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Thanks Anthony 😀. I’m looking forward to getting back to SAT. I have a few ideas for the small layout. ps - I was lucky enough to get a new CMX track cleaner. This will help me keep the track clean.

Thanks Mark 😀. I’ve learned a lot since I got into the hobby in 2017. Learned mostly from guys on RUclips and just trying things. Experienced lots of mistakes, frustration, and disappointments. I’m so fortunate to have a supportive wife, financial resources, and space to do this hobby. Need to keep busy in retirement. There are however several aspects of the hobby which I have yet to accomplish. Speed matching locos, static grass, and locomotive repair top my ‘To Learn’ list. So far I’ve tried and failed at all three of these.

Thanks Robert 😀. I don’t feel like I made as much progress as I should have. I was really procrastinating the scenic work. Not sure how good I could do at super trees but I think I’ve got the ‘hang’ of these. I’ve got a start and know how to improve my building technique. I need to build hundreds of trees. I tried static grass again this week. 🤬🤬. I tried it in SAT last winter and failed. Failed again this week. I just end up of a pile of grass without much ‘stick up’ to it. Guess I need to watch more videos on this. Thanks for offer to stop by. I’d love to see your work again. But we’ll be tired of the trip by then and just ready to get home. Maybe us Texas model railroad guys on RUclips could have a meet up and ride the train in Fort Worth. I’d enjoy meeting JD who lives somewhere in Dallas area.

Thanks Tom 😀. Long drive from here but looking forward to being back in SAT.

Thanks Randy 😀.🚗🚕🚙

Thank you Jason 😀. I lowered the heat on my solder iron so it didn’t burn thru the stem. I’ll build a lot of these trees over the winter in SAT. I have some ideas for the layout in Texas. Add DC bus line for sensors and signals. I what to create a few JMRI scripts to automate train running.

@FredE528 sounds like a good plan and I look forward to watching your progress 🤟🤙😎 Unfortunately for me my soldering iron is a one temp cheap one i got from Walmart, but I'll be very careful when applying the heat 🤷‍♂️🤣 I pulled the trigger on getting a protothrottle and it should be at my house hopefully tomorrow 😀 stay tuned. Im also back using JMRI for my switch lists at the moment. So much to learn with JMRI. Hey did that club ever come to visit you or did I miss a video?

Look forward to seeing the new throttle. Should be great for the type of operations work you like. Yes 5 guys from the club did come in September. I think it went better than last year but there were still some problems. The biggest problem was the WIFI system. It kept dropping signal. 🤬🤬🤬 I have enough hand throttles and connection points around the layout so it worked for running around the layout by unplugging the hand throttles. But just not the best method. I have an idea how to fix but need to wait until next year to try it. I did include a small segment about their visit on one of my videos. ruclips.net/video/GlfhGhcOCfA/видео.htmlsi=t67RWRqqcjdavg34

@FredE528 i definitely look forward to trying this new throttle out. Leave it up to poor signal and technology to slow down an operating session right🤦‍♂️🤷‍♂️ At least from what you said it was better this year then last and you have a plan for next year to work out the bugs. Hope it will work out for you next year. I'll check out that link you sent today.

Thanks Jason 👍

Thanks Jason 😀. Yes, it looks much better. I have to add more bushes and other material next year.

I got mine off Amazon. I’m a PRIME member so no shipping cost, I do see it on eBay for $16.50 including shipping. About same cost as Amazon. It’s 9” x 72” but you can get bigger.

Thank very much Mike 😀. The Cargill Plant is done but all other industries have a ways to go.

Thanks Mike. 😀. I do like the ethanol tankers.

Thanks Scott 😀. I have some ideas to automate the Texas layout. Put in a few track sensors and write a few JMRI scripts. I’m planning on a lot of super tree building over the winter. I’ll need a lot here next summer.

@FredE528 looking forward to it! I'm gonna be starting to put together the conveyor for my grain facility you recommend last year. It's that time of year again.

Good for you. 👍

I’m strongly considering it. However, this is actually the shortest wall on the layout. A dozen cars with loco will fill up the longest track I can build. I bought more cars last winter than I can comfortably fit on the layout so I’m selling a few on eBay. I’m a sucker for a deal!

Thanks JD 😀. I feel like I could have done more but I was just procrastinating the scenery work. Now that I’ve started I can make good progress next summer.

Thanks CB 😀. I feel like I should have do more scenic work. I was just procrastinating.

