Welcome back everyone. I hope your Holiday Season is going well. This is it, we have all but reached the end of the line of 2020. 2020 certainly had it's moments but we managed to get through it. Not only do we have a long weekend, but it's the start of a new year so I wanted to do something fun for this last thread of 2020. After you have told us what you plan to do over the weekend, tell us your Model Railroad Resolutions. Yup, forget loosing weight, eating better or meditation. While those are all good, save that for the other threads. Share with us what you want to learn, accomplish or do this new year as it relates to your hobby. NEW YEARS DAY: We are having Christmas part two with Angela's father and Grandmother. We'll be having a late lunch early dinner and exchanging gifts. I'll have his RC model of his 1995 Ford Mustang Cobra done and I'm anxiously awaiting to see his reaction to it. Ang got me a battery tender for my Mustang so I'll be visiting my girl and getting the tender set up on her. Pretty much just a day to celebrate and see family. Saturday: I picked up more plastic totes last night in hopes of finally getting all the Christmas items not only put away but organized. That will be tomorrow's goal. Any time left over will be spent researching a suitable N scale track plan. Yes, this epic battle is on going. Sunday: If all the Christmas stuff is put away, I hope to work on the HO layout. Fortunately that one has an actual track plan. The Lance Mindheim layout is mainly for my own obsession of switching but in HO however it will double for work as well. We'll see what transpires. 2021 New Years Modeling Resolution: Despite all the challenges of the past year, I did get a lot done. My biggest goal is to find a prototypical New England track plan for the N scale shadow box, lay the track, build legs for the shadow box for shows and have it at least 60 - 75% completed in time for the Ohio N Scale Weekend. I received an e-mail from the show organizers and so far they are moving ahead with the show. I'm staying positive and this and it will kick me in the pants to get the layout done. I also want to complete as much as I can on the HO layout. So how about you? What do you plan to do on the first weekend of 2021? Let us know that and don't forget to post your New Years Model Railroad Resolution! We'll come back next year, specifically Monday, January 4th 2021 to see how we all did and what your plans are during the new year. I hope you all have a happy, healthy and safe Holiday Weekend and... High Greens! & HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I hope to get some modelling done this weekend. (depends on my wife - if she decides to take down and put away the Christmas decorations) So -- Work on my track realignment project. (I have modified the turnouts) Perhaps start on my F7 project. Now that I have all of them in hand. 1 set each SP DF3 through DF12 (38 F7A's and B's) as delivered - The DF8's were delivered in AA sets only - Y'all have a great and safe New Year's eve. HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Wolf
Plans for this weekend if my foot is feeling better I s to clean up my mess and rearrange the modeling objectives. I need to get ready for an NMRA visit. News years plan? Well I am working on the NMRA AP program. I need to do a couple things on my old west module for the prototype AP. For Cars AP I want to build a Civil War train in HO. I have all the stuff just got to sit down and do it. It will all be out of wood. The structures AP is under evaluation and will be done on the next visit along with prototype. After that I will have some time. I need to finish the N scale module loop and then hope to get back to my HO layout.
