Thanks so much, Tom. You bring back good memories. I built an 8x8 Lionel layout in our basement with my dad. I had some Lionel and Plasticville buildings. Nothing was to scale. The crossing gate and cross buck, the gateman and other things were oversize but running trains on that layout was so much fun and it all looked so real to me at the time.
Can I post a link to a large O scale layout or should I send you a PM. Thought you might wanna see it. From YouTube person I follow. Don't want to mess up your thread though. Btw great update, love your layout. Sent from my SM-G550T using Tapatalk
Thanks in2tech. Either posting the link here or sending it to me in a PM is fine. If you post it here everyone could see it, or you could start a new thread so that everyone can view the layout. However you choose to do it is fine with me.
I have been doing little things on the layout and took a few new pictures. I wired the block signal to an MTH ITAD so it goes from green to red as the train passes, then yellow, and back to green. It doesn't look red in this picture but it's definitely red in person. The train is coming into town. The New York Central passenger train is pulling into the station. The passenger train is a few miles from the station and is exiting the long tunnel. This could be a dangerous crossing so the gateman makes sure traffic is stopped and everyone is safe. The gateman doing his job. That's it for now.
I haven't decided what kind of factory or warehouse that is yet so there could be just about anything in those cans.
I received my package from Menards today. In it were these goodies: a New Haven boxcar, and REA boxcar and two yellow Hummers with lighted headlights and taillights. Also included were some plug and play wiring supplies for the Hummers and future buildings. The Hummers were freebies, one included with each boxcar. Menards has various promotions. When I placed my order last week it was a free yellow lighted Hummer with any O gauge train item $19.99 and up. Here are the boxcars and one of the Hummers. Note that the road under the Hummer needs a bit of work.
I did a little work on the layout today. The church parking lot was foam core covered with gravel made from Woodland Scenics fine ballast, mostly gray with some black and buff mixed in. The is the picture of how it looked right after I did it a number of months ago. It looked great but the foam core warped after a little while. I thought it might relax after a few months, tried weighting it down, but when the weights were removed it curled back to it's warped condition. The warp was from the curve at the track to the part that meets the black road. I finally gave up hope that it would relax and return to it's original flat condition and cut it out a couple of days ago. Unfortunately, I didn't take a picture of it warped but it was pretty bad. Today I added gravel, the same gravel mix, without foam core under it. The parking lot is a little lower than the road and the church but I'm happy with how it turned out. The glue should be dry by tomorrow and then I can put the cars back in the lot. This is the lot as it is now. It was discouraging when the parking lot warped and didn't eventually relax. I though of trying to disguise it with bushes but I'm glad that I cut it out and redid it.
It looks good Country Joe. The Pastor needs a marked parking space. I know what it's like to have a distracting element on a layout and finally making the decision to make a mess and tear it out. I wouldn't have expected foam core to warp either.
What did you use as an adhesive? I am thinking that may have been the issue. As it dried, it pulled the foam core out of shape?
I used diluted Elmer's white glue or Woodland Scenics Scenic Cement. The foam core I used was good quality from my local Michael's craft store. As a wetting agent I used either 70% Alcohol or tap water with a few drops of dish detergent. The warped parking lot looked bad enough that I had to cut it out and do it again.
Thanks in2tech. I ordered some buildings for the upper level so I will have an update in the near future.
Unless I missed something, I don't see anyone going to church Either you have very bad people or it is not Sunday Or services have been cancelled while the parking lot is being worked on Yeah, that's a reason not to go to church! I have no idea why I think this is funny
I have started working on two new areas on the layout. The upper level is going to be a residential area with a station platform. These are the first 3 houses. Right now I'm thinking this will be a cul-de-sac. That will allow me to fit in more houses in a more interesting way. I am also working on a scene that will feature trailers, a small house (maybe a clubhouse?) and a lake with people enjoying nature. A second trailer and a small house are one the way and should arrive tomorrow. These scenes will develop as I get more buildings and can see them in place. The station platform had to be moved because the long passenger cars hit it when it was in the location in this picture. I have a general idea of how these scenes will develop but will probably make changes when I can see the buildings in place. I have found that something that looks good on paper doesn't always look as good in reality.