Well, did my last batch of wiring/testing yesterday. All the Kato Switch machines are working and the trackage is smooth. Glued down the back main line this morning with latex plumbing caulk, will let that dry while I head to the p-t job today. Tonight will glue down part of the inner back main, and chop that viaduct bridge, so I can finish securing the rest of the mains this weekend. Then I can actually start on the Daphetid extension. Wish me luck.
Well, the caulk seems to have held well. Tomorrow I will do the rear section of the inner main line [yeah, I was lazy tonight]. Right now, I still have not hung the new layout light from the ceiling and when I just checked the layout, it was pretty dim. I was really surprised at how bright the light on my old Roundhouse 2-6-0 was on the layout. It has me thinking about adding lighting as I am building my structures. I wasn't going to do it at first, due to keeping things simple, but the light looked really sharp and would make for some really neat looks on the layout during the evening hours.
Ohhh Yeaaaa!! Trains running on a layout with city lights etc is....sexxxxy !! . https://www.trainboard.com/highball/index.php?media/users/mtntrainman.9898/&page=3 . .
Oh Man! @mtntrainman , that looks great! Now you have me thinking of trying to make a diner like Edward Hopper's Nighthawks painting!
Not so sure...real downtown street...real lighting... https://www.bing.com/images/search?...3D667509BFD75FA2C&selectedindex=21&vt=4&sim=1
Okay, slow progress today but did get the rear main glued down. Also, cut the viaduct to fit where it comes off the hill. Letting stuff dry now, will check the track again this evening once the tub glue has a chance to set. Might do some decaling later tonight. Gonna watch the Razorback game now. PS: those of you who have used the Woodland Scenics Plaster Cloth and their lightweight Hydrocal, how did you like it?
You got it right. The cities here have been going to the soft yellow lights as shown. It's safer than the old bright blue.
I have, many times. They work really well together. Just remember that Hydrocal sets much faster than other plaster-like stuff like Sculptamold or spackling.
There are generic versions of the plaster cloth that are WAY less costly than the Woodland Scenics brand and for me have worked as well.
Also, most camera's pictures don't look like when you see the lights with your own eye's. At least mine don't. I doubt they are as bright as they look in the picture? Only @mtntrainman knows for sure Most important, it looks cool!
True... Most camera lens pick up on actual 'light' and not so much on surrounding darker areas. Case in point. The second pic posted. You can hardly see down the aisle. It looks really dark in there. You can see by outside light filtering thru the window covering on the back window that the pic was taken at dusk. There was still plenty of ambient light coming through that window to light the aisle. But the camera lens focused on the brighter lights of the LEDS on the layout. All in all I still think the effect of leds lights for street lighting and even indoor lighting in buildings adds a lot more 'realism' to a layout. YMMV. .
Did a little priming and painting today as it was 80 degrees out so the stuff dried well. The Tomix Engine House was a pain to get apart, but worth it. Now sporting a galvanized roof and will get concrete base painted. Also painted a couple of tank cars for the line [yeah, I know the era is wrong, but I like em]. Gonna decal tomorrow, or if the back is better, do some terrain building on the layout for the Daphetid extension.
Who says the "era is wrong" for the tankers? Era, schmera... If you like 'em, run 'em on your road! Nice job on the engine house too. All it's missing is the cat.
Well, did get foam glued down and risers in on the NE corner of the layout, tomorrow gonna try to get the North Central section done. Will let that dry, then Sunday or Monday try to get the last of the NW [Daphetid] foam in. Tonight, I took the Missus to dinner, then did some decaling, the Engine House end logo, 3 cabeeses, 2 tank cars and 4 passenger cars. [oh, and a bus]. Trying to decide if I want to put the spelled out name on the side of the Engine House. I accidentally ordered some HO scale decals, so the larger decal looks good on the end of the Engine House.
Didn't accomplish much the last couple of days [hint: if you get the opportunity to break your back, DON'T]. Hopefully, I can get the middle level done and adding the vertical support between the two mains that will be hidden from the front view. Did hook up my 2-6-0 to the 4 passenger cars to try out. It does not like 4 cars, but did quite well with 3 cars. So, combine and 2 coaches, or 3 coaches?
Duly noted, regarding breaking one's back; I shall endeavor to avoid such folly. Regarding the choice of 3 cars to run behind your 2-6-0, that sounds like an excuse to run a helper service! When life hands you lemons...