Seems the latest thing is this forum is to tell others the latest improvements on their model railroads. Personally, I find that a good thing, and something that can stir the construction crews on your layouts into action. So, fellow freelancers, what new improvements, delays, rebuilds, dismantlings, etc. have been going on in your empires? And, how's about sharing that news with the rest of us here at TB? (Disclaimer: No, I'm not the new forum moderator, just another freelance model railroader trying to stir up enthusiasm.)
I started back to work at Wal Mart just before Thanksgiving and have been really tired when I get home. Also time spent Christmas shopping ect so haven't done any construction on my layout lately. Hope to get back to it after the holidays
Lots of planning for my new layout.... Started construction of one of the kits I got for Christmas... MP's Old Coal Mine. So far, it's looking good..... Painted and weathered everything first, am in construction now... Got new toys to play with for Christmas, so will be having a lot of fun here shortly.
I have accomplished absolutely nothing on my railroad for the past two months. It's located under an open window in the basement, and I need to put a piece of styrofoam insulation to keep the heat in. However, there isn't a piece to be had in town! If we can all get healthy for a couple days, we're going to Boise to go shopping and visit family and friends, and I can get some there. upguy's railroad is progressing, my contributions being mostly trackwork and kibitzing. I'm really good at the latter. Pat
I got a little N Scale work done lately, since I have been out of work for 3 months: DCC/Computer: Made an rs232 cable from my junk box to connect to my NCE controller. Built a computer from old parts laying around and connected to the DCC controller. Downloaded DecoderPro and Automatic Train Controller freeware programs and setup up so I can program decoders and write macros to run my layout automaticaly. Works great! Modified my radio DCC Hammerhead so the batteries don't drain when unit is turned off. Converted last 2 turnouts on the layout to Tortoise Machine/Switch-it DCC. Loco's converted to DCC: 1- LifeLike 2-8-8-2 (Christmas present to myself) 2- LifeLike SW1200's (ruined the third loco and pop'd 1 decoder) 1- Kato SD45 1- LifeLike GP18 shell on an Atlas GP7 drive. 2- Atlas GP7-TT's 1- Kato 2-8-2 /GHQ W-3 Mikado kit. (what a job that one was!) Turntable: Removed old stepper motor drive and converted to DCC ready auto indexing with DC drive. Still need to rework the bridge rails so they align properly at both ends and build a latching relay board to finish total DCC control. Modules: Removed Atlas code 80 and installed Peco code 55 track on the module with turntable. Removed a dessicated snail from my turntable module, who had ate a 1"x2" section of my backdrop before dying! (for the life of me I cannot figure out how he got on my layout ) Laid track and turnouts on my leftmost turnaround module lower level and started on base scenery. As far as spending money... I have been buying stuff for this layout for the last 7 years, and have not had the time to do much of anything. I have several Buildings, GHQ Loco Kits, Rolling Stock Kits, and other stuff left to build, that I can last another year without a job and still have modelling to do. I only bought the LL 2-8-8-2, an Atlas NP Caboose, and 4 Kato tender kits since I have been out of work. Maybe I'll find a job after the new year, and I can start Aquisitions in earnest again! My wife say's "enjoy it while it lasts!"
Construction on the Southview Lines has been at a stand-still for quite awhile now. I am currently hand-laying code 55 turnouts in N-scale. I have built six so far and I must say that the last one was the best! Maybe I can build a few more of the same quality and actually start laying my Atlas code 55 flex that has been patiently waiting for turnouts. I haven't been doing anything else on the railroad. Just putting all my attention on construction of turnouts. Maybe in a few months I will be running trains!
Hi all my friends. I must admit that after the six weeks High balling I almost "drop dead" Not much modeling since then up to now. From my own point of view I feel that I succeeded to finish a lot of commitments during that time. However, I have to take a lot more pics to show the progress. It will come sooner or later I promise. BTW, HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!!
construction crews are just finishing up on a three bay car repair shop on the Heather Valley RR. All that is left to do is move in the air compressor, gas & arc welder benches, tool boxes ect.....!
The first spike for the Eastern Mountain Rwy. goes down tomorrow. While I was between layouts, I did a lot of MT conversions , painted and weathered structures, and aquired a Kato Mike. Can't wait to run it. Eric
Hi everyone. Well with the help from all of u's, my new layout is off to a good start. Road Name, Color Scheme, & Plan. This week i start tearing out the other half of the basement. The walls are already out and i will begin tearing down the ceiling and building a small wall and doorway to the utility room. Then i will put in new ceiling and electrical, build in the new paint spay area, fix-paint-& wood panel the walls, then lay in the laminate flooring. If budget holds out, it should be all done by end of the month. Then i can clean out the train room on the other side of basement, this i do not know how long it will take, but once done i can start the new train room construction. [ 01. January 2003, 14:36: Message edited by: railery ]
Lately it seems it's a lot of little, boring jobs like counter-sinking the nails on the Luan backboard, then filling the holes and the seams with sheet rock "mud" then a lot of sanding. Also was able to find a sheet of cork 36" wide and 24' long for the underlay at the staging yards. So that will be next to go down. After that, think I'll try my hand at being an "artist", and get that backboard finally painted sky blue with clouds (gulp!!!). Bought a video tape "Painting Backgrounds"....and that's the level of my experience at it. Wanna bet I'll have to "re-do" it a couple of times???
Cork sheeting...........where did you find yours? I need something like that to relay my Tulsa/Springfield staging yard.
Bob, If you can get to Grapevine go to Elliott's hardware (Main & Hwy 26). They have cork in 36" and 48" widths by whatever length you need. I think they have it in a couple of thicknesses also. Check it out!
Check out local hardware stores. I started calling, and finally found one that would order it for me in Tonawanda, NY (about 50 miles away). If you don't have any luck finding some, let me know and I'll get their phone number for ya.
p.s. I didn't have any luck finding it at the big stores like Home Depot, Lowes, Value etc. [ 05. January 2003, 04:24: Message edited by: wabash_one ]
Let's see here. Tore out and dismantled the INDIANA RAILWAY. I am completely rebuilding the whole layout room, new walls, rewiring for more 110 outlets, new and better lighting. The boss said that if I build her a 12' X 15' walk-in closet, the rest of the basement is mine to use! Whatta deal! I had always told her that the upstairs is hers to make-over as she pleased, just let me have the basement. All good things come to he who waits!
Well, I have built a new 4' corner for my N-Trak section. I will have the track plan started sometime this month. Right now it's just the bench work that's complete. This corner is replacing the 3' corner I had that belonged to the club. It will be basically the same Engine Facility, only bigger with the Branch line option installed on the back side of it. [ 06. January 2003, 17:52: Message edited by: Maxwell Plant ]
My dad went to get two boxes full of ho scale locomotives and models for only 150$. After that i started doind a model and fixing the locomotives that dont work. On my layout now, I finished a mountain and the only thing i need to complete the layout is to solder the rails together and to place the models
Still held up actually working on my layout, but still having fun. Have to finish off the basement before I can have a room to myself. No train stuff until then. I've been side-tracked with RC cars with my son, nitro-methane powered monster trucks! A hobby for the tinkerer, there's never an end to repairs to be made. Mark in Utah
Hi all, let's see, what did I do on my layout... I finished some basic wiring during the Christmas holidays so I can finally run some trains And I have resized some drawings I found on the Library of Congress website of the National Orange packing house to HO scale. That'll be pretty much it for the time to come because I'm going to move over a month to a new layoutroom with house attached But first some serious work has to be done to it so I'll be a bit out of the loop for a while... after that the layout is going to be expanded Kind regards, Wilbert
