tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249465095837237492024-02-18T21:47:04.827-08:00The Pennsylvania Railroad Pittsburgh DivisionThe "Great Broad Way of Commerce," in N Scale Alex Gillamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00384157373217453581noreply@blogger.comBlogger258125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224946509583723749.post-65658833350594726512022-11-17T11:07:00.001-08:002022-11-17T11:07:06.837-08:00Fixed My Dad's Lionel 2035<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMrptzN0olRdkhaGtAQnBcfePnA-_JRaZay8bXsWC6u03SUA_k-ZMWVfC6cYnalKQ05Zk1NWrb10B9cO9vhhE-zxBbjXgmUnhkDSpEgthMIbad-XRxsrsWCy7DB96N9_RM8f3bYS0AyJ2Pc6YtnjT-zCNMbdkcgxJSqoxJjREKHF8HJjTC2xfDlAPQHA/s2048/316054175_844132710350649_9196964626181325759_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMrptzN0olRdkhaGtAQnBcfePnA-_JRaZay8bXsWC6u03SUA_k-ZMWVfC6cYnalKQ05Zk1NWrb10B9cO9vhhE-zxBbjXgmUnhkDSpEgthMIbad-XRxsrsWCy7DB96N9_RM8f3bYS0AyJ2Pc6YtnjT-zCNMbdkcgxJSqoxJjREKHF8HJjTC2xfDlAPQHA/w400-h300/316054175_844132710350649_9196964626181325759_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> With the scenery on the N Scale layout done, I found myself in a odd position. I had plenty enthusiasm but no projects to do! Well that's a new one on me. I decided to tackle a little side project, my father's old Lionel 2035 steamer. He's had it since he was kid and it's never really run right. Today, I did something about that.<p></p><p>The problem was the locomotive's E-Unit. For uninitiated, an E-Unit is and electro-mechanical polarity switch controlling the direction of the motor. They can be quite cantankerous when they want to be. I took the locomotive apart, which is easier said than done. This thing is a total Chinese puzzle box. The I cleaned all the contacts. </p><p>While I was in there, I rewired the headlight. The original, 70-year-old wire's insulation was disintegrating. That was an easy fix. Now this 70-year-old classic is running better than it's run, at least in my lifetime.</p><p><br /></p>Alex Gillamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00384157373217453581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224946509583723749.post-66819244846015338032022-11-04T05:07:00.000-07:002022-11-04T05:06:59.990-07:00Finished with the Ballast and The Scenery<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHU175GAFO-lOkh79ofT4Uv6xWIdRg834NgCSZRMXIL9N_UlrZNjos9v-TUkRmEV5wHqhC9jrQqCt5Ztfme4HCOqvJ6Biuw7sJA4J2zeCAnF89n768XnmJwiylsLvI7WpeKiOr2as5hSOYnC2lfQNGEtyAO5sOMsflzQY1DiFoA7iM3MQO685A5Ns_DA/s2048/314586166_832501251513795_8174449919461449598_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHU175GAFO-lOkh79ofT4Uv6xWIdRg834NgCSZRMXIL9N_UlrZNjos9v-TUkRmEV5wHqhC9jrQqCt5Ztfme4HCOqvJ6Biuw7sJA4J2zeCAnF89n768XnmJwiylsLvI7WpeKiOr2as5hSOYnC2lfQNGEtyAO5sOMsflzQY1DiFoA7iM3MQO685A5Ns_DA/w400-h300/314586166_832501251513795_8174449919461449598_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The title pretty much says it all, doesn't it? I got a bag of Woodland Scenics Fine Cinders ballast. It turned out to be just enough to finish the yard tracks and the area around the roundhouse. With that, every inch of track on the layout, save for Pittsburgh Staging, is ballasted. Yay!<p></p><p>Once the track was ballasted, I turned my attention to the small pond in the middle of the loop. I painted the bottom with a mix of navy blue and black acrylics. Once that dried, I added several sizes of Woodland Scenics Talus to a side that came out too steep. I used Woodland Scenics Field Grass to make reeds. The canoeing folks were salvaged from my last layout. The water, which is still drying, is Mod Podge gloss medium.</p><p>With the pond done, I channeled my inner Bob Ross and added some happy trees. These are Woodland Scenics large trees. I've assembled hundreds of these trees for this layout and I have to say, they can be a bit of a PITA. You assemble them by twisting a flat plastic armature into something tree shaped. Then coat it with WS's "Hobby Tack" glue. My mistake was putting the foliage on right away instead of waiting 15 minutes. This time I waited and had much better results.</p><p>Another thing about trees is they look best in distinct stands even as part of an overall forest setting. Further more, said stands look best with an odd number of trees.</p><p>With the tree planted, I went back into ground cover mode. I have a jar of fallen leaves, which I ground up into a fine powder a blender. I sprinkled this under the stands of trees and added a few pieces of Woodland Scenics deadfall.</p><p>With that, I can declare major combat operations over as far as scenery. Suddenly, the to-do list is looking very empty. Up next is the fine detailing faze. Now, detail parts can be quite dear and are best picked up en mass at train shows from folks liquidating their layouts. Unfortunately, the show isn't until February. </p><p>I think it's high time I finally get serious about operation. I do have a phone system and am planning to use timetable and train order. But What I don;t know about operation could fill the grand canyon! Time to get researching!<br /></p>Alex Gillamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00384157373217453581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224946509583723749.post-87412660112098653082022-10-31T06:48:00.003-07:002022-11-04T04:18:52.289-07:002021-22 Annual Progress Report<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYH4dN9bfqwz7PQ_At3zwVWG-98U7ZX3qoKlQrjjBaCrvaeJngYmDHd7pEn3rP1l9uwvi5g5-7ajgnUOmTdwt_ncT0SmzFO0oqnaL-i_RhjINtIBDwpGM7XlGx4BIn1aWmNBMnq3jPGH-T-DRlLcm8BBPUm3jaaxsbefF2B-hREASaHNBYiOgIdwEMlw/s720/313887326_829085435188710_9013610757328304217_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYH4dN9bfqwz7PQ_At3zwVWG-98U7ZX3qoKlQrjjBaCrvaeJngYmDHd7pEn3rP1l9uwvi5g5-7ajgnUOmTdwt_ncT0SmzFO0oqnaL-i_RhjINtIBDwpGM7XlGx4BIn1aWmNBMnq3jPGH-T-DRlLcm8BBPUm3jaaxsbefF2B-hREASaHNBYiOgIdwEMlw/w400-h300/313887326_829085435188710_9013610757328304217_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>On Halloween of 2013 work began on the Pennsylvania Railroad. Here we are nine years later and the layout is nearly finisher. Well, as finished as a layout gets anyway. Also of note, this layout now ties my old garden railway for title of my longest lived layout.<p></p><p>Anyway, last year's goal was finishing Altoona. I didn't make it, but I'm darn close. I wanted to finished all the ballast work. I manged to get the main lines and most of the yard tracks done. However, obtaining Woodland Scenics fine cinder ballast has been difficult due to supply chain issues. The good news, is I tracked some down and ordered it. It should be here next week.</p><p>As for scenery, I managed to get all ground cover finished. Not just for Altoona, but the layout as a whole. So no more fuzzy turf until next layout!</p><p>The last scenery items on my docket include finishing a small lake and planting some trees. That will round out Altoona.</p><p>With Altoona finished the final project will be wiring up Pittsburgh Staging. With that, It's major combat operations over and I begin focusing on operating the layout. </p><p>Goals for next year?</p><p>-Finish Altoona</p><p>-Wire up Pittsburgh Staging. </p><p>-Pop a bottle of Champagne and celebrate a job well done!