Thanks Lee 😀

Thank much Derek 😀. I agree, the guard rails are backwards. I have a vague recollection of you pointing this out years again on my SAT layout. Guess I forgot….

Follow-up. I must tell you that your attention to detail is incredible. Thru the years you point out things that no one else sees or fails to mention. You do it in a construct way which I appreciate. Frank is another detail guy but I haven’t heard from him in quite a while. I reached out to him lately but no reply. You know anything about him?

It was the only thing I could find so I wasn’t just fawning all over the layout, lol. When are you going back to SAT?

Leaving here this coming Monday. Back in SAT on Thursday if all goes well.

No, now that you mention it, I haven’t seen him in chats. Hopefully it was just the summer and he will check in.

Thanks James 😀. I think I did 8 different video clips then picked the best ones for published version. No derails or shorts as I ran the loco forward then backed it up for the next video clip. I cleaned the track well after the ballast work.

Thanks Curt 😀. Yes, a long way from that green. I should have started with the brown instead of the green. Would have saved me a lot of time.

Thanks Tom 😀. I’ll work on ‘dirty’ work next summer. I tried the static grass applicator this afternoon. What a disaster! It just dumps the grass and nothing stands up except what sticks to the bottom of the unit. I’m selling that POS applicator when I get back to SAT. 🤬

​@@FredE528you never REALLY KNOW until you actually work with the newest latest greatest

I wanted to try it and now I know it’s not for me…

Thank you 😀. Many more trees and bushes needed but these will have to wait until next summer.

Thanks Mark 😀. Ready, set, start thinking! 🏃‍♂️

@@FredE528 he is working on it

Thanks Lee 😀

Thanks Randy 😀

Thanks Robert 😀. I worked on it for several hours. Building the trees wasn’t as difficult as I had imagined. I’ll take the box of trees back to SAT, buy a bunch of leaves, and build over the winter. I expect that I’ll need hundreds for this layout.

Thanks Anthony 😀. Before starting I watched several videos. It’s a lot more work than popping open a package of JTT trees. But they look more realistic. When I was creating my video I went to the Scenic Express web site to find out what these things actually are. In doing this I read a couple of steps I hadn’t seen in videos. They sell a super glue to strengthen the stems. I broke a couple of stems installing so that’s an interesting option. Secondly, spray them with water, not too much, and put back in the box for 24 hours. Helps reduce the dry brittleness. I wish I had bought a big package of leaves as I was actually enjoying the challenge of building them. I was apprehensive as to whether I could do this. I need hundreds of trees for this layout so I’ll build them over the winter in SAT and return with them next summer. With your skill for detail I’m sure you will build great looking trees. 👍

Thanks Derek 😀. Lots of Diet Pepsi. I did want to get this area setup. Not all detail is done but now I can better visualize how I want it to look. No going to do much more on the layout this week. Going to try static grass again. 😬.

Thanks for the tip. I tried dipping a couple of trees in my ballast glue bowl(50/50). Tree debris left in glue and then there were small glue webs between branches which I had to pop. Have you tried spraying the glue mixture on trees? I’ll find a container to catch the leaves that drop off so I can reuse. Do you do anything to strengthen the stems? Some stems are just so small they break easy. I read on super tree instructions that Scenic Express sells a super glue for this problem.

@FredE528 yes they are very fragile. I haven't found a solution for that. Your works looking awsome. I enjoy the updates.

Thanks

Thank you 😀.

@@FredE528 <3

My response time to your comment?

@@FredE528 ha!!

The main building is a discontinued model from Walthers. I bought it used completely build and painted off eBay.. The top 2 parts are from the North Island Refinery kits. They are just sitting on the roof with a spacer to get them level. I didn’t use the portion of the refinery kit with all the pipes.

Thanks Tom 😀. You are sure right about the graffiti on train cars. It’s rare to see one not painted up. I don’t have the skill to do graffiti right. I’m happy with clean look. I think easier to sell in the future as well. I’m a short-timer now….

Thanks JD 😀. I was procrastinating the work on the super trees thinking it was a lot of work. Now I’m disappointed that I don’t have more leaf material. I was getting into the rhythm of building them. I’ll bring them home and work on them over the winter. I probably need to build hundreds…

Thanks Mark 😀. I lost motivation for a while and just procrastinating on ballast and scenery. Leaving NH next Monday so I thought I should get busy. I’m working on a 4 summer recap video and realized I didn’t have a lot to show for this summer’s work. I have plans to added DC bus line on the SAT layout for sensors and signals. Hope to write a few JMRI scripts to automate trains. Not sure what else. I’m trying to imagine how I could do a multi deck layout in 6x16. I’d start completely over with new benchwork with helix of some type. Not this winter, just pipe dream…

Thanks Mark 😀. The grass on now is a ‘base’ coat. I’ll add bushes, longer static grass, weeds, and lots and lots of trees. Probably build a hundred trees over the winter in SAT and bring them back here next summer. That might not be enough….

