...Good to see some old faces back at the Barn!
I'll take a tap too, Joe...And the next round is on me.
SilverSpike: Just a thought here regarding a loop. Just like a helix, they do take up a lot of real-estate, but if you can find the space, either one can open all sort of operational possibilities.
I was going to have neither, just because of space constraints, but have ended up with both. I put the helix right in the middle of the Trainroom on the end of a peninsula and really only lost a few feet of diorama on the lower level. Instead of two larger, 10' scenes, I have two 5' scenes and I can run everything between the levels "right in sight", I may add.
My reversing loops are at the ends of my off pike staging (still need to automate them) and really add a nice dimension of passenger and ore drags coming and going to the off pike destinations.
Granted, both compromise much needed space and prototypical operation, but on the other hand, if you can hide them somewhere (off pike, lower level, in a mountain or butte) and are willing to give some space...They make for some pretty cool operation in the long run. I'm really glad I did both...After thinking very hard of doing neither!
And...Regarding construction: I didn't get out to the Trainroom at all today! First it was a trip to the "tax man" (good news there, as I only owe the government $12 more) and then it was a run, run day with errands before a shift at the pool and then getting Rae home from rehearsal (Reif Company Show tomorrow night).
I had thought about heading out to do some building, or even just running a train or two, now that I've gotten home....But I really do feel way too tired for much of anything!
So, thanks for the beer! See you tomorrow for breakfast.