<br /></p>Alex Gillamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00384157373217453581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224946509583723749.post-15517251350764984892022-10-28T16:58:00.004-07:002022-10-28T16:58:46.853-07:00Finished With the Ground Cover<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigkc6WD-agjZ1ODFjCXMI6yQCt3ZVWGm_R7zGCcZea0HeNY9cezbfoM8plrW-PJdKej-vona6wHFWaaF6UiuCIZxsNnGMQucNwtsvI8dP4zbhaGfqDOd2_h7KOEBXv6w2RMXFtu6a3V-pNpAITQGkvmJvOQugbCV2c1kOL5Bt4SWbCvIK0SrO0rDmcmw/s2048/312425174_826766982087222_8296414329933971546_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigkc6WD-agjZ1ODFjCXMI6yQCt3ZVWGm_R7zGCcZea0HeNY9cezbfoM8plrW-PJdKej-vona6wHFWaaF6UiuCIZxsNnGMQucNwtsvI8dP4zbhaGfqDOd2_h7KOEBXv6w2RMXFtu6a3V-pNpAITQGkvmJvOQugbCV2c1kOL5Bt4SWbCvIK0SrO0rDmcmw/w400-h300/312425174_826766982087222_8296414329933971546_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I'm finally back at it. Today I knocked out all the ground cover. With that, every inch of foam, save for Pittsburgh Staging is covered with ground foam. That is a major milestone. I can kiss all this fuzzy turf goodbye until the next layout!<p></p><p>While I was at it, I worked on the lake. I painted the bed a mix a navy blue and black. Next I painted the bank burnt umber. One side of the lake came out a bit steeper than I would've liked. Rather than dig into the foam, I added some Talus rip rap. The next step will be to apply some Woodland Scenics field grass around the edges.</p><p>As You may have seen from the above photo, the yards tracks still require ballast. That's on order. Unfortunately, Woodland Scenics Fine Cinder ballast seems to be unobtanium. I managed to buy the last bag off Amazon. The big shakers are completely unavailable. Gotta love the supply chain issues.</p><p>Anyway, I imagine the scenery should be done by spring.<br /></p>Alex Gillamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00384157373217453581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224946509583723749.post-78233367666452502942022-05-30T05:17:00.003-07:002022-05-30T19:00:22.454-07:00Reading, Writing, 'Rythmatic and Railroading!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnjcQgak20bcPfS4eaAagPKzcAtXV8UkOz9wRsvM8gZZswJkEWO56ZW6nHD8uhyb3MJTXKbQAcOegLmb7rQYQwpLTw1XO5XSZn91CTqh7RE8pWZ3SkhZDedw_Ychx2ap2Q9a_RASFpUwhMiy9-dlGcIR864qOadW6BgPmuTrck-JgVoCVJ6qnMWFe7Lg/s720/283817122_4956408121148260_6124667407968375326_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnjcQgak20bcPfS4eaAagPKzcAtXV8UkOz9wRsvM8gZZswJkEWO56ZW6nHD8uhyb3MJTXKbQAcOegLmb7rQYQwpLTw1XO5XSZn91CTqh7RE8pWZ3SkhZDedw_Ychx2ap2Q9a_RASFpUwhMiy9-dlGcIR864qOadW6BgPmuTrck-JgVoCVJ6qnMWFe7Lg/w400-h300/283817122_4956408121148260_6124667407968375326_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> I while ago, I wrote a post about attracting new blood to the hobby and how we can do that. Well, over the past few weeks I've been working on doing just that. Last month, my daughter's Pre-K class was doing themed days for each letter of the alphabet. T was Transportation, sensing an opening, I offered to bring in my O-Gauge equipment for the kids.<p></p><p>The day went well, the kids loved running the trains. The day was so successful, I set the trains up for my son's first grade class. Once again, the kids ate it up. Emboldened, I pitched the idea of a model railroad club to the principal. She liked the idea as it dovetails nicely with the school's STEM/STEAM curriculum. However, she said we would need to gauge interest before we moved ahead.</p><p>The second to last day of school was sort of a do-nothing day for certain grades and teachers would have a bunch of rambunctious kiddos. I volunteered to set trains up again and the principal loved the idea. One class at a time came in to run the trans. I counted the number of students interested and it was 88. That's 88 potential young railroaders! The principal came into the room and saw engaged the kids were and told me to start planning my club!</p><p>So I was excited. Now the excitement has turned to "Holy Moses, what did I just get myself into?" I started mulling which scale. I think I've settled on HO. It gives you the most bang for the buck. It's small enough to fit in a small space but also robust enough for kids. </p><p>Right now, I'm thinking of having the kids start off the way all of us start off, with a 4'x8'. We can design and build the layout and hopefully operate it. </p><p>My goal here is to get kids into the hobby. I'm tired seeing forum posts by grumpy old men lamenting the death of the hobby. Why don't you do something about it? Make YouTube video about scratch building! Welcome the younger members into the club instead complaining about them. Invite the local scout troop to see your layout. Be part of the solution. <br /></p>Alex Gillamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00384157373217453581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224946509583723749.post-75538316300171660032022-03-15T06:03:00.004-07:002022-03-15T06:03:18.970-07:00More Structure Lighting<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgnGHMf_QVUdN4DAcGETI6Y0DRcLcPdF9o4CDYxAGygcPpHpwZVczZrwfboylWWY0Ss29MtdC-yuFJ2lrnp1HzVILGqL6NutDii2Fe0N-aPZYlJd7eIF5RO-uLgrcFzQbfSOBiA6soDKCbVg-8xMxc_bwUsOIgdxZ2rCH1hgQ95jBVqGlE8ft0Fi1_3Vg=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgnGHMf_QVUdN4DAcGETI6Y0DRcLcPdF9o4CDYxAGygcPpHpwZVczZrwfboylWWY0Ss29MtdC-yuFJ2lrnp1HzVILGqL6NutDii2Fe0N-aPZYlJd7eIF5RO-uLgrcFzQbfSOBiA6soDKCbVg-8xMxc_bwUsOIgdxZ2rCH1hgQ95jBVqGlE8ft0Fi1_3Vg=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_owXOsrRZ5ZA2CMZ15Bk3Vd6j3qP0GClXAnqVbypAi9CCCPHw6DNE0WlUmctrjio2cny7vx5pAMKmv05vabQm2fDd5gnK9ao1e_aFqEIsL5bx1u1zWeiZ_nkF_q5kQntvL4FWkujtxoEe0-l_67QzL4dh0lmCO3KIqFXtxlLfv9wTqSqatGu07lyqqA=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_owXOsrRZ5ZA2CMZ15Bk3Vd6j3qP0GClXAnqVbypAi9CCCPHw6DNE0WlUmctrjio2cny7vx5pAMKmv05vabQm2fDd5gnK9ao1e_aFqEIsL5bx1u1zWeiZ_nkF_q5kQntvL4FWkujtxoEe0-l_67QzL4dh0lmCO3KIqFXtxlLfv9wTqSqatGu07lyqqA=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div>All but one of the town building are illuminated. Dang, these LEDs are night-into-day bright! The gas station roof is glowing despite the black paint. In addition to the building lights, I took a Model Power Y-Shaped street light and bent it to resemble a 1980s-style gas station light.<p></p><p>As for what's going on across the street from the gas station, that's going to be a used car lot. The office is an old Nucomp Miniatures trailer. I'll elaborate on this scene more when it's finished.</p><p>Next thing on my list is finishing a partially-completed Model Power house kit. That will do it for the structures on this layout.<br /> </p>Alex Gillamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00384157373217453581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224946509583723749.post-68427750122118086462022-03-14T07:31:00.004-07:002022-03-14T07:31:37.773-07:00Finished City Classics' "401 Crafton Ave. Service Station" Kit<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQCx0Nm7xx1qpaRuF2N5VswCBQ8y8rSs_l20Udl6XbUCo-IbEjLilR1ym9QE3b7G43AuZ8WU-8eONt3HtGI45RjGzfmSAqa1rAhUQMgOXQEadFBA88OqFmW09CPFzSmOOaU7-FC9kJXIhzGM-ooE7KNVo9SyGR2JfejhOMxGHumhn23X1h2Ps2KZIVTg=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQCx0Nm7xx1qpaRuF2N5VswCBQ8y8rSs_l20Udl6XbUCo-IbEjLilR1ym9QE3b7G43AuZ8WU-8eONt3HtGI45RjGzfmSAqa1rAhUQMgOXQEadFBA88OqFmW09CPFzSmOOaU7-FC9kJXIhzGM-ooE7KNVo9SyGR2JfejhOMxGHumhn23X1h2Ps2KZIVTg=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /> I scored this long-discontinued kit off eBay. It's too bad City Classics didn't expand their N Scale line because this really is nice kit with lots of interesting details.