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    Sound or no sound...

    The only sound I want to hear is the metal wheels going over the track joints. It’s therapeutic to me.
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    Electrifying a lantern help wanted please

    Thinking of re wrapping the wire around the bottle permanently as now as it has relaxed, there’s more lights against the globe. Still going to look at a different light source as the batteries don’t last long. And they’re not getting any cheaper.
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    Electrifying a lantern help wanted please

    I have the lantern lit! Although not the way I wanted to do it but I used what was on hand. Dipped into the crafting supplies of SWMBO…figured why not she’s normally taking the tools I have left out. Winding a coil of 75 battery powered fairy lights around a empty spice jar I got them to...
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    Electrifying a lantern help wanted please

    I had the answer in front of me the whole time. I walked into my daughter’s room to go looking for a extra blanket for one of my twin boys bed. She has those strip LED lights around her desk. They come with a small remote to control the brightness and the color. Thinking of sliding some wire...
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    Portable Workstation (kinda)

    I like that design but I would add a third door to help support it while open. Have the two outer doors swing out about 135 degrees.
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    Electrifying a lantern help wanted please

    Nearest Lowe’s is 30 miles one way. Local hardware store is half a mile away. My commute to work is 6/10ths of a mile one way. Walking to work is easy as it’s all downhill…the walk back is the “fun” part.
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    Electrifying a lantern help wanted please

    That’s what I was looking for. A slide one would be good too. All depends on what they have.
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    Electrifying a lantern help wanted please

    Thanks @Smudge617. I’ll definitely look to see what they have available. I’m trying to get it done before December 29th. It’s my twin sons birthday present. They know I have it but I didn’t tell them the real reason I got it. Both have Autism and they both like trains. I model N scale while they...
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    Electrifying a lantern help wanted please

    When I get a free moment, I’m going to be going to the local hardware store to see what’s available. I believe in supporting local businesses over online retailers. I’m thinking of a light socket with a small screw in bulb like a night light. Maybe they have a dimmable bulb.
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    Electrifying a lantern help wanted please

    There’s another train show coming up the end of the month. Planning on seeing if a vendor has a pendant lamp with power supply there. Had thought of using a string of fairy lights since my wife has a few extra strings in her crafting supplies…but to me they don’t look realistic.
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    Electrifying a lantern help wanted please

    You make a good point @bnsf971 but I prefer to have it plug in. Things that have extra pieces seem to disappear in my house. Going to do some research on a LED that uses a USB power source as there’s plenty of those around my house.
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    Electrifying a lantern help wanted please

    I purchased a Dietz Trafficguard lantern at the Binghamton train show this Saturday. My plan is to light it using a dimmable LED for accent lighting. I was hoping to run the cord through the fill spout and only remove the wick. This way if I decide to restore it later, no extra damage has been...
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    Getting Back into Railroading after 30 or so years

    Check out www.spookshow.net for a unbiased opinion on locomotives and rolling stock. He is not paid or supported by any manufacturers. He’s my go to source for anything N scale related.
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    Can you tell I'm a newby????? lol

    I use the simplest means. All those fine details don’t matter to me. I’m in N scale and as long as I can see it, good enough for me. Don’t need the accurate metal walkway on my covered hoppers. My viewpoint is at least 3 feet away. At times I have a hard time seeing the car numbers and I don’t...
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    ballast color?

    Do a small section with each kind of ballast and one with both mixed together. Once you’ve seen it under the layout room light then you can make a proper decision. Don’t glue it down so it’s easier to clean up.
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    Can you mix multiple scales of trains in a layout?

    Think of it this way, that would be the best way to show forced perspective. Run the N scale at the furthest distance from you. HO would be closer and then the O. Let’s say you’re looking down a valley that the tracks cross 3 times before reaching you. The trick is find the exact same train in...
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    How Many Different Locomotives Road Names do you Have on Your Layout?

    Consider it done!!!
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    How Many Different Locomotives Road Names do you Have on Your Layout?

    I thought about TBTR but it lacks something. The one I get a kick out of is FiveKidsDadX…but it’s a tough call because my boys will figure it out and rat me out to SWMBO!
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    How Many Different Locomotives Road Names do you Have on Your Layout?

    Norfolk Southern, Conrail and Susquehanna are my favorite roads. The undecorated locomotives are unnamed as I have a hard time deciding on a name for it.
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    What The Heck Do I Need?

    I’ve standardized all my couplers to MTL couplers. You can purchase them assembled or unassembled. While the unassembled are cheaper, you may get frustrated trying to assemble them. There’s a jig that will help you get them together. But being in N scale I couldn’t keep all the small pieces from...




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