Yeah, I've finally started rebuilding my layout out front. Made some changes in the process, since what I was working on just was not to my liking. Problems and access issues. Now, I have access to a couple of turnouts, that I had trouble with before. Today, I also started, and finished building a second hill. I placed the rocks and Mom brought excess dirt from the backyard. Next step is planting flowers in/on/around said hill. Placed track temporarily, so I could see how new idea(s) were going to work out. Now, turnouts are access able. Need to continue cleaning rail ends, clamps and adding a silicone grease to each joint. Should help with electrical continuity. And finally replacing the wrong clamps with correct ones!! Last batch I bought, were Over Joiner clamps, instead of standard fail clamps. Was NOT happy when I discovered this mistake! Couple of photos of things as they are currently. Track work only temporary. I need to continue cleaning and clamping track sections together. Additional photos as more work is completed.
Flowers blooming and trains. You must be having warm, dry weather. I keep thinking it is only early April here.
It's been in the upper 70's, into the 80's and close to 90 for a while now. I've finally gotten some motivation to get things started again.
Watching your layout progress makes me lust for my own. Not until I retire or buy a house of my own. I'm so not tearing out landscaping after a few years. So I'll live vicariously thru yours! What other improvements are you making?
Reclamping all joins, greasing them as I reassemble them. Replacing about half the clamps in use, since I got the wrong ones. Changing track position, making turnouts easier to access. Also removing a couple of massive rocks that are in everyone's way! Still headed to back yard at some point. With patio coming down, I'll have more room for return loop back to front, plus a few industryry locations, and maybe a small yard of sorts. Hope to be able to add a few buildings, to create feel of at least a small town. Once it dries out more, I'm going to continue reclamping track. Need to decide what to do with the 8 foot Diameter curves I'll have available. Not sure I'm going to need, or use them. May think of selling off. More photos and updates as time, weather, health and motivation permit! Again, once things dry out more, Mom will be getting to work adding plants she and I picked out recently. Didn't want to plant the other day, with possible severe weather passing through. Not as bad as expected though. Still, why take the chance?
Mom has plants in now. New mountain? now has life, and color! Unfortunately, I have NOT gotten anything more done. Right ankle decided to flair up again with extreme pain, just like I had 3 weeks ago!! Been taking 3 motrin, when needed, and ankle seems to be doing slightly better. Will try to bring camera to work tonite, and get updated photos out front in the AM when I get home from work. Hopefully, if I feel decent this weekend, I'm gonna try to get more track cleaned, greased and reclamped. Maybe I can get a train running, even temporarily!!
Was a bit cooler the other day, so Mom went ahead and planted remaining flowers in/on new mountain. A few shots from this morning. Don't ya just love the smooth as silk track work?? Another perfect track joint!! Maybe some track work this coming weekend, IF I feel up to it!!
No updates recently, as there has been no work done!! :rats: I've either not felt like doing anything, or other things come up. Right now, smoke and ash from the 36,500+ acre wildfire up North, near Ft Collins may keep me inside for a long while! :sad: Got off work Sunday AM, and had very small ash build up on my truck! Don't think it's worth chancing my already bad health!! Updates though, if/when I get chance to do something.
It'll be our turn all too soon. Forest fire season almost always leaves us with (cough) smoke and ash. Some years it starts in early May and doesn't stop until the first snows in October. Then we can start wiping down the inside of the house and getting fresh air again. At least some of our hobby can be done indoors!
I well remember the 2007 fire season in MT. Even healthy folks were advised to stay indoors. Mowing the lawn was brutal that year. There was a silver lining--my large potted garden yielded some habeneros so hot they could almost make you spontaneously combust. I made a bunch of fresh salsa that year; man, was it smokin' hot.
After stepping out, briefly, for lunch, looks like any work is on indefinate hold! Extremely hazy here now, lots of smoke/ash. Last I saw, fire now at 43,433 acres and is 5% contained. Up from 36,500 acres last night. Guess I need to clean off the N Scale layout so I can work on it instead.
Out door running is the best, but between the fires and the heat we've had it's kind of rough lately.