<p></p><p>I started things off by spraying the inside of the walls with some cheap black spray paint. This is necessary with structures to keep them from glowing when they're lighted. Unfortunately, some of said paint bled onto the front of the building. I sprayed the front walls with Rustoleum white primmer. The door and window frames are Floquil "Conrail Blue." The roof? You guessed it, Floquil "Grimy Black."</p><p>The structure base and pump islands are painted Testor's "Flat Light Aircraft Grey," my go-to concrete color. The Pumps are Testor's Flat Red and Floquil "Coach Green."</p><p>The next step is to pain the parking lot, add some lighting and details and then we're done. After this, I have only one more structure to finish.<br /></p>Alex Gillamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00384157373217453581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224946509583723749.post-61757278511415968682022-03-10T18:16:00.003-08:002022-03-10T18:16:52.860-08:00Wired Up Some Buildings<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiAwYFG-GuIa4IRrebxWoa16zTA0dh0DlqCRuFzaize4ocKcZ5xTlm_J5f0ZZ0Il6dBTyrox_XKDF5jF1qGRHvS_KpeCXINewPw8zDzBrB_IXi6YVTI8cPg0YCNVyI4xYmrthUeHvp_KwlKKd9MGrGXPx30POZxrsHsVNNF4YGbnTzYRKQbzwjN19qxnA=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiAwYFG-GuIa4IRrebxWoa16zTA0dh0DlqCRuFzaize4ocKcZ5xTlm_J5f0ZZ0Il6dBTyrox_XKDF5jF1qGRHvS_KpeCXINewPw8zDzBrB_IXi6YVTI8cPg0YCNVyI4xYmrthUeHvp_KwlKKd9MGrGXPx30POZxrsHsVNNF4YGbnTzYRKQbzwjN19qxnA=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /> You ever have one of those days where it seems like all you do is spin your wheels and get nothing accomplished? Yup, that was me today. I came up to the train room all fired up to get going on the wiring project. Well hit the first roadblock when my drill battery died almost instantly. That delayed my plans.<p></p><p>Unable to drill holes, I took a whack at wiring up the turn table. I had pre-drilled the holes years ago, so routing the wires was no problem. And the turntable didn't work. Stymied, I came back later.</p><p>This evening, armed with a fully-charged battery, I drilled holes and snaked the wires through the table top, one of my least favorite tasks. I managed to get everything hooked up to a barrier strip and - nothing. I tired switching the polarity, no change. With nothing else to try I switched the polarity again, and tightened down the screws, this worked. </p><p>One building is sitting on a wooden base so I glued it down. In very fitting end to this day, it warped! So yeah, today was a bit of a battle, but Altoona is one step closer to the finish line. <br /></p>Alex Gillamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00384157373217453581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224946509583723749.post-77147812109304233522022-03-09T18:26:00.002-08:002022-03-09T18:26:57.603-08:00Finished With the Backdrops<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfg89jH_ED4QeW_8bnWK1LBLHswbDYnEZ2VR-7tcoGUnlVdAKaT8zQDStqy6x-Vgl8gfIjHg4sq7wF8Dt8bUhtF8TuOQqg3CFpaPn4JF-qxTm3u3--3icCC_msqCaRRCkPWyu40-8wYrw8Xg97RM5xvIVNd4aggmQuIVTBKl9usWZFjaU8ttMH1uGpkg=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfg89jH_ED4QeW_8bnWK1LBLHswbDYnEZ2VR-7tcoGUnlVdAKaT8zQDStqy6x-Vgl8gfIjHg4sq7wF8Dt8bUhtF8TuOQqg3CFpaPn4JF-qxTm3u3--3icCC_msqCaRRCkPWyu40-8wYrw8Xg97RM5xvIVNd4aggmQuIVTBKl9usWZFjaU8ttMH1uGpkg=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /> I knocked on item off the to do list tonight. I finished mounting backdrops. I took the section I'd mounted to foam core board last night and blackened the edge with a black magic marker. Then I stuck it to the wall. Next, I carved the final section of mountain with my hot knife, painted it and glues on the remained of the lichen. I added turf around Alto Tower and the area between the wall and tracks was done. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVwSU_xb2_78i1LS_pl2P-1cdwQGIh4tMqs41OsLePqX034lM68VO23f4nKjc9Jqcab62QG0zeasNFEFdg_gz_9z5A4PtTGpUM7sGz-yVElnEkDNd4y7CGs4B_XOCCrikfHOhKmc6GDQcC/s4032/IMG_0559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVwSU_xb2_78i1LS_pl2P-1cdwQGIh4tMqs41OsLePqX034lM68VO23f4nKjc9Jqcab62QG0zeasNFEFdg_gz_9z5A4PtTGpUM7sGz-yVElnEkDNd4y7CGs4B_XOCCrikfHOhKmc6GDQcC/w400-h300/IMG_0559.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPqywBo8sMhTuOQUhZYRUx8A5hm_r3RBVvdpRmaC2QPnW9LyKAKv9qZAEgjTqDq8-ysBRQNGLDCWP0xoYT52B93aQzT7tO9m1hRkaGdeevJU0mALktLw5F1HV_Tby6LPBmTrMwWlrN38kFJ6cZQSKJu5f01OPtKiQitpzPz3J8XPppLtmfHH-nSAqaGw=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPqywBo8sMhTuOQUhZYRUx8A5hm_r3RBVvdpRmaC2QPnW9LyKAKv9qZAEgjTqDq8-ysBRQNGLDCWP0xoYT52B93aQzT7tO9m1hRkaGdeevJU0mALktLw5F1HV_Tby6LPBmTrMwWlrN38kFJ6cZQSKJu5f01OPtKiQitpzPz3J8XPppLtmfHH-nSAqaGw=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div>While I was turf slinging mode, I decided to go ahead and cover up the area behind the roundhouse and the area where the two sets of tracks diverge. The upper photo really illustrates the difference between the new ground cover and the stuff that was put down in 2014 (on the left). The latter has become quite dusty, dull and lifeless looking. <br /><p><br /></p>Alex Gillamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00384157373217453581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224946509583723749.post-91897874830172974452022-03-08T18:41:00.001-08:002022-03-08T18:41:18.591-08:00Roads, Backdrops and Turf, Oh My!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPfO4qjLfDSymYhcflwBuAq30XyKGX1gXCwpbXe65cxneEWWcv5LWq4LJXobCzRZb0w1FapOJMv_ZjqNYOMzbBdoQrRADbinIgM0OVRhzeMhMA1Eam72x_n69d9V8azi68mXLqUYRUH_LWzd1I5JQD8FnRDYhCsslyTvDgNliklKkJA37uYiEPa5XouQ=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPfO4qjLfDSymYhcflwBuAq30XyKGX1gXCwpbXe65cxneEWWcv5LWq4LJXobCzRZb0w1FapOJMv_ZjqNYOMzbBdoQrRADbinIgM0OVRhzeMhMA1Eam72x_n69d9V8azi68mXLqUYRUH_LWzd1I5JQD8FnRDYhCsslyTvDgNliklKkJA37uYiEPa5XouQ=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxaWmG4t-2pQncc15WBWHVKfn-aTuCk6Q7I1Ll1ZEB8BDuOjCvKO0eXjTUXs3T1bJtF3y-PxCZsoZrHYVDZCo71PP2-zeB5U5fSm2W_TVvzXKLrN9QiAfqJVV__y3culjVhbNt8kXVkD0_UKKcWWMFlIPurcxhtxNlz8oJCKtYyTPSmJWp-CB3_6uDYg=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxaWmG4t-2pQncc15WBWHVKfn-aTuCk6Q7I1Ll1ZEB8BDuOjCvKO0eXjTUXs3T1bJtF3y-PxCZsoZrHYVDZCo71PP2-zeB5U5fSm2W_TVvzXKLrN9QiAfqJVV__y3culjVhbNt8kXVkD0_UKKcWWMFlIPurcxhtxNlz8oJCKtYyTPSmJWp-CB3_6uDYg=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /> I've been stuck in this "I don;t know how to finish Altoona" quagmire for what seems like years. Oh, wait, it has. But I', turning the corner on it. For a while, I've been dreading finishing the roads, but today, I was determined to get it done. And wouldn't you know it? I found a much easier alternative.<p></p><p>In one of the massive boxes of crap under the layout, I found two sheets of brown Creatology foam I'd purchased years ago. Turns out these foam sheets are the same thickness as Woodland scenics paving tape! So rather than do my roads out of plaster, I simply cut them out of foam. I used this for the parking lot under the shop powerhouse and the the road leading out of town.</p><p>In the town itself, I really took the coward's way out. I painted the roads directly on the base. It definitely passes the "good enough for government work" test. However, I did use a foam sheet to create a sidewalk layer for the buildings to sit on. </p><p>Doing the roads ended up crystalizing my needs for the town. I decided
