Quote from: jbvb on March 28, 2026, 11:35:27 AMNot knowing CN equipment that well, I'd guess you cut TLT's lintel and sill down to the side sheathing level, and glued the storm window over frame with mullions over the opening?  How did Yannis make the storm windows?

James. I did not have to cut the lintel and sill. They are the right height apart. 

The shape of the TLT window panes is what were incorrect. The storm windows Yannis made have the proper size panes; and because some CNR storm windows have stiles wider than the window underneath them, the wider stiles hide the thin stiles underneath them.

The TLT panes are square, they should be slightly rectangular vertically. Yannis got the storm windows bang on; their muntins cover the under windows' muntins. And they fit both the brass and plastic model cabooses.

I took a lot of measurements before I sent the drawings to him.

I think he made the windows with a laser cutter apparatus of some sort.

What height do you plan to set the layout at? I seem to recall a ramp up on the East side of the LA River bridge, which might let you squeeze a staging track or two underneath between Gate 2 and Colorado Blvd.

Good evening, all, checking the Forum between chores this evening.

The Trolley Museum had a spell of nice weather midday, but we ran a pump most of the day to keep our pit usable while placing switch timbers under our trolley-style #4 Double Slip switch. Turns out that Tie Inserters are sensitive to rail height. Ours works fine on 5.5" high 85 lb., but can't cope with these hollow manganese steel castings that are 7-8" high.  So our tiny rented excavator dug big holes and pulled/pushed the timbers with its bucket.  Both new and old timbers will be happier once that mixture of gravel, cobbles and clay is replaced with real ballast with a pipe to drain it.

Ours to be one of two WWII-era double slips in service in preservation, but that doesn't make re-timbering before the ground dries out any easier. More chores to do before I shower or sleep, but I'll post some pictures over the weekend, 

I remember looking at red/green/yellow LEDs 6-8 years ago, when I was checking availability of parts I'd used in my own layout's signal system ( https://modelersforum.com/index.php?topic=6882.0 ). I recall some in very small surface-mount packages, but now a quick search of Mouser and Digi-Key only shows Chip Carrier packages like the PLCC-4.

The PLCC-4 looks somewhat like the unit you built, Bernd, but only 4 connection points.

Hey fellas....     .....

Thanx Mike,... I'm gonna keep running my same old trustworthy rod engines...     I have a BLI C-16 2-8-0, a Bachmann C(whatever) 2-8-0 outside frame, a Bachmann 2-6-0, a Bachmann 2-4-4-2 that I did a 'John Allen' on and converted it to an 0-4-4-2...     that I use for the MOW train, I have a Bachmann 2-6-2 that will be for yard use....I have about a dozen locomotives total, including 2 Bachmann 4-6-0s, an extra Bachmann 2-8-0 OF, a Bachmann Forney 2-4-4 converted to a 'tender dragger', my scratch/bashed 2-6-0 cab forward, that I dropped,    my scratch built 2-8-0 that I also dropped,      .......and an MMI K27 that I'm selling  ....it's always been way too 'persnickitty' for me and I'm not doing a 22" radius      so I'm getting rid of it....... .....all of my locomotives handled the 4% grades in the past really well.... ....I only run 3 cars plus a caboose or combine on my consists, and my cars have no added weight.....   ........thanx for asking and thanks to everybody that stopped by......

OK - here's some shots of the 'progress'....I say it like that because I follow the great John Allen playbook and mock everything up full size to check fit and location before doing any 'real damage'.....       ...I'm really jazzed about this version of the G&D Ry. .....I can already 'see' the scenery and can't wait to bring it to life...     .......

Pay no attention to the pile of 'parts-n-stuff' in the lower right.....that'll be a mountain ......


I don't know if I'll make the 'blue into a mtn. lake ............



That's all for now....thanx for checkin' on the G&D Ry. fellas, and I sure do appreciate all the suggestions, comments and questions......they get me goin'.....       ......see ya.......        

Good morning,

Curt, thanks for opening.  Good luck at the VA.  Hope you can sleep better tonight.

Larry, congrats on your supply arrival for the build.

Dave, good luck with the scenery and trees.

Karl, hope the trestle build continues well.  Mowing grass...ugh.

Jerry, thanks for the brunch.  Good luck at the bench.

Rick, congrats on the hospital news and well wishes for the destruction of those stones. Nice photo!

Tom, hope the trainshed work goes well.

Ron, well wishes for your wife.  Hope you can get some shut-eye.

How is the rest of the crew?

It's a bright but hazy morning.  Pollen counts have been in the many thousands.  I had a haircut appointment this morning, and I plan on playing card games tonight.  This afternoon, you may find me upstairs.

Have fun,
mike

Quote from: BandOGuy on April 01, 2026, 11:48:55 AMThus beginneth the second quarter of 2026. Certainly hope to accomplish more this quarter than the last one both personally and with modeling.
Carpe diem!

dave

Thus beginneth the second quarter of 2026. Certainly hope to accomplish more this quarter than the last one both personally and with modeling.
Carpe diem!

Cloudy, but warmish.  Back to showers and lower temps tomorrow, typical March/Early April weather.  "Wait a minute, and it will change."  

I'm done on the exercise machine, after lunch I'll go work on more scenery.  What I need to do are some trees for the spot I worked on yesterday, but I'll probably do other scenery stuff in other locations...

dave