Model railroad resolutions: Stop buying engines and rolling stock. (But... but... I want it!) Get the turntable working on the layout. Get the roundhouse and car shop working on the layout, then build the structures. Help SceneIt with the scenery. Speed match all diesels and electrics. Set loco speeds for quasi-scale operations (fast looks so SLOW on the layout...) Optimize sound on all sound-equipped locos. Set up layout in Panel Pro, build routes. Isolate the yard and station, engine facility, and main into separate power districts. Add turntable to DCC. Add JMRI operations to the layout. Hold more virtual train shows. Send the original Kato TGV in for DCC conversion. And finally, the BIG resolution, the hardest one to keep: Work on all of this even if it means not running trains for a weekend or several... This weekend: Spackle gaps on main line and hook up the turntable, match heights with Unitrack. Finish the yard design. Visit LHS and buy switches for the yard according to the design. Sent from my SM-N950U1 using Tapatalk
Plans for this weekend -- All of these are very subject to change should my Cardiologist want to see me or decide to send me to a cardiac surgeon -- im waiting to hear from them Thursday -- Ive been laying track already this morning, and I hope to get some more done alter today -- I am also planning on working on learning JMRI Operations. Depending on how I'm feeling, I plan to stay up till midnight just to make sure 2020 actually LEAVES and there is always football Friday - More football - particularly the College football playoff games where Ohio State will be playing -- additionally, more work on Operations and laying track Saturday - More of the same -- very dependent on how I am feeling Sunday - Same as above -- my hope is to have the main loop of the layout laid and the track wired etc by the end of sunday, so I can actually have trains running around 2021 Railroad Resolutions - Get the bulk of the track laid on the layout - Start getting servo Switch Machines installed with Geoff Bunzas decoders - Re-decoder my 2 locos that I currently have - Hopefully purchase another loco or 2 Wishing peace, joy, health and blessings for 2021 TIM
Well, at the risk of sounding like a broken record, I hope to get more work done on my grain elevator project and just run some trains. Hmm, lets see, maybe 3 MRR goals for 2021. 1) I would like to get the layout to 95% or more done so that really small details or reworking something here and there is all that is left. that is the big goal. 2) I want to get all my locos and rolling stock re cataloged and up to date with unique road numbers for each and M/T couplers on everything. 3) is to get DCC up and running on my layout. Can honestly say I'm happy to see 2020 go. 2021 may start off the same but I hope it gets better as it goes for all of us. Happy New Year everyone!
HI BNSF Fan -- do you have pics of your progress on your Grain Elevator? I'm planning one also -- using recycled Alex+ tubes from laying track and roadbed -- probably gonna be 8 silos in a row to save some depth Have a great day TIM
Staying home to celebrate the new year is nothing new for us, that is what we normally do anyway. Currently working on a track power interlock for the door entry bridge on my layout so I hope to get that done over the weekend. After that it will be trying to finish bridge abutments for 2 bridges. Which leads to my new years resolution. Over the years I have used various brands of concrete or aged concrete paints for such things as building foundations and sidewalks, etc. It's been OK but I have never been totally happy with it. This feeling has been reinforced with this layout when using these paints on larger surfaces such as bridge abutments and tunnel portals. So I want to try some other products and techniques for making these things look more like concrete, starting with all the things I have made for this layout that have not yet been installed. This may delay progress on the layout in the short term but I feel it will be worth it. Happy New year everyone and hoping for a better 2021 !
Well, it's a regular work schedule for me. No day off until Sunday. But I still have hopes of accomplishing a couple of small kit assembly type things, as that day passes. Guess I'll know come Monday if I succeeded!
Latest couple of pics. Here is where it will go on the layout. May actually make it 2 silos longer. Since it is close to the backdrop there, I am hoping to create the allusion that it is double deep all the way by having the top extend to the backdrop. Silos are being made from PVC pipe (slowly coming together) And the headhouse is from the Walthers kit. Still have a very long way to go.
Well it STARTS tonight! Thursday night: "Railroad" 2 live lobsters into some boiling water for a feast in the "dining car", uhhh, room. Friday: Work on some building details, clean up a few buildings in Albemarle City Saturday AM; Maybe get out the air brush and bring a couple of projects along that have stalled due to the painter sitting on his duff. Saturday Afternoon: No modeling, will watch NC State play in the Gator Bowl and hope for the 9th win of the year. Sunday: Free day of modeling. Will also "undecorate" the few remaining Christmas things on the outside of the house. The inside is done and put away. 2021: While I am sure I will continue doing what hits me as a general rule, there are 3 things I have to do on the Albemarle Division that are annoying me. 1 is getting a few control panels built; 2 is obtaining some permanent bridge piers for the lower bridge at the big gorge in the center of my layout; 3 is to start putting in plywood sub-board for the coal branch. Health, wealth, and peace-of-mind to each and every one of you in 2021.