to add one more building, a gas station. and that's it. After all this
supposed to be the outer fringes of the city. The city proper lives off
the layout. <br /></p><p>I also applied more turf to some areas around the shop complex. Since it's industrial, I went heavy on the dry grass turf.</p><p>The last thing I did was mount the final section of backdrop to a piece of foam core board. All that's left is painting the edges black and it's ready for prime time.</p><p>Despite the work I've done, there's still quite a bit on the to do list. to wit:</p><p>-Wire all roundhouse tracks and turn table</p><p>-Finished the remaining mountains.</p><p>-Mount remaining backdrop section.</p><p>-Assemble final building</p><p>-Wire building lights</p><p>-Install street lights</p><p>-Ballast remaining yard tracks</p><p>-Finish turf</p><p>-Add trees.</p><p>-Add details</p><p>Once this is done, I can declare major combat operations over for the layout. Stay tuned.<br /></p>Alex Gillamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00384157373217453581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224946509583723749.post-59856014678121212632022-03-04T17:39:00.003-08:002022-03-04T17:39:27.673-08:00My Layout's Got 99 Problems and a Switch Ain't One<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7YTVP7NcSW6ilt_SgHxV2WDHaMmq5JzbgTcOs88k_nO6sqqNtijQCv19TnUb3ODw6IJJHYebg2Ks0oT3h9ziVTYfYPWN7DEX2dmg-m7qsDab0DykFUO0n8ZWLzDwXI7l8CGnlbpaotM8TVuR96RBRdMefPmqsfSMueZGFmKsZz_xSYDZOYZszCLmyEA=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7YTVP7NcSW6ilt_SgHxV2WDHaMmq5JzbgTcOs88k_nO6sqqNtijQCv19TnUb3ODw6IJJHYebg2Ks0oT3h9ziVTYfYPWN7DEX2dmg-m7qsDab0DykFUO0n8ZWLzDwXI7l8CGnlbpaotM8TVuR96RBRdMefPmqsfSMueZGFmKsZz_xSYDZOYZszCLmyEA=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /> Well hello there! I know, it's been forever since I've posted. But I've been working on the layout in fits and starts. As you can see from the above photo, I've gotten most of the Altoona yard tracks ballasted and am starting to apply ground cover. <p></p><p>My most recent project involved my turnouts, chiefly, the double crossovers at each end of the layout. My trains were consistently stalling on them. Nothing kills my enthusiasm faster than balky trains, so I finally attacked the problem.</p><p>The Achilles heal of these Peco Electro Frog turnouts is their reliance on the points to ferry current to the rest of the turnout. If you point rails don't make perfect contact with the stock rails, your turnout becomes a dead spot. Painting the rails and ballasting, no matter how careful I am, tend to gum these turnouts up. </p><p>It took a few hours of careful cleaning with Goof Off and tweaking, but now my trains run around flawlessly. It was well worth the effort. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJ8IL6rrrbKFzU_SdsQ8omi7YWeg-YkZO14yRPYf4qFr8zvfGat3MU8nz1nKvpnChLMJG2KeSFnwQtGCEfo8osO-vEUpxZpRGn1fV0y8wXL6bDQQBENtk9Y_GX-uFTki1W_vZ9nPUJJmeNi59h1WeOs8aNXeHvYYwNqxP2GMX0y506B4t8Y9TcPeFb4A=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJ8IL6rrrbKFzU_SdsQ8omi7YWeg-YkZO14yRPYf4qFr8zvfGat3MU8nz1nKvpnChLMJG2KeSFnwQtGCEfo8osO-vEUpxZpRGn1fV0y8wXL6bDQQBENtk9Y_GX-uFTki1W_vZ9nPUJJmeNi59h1WeOs8aNXeHvYYwNqxP2GMX0y506B4t8Y9TcPeFb4A=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>The main fruit of my labors was being able to teach my son Victor to run the trains with the DCC throttle. Talk about a proud papa moment!<br /></p>Alex Gillamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00384157373217453581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224946509583723749.post-86128571557350631672021-10-30T18:41:00.006-07:002021-10-30T18:41:52.093-07:002020-21 Annual Progress Report<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnhLsOEWtMLcdq6-FKKvmXIz_Oy27ftk-e6SJz_BXExFF9JSmA0YweAGQKPG6iVtAdjeuP3m1Q8dJahnM6MyzA6aTL258CbHNHGLKttarmS93MzmrlYbG_05B29Wli7BXBcsbb8QGKEKM0/s960/531887_10152036388263619_1983110673_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="717" data-original-width="960" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnhLsOEWtMLcdq6-FKKvmXIz_Oy27ftk-e6SJz_BXExFF9JSmA0YweAGQKPG6iVtAdjeuP3m1Q8dJahnM6MyzA6aTL258CbHNHGLKttarmS93MzmrlYbG_05B29Wli7BXBcsbb8QGKEKM0/w400-h299/531887_10152036388263619_1983110673_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Johnstown, October 31, 2013, the day construction started.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8V3aq5bnY3QTfCPHnivg_jTDI_FRPKryLexHWg-g0I084042VZgGWO3xk6O-diA43pXgoDYTpsb_HK0b4o0TBCC6CzvgJSHccrlL50_Y0xnUjR_LWDOTgHmIVQKff9_7GZ5Mh3bFEpE-0/s2048/20190301_212605%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8V3aq5bnY3QTfCPHnivg_jTDI_FRPKryLexHWg-g0I084042VZgGWO3xk6O-diA43pXgoDYTpsb_HK0b4o0TBCC6CzvgJSHccrlL50_Y0xnUjR_LWDOTgHmIVQKff9_7GZ5Mh3bFEpE-0/w400-h300/20190301_212605%255B1%255D.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Johnstown now<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /> Happy eight birthday to my layout! The layout has come a long way those eight years. Let's get down to the annual progress report.</p><p>I haven't done anything in terms of DCC conversion on the NS fleet. That's at the bottom of the priority list. </p><p>As for track, almost all of the Pittsburgh staging area is laid down and ready for wiring. As I said last year, there's no ruch on this project due to the pandemic keeping me from holding operating sessions. But, the real heavy lifting is done.</p><p>Last year my goals were to finish painting and ballasting the track, make significant headway in Altoona and continue minor repairs. I'm happy to report all track is painted. All main lines are ballasted. The Altoona yard tracks have to wait until I can get over to Blue Ridge Hobbies for more ballast. </p><p>I've made excellent progress in Altoona and have a game plan for finish it and the scenery as a whole. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq8OsmMvWGcyDuyKeCP8gRSaVvw9TdADM57H34v2Ed9l6c1XKpafZhMZ67j4nCewVZEVI_FvHDYjAQu_fezQLSHpSqc3zqKI4gQYfOKjBoUAYfR5iwpqQBatt8t5olk0fYQylYYnF5PRe-/s2048/20210919_200723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq8OsmMvWGcyDuyKeCP8gRSaVvw9TdADM57H34v2Ed9l6c1XKpafZhMZ67j4nCewVZEVI_FvHDYjAQu_fezQLSHpSqc3zqKI4gQYfOKjBoUAYfR5iwpqQBatt8t5olk0fYQylYYnF5PRe-/w400-h300/20210919_200723.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Altoona, currently under construction.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>As for minor repairs, I'm addressing a fair amount of them. </p><p>Goals for next year?</p><p>-Finish Altoona</p><p>-Wire up Pittsburgh Staging</p><p>-Wire up Altoona engine facility.</p><p>And that's really it. With the scenery done, it will finally be time to focus on operations.