Archive for May, 2010

Next Layout Update Video

Sunday, May 30th, 2010

I’ve been asked by several people when the next layout update video will be out. It’s a little overdue, as it probably should have been out around the first week of May (going by my “every 3 months” schedule). Right now it’s looking like I will have it out at the end of June or early July at the latest. There are few reasons for the slight delay:

1. I had knee surgery in March, which slowed things down for the about a month.
2. Quite frankly, there hasn’t been enough major progress on the layout to justify a video. That’s not to say that there’s been no progress, though. There’s actually been a lot of progress but much of it has been little stuff here and there that doesn’t carry a big WOW factor with it.

By the end of June, however, there should be enough big changes that I can justify making a video. The big things going on right now are (1) tunnel work, (2) track weathering and (3) preparation for installation of the remaining backdrops on the layout.

Later!

CTT Magazine & The National O-Scale Convention

Saturday, May 29th, 2010

So some exciting stuff is in the works for my layout as well a few others in the Atlanta area. On June 14th, a few guys from the regional NMRA (National Model Railroad Association) are coming up to check out my layout and take some pictures. They are doing this for 2 reasons. First, the national O-scale convention is going to be in Atlanta in 2013 and they’d like my layout to be on the tour of area layouts during the convention. Secondly, they are going to send some pics of the layout to CTT Magazine (Classic Toy Trains Magazine) and recommend the layout for a possible CTT article. So, as you might expect, I’m frantically trying to move things along on the layout as much as possible in preparation for their visit on the 14th. Wish me luck!

Scenic DVD in works

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

I’ve made a rough test version of the upcoming DVD release of my tunnel video. It’s pretty cool, although I need to adjust to volume of the video. Right now I’m trying to decide if I should wait until I’ve done the 2nd scenery video before I make the DVD so that I can have both scenic videos on one DVD. I will probably wait and put them both on there. In addition to the scenery videos, the DVD will also contain some “bonus” videos…some of my older tutorial videos from YouTube…as well as some reading recommendations. I’d like to have to the DVD ready no later than the end of July…maybe a little sooner if everything goes well.

2010 catalog catalog orders

Thursday, May 20th, 2010

Well, for the first time ever I’m ordering more Lionel than MTH. I’m a die-hard MTH fan, but I have to say that right now Lionel is kicking ass. Here’s my order:

MTH 2010 Volume 2 Order:
20-20080-1 Main Central GP40 (2 numbers)
20-20099-1 Montana Rail Link SD45 Low Hood Diesel Engine (2 numbers)
20-93503 Main Central 50′ Box Car (2 numbers)
20-96202 BNSF 20k Gallon 4-Compartment Tank Car (2 numbers)
20-20093-1 Rock Island ES44AC Diesel Engine (Just 1 number)

Lionel 2010 Volume 1 Order:
6-11220 Vision Line Challenger
6-28320 Vision Line CP Hybrid
6-31783 BNSF Ice Cold Express Set
6-27412 GATX TankTrain Car
6-28312 Burlington Northern SD60
6-29885 Burlington Northern Command Crane Car
6-29886 Burlington Northern Command Boom Car

Building O-Scale Tunnels Tutorial

Saturday, May 15th, 2010

Here’s the long await video showing how I make my tunnels. Another video showing how I do my mountain scenery will follow.

Open House

Sunday, May 9th, 2010

I’m getting the layout ready for the spring layout tour that my local o-gauge club puts on every year. I’ve got until next Saturday (May 15th) to get things looking at good as I can. To that end, I went to Home Depot today and picked up a few more sheets of masonite so that I can work getting the back rooms ready for backdrops. My goal is to have all the backdrops for the layout completed in time for this year’s Piedmont Pilgrimage in November.

60 minutes of scenery video now complete

Monday, May 3rd, 2010

I’ve now got 60 minutes of completed video for the upcoming scenery tutorial. Maybe 30-40 minutes left, I hope.