Olson Displays 917B Backdrop

Hit the above link to go Olson Displays and see this new accessory for Prewar layouts. This is absolutely brilliant. This is a prewar backdrop/mountain. It is actually only 4 inches thick and it is made to be place or mounted onto a layout to give that "wide open", mountainous look in a prewar style. This is something Lionel coulda, shoulda, woulda done but didn't. Thanksfully, Olson Displays did it and really whacked the ball out of the park.

Marc

Interesting way to run O gauge...

I have to hand it to Bluecomets, he's a hoot. He figured out a way to run O gauge track over standard gauge. Ultimately he's probably right, it is probably one of the best ways to run O gauge trains with standard gauge track. Check out the Youtube.



Marc

Little McCoy Youtube

Dave Hess posted a really nice little Youtube of a rare McCoy Handcar rolling around on a standard gauge layout. I hope he can post more of these wonderful little videos of McCoy gear making the rounds. He's inspired me to make a few on layout as well....

Marc

PS I'd love to see a bumper car in standard gauge as well!

A snip of time

Memorial Day 2009. A little snip of time on the layout. Preettttyy busy even without the trains!

Marc

PS The lady having a seizure in the lower left is due to the direct inhalation of exhaust fumes from a prewar bus and Scrooge McDucks roadster (all at once). Perhaps one of the Manoil soldiers will perform CPR. Stay tuned.

Day 5 on the Layout

I think I skipped Day 4. The Prosperity Special is one of the most unusual trains from any era. My layout will be getting a Monorail shortly.

Marc

Standard Gauge Layout Day 3

Any suggestions on trains everyone would like to see run?

Standard Gauge Layout Day 2

Here were are, day 2 and my train room is thrashed. But the layout is coming along. Lemme know what ya think!



Marc

Starting the Layout

Well, I have started my standard gauge layout. This is a little bit of a psychological challenge for me. The last full blown layout I did (not inlcuding my floor) was from when I was 12 years old (I worked on it until I was about 16).

A new layout is a lot like a blank canvas. Eventhough I have all of the right toys to go on it and paint one heck of a nice picture, it still is daunting. How daunting? Well, it took me about 8 years to get here (my attic has been completely finished for about 9 years). I know, it sounds pathetic. But creating is much harder than buying. Buying toys is easy, building a great layout and having fun running them is another part of the hobby, the actual creative part.

And I am definitely looking forward to it! If anyone has any ideas....

marc

Benchwork is finished!

Well, the Mianne benchwork for phase 1 of the layout is done. I put this together with my friend Ron in about 4 hours. This benchwork is really amazing stuff. The engineering that went into it is really cool. Check out the pics.

I'll post more pics tomorrow. Now I need to get over to Lowes and get some Luan Plywood. I've been told that 1/2 inch is preferable but I'm thinking 3/4 inch plywood. Any thoughts?

Marc