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p>Alex Gillamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00384157373217453581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224946509583723749.post-56306273316809154712021-09-19T17:30:00.005-07:002021-09-19T17:30:53.774-07:00Started Building the Embankment and Mounting the Backdrops<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ZhsmRJY2kaPE4hMrzib55xcdEaXPGOPEu3fnKycPJ6ElAh5rtPVGBXotsqwFE3hVuT6kTHH6oLHfyNM0lMR6j7bU6qaHy7oHfxbHQ8qMamy8lML8vtXNLqL6My2tJ9tgpqRPUIT1yh4_/s2048/20210919_200713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ZhsmRJY2kaPE4hMrzib55xcdEaXPGOPEu3fnKycPJ6ElAh5rtPVGBXotsqwFE3hVuT6kTHH6oLHfyNM0lMR6j7bU6qaHy7oHfxbHQ8qMamy8lML8vtXNLqL6My2tJ9tgpqRPUIT1yh4_/w400-h300/20210919_200713.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbkH_7XIVYzMLpLFF2xVNJRhORHd3WVtMf_wGv5pYQjKiqMbaYQMx81bJiMh2S_AorUABu2x7Ct7lhlK5VeRfj5LUtyPG7y7__Aj_gS50IWNzhL73lClVo9lJg9_ZNZJvO0yaQq_UK7lXn/s2048/20210919_200723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbkH_7XIVYzMLpLFF2xVNJRhORHd3WVtMf_wGv5pYQjKiqMbaYQMx81bJiMh2S_AorUABu2x7Ct7lhlK5VeRfj5LUtyPG7y7__Aj_gS50IWNzhL73lClVo9lJg9_ZNZJvO0yaQq_UK7lXn/w400-h300/20210919_200723.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> The title pretty much sums it up. I started things off by taking a long strip of white Styrofoam roughly 3/4 of an inch thick and two inches wide and beveling it with my hit knife. Next, I painted the whole thing raw umber and glued it along the backside of the Altoona peninsula with white glue.<p></p><p>Once the paint and glue dried, I broke out the lichen and started gluing down. At first, I tried using Elmer's spray adhesive. Turns out, this stuff isn't meant for Styrofoam. Oops! So after melting some of the embankment, I switched the white glue. </p><p>With the lichen glued down, I moved on the the backdrop. I tried gluing one section to the wall, and it looked all wrong! The white edges of the foam core board stuck out like a bunch of soar thumbs. The solution was to painstakingly paint the edges with black acrylic paint. Once mounted, they looked awesome.</p><p>I'm pretty stoked about how the backdrop is turning out. I have about one more section to mount and that project is done. <br /></p>Alex Gillamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00384157373217453581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224946509583723749.post-31982654280521181512021-09-15T18:11:00.005-07:002021-09-15T18:11:38.060-07:00Improved the First Train Show Building<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7pvTULqmigC9TJ8xp2l94GWopKWX3Lp6nliv8cudBCz452pdd2GfqJv-5xOZy6tDw2goxvV4V4keXGnAcG1b9fqdhtO-BlawvR4szu8t_FKDnVSy6su6GZyF9qvqafeD26Gdb3-YdI4WQ/s2048/20210915_210050%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7pvTULqmigC9TJ8xp2l94GWopKWX3Lp6nliv8cudBCz452pdd2GfqJv-5xOZy6tDw2goxvV4V4keXGnAcG1b9fqdhtO-BlawvR4szu8t_FKDnVSy6su6GZyF9qvqafeD26Gdb3-YdI4WQ/w300-h400/20210915_210050%255B1%255D.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>This building is jazzed-up DPM Otto's Auto Parts. The seller added a base, interior LED light, signs and some roof details. A lot of the detailing is quite nice, but some of it had to go.<p></p><p></p><p>First and foremost, the styrene base was glued to a larger balsa wood base. The latter made a rather unconvincing. The first thing I did was pry the sucker off, remove the vehicles and toss it in the trash. </p><p>Next, I pried off the plastic base and drilled a hole through the center for the light wire (the were regionally routed out the back wall). While the base was off, I re-glued the window inserts and drapes.</p><p>Not a bad little 30-minute project.</p><p></p><p>In other news I've started building the embankment along the back edge of the Altoona peninsula. More on that to come.<br /> </p>Alex Gillamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00384157373217453581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224946509583723749.post-25942559736013058572021-09-11T18:26:00.000-07:002021-09-11T18:26:04.939-07:00Train Show Haul<p></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcPuzIKOTLV3kuZ9H6vpqkO6UcaKeDZX1K8rE_7427Y-uIiLIBEpxmb2IZ8YVKnrkjEe3cuZxHKbFSQDTnK2W2GpI9mnM_lB8ZMquih9SN4texOt6LUt404vRBGq6Om2A5yg3DB5ntbb24/s2048/20210911_210320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcPuzIKOTLV3kuZ9H6vpqkO6UcaKeDZX1K8rE_7427Y-uIiLIBEpxmb2IZ8YVKnrkjEe3cuZxHKbFSQDTnK2W2GpI9mnM_lB8ZMquih9SN4texOt6LUt404vRBGq6Om2A5yg3DB5ntbb24/w400-h300/20210911_210320.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiodKWrr5QlvhKY8VmdVutryt90Z1dRbOAUWRFRf4YGXA1Zp6m4xIuCdgc-C2qk5N1M5rEvZ877ykXvazCfPIIv27FtWY54kARvVRkyz2vswjkAl-iNx2aIoZ3A0k5ELmC0_XPDSRNFnE61/s2048/20210911_210954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiodKWrr5QlvhKY8VmdVutryt90Z1dRbOAUWRFRf4YGXA1Zp6m4xIuCdgc-C2qk5N1M5rEvZ877ykXvazCfPIIv27FtWY54kARvVRkyz2vswjkAl-iNx2aIoZ3A0k5ELmC0_XPDSRNFnE61/w400-h300/20210911_210954.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /> As threatened I went to a train show in Simpsonville, SC this morning. It was a small show, but there were some deals to be had. </p><p>On the N Scale front, I was hunting urban buildings and managed to buy four nicely-detailed buildings. Some of the bases will have to come off and the modern cars have got to go. But otherwise, they're quite nice.</p><p>I also picked up five ore cars for my I1 to pull. They're quite elderly and as such are equipped with Rapido couplers and deep wheel flanges. The later will have to be replaced. The former I can live with as these cars will be run in a unit train that will pass from one staging yard to the other.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4UHVhi_01O_nYr6zpz1UiAv3EVhcXciM922akYyvVAdV5DNOlnPTPnt1fCsqD8rN9hPi9i13JFIs_wNuyK0H2arv6wVAm6ChEdAv0hNf6nQc3Rp9MdzRtM_05QmvQSbPcOvn9ohEbObHe/s2048/20210911_132303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4UHVhi_01O_nYr6zpz1UiAv3EVhcXciM922akYyvVAdV5DNOlnPTPnt1fCsqD8rN9hPi9i13JFIs_wNuyK0H2arv6wVAm6ChEdAv0hNf6nQc3Rp9MdzRtM_05QmvQSbPcOvn9ohEbObHe/w300-h400/20210911_132303.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlPgt5BdMgHxkwLdG8PAuVEcRFoFmPndJnR0-xnEOJR_Kx1E1SIIor0uucpvYmv01WW4In6vnpUdyRnuTTLc-c8ZzM8bhaON49BQ6heIUP02j1f8k7v5CkbbTdj78YF-UaYlAA69Aek7EP/s2048/20210911_210706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlPgt5BdMgHxkwLdG8PAuVEcRFoFmPndJnR0-xnEOJR_Kx1E1SIIor0uucpvYmv01WW4In6vnpUdyRnuTTLc-c8ZzM8bhaON49BQ6heIUP02j1f8k7v5CkbbTdj78YF-UaYlAA69Aek7EP/w400-h300/20210911_210706.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZyCBMFFFqpWKLFsZwN2kfjPD_AcyokTQRfTI96lGzzX1ZseqrcZREwA7KycSbnzDjJ3NDgWthABDfBYHka0B5_GVIedFd9OmzwQOyILjfiKCwpWpFuDnMXFE8x-mn826EjF7iGFbu0b3/s2048/20210911_210733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZyCBMFFFqpWKLFsZwN2kfjPD_AcyokTQRfTI96lGzzX1ZseqrcZREwA7KycSbnzDjJ3NDgWthABDfBYHka0B5_GVIedFd9OmzwQOyILjfiKCwpWpFuDnMXFE8x-mn826EjF7iGFbu0b3/w400-h300/20210911_210733.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I also picked up a few things for my children's (really mine) O Gauge layout, the V&R Railroad. One vendor was selling a Lionel USRA 0-8-0 and a trio of freight cars for 60 bucks. That was smoking deal so I snapped that up. That is my son's Victor's train to run. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I also scored a Lionel Percy for my daughter Rosie. They are both super excited to come upstairs and run the trains. That makes me happy. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And what Lionel layout is complete without some of those cantankerous operating accessories? None! I snapped up this operating gateman.