Thanks SFB 😀. I bought the super tree kit about a year ago and finally getting around to using it. I knew this layout was too big to buy 🤑 a bunch of JTT trees like I think on the SAT layout. Plus they don’t look like Iowa trees.

Thanks Peter 😀. I was avoiding the scenery work for a while. But once I got started I’m enjoying the results. My foam sheet roads need an improved look but that’s a next summer project along with finishing the piping and conveyors.

Thanks 😀

Thanks Joseph 😀. I added some yellow color super turf today. This pops. I’m going to try static grass tomorrow. Need to pick up some small bushes too.

Thanks Harold 😀. I think I have my problems solved with these track alignment gizmos. The container train is running good as well. Sorry to hear of your top breaking. 🤬

Thanks Randy 😀. I think we’re timing it about right time. High 90s in SAT this week but should be mid 80s when we get back there.

Thanks Harold. As always I appreciate your comments. 👍

Thank you 😀. Congratulations on your marriage Sam. 👍

@@FredE528 Thanks!!!!

Yep, it does improve the look. This is the ‘base’ coat and I’ll add more ‘stuff’. Thanks for watching. 👍

I’ll do mostly ballast with a bit of grass. I need to find something cheap that looks like weeds. We’re planning to leave here next Monday. Should be there on Thursday, 10/24. Looks like mid 80s when we get back. Not bad.

@@FredE528 then on with the "Texas" Model 😯🚂

I’m going to install a DC bus line and add some sensors under specific areas of the track. I want to write a few JMRI script programs to automatically run trains. I haven’t yet figured out how to do sensors on the upper level as I don’t have access under that track. Probably have to build a small plastic box for sensor or put sensor in a building then carve out foam on the side to run wires down thru the main plywood. Looking forward to trying this.

@@FredE528 are you thinking about adding a switch lighting scheme as well 🤔

Yes. I like those signals.

Thanks Anthony 😀. Yep, looks much different. Today I’m adding more bushes and other scenery around the lift up gate. Also adding ballast back where I removed it for repair. I’ve tried to build a few super trees but I don’t like the way they look. Grayish reside from the glue I used. I’ll try something else on next trees.

@@FredE528 got 3 boxes of super trees to build..hopefully get started this winter…

I need to improve my technique. Not happy with first 3 I built. I’ll try different glue next time.

Thanks Mark 😀. Leaving here on 10/21 so should be back in San Antonio on Thursday. Forecast in SAT is high of 99 today 🥵. It’s 50 here in southern NH today. But it looks like mid 80s when we get back to Texas. It’s been a hot summer down there. I’m blessed and appreciative to have this place in NH. 😀

Thanks Paul 😀. Still a long way to go with the scenery.

Thanks Lee 😀

Thanks Robert 😀. That’s the ‘base’ coat. I’m going to try and create small static grass tuffs randomly spaced. Saw video on how to do this. I built a few super trees last night. I didn’t paint them like you do, just wanted to experiment. I dipped them in my ballast glue mixture and sprinkling on leaf material. Most of the trees in my box are pretty crooked. I saw video on how to straighten them using a soldering iron but haven’t try this yet.

@@FredE528 Yes, I use a soldering iron to straighten them also. They are a little weird looking sometimes if you don't straighten them.

I’ll give it a try. Many of them are unusable right now. How do you glue on your leaves?

@@FredE528 I use spray adhesive, very carefully, so I don't spray it on the trunk of the tree.

I used spray adhesive and added more leaves after first try with white glue. Trees now have a gray tint to them. Look old and dusty. I’m going to spray a little green on them to see if I like it.

Yep. Busy planting grass. This will be a ‘base’ coat. I’ll add more bushes and gras tuffs in future. I turned off the comments on trip video. I’m planning for rural countryside backgrounds for most areas like corn fields, pastures, farm scenes, and rolling hills. Thanks for comment.

Thanks JD 😀. That’s the ‘base’ coat. I’ll add more ‘stuff’ in the future. I tried creating a few super trees last night. I’ll see how they look this morning. 🤔