Just wanted to give everyone an update on my train room. It's been three weeks since the slab was poured, but it has been raining, even snowing down here in Houston. So it has been too cold and too wet for me to do much outdoors. Plus, even when it isn't raining, the yard is still pretty muddy due to all the rain we have had since the slab was poured.

I am starting to stockpile lumber and such. Also have been doing some figuring and calculating, thinking out the framing process, all that kind of stuff. Once I do get started, I am hoping to make a big push and get it framed, sheathed, and roofed in just a few days. After it is dried in, then I can take my time in getting the brickwork done and finishing the inside.

Now, I know some of you must be snickering because I said it was too cold.... and "too cold" in Houston is anywhere near freezing. Yeah, yeah, I know most of you up north are way way below freezing already for days at a time. But you have to understand... typically, in December, I am outside in shorts and a t-shirt. So when I say "too cold," it is relatively speaking.

Well after we left Lester Perry's layout - we visited an O gauge Huge layout!!!!
just a Few of the 20 that I took
Sorry about the size... but I wanted you to be able to see the detaisl - It was a great layout!!!!

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When I started a new layout in summer 2009 an industrial theme in the Chicago area about 1950 was fixed. Dark brown ties, dark gray ballast and lots of dark buildings.


Some weeks ago I discovered the unique charm of the relative light colored box buildings present in any todays industry park. I build some from cardboard and liked them. Looking at the light and clean building reminded my on some pictures of Pelle's layouts located in the far west. Some time later I got some books from Lance Mindheim. The same light buildings but this time with very light colored ballast and located in Florida. Finally I got aware of Kurt's Miami 58th St. layout in this forum.

That was the moment when I did my "U-turn". All dark buildings went to the storage. The modern "boxes" became the primary choice. At that time all tracks had been laid but no ballast was done. Light gray granite ballast was the new choice. Light brown sand was used for general ground coverage. Some CSX engines (four GP38-2, two MP15DC) had been in my roster already. There is no direct prototype. It is a very free freelance interpretation of CSX somewhere in or close to Florida.

Here are first shots of my inspirations borrowed from Pelle, Lance and Kurt:






There is still a lot to do and a lot to improve. Light gray ballast on dark brown ties is a challenge for clumsy fingers . Each stone counts twice.. Also the placement of grass needs improvement. Look at Kurt's layout for the real thing.

More pictures are on my homepage http://rubpeters.ru.funpic.de/h020091/index.html

built the side porch for house i'm building the first one i built i dident like so i built another now the wife says the original one looks better i think the second one looks better, any thoughts ?
the first pic is the new porch in a overview the second pic is it close up and the third is the original one.
jim

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We are posting our 55n3 Locomotive resource page at:

http://www.55n3.org/locomotives/resources/



Thank you if you visit
Harold

Fool that I am...I went and bought a corrugated metal building kit, but havent the faintest idea as to how to go about putting it together. The instructions mention some kind of flux/solder mix that can be used by applying this flux and taking the soldering iron to it.
Anyone have any experience/tips with this kind of building..?? Sure would like some input before I botch the whole thing up....

The moon was full last night, I couldn't see it....too many clouds.....but checking the calendar, there will be another full moon this month.

New Year's Eve !!!

Perhaps a good evening to exercise a bit of caution........

You'll have the Police out checking blood alcohol levels...
You'll have Vampires out looking for a fresh cocktail.....
And, you'll also have to deal with the "partying Werewolves"....

Here are 4 of the cars. blue came out lighter than i thought.

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Gee Whiz.

Where does one find this stuff locally? I've been the usual haunts, like Home Despot, Ruinya, Lowest, and Crappy Tire but cannot seem to find it. I find it hilarious that they all sell the RJ12 six and four pin connectors and the tools to strip, cut and crimp but no bloody wire! It's like selling a car without the spark plug wires or something and telling the buyer, "Good luck finding those!".

I'd like to have the option of making my own.