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Speaking of the V&R Railroad, it's lived on the carpet long enough. I'm planning to build a 5x8 table for all this stuff along with a kid-friendly control panel.<br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><p></p>Alex Gillamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00384157373217453581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224946509583723749.post-73196935112251347842021-09-10T18:50:00.005-07:002021-09-10T18:50:56.528-07:00Why Didn't I Think of This Sooner?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8vObHOKXF1CJheViU83JGoVbnLjHSEYn94B3MLjHAion7MZG7VGsSeq3TYgM2xlLcEzJvi4s8_pb6Ort0TZuTKNTgnbWFht5CYqDZVDGhuX3eHod_reEWG1MVPLMiZAjUCCBQR_WEG2Wp/s1440/240484924_10159632827388619_4290198605550197642_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1440" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8vObHOKXF1CJheViU83JGoVbnLjHSEYn94B3MLjHAion7MZG7VGsSeq3TYgM2xlLcEzJvi4s8_pb6Ort0TZuTKNTgnbWFht5CYqDZVDGhuX3eHod_reEWG1MVPLMiZAjUCCBQR_WEG2Wp/w400-h297/240484924_10159632827388619_4290198605550197642_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> I've been moving forward with the Altoona end of the layout for better part of a month and a half now. Today, I had one of those eureka moments normally reserved for waking up at three AM or sitting on the toilet. <p></p><p>As I've mentioned previously on this blog, my main concern with scenicing Altoona was said scenery hindering operation and getting damaged in the take. The solution to this concern is dead simple, make the middle of the peninsula a lift out!</p><p>With a lift out, we have functionality for operating sessions and nice scenery for show. Implementing this may be a tall order, but well worth the effort.<br /></p>Alex Gillamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00384157373217453581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224946509583723749.post-546739421965409752021-09-06T08:58:00.004-07:002021-09-06T08:58:32.098-07:00Train show tips<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtyUFMDdAilYHJqt2c3c7778sNxuo60Gv1S-odCe4Y8uBStVtCHF37gH3vApKRYJgEIEftFhYQJSDYow8V-yCgwiZwY5xXfTbbKY-tIUBaXOA9dXWJWHSH3JiCk873P0kDmmmcr3j8Oorz/s2048/IMG_7020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtyUFMDdAilYHJqt2c3c7778sNxuo60Gv1S-odCe4Y8uBStVtCHF37gH3vApKRYJgEIEftFhYQJSDYow8V-yCgwiZwY5xXfTbbKY-tIUBaXOA9dXWJWHSH3JiCk873P0kDmmmcr3j8Oorz/w400-h266/IMG_7020.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /> I've decided to go ahead and attend the train show in Simpsonville this coming Saturday. It'll be the first show I've been to in the better part of two years. I've going to train shows since I was kid and I've even helped run a bunch with old club up in New York. I that spirit, I've decided to give you some of my tips and advice.<p></p><p>1. Have budget and stick to it.</p><p>2. Have an idea of what you want. For example, I'll be on the hunt for buildings and maybe some freight cars. Knowing what you want makes easier to stay on budget and avoid buyer's remorse. <br /></p><p>3. Don't buy the first thing that catches your eye. Browse the whole show first. Yeah, you risk missing on that first thing but, if you do buy it, you risk missing out out on something may have wanted more.</p><p>4. The best merchandise is there at the beginning of the day, the deals happen at the end. This is an obvious trade off. All the good stuff is there at the start, but so are all eager buyers. At the end of the day, dealers are going to be tired, and more willing to make a deal so they don't have to lug the stuff home.</p><p>5. Do your homework. Say a dealer has that new engine you've been looking for. If you've checked several retailers before the show, you'll know if you're getting a good deal or not. Or, you can always use your phone to check the price. Do that discreetly, however.</p><p>6. If you're buying a locomotive, try before you buy. Most trains shows have a test track. If the dealer doesn't want you testing it, that's a big red flag.</p><p>7. Get business cards, flyers, and receipts. Maybe the dealer has an online shop. Also if your engine is a lemon, you'll want some recourse.</p><p>8. This is my most important piece of advice, Don't be afraid to leave empty handed. I get it, you got up early, drove a good distance and paid the admission only to not find what you're looking for. It sucks. The worst thing to do is buy something just to buy something. It's a sure-fire recipe for buyer's remorse. Sometimes the best train show deal is leaving with your money in pocket.<br /></p>Alex Gillamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00384157373217453581noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224946509583723749.post-69900695158597825342021-09-01T08:03:00.003-07:002021-09-01T08:03:42.526-07:00Started Mocking Up the Altoona Backdrop<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-1UpecMKlvlKmPUl70yeF7r50pCjThZk12SDOJpwt6zQU6bchyphenhyphenW2MPsO8XMUx5ao9MtaIlfimJDyOca5D5HxqJnbtvAeYtn6iiEeTcyuWApQrgkff4CWuNlzYb97RP4LtsMlyohfcxAeS/s2048/20210901_105043%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-1UpecMKlvlKmPUl70yeF7r50pCjThZk12SDOJpwt6zQU6bchyphenhyphenW2MPsO8XMUx5ao9MtaIlfimJDyOca5D5HxqJnbtvAeYtn6iiEeTcyuWApQrgkff4CWuNlzYb97RP4LtsMlyohfcxAeS/w400-h300/20210901_105043%255B1%255D.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> As mentioned previously, I ordered some urban photo backdrops off eBay (seller a.b.b.r_81 (<a href="https://www.ebay.com/usr/a.b.b.r_81?_trksid=p2047675.l2559" target="_blank">link</a>). What I got was a sheet with five two-foot long sections of generic urban building printed on sturdy paper. Ultimately this gives you a roughly 10-foot backdrop. Not bad for $32!<p></p><p>I started by rolling the section up the opposite way from which it came rolled. This allowed it to lay somewhat flat. Next I cut out the first section and mounted it to some foam core board with Elmer's spray adhesive. </p><p>The next step was to painstakingly cut around each individual building with a razor blade. A good bit of work for sure, but nothing I can't handle. As of right now, the first section is temporarily in place with a bit of masking tape. </p><p>At the moment, I'm not sure if I want the buildings at track level or raised up a bit with some kind of retaining wall. I do know I have to somehow fill the gap between the wall and the layout, a task I am dreading. We shall see.<br /></p>Alex Gillamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00384157373217453581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224946509583723749.post-80338381751589354542021-08-31T18:48:00.002-07:002021-08-31T18:48:11.471-07:00Finished Blair Line's Green Door Lounge Kit<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs0hYXsoXmMqR1XA6LrMt6YqqqPwUnmPYwWeFwiztR4ugQuxQjAt5utYxtjXrar9mpgY1JTYsT1W58idct9Lx4b4DK8d8cXo0tfGBwcNw9wtY8Td8TedjXOhyphenhyphenSooWitu3aBX4QyhcbCtzi/s2048/20210831_213131%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs0hYXsoXmMqR1XA6LrMt6YqqqPwUnmPYwWeFwiztR4ugQuxQjAt5utYxtjXrar9mpgY1JTYsT1W58idct9Lx4b4DK8d8cXo0tfGBwcNw9wtY8Td8TedjXOhyphenhyphenSooWitu3aBX4QyhcbCtzi/w400-h300/20210831_213131%255B1%255D.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> Wow, more posts this month than all of 2020! Suffice to say, my enthusiasm is rekindled. Anyway, on to what I actually did.