Thank you for the good wishes. Earlier today I got a haircut and found some plain brownies with chocolate icing at the store. I have been looking for some like these for six months. The cabisi (cabooses) are still being worked on. I made some cutting guides which help a lot. As for next year's goals: Behold the Leviathan! 2021 OMEGA SCALE RAILWAY GOALS 1. Improve turnout design A. Currently on fourth iteration B. Next phase in progress 2. Construct modules A. Union City, TN B. 90 degree curves C. “Big Muddy” bridge D. Texas Jct. 3. Fabricate boiler sheet former 4. Build “Fine Detail” boxcar 5. Foliage, people, animals, vehicles, structures 6. Facebook page (tentative) 7. Improve blog 8. Enlist blog sponsors 9. Develop sales (online) 10. Develop embossing for sideframes and other parts 11. Have one of each car type built 12. Build second shifter (#52) 13. Make small hand carry case 14. Locomotives: 4-4-0, 2-8-2, FA-1, F7, S1, 15. Use prefabrication of track sections before gluing on base 16. Learn Scan n Cut Not much here. Happy New Year!
Tim Holmes, As I told you before,"been there,done that". It is a piece of cake now days. May your New Year be better in every respect, Carl
Had some homemade pizza for dinner. Hanging out waiting for midnight here in the Pacific time zone. Can't wait to put 2020 in the rear view mirror. As for the weekend, we are driving back to Bellingham on Saturday. Unlikely I will get any modeling done. 2021: The big resolution is to finish UP 2295, Heavy Mikado. Under that project heading are several smaller objectives that I need to achieve. In no particular order: Make some small (.010") holes in small brass strip (.030" x .010") Learn to use low-temp, paste solder Install a sound decoder and speaker in a steam engine for the first time Scratch build a boiler from brass Learn to spray Vallejo acrylic paint successfully Finish by June 1 There are several other projects on my list as well. I am hopeful that conventions and shows will be back this year. The N-Scale convention is alreay off. The PNR convevention, NMRA and NPRHA have not been cancelled as of today. The NPRHA in September is most likely. I also hope to see the Monroe WA show return in a fall time slot and perhaps the Lynden WA show in October. Underlying all of my modeling hopes for the new year is the wish we all can get back to jobs, families and friends in safety and security. Happy New Year Welcome 2021! Stay safe,
Working on building a Tangent PS 4000CF Covered Hopper Kit, need to paint an Athearn PS 2893CF Covered Hopper and a IMRC 1937Mod AAR Boxcar. Also continue decaling a GP35 and a MP 1944AAR Boxcar. Long term plans include modifying an old Rail Power Products C30-7 into an NW C36-7 and completing a Plastics Plant with Pellet Silos for the Stongsville Club layout, may also start my own layout since I will be going from 20 hours a week working to 10 hours and then full retirement this year. I also need to start painting my brass steam locomotives. Rick Jesionowski
My 2021 goal is to get the layout space(garage) prepared for a modest sized N scale layout build. Some demolition has been done and I hope to run electric for outlets and additional switched lighting this week. I may have to spring for a shed for all the stuff that came from under the old layout/modules and eliminated attic storage. Here is a rough idea of what I am after and is subject to change. Inyo Sub from West Colton to Banning.
2021 goals are to get my N scale Boston Mountains Sub Division layout back in work and start building the HO Ft. Scott and Beyond layout. Joe
For this weekend I have a six pack of Athearn Offset Side Hoppers in the Lehigh & New England Billboard scheme to weather. I then need to decide whether to continue weathering coal hoppers of switch to grain hoppers. For 2021 I want to finish weathering all the RTR on the workbench. Right now, that is about a dozen grain hoppers and 15 coal hoppers. There are a few other types of car that I recently purchased which should be done. I promised myself once the RTR stuff is off the bench I would go hot and heavy on the layout redo. First up is demolition. Next will be rearranging the benchwork aka old drafting tables and adding one to the layout. I need to settle on a track plan and then start building it. I would like also to decide on a DCC system for the layout.
Making progress. Shed purchased, assembled, and filled yesterday. Old wallboard has been removed so there is no evidence of the old layout. Next is replace the gate before insulation and new wallboard. The gate is anchored from inside.
