Looks good Dr Jeff....nice job on the coved corners. Photo backdrops are a revelation, imo. I'm going to order another one today for my HOn3 shadow box layout. I was able to salvage much of the ones I used on my short-lived previous layout, but I'm one short...I used Train Junkies. They have a great selection and my interaction with the boss was great-he would shoot me proofs and customize as needed... Shockingly inexpensive too.

I've certainly heard lots of great things about Trackside Scenery too...I believe ACL Tom used them for his extensive layout. 

Great stuff...I'm glad this thread got a bump.

Hang in there Dave...we're all thinking of you. Best wishes!

Got a few hours in today...3rd and final shadowbox module for the HO layout is essentially finished and ready for paint. Last night I assembled the "pedestal" for the upcoming N scale layout, so I'll paint both of them sometime this week if I can get to it. Once that module is in place, I can start slapping down the HOn3 track and get some trains running 

Beautiful day in Central FL

Hey Guys, 

I put together a list of unbuilt kits I want to sell...before I send the list to a couple of vendors at the NNGC (in hopes of a bulk liquidation), I'd like to invite any of you that have interest to let me know via PM. I am not a guy looking to haggle my way into squeezing out every cent of profit...I'm looking for quick and easy - especially if you're picking up a few.

I included "retail" prices based on what you can easily find online...that is definitely not what I expect to get.

In fact, if any of you are into online selling (I am not)...buy the bunch - I promise you'll get a great deal. PM me...

 
Name                                                                                    Retail                                 
-Bar Mills, The Alvin Hat Co.                                                $69.95
-Bar Mills, Tiny's Trackside Cafe (unavailable retail)               $40.94
-Bar Mills, Hurst Boiler & Welding (unavailable retail)             $97.74
-Sierra West, Backwoods Log Train (HOn3) *unavailable         $350.00
-Sierra West, Loco & Service Shops *unavailable                    $330.00
-Fine Scale Miniatures, Branchline Bucket Coaling *                $95.00
-Sea Port Model Works, Capt Hook Lobster                             $249.95
-Fos Scale, Quinn Elbow                                                       $119.95
-Campbell Scale Models, Thru Timber Bridge                          $66.03
-Banta Modelworks, Little Creek Mining Co                             $76.00
-Builders In Scale/Caboose Hobbies, Silverado Mine*              $225.00
-Rail Scale Models, Fisherman's Co-Op & Cannery                   $58.50
-CCK, Company Store                                                           $21.50
-Durango Press, Q&TL Water Tank                                         $27.45
-Durango Press, Westside Lumber Caboose, HOn3                  $26.35
-Best, Weeks Mills Water Tower                                             $64.95
-Micro Engineering, Tall Steel Viaduct, 75-527                        $45.00
-Nick & Nora Designs, Frank's Fishing Shack                          $19.50
-Railroad Kits, B. Smith Coal & Ice                                        $45.00
-Model Railways, Fishing Shack & Dock *damaged box           $9.99
-N SCALE- Campbell Ten Stamp Mill                                      $44.43
-N SCALE- Wild West Scale Models, Atlantic Cable Mine           $79.99
 
-Jordan Products, C-208, 1915 Ford Fire Truck                       $13.00
-Jordan Products, 360-218, Fordson Farm Tractor                   $16.00
-Jordan Products, 360-229, 1934 Ford 21 Passenger Bus         $18.00
-Jordan Products, 360-239, 1929 Model AA Tank Truck            $17.00
-Jordan Products, 360-227, 1923 Mack Hi-Lift                         $22.00
-Jordan Products, C-211, Mack Truck Chassis & Cab                $17.50
-Jordan Products, 360-214, Railway Express Truck                  $20.00
Jordan Products, 360-212, Tank Truck                                    $17.00
-Jordan Products, 108, Horse & Buggy                                   $20.00
TOTAL ESTIMATED RETAIL                                             $   2,323.72      

*I also have a LOAD of Minitrains HOn30 engines and rolling stock that I'd love to move on from. Let me know if anyone has interest in discussing them...all in original boxes, lightly used

Morning all...

James, I hope it's Boston University, the finest institution in the world...and a good place to meet a keeper of a wife, imo 

Nothing scheduled for today, so that means I should get some train stuff done...I spent the first part of the day on the NBA forums, arguing with strangers - quality time use 

Have a good day...John

* I just uploaded a big list of kits I'd like to liquidate...I'm an easy mark. Take a look and let me know.

Thanks Guys...the staple thing is worth a look for me...I like the idea of being able to recycle them, if needed. I'll have to see if they'll hold to foamcore. The strips do have an adhesive backing and I've resisted using it so far.

People here know I blow things up in a hurry   but I DO re-use everything I can from lumber to track nails and everything in between when I can. 

Thanks Ron...looking at mine to see where the "cuttable" areas are....are you cutting right through the copper pads, next to them, etc?

Hey guys, like many of you, I plan to use LED strip lighting for my new layout. It is a shadowbox construction, so a self-contained top "lid" is the sensible place to fasten the lighting. I've got a bunch of foamcore laying around and I'd love to use it rather than more expensive (and much heavier) lumber...my questions are:

-Does the LED strip lighting give off enough heat to make this an unsafe or just bad idea? (will the foamcore hold up, melt, or just plain burst into flames  ) ?

-How would you fasten the strip lighting to the top...is hot glue ok? I used thumbtacks last time but it was a different kind of setup (all wood) and it was kind of sloppy looking with all of the tacks. Again, maybe this relates to heat...if it's an issue, what other method would you recommend? maybe double sided tape of some sort?

Also, can you simply cut off portions of the strip if it's not the right length for your application or will that destroy/damage the whole unit?

Thanks in advance for any help,
 John

Thanks Curt...excited to be seeing it come together...I'm just playing around with structures & track arrangements before things really get rolling.

So here's the idea...

this is the HOn3 layout-to-be: Still have another, smaller, side module and then the connecting "shelf" of homasote around the back for a complete loop for a lazy operator.

I LOVE a beautifully drawn track plan...but personally I've never, not once, built what I drew 

Really nice. Looking forward to the build.

Wow...what a beautiful kit...I'm just catching up and looking forward to your continued build. It'll look great on the layout.

Congratulations on your retirement Dr Jeff. Hope to see you at the NNGC so we can compare notes. I've also just entered retirement and it's an exciting but daunting prospect. I'm still recalibrating myself so I wish you the best...just keep moving!

John

Got some of the non-glamorous stuff done...basically the support system for the HOn3 layout.

I've got seven of the nice grey cabinets and I'll use 3 of them to support the HOn3 layout - which fits in a corner. The light grey band is what I'm calling the "riser" which will raise the modules to a better viewing track height of 52.5" - with the overall height of the modules at 6'. The 5" upper valance should have the viewing angle just right - so the trains are in your face but the lighting isn't. I'm building three shadowbox modules that will fit in an L-shape with a "naked" loop along narrow shelves on the walls to connect for a continuous loop. The "front" of the layout will be just about 6'6 and the shorter side is 4'. I've got most of the pieces cut for at least two of the modules, so (barring disruptions, distractions, or just plain exhaustion) I hope to have a little more to show this weekend.

Just out of view, closer to the camera, will be "Little Switzerland" (working title  ), my future N scale layout. I'm very excited to get started on that as I've got a very clear vision of how I want that to go...but I want to at least get the HOn3 stuff in place to help make sure the floor plan for the room isn't tighter than I expect.