<p></p><p>Today's project was building Blair Line's Green Door Lounge kit. I thought this kit would look right at home by the Juanita Shop complex. I'm sure the guys who work there would appreciate a place to grab a few brews and let off steam after a hard day of keeping K4s and I1s on the rails.</p><p>I went with Floquil "Reefer White" on the walls, "Coach Green" on the windows and trim, and "Grimy black" on the roof. Assembly was a tad tedious but much easier that the Railroad Rooming House. </p><p>One thing I love is the assortment of old-timey bill boards that come with this kit. I have a feeling a few of them may end up on some of my other buildings.</p><p>Now I need to scavenge some more buildings. There's train show coming up on the 11th. Perhaps I'll find some there. Although the Delta variant, I'm not sure I'll go.<br /></p>Alex Gillamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00384157373217453581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224946509583723749.post-35068261819846439072021-08-30T18:32:00.003-07:002021-08-30T18:32:15.694-07:00Finished American Model Builders' Railroad Rooming House Kit<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPqHf8LXlqL1DKLEuJ2fYNYyS6qeAFR5aKto_tiHJxAAwEskAqHib5dUyu9o5zqT6fDVeDC39RQBCrBK3TvzH8fReDGk-f06TS-5nFizkgG2yckL8DOWWR-x6CRIH7wNMmbxGhyZ5zGTtn/s2048/20210830_210905%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPqHf8LXlqL1DKLEuJ2fYNYyS6qeAFR5aKto_tiHJxAAwEskAqHib5dUyu9o5zqT6fDVeDC39RQBCrBK3TvzH8fReDGk-f06TS-5nFizkgG2yckL8DOWWR-x6CRIH7wNMmbxGhyZ5zGTtn/w400-h300/20210830_210905%255B1%255D.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> My first structure kit in quite some time. As with other laser-cut wood kits, I painted everything prior to assembly. I went wit Tamiya "Linoleum Deck Brown"on the walls, Floquil "Reefer White on the doors, windows and trim, Floquil "Grimy Black" on the roof and Floquil "Caboose" on the chimneys.<p></p><p>As is typical for an AMB kit, assembly is a bit tedious. Each window contains three separate pieces. Truth be told, I left off the upper sashes on the back windows since they won't be visible. </p><p>They way the paint turned out, I think the building doesn't really require additional weathering. <br /></p>Alex Gillamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00384157373217453581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224946509583723749.post-86135724123314013762021-08-26T18:26:00.000-07:002021-08-26T18:26:00.860-07:00The Hippo is Back<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWIop-J0pLes7fFSILO18yyfL-QH6mE0JvoStTXhZ0fc7YwTH54FObF_bV7icR9eykqp6q26Wu3e0YHYbO94hlHFoIgjXRkrqtFdtiWAIzc7We7VxbK_dZtPE4z7Xz6Rg_R3FoTCIHjTKQ/s2048/20210826_210238%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWIop-J0pLes7fFSILO18yyfL-QH6mE0JvoStTXhZ0fc7YwTH54FObF_bV7icR9eykqp6q26Wu3e0YHYbO94hlHFoIgjXRkrqtFdtiWAIzc7We7VxbK_dZtPE4z7Xz6Rg_R3FoTCIHjTKQ/w400-h300/20210826_210238%255B1%255D.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> I'm happy to report my Key Imports I1 is back in service. All it took was a new tender truck from Bachmann. As previously mentioned in this blog, I converted the tender pickup from drawing current from rail to both. Unfortunately one of the trucks fell apart. Replacement at about a fifteen-minute job. <p></p><p>The locomotive was a bit herky-jerky on her test run. But, considering she sat for the better part of two years, that's to be expected.</p><p>A note about the real I1s class, they were nicknamed hippos by the PRR crews due to their girth. They were commonly used to haul iron ore to the steel mills of Pittsburgh and other heavy-haul trains.<br /></p><p><br /></p>Alex Gillamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00384157373217453581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224946509583723749.post-26213070260433813452021-08-25T19:14:00.005-07:002021-08-25T19:14:54.946-07:00Lighting fixes<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZFrKtM6oxVR24-RtpZeCcEeAtN5fj5tF5mun1u5-54dALIa8ilH0BR3w9n1pJ0qjEazSLjmY3FLWmncKZUFFolLGwLY5Phsis7FReU3DUcrYWmR1rvHncPFv_c3LdkMUTzbDobHCfOCg7/s2048/20210825_212728.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZFrKtM6oxVR24-RtpZeCcEeAtN5fj5tF5mun1u5-54dALIa8ilH0BR3w9n1pJ0qjEazSLjmY3FLWmncKZUFFolLGwLY5Phsis7FReU3DUcrYWmR1rvHncPFv_c3LdkMUTzbDobHCfOCg7/w400-h300/20210825_212728.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> The other day, I noticed my streetlights in Johnstown were unusually dim. At first, I thought my low-voltage power supply had gone bad. However, after swapping it with a know good, that proved not to be the case. I ntoiced the PC board became hot within moments of current being applied.<p></p><p>I moved to the barrier strips that distribute power and noticed a small plume of smoke coming from one. Long story short, when my wife was stashing some of her stuff, she bashed to wires into each other, creating the short. This fix was dead simple. Now my N Scale motorists can stop treating the Busch traffic lights like a four-way stop!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOr4SyBonI2_SKDF6hj4lQAFOfJCDxPHfVYqBxqdN0b7lccqg4AAg2F_he5y3JsnTVImRPDqNtcIPH5JjcnW3IxkbfWrqAU6ghyCZUZLRaqH8G0gwOecB2WuliAqcqQVO1fAWl3TJYKYa2/s2048/20210825_214536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOr4SyBonI2_SKDF6hj4lQAFOfJCDxPHfVYqBxqdN0b7lccqg4AAg2F_he5y3JsnTVImRPDqNtcIPH5JjcnW3IxkbfWrqAU6ghyCZUZLRaqH8G0gwOecB2WuliAqcqQVO1fAWl3TJYKYa2/w400-h300/20210825_214536.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Some more lighting in Gallitizin had glitched out on me. Namely a street light and the office light at the cement plant. The street light's wire had come loose, that simple fix. The office ultimatly required a new LED.</p><p>Unfortunately the Altoona end of the layout is pretty much dead in the water until all the stuff I ordered arrives. In addition to the structure kits, I've also ordered up a new urban backdrop from eBay. seller a.b.b.r_81 (<a href="https://www.ebay.com/usr/a.b.b.r_81?_trksid=p2047675.l2559" target="_blank">link</a>). More on this when it arrives.<br /></p><p><br /></p>Alex Gillamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00384157373217453581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224946509583723749.post-25124100890704417042021-08-23T19:53:00.002-07:002021-08-23T19:53:45.861-07:00Finished Ballasing the Mains<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJ-LCGimNxHWAMSx3SkrP-dsq0bEDl9NGNu9GrSnLmmAINjDST4G_iSI7tlsnfdvCFunxtNjzzDnvGlt9xAj0lvMtLfIw2nQnalk_SvaPE3cSZwReTN2xPtrK0M9-VANwarb3PrFP5RBG/s1440/240484924_10159632827388619_4290198605550197642_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1440" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJ-LCGimNxHWAMSx3SkrP-dsq0bEDl9NGNu9GrSnLmmAINjDST4G_iSI7tlsnfdvCFunxtNjzzDnvGlt9xAj0lvMtLfIw2nQnalk_SvaPE3cSZwReTN2xPtrK0M9-VANwarb3PrFP5RBG/w400-h297/240484924_10159632827388619_4290198605550197642_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I'm proud to report every inch of main line track on this layout is ballasted. All that remains now is the Altoona yard tracks and the tracks by roundhouse. Then I can kiss the ballast goodbye until the next layout. However, that will have to wait until I can get to the hobby shop.