I am about to head to my work shed to do "something." I have no idea what something is, but it's gonna be for my new layout. Anyone else?
Working on my layout is what's keeping me busy during my Christmas vacation. There's always making trees from a Woodland Scenics tree kit. That's a very Zen activity. It puts me right in my bubble where nothing else in the world invades my thoughts. I also messed around with my static grass thingamajig laying down some scruffy grass in a vacant lot between my engine shed and an industry. And planting the aforementioned trees in there, painting a dirt path through the area, and adding bushes and shrubbery. That changes the whole appearance of the place. It's still vacant but not blank. I have a gaggle of mailboxes to paint and place, and a couple of other kits to assemble. Not that there's much else to do - nearly everything is shut down until the 11th.
Im working on it today -- Got some roadbed laid -- the main loop has the roadbed laid -- hoping to do some track tomorrow. Ive also been working on getting waybills set up -- theres lots of data entry to be done... BLECH Even bad tasks working on the train is better than good tasks at work TIM
Not mine... exactly. But I spent a couple hours finding the rolling stock cases that Dad stored in random places so I can eventually start packing up his N-scale empire. Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk
Clean up. A well needed clean up. Projects in motion create a real mess we seem to look past while moving forward. Project ADD also sets in and multiple projects get started also creating a mess and harvesting workspace. Keep the rails shining.
Almost finished with ballasting mode 3, and experimented with brown tile grout to get the base of ground texture. Played with the slot cars with kids...… and now on shift at work..... tonight airplanes!
Not today, but tomorrow for about six months +/-. Ben and I finished the Hobby Shop Layout that was donated to the Mississippi Coast Model Railroad Museum over a year ago. The finish was just in time. The museum received a donation of a BACHMANN On30 BUDWEISER HAWTHORNE VILLAGE HOLIDAY EXPRESS SET. The museum manager asked if we would be interested to make another exhibit layout, "Oh, by the way, I'll give you a 28'x6' space next to the Hobby Shop layout." Do you think we overplayed our hand when we said YES! in less than a second? 'Tanyrate, we built a table frame work with three layers of 3/4" foam and formed a preliminary concept layout before Christmas. Tomorrow we'll scratch or heads, visualize, modify, adjust, move, relay, fortunately no adhesive....OK, we all have been there. Hope to post photos tomorrow evening. The set has eight 2-6-0 locomotives with enough passenger, freight cars, and crummies (Forgive me, I'm a B&M modeler) for at least three each. Buildings out the gump-stump, including an Anheuser Busch 1895 four story brick brewery with separate office building and the Clydesdale wagon. Gotta find the eight horse Clydesdale team. (any suggestions would be appreciated.) Also enough Bachmann nickel silver HO snap track for two folded dogbones, one a figure-eight with trestle, plus both dogbones interconnected for full loop running, also three sidings. Oh Man, Ben and I think we've died and gone to Heaven. Hey y'all, I could not ask for a more wonderful retirement existence after 82 years "playing" with trains. Just look at my Avatar, I will NOT grow up! Merry Christmas and much better 2021 New Year for All Y'all!
That's about how I'd feel if someone gave me 28' x 6' to fill with trains... Now for the greater question... where are all those generous folks when I need them?!?!?!
Okay, it's four days after Christmas, but I finally got my Christmas train running tonight. Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk
Somebody, please delete duplicate images. Don't know what I did, but I did something wrong. Thanks, Hank
I have one of the Hawthorne Village Bachmann trains with the Terry Redlin theme. I was a bit upset with this set as they canceled it after only 4 of the proposed 10 cars were supposed to be released. I am now working on the Moonlight Express, which has beautiful wolf themed artwork, but the train and rolling stock are kinda a generic Bachmann clone, and not the real Bachmann stuff. Still a pretty train.
Finished cutting gaps around the frogs in the handlaid track. Filled the gaps and trimmed the insulating material. Have installed 17 of 24 switch mechanisms. Tested the rails to make sure there are no shorts before I start wiring. Tested how long it would take to classify a cut. I put a string of 15 cars in one of the tracks, randomly assigned the 4 blocks (Local, Coatesville, B&O, Wilmington) and then sorted those out "Brio style" (since the track isn't wired yet.) That took about 8 minutes, which was about what I had hoped, think it will actually take about 10" on the actual layout with a locomotive. The timed how long it took to block out the B&O and Wilmingtons, about 4 minutes, very acceptable. I find it useful to know how long it takes so I can set a reasonable expectation for the work I want the yard engine to do. Want enough that they are engaged, but not so heavy they are overloaded.
Moved some of the rolling stock and scenery but not much else. Still healing from the motorcycle accident and recent case of COVID-19. So not too active. Hoping all had a Good Christmas and started a happy New Year.