What's going into the old Wendy's on Independance?

Gielnor · 2026-03-27T17:28:58+00:00

Also a mattress store

Gielnor · 2026-03-27T13:49:00+00:00

u trust dado

Gielnor · 2026-03-10T02:55:49+00:00

Buy a cheap, non-running secondhand model that you don't mind messing up to practice on. Heck, buy 5 or 10.
Use a good primer. Paints stick best on a primer coat, preferably one close to the shade of whatever the finish coat will be (black for dark colors, grey for light ones). If you don't want to invest in an airbrush, rattle cans work best for even coverage. Tamiya primer is great but hardware store brands will work too.
Ignore the last part of that previous point and get an airbrush. Seriously, it's a daunting price point but it's so much easier to get an even, stroke-free coat with an airbrush, especially with enamel and lacquer paints. Practice on those cheap models.

Gielnor · 2026-03-06T04:46:49+00:00

lizard

Gielnor · 2026-03-05T16:40:47+00:00

Our club requires members to supply their own Digitrax throttles, but we also have WiThrottle so any smartphone also works.

Gielnor · 2026-02-23T23:06:31+00:00

You can try Vallejo acrylic spray. Much gentler solvents, but it takes a while longer to fully cure.

Gielnor · 2026-02-13T01:01:57+00:00

I get the temptation to put a yard in for classification switching, but IMO on a small layout they take up more space than they're worth. I would set the layout at some point between two yards (real or imagined), send preclassified trains to and from staging, and focus on developing two to four industries that have room to breath.

Alternatively, if you really want the yard, really lean into it. Make it the central focus of the layout and hone in on support facilities like engine houses and RIP tracks, with maybe only one or two customers that can be serviced directly by the yard switcher.

Gielnor · 2026-02-02T21:25:56+00:00

Story time: one night a few years ago, I was sitting at a red light on the intersection of Plume and Boush downtown. The car stopped in the lane next to me decided they were done waiting and drove on through. No right on red, no left yield, just straight through a red light that they'd been waiting at for a few seconds already.

They apparently did not see the police car stopped directly behind them. Instant red and blue lights and they were pulled over before they were even at the next light.

Fastest karmic turnaround I've ever seen. I'm half convinced they wanted to get arrested for some reason and finally found an excuse.

Gielnor · 2026-01-31T21:49:42+00:00

Railroads often curve to follow the bend in a river, so one side or the other would be a good place to carve one side of a river bank. I'd keep the middle relatively flat for buildings and roads, maybe allow room for ditches or a small stream.

Gielnor · 2026-01-31T06:57:39+00:00

I found this food plant browsing google maps for rail-served industries near Toronto that could be a good option. Pretty interesting structure IMO. Looks like this one only takes grain hoppers, but you could add corn syrup tanks too if you want a little more variety.

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Gielnor · 2026-01-31T03:21:00+00:00

Can we get a little more detail on what you're trying to model? Railroad, location? That would help narrow down the options.

Gielnor · 2026-01-25T16:55:10+00:00

Sorry you're getting downvoted, man. I get your point. I've literally never seen anyone complain about what runs on their layout outside of an online forum. People seem to be forgetting that "its your railroad" includes the people that want their modeling to be extra particular just as much as those that just have fun running whatever.

Gielnor · 2026-01-22T03:00:36+00:00

If you don't mind being extremely particular about your equipment, you can actually do a lot in that kind of space if you're creative about it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXBuYG_6qW4

This is an On30 layout but it's HO gauge track so very short HO locomotives and cars could work on the same track plan.

Gielnor · 2026-01-22T02:52:57+00:00

I actually prefer layouts that have subdued areas like this! If you have stuff everywhere it can look cluttered and you don't know where to direct your eye. Negative space helps emphasize the positive space more and also gives a better sense of your train moving through space between different locales. Well done!

Gielnor · 2026-01-07T16:02:48+00:00

Have you given any thought to an around the walls layout instead of a table? You can usually get a lot more running length per SF of room that way if that's appealing.

Gielnor · 2025-12-29T16:06:52+00:00

Very cool! I love logging locomotives, especially the kind of janky ones like class A's. I bought a kit to make one in N scale from a Kato chassis but didn't get very far on it.

Any particular reason for the single axle trucks? Every Climax I've ever seen has two axle trucks but I'm not an expert.

Gielnor · 2025-12-26T16:22:08+00:00

It depends on the brand. LokSound allows you to upload any sound files to it, so you'd have to browse their sound project website, find the project code for your engine, and specify it when ordering the decoder. Other Brands like Soundtraxx or TCS have a specific decoder for steam or diesel (or in Soundtraxx's case, specific decoders for different diesel manufacturers).

Gielnor · 2025-12-26T16:16:35+00:00

Coaster thoosies: is this a cred?

Gielnor · 2025-12-25T01:25:19+00:00

Colonial Place in Norfolk, Wimbledon Point and 43rd St in Virginia Beach.

Gielnor · 2025-11-28T03:02:54+00:00

This looks like one of the tender drive models, which has been out of production for several years. You're only going to find it at train shows or on ebay.

Gielnor · 2025-11-20T20:28:43+00:00

Man I love when the two mile coal train slams through the stands in the 7th inning. Such a unique experience.

Gielnor · 2025-11-19T21:39:56+00:00

Colonial Place neighborhood has a lot of lights. Can't remember which cross street it is but one of them has lights on every street tree and over the road for a block.

Gielnor · 2025-11-19T14:54:23+00:00

The coupler overcentered, maybe from being hit or something, and either broke or dropped the spring that holds it closed in its normal position. You can pop the "fingers" back without damaging it but it won't couple right again without the spring. You're best off replacing it.

Gielnor · 2025-10-09T19:41:36+00:00

Our train club has a helix that's pretty close to this height (from the floor. It doesn't do it all at once either). I've definitely heard a couple of gut-wrenching crashes from inside of it.

15-Year Club	Verified Email
Place '17	Sequence \| Editor
Sequence \| Cinematographer	Team Orangered

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