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0TuWleEyEZJV-GpuombUYEc57po8FLzDQj4Ap9NsVl1h7AkOaHQulanlXRGTFUENl3AcgwCJAp-eHuWUK7_jh4277jCHoJX203OmUwR5k0QR9BVsW60hcmCbTwkoMe4C8fjsFHMKwFv74/s2015/240420102_4102553493200398_602047464087261735_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2015" data-original-width="1504" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0TuWleEyEZJV-GpuombUYEc57po8FLzDQj4Ap9NsVl1h7AkOaHQulanlXRGTFUENl3AcgwCJAp-eHuWUK7_jh4277jCHoJX203OmUwR5k0QR9BVsW60hcmCbTwkoMe4C8fjsFHMKwFv74/w299-h400/240420102_4102553493200398_602047464087261735_n.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><p>In other news, the Pittsburgh Staging yard has gone from procrastination purgatory to almost finished. Five of the six tracks are glued down. To honest things weren't as smooth as I expected. I must have gotten a bad batch of rail joiners because I had more than a few that simply would not go onto the rail!</p><p>If you're wondering about the white blotch in the middle of the otherwise brown table top, well, the soldering iron had something to do with it. I used a bit of Dap patching Patch'n'Paint to fill the hole Talk about a bone headed move.<br /></p><p><br /></p>Alex Gillamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00384157373217453581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224946509583723749.post-86327382055669783752021-08-22T11:41:00.003-07:002021-08-22T11:41:53.444-07:00Full Steam Ahead!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjd0-r2HON7MTUFNzxV-j01z0hMhEkejqKpJeYD413rR07fHlL7FpQorX9JhzVggfh8y3BQGhdUg3JYwacgIeO8jn8e_yUiWWy35Nn35O4-Uv2O4tGXexlv8DvWIXg3XtD1elXl1r8buB/s2048/20210822_085607.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjd0-r2HON7MTUFNzxV-j01z0hMhEkejqKpJeYD413rR07fHlL7FpQorX9JhzVggfh8y3BQGhdUg3JYwacgIeO8jn8e_yUiWWy35Nn35O4-Uv2O4tGXexlv8DvWIXg3XtD1elXl1r8buB/w400-h300/20210822_085607.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"> Today was a productive day on the layout. First and foremost, I decided to try and return my I1 to service. It had stopped responding to the throttle and then one of it's tender trucks fell apart. I put it on the programing track, addressed the decoder and, when tested, the locomotive moved! Thank God! with ongoing chip shortage (damn pandemic) getting a replacement may be a tall (and not to mention costly) order.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">After the I1, only my T1 and Alco FB remain out of service.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnLyLonR89gYIpLJqwx3_2QnYFY6SZN1vjTydNF2U8NG5cTvG2f7Kn7J7BnbIs9Y-nj6zFJ3mDjYUTMkohzM2JZKWGOPW6-Dnkrzk09mAYDYItRz9u4M53keU5ahSuQhF5c9XORH4gzIyj/s2048/20210822_141440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnLyLonR89gYIpLJqwx3_2QnYFY6SZN1vjTydNF2U8NG5cTvG2f7Kn7J7BnbIs9Y-nj6zFJ3mDjYUTMkohzM2JZKWGOPW6-Dnkrzk09mAYDYItRz9u4M53keU5ahSuQhF5c9XORH4gzIyj/w400-h300/20210822_141440.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Next on my list was ballasting. Now, all but about ten feet of main line are ballasted. That just leaves the yard and a few tracks in the Juniata Shop. That will have to wait until I get to the hobby shop. <br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitqwb0A8FIh68pk2XvT3nk_0LU99wrePoXF9UANuXm7aqEZkV4aql-J1wVah1UOSxgl9rDK5pSqaOyMHQulo8gLooEaO45iYJ_ragQf50x8hCKXXfp3XYYNUg-_KEQjtpbn2LmJ-ShKDzn/s2048/20210822_141403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitqwb0A8FIh68pk2XvT3nk_0LU99wrePoXF9UANuXm7aqEZkV4aql-J1wVah1UOSxgl9rDK5pSqaOyMHQulo8gLooEaO45iYJ_ragQf50x8hCKXXfp3XYYNUg-_KEQjtpbn2LmJ-ShKDzn/w400-h300/20210822_141403.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Another project, painting the fascia burnt umber. It looks so much better in a neutral color.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnRycRfYRgAOLotZzbSugbTZOjH76Wuj1ZjnjQADUe4UTqH1RU6wTMpEl1Kpajf9_1Zr67RmVeq5DVMNvFBUQhsTa_6eLd-t4Wf5pekp5I5ePyFoQw-3cjsaznvz5i6jKRU2Ib6nJNF1Xg/s2048/20210822_141350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnRycRfYRgAOLotZzbSugbTZOjH76Wuj1ZjnjQADUe4UTqH1RU6wTMpEl1Kpajf9_1Zr67RmVeq5DVMNvFBUQhsTa_6eLd-t4Wf5pekp5I5ePyFoQw-3cjsaznvz5i6jKRU2Ib6nJNF1Xg/w400-h300/20210822_141350.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I finally started laying track in the Pittsburgh staging yard. About damn time! The track is the old Atlas code 80 stuff. <br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfEbyd1RUQnJCbpPTvqwasAn_PZtHa7YTEWpWZAGr3LwWEMqlQ0gPgv_0OFYxTXoAolBcSGD7_JVzumnWdAyAo0tEUigoReMrjz6SMZOF4gzwWEubZMXN_LZPhpqG1iCw6DwYfcJmttUQP/s2048/20210822_114217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfEbyd1RUQnJCbpPTvqwasAn_PZtHa7YTEWpWZAGr3LwWEMqlQ0gPgv_0OFYxTXoAolBcSGD7_JVzumnWdAyAo0tEUigoReMrjz6SMZOF4gzwWEubZMXN_LZPhpqG1iCw6DwYfcJmttUQP/w400-h300/20210822_114217.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lastly, I added some turf to a small area near Altoona with some help from Victor.<br /></div><p></p><p>This is about all I can do until all the stuff I ordered arrives. I swear waiting is the hardest part. Didn't Tom Petty write a song to that effect?<br /><br /></p><p></p>Alex Gillamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00384157373217453581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-224946509583723749.post-89920924839861162392021-08-21T10:07:00.005-07:002021-08-21T10:07:33.310-07:00More Buildings for Altoona<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK0ZCvLfs7XUQbW7pIIkxJdpclnAa3pKVuQ3i2qjCYIqq2JKEKQF3_I_3IFDQq-8El8P5777tq_SO6-z7skGVCTTxuqG17TPIrxquYQAJghea29l70EpT7on4Cvg-xX0sQk91RXUwVv-n0/s2048/20210821_124009%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK0ZCvLfs7XUQbW7pIIkxJdpclnAa3pKVuQ3i2qjCYIqq2JKEKQF3_I_3IFDQq-8El8P5777tq_SO6-z7skGVCTTxuqG17TPIrxquYQAJghea29l70EpT7on4Cvg-xX0sQk91RXUwVv-n0/w400-h300/20210821_124009%255B1%255D.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><span> </span> I stuck with my Altoona plan for a whole ten seconds. I was going to
leave the whole area inside the Altoona loop undeveloped. Well, the more
I thought about, I realized there were some structures I really wanted
to include. <span></span> </p><p><span> </span>To wit, I have ordered up American Model Builders' "Railroad Rooming House" and Blair Lines "Green Door Lounge" kits. Both should lend a nice seedy, wrong-side-of-the-tracks vibe to the area. I've always wanted to include the former on a layout. Perhaps I'll add a few more structures and make a few blocks long area. I'll add a few businesses and a few houses.</p><p><span> </span>I've also realized I goofed when it comes to the mountains. The shops are south of the tracks and the city is to the north! Um, oops! I guess I'll need to hunt down some generic city backdrops. On that same note, I went ahead and moved Alto Tower to the north side of the tracks.<br /></p><p><span> </span>Lastly, I thought the shop complex needed a power house. Thankfully, I had Model Power's "Coverall Paints" building sitting under my layout. This was salvaged off my last layout. I previously removed the base, painted it Floquil "Boxcar Red" and did the mortar effects. So all I had to do was pull off the "Coverall Paints" signs, plunk it on the layout and call it a day. <span></span>Eventually I will add roads and parking areas.</p><p><br /></p>Alex Gillamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00384157373217453581noreply@blogger.com0