2020-2021 Thirteenth Annual International Winter Layout Party

ppuinn Dec 11, 2020

  1. okane

    okane TrainBoard Supporter

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  2. Tim Holmes

    Tim Holmes TrainBoard Member

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    @Sumner Do you happen to have the link for those sifters on amazon -- the ones I have found are much more expensive

    @nscalestation I'd like that link too

    I just got a bunch of turnouts and wires and stuff, so I need to get back to laying track, and im working on learning JMRI operations, so if there are any JMRI Experts among us, please let me know, I'm always looking for help

    TIM
     
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  3. TrainzLuvr

    TrainzLuvr TrainBoard Member

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  4. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    I bought these for the #60 mesh...

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08L4MF63G/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s03?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    .... let the wife pick which one she wanted and I took the other one. There were a couple single ones for about $4 less but I liked the idea of two. Also now these are $2 less than what I paid :(.

    She had one that looks like this and I'm guessing might be #40 mesh so didn't buy it and I'm allowed to use it when needed...

    [​IMG]

    Here is the chart I was using for sizing...

    https://www.valvesonline.com.au/references/mesh-sizing-chart/

    Sumner
     
    Last edited: Jan 14, 2021
    okane likes this.
  5. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks, the reason I asked is I just got a much faster computer to feed my Fusion 360 addiction and I couldn't find the 2012 version of Microsoft's free Movie Maker that I've been using to load onto the computer. It isn't great but does the job for me and I know it so wanted it again. I did download what is suppose to be a very powerful free one today but it was to complicated. I went back and found a download of the 2012 version of Movie Maker on the 'way back machine' and got it on the computer so all is good again :).

    Sumner
     
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  6. nscalestation

    nscalestation TrainBoard Supporter

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    After trying several different editors both free and paid for, the one I am using now is shotcut. Here's the link

    https://shotcut.org/
     
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  7. TrainzLuvr

    TrainzLuvr TrainBoard Member

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  8. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    I have a conundrum... the snow scene seems to have yellowed over time! I was repairing the snow zone and the artist gesso is brilliantly white compared to the hydrocal I used to make the snow. Now I don't know if I should highlight the snow with gesso, but hydrocal to do repairs (far more messy), or ignore the difference.

    Thoughts?
    20210115_134833.jpg 20210115_134805.jpg
     
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  9. okane

    okane TrainBoard Supporter

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    I will wait patiently to see the suggestions for I have no clue what one would do. I've only used foam and plaster cloth. and no snow. Are the cracks a result of the moving around?
     
  10. TrainzLuvr

    TrainzLuvr TrainBoard Member

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    Try applying some Bleach or Hydrogen Peroxide on an isolated yellowed area, and see if that whitens it up. Aside from that, if you have denture tablets, that might help although generally things need to be soaked in that solution.

    Finally, airbrushing the ground as a last resort to get the whites to match up.
     
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  11. TrainzLuvr

    TrainzLuvr TrainBoard Member

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    My update for this week:

    West-end staging panel powered up and tested, turnouts added to the LCC IO boards, looks nice, I can run a locomotive back and forth on the staging tracks even:

    [​IMG]

    Getting closer to completing the East-end staging panel, powered up and working but turnouts need to be connected to LCC IO boards and programmed, thus still some wires hanging:

    [​IMG]
     
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  12. okane

    okane TrainBoard Supporter

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    I'm still in the planning stage, the layout plan is now 99% complete and it was time to start looking at the scale of things. I decided I would put together a mockup of the Elevator and Silos. As it is one of the biggest structures planned for the layout, putting it up would refresh my recollection of the scales and space required. It was also an opportunity to see if the idea would actually work... see below. I did not waste time on details or creating a 3D effect for windows and doors that is for the next time. I did learn that I would need to modify the assembly process and use styrene to join the edges. That simply is not going to work for me anyway.

    It's not perfect, (I was not planning that) but it can be depending on the paperweight and cardstock we finalize on. This particular version was manually cut with scissors and glued on to cardstock. I'm lucky in the my better half is a master paper crafter and we will be using her Brother Scan and Cut machine to get better results. Dimensions - Silo is 80 Scale ft Tall with a 30-foot diameter and is glued to a 6 inch by 1.35" inch diameter PVC pipe. The elevator is 130 Scale Feet. We used 80ld, 216 GSM paper and glued these onto a large depleted Cereal Box.

    The building beside is another mock-up barbershop with two floors of apartments above. I surprised myself (I have Patience) and learned a lot, the next rendition will be much better, well at least that's the plan until we work out a process that provides consistent results.


    IMG_20210115_212307.jpg
     
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  13. TrainzLuvr

    TrainzLuvr TrainBoard Member

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    I feel I'm forever stuck in the benchwork or tracklaying or electronics or something else phase. :(

    I keep seeing people doing structures and weatering and scenery and other more "creative" things...and feel left out.
     
    RailMix, Hardcoaler, Atani and 2 others like this.
  14. RailMix

    RailMix TrainBoard Member

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    Since last week was the start of a new semester, I've been extremely busy and didn't get a chace to post, but the depot has been proceeding slowly. I made the roof/tower a removable assembly so I can add lighting and possibly a printed interior later. This made assembly a bit more difficult and slowed things somewhat. It's turning out to be quite an imposing structure and seems to have a presence larger than its size. Photo from last night.

    IMG_1301 (2).JPG
     
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  15. okane

    okane TrainBoard Supporter

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    Quite Impressive!
     
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  16. nscalestation

    nscalestation TrainBoard Supporter

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    You can always take a break from those above mentioned phases and build structures, bridges, etc. Those two bridges I am getting ready to install were built about 10 years ago and have been in storage waiting for this layout to reach this point in it's development.
     
  17. RailMix

    RailMix TrainBoard Member

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    That's exactly what I'm doing right now. When I get to the benchwork and trackwork phases, I'm hopefully going to have structures to put in place, detail and scenic around. I should have at least some areas that look finished in short order.
     
  18. TrainzLuvr

    TrainzLuvr TrainBoard Member

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    I'm driven by goals and so this Winter Layout Party was a good focus for me to get things done, to have some trains running. Otherwise I'm all over the place, and when I find something I really like doing, I would only do that, which does not help finishing other projects at all. :)
     
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  19. okane

    okane TrainBoard Supporter

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    Today's project started with the cutting of Rigid Insulation, which was quickly interrupted with a request for the IT hat to go on to install my wife new Brother Scan and Cut Machine. That took up much of the morning with explanations and being shown how it was going to help me. The dam thing can cut styrene and balsa wood. Hmmm

    Got sidetracked with putting in new crate shelving above my wife craft area and figured I might as well install some on the layout on the west wall. $5 apiece cant go wrong. Couple of LED strip lights I have will go underneath. Got to move the printer and tools and then finish up the foam on Sunday!

    IMG_20210116_143905.jpg
     
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  20. okane

    okane TrainBoard Supporter

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    I'm definitely not goal-oriented... If I like it it gets done which usually means I get easily sidetracked. But to me, that's half the fun. Eventually, it will get done. My train area is getting a little crowded with odd projects, including 3 florescent lights and 2 electrical plugs to install. I think I'll get that done Sunday and forget about the foam as the foam will not take that long and can be a filler. Maybe I can turn Monday into a holiday!:(
     
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