Well, being gone for almost six weeks seems to have allowed the weeds to grow.
Category Archives: Garden
Visited the Train Shack
Today I dropped by the Train Shack in Burbank. They have a pretty good selection of Piko and LGB stuff–more G scale than I usually see in a LHS. Pretty cool place, though the prices are just average. They do have some running layouts in O and HO to watch–my son really liked those.
Quite a Week
Well, all was quiet on the railroad front as I spent a few days traveling to New York and West Point to see my nephew graduate from the United States Military Academy and leave to join the Army.
Waiting on Parts
I have a lot more to do, but am currently waiting on a list of parts.
For the sawmill/logging scene, I need wheels. I’m going to make some horse-drawn logging wagons, but need wheels.
For the windmill, I need the Pola motor. I ordered it, but it didn’t ship for a couple of days and I’m still impatiently waiting for it to arrive.
For the windmill scene, I ordered some Pressier figures. From Germany. So those will be a while coming.
So lots to do, but right now it’s hurry up and wait.
Windmill Nearing Completion
Good progress today… Here’s the mill test-fitted together and a view of it inverted so you can see the detail of the woodwork. This is pretty neat, though it will be out of sight to most observers.
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More Windmill Progress
New Structure for the Layout
I bought this a few weeks ago:
Continue reading New Structure for the Layout
Pond mostly done
Sail Fail
Well, the best laid plans of mice and men gang oft agley, as Bobby Burns said.
Here’s the outcome of my earlier plan for a fixed-position floating sailboat
More Pond Progress
I was able to make some more progress today. I got the rest of the liner-hiding rock-on-a-roll installed on the front and mostly filled the pond with water.
I need to get some additional plants, line the bottom of the pond with rock-on-a-roll and finish up. But I think it will look good.
Looking Back (and Ahead)
This afternoon I finished moving dirt into the backyard (not putting it down, just getting it into the yard) and completed the last “big” landscaping project on the center section: two hills. I have more planting to do in the middle, and of course the pond to put down, but it’s coming right along.
A big change from 2014
Continue reading Looking Back (and Ahead)
Webcam?
With a Raspberry Pi in the train shed that’s connected to my network, I could easily attach a webcam and be able to “see” the layout even when I’m trapped in my basement office. I decided to go for it:
All those bags in the far background are the dirt from my birthday that I haven’t finished spreading around yet.
Help with the Pond
I started working on the next steps of the pond, installing the liner and the first section of “rock on a roll” that’s intended to hide the liner.
While filling the pond, I had some help–I don’t know why playing with the hose is always so interesting 🙂
More Trees and Dirt
Most folks wouldn’t be excited to get dirt for their birthday, but I was very pleased. My wife allowed me to spend my birthday money on topsoil so I could make more progress on filling the raised bed to the level of the track. Once that’s done, I’ll be able to ballast the track and build my mountain. I also picked up a few more dwarf Alberta Spruce trees, which were on sale at Lowe’s. I know what I’ll be doing this weekend 🙂
Snow again
Here’s a late-March picture of the layout
Sailboat Idea
Here in Kansas, the wind is a constant problem in the garden. Gusts up to 40mph regularly move things around (including buildings) and wreck havoc.
I’ve been thinking about putting a boat in my pond when it’s done, but with the wind it would need to be anchored somehow. Add to that the possibility of water-level fluctuations, and there’s a problem–if the water gets low and the wind blows, the boat could possibly wind up on shore.
Snow on the layout
There was some heavy ice/snow while were were gone over Christmas break
Click for a larger version
Layout Plan Complete
Just finished updating this for (hopefully) the last time. This incorporates all the changes from my original plan–the not-a-wye, adding straights to my revers curve, one less siding in town–and shows the current state of the track, at least. Most of the other scenery is there, too. The only big thing left is the mountain.
Laser Cutter
Just bought this little goody off eBay.
I’ve read some posts on the various train forums that this can be a really useful tool for building structures, making rolling stock, and generally fiddling around. We’ll see how it goes.
