End Of The Month HO Layout Progress!

This month has been super crazy, but with the transition into April, I've been back out in my garage to finish some more repairs and continue completing my next yard module.

[@waynemiller7382]

Dan, try staggering the rail joints so that the joints (and only join on a straight) are staggered (not butted up against each other at the same length). Staggering even just 1/2 inch will help a bit. Also use the insulated rail jointers and leave a tiny 1mm expansion gap so that the staggered joint and the tiny expansion in the rail joiner will help. If you need to join two lengths of track on a curve, stagger the joints and lightly solder the joints too at the rail joiners. Also, If you drill a couple of holes under the layout where the two frame ends meet, and insert a wooden dowel through these, that can also help keep the boards alinged. If you use a couple of dowels on each end, and a couple of coach bolts, there's no way the broads can twist or lift. Hope that helps,.

[@jamescerone]

Seeing your garbage gons on an unfinished layout really made me realize how much the rolling stock actually contributes to the look of the layout as a whole. Absolutely beautiful work. Your weathering almost makes me want to refocus from transition era to modern

[@TrainWatcher1412]

Hi Dan, as usual nice job on this video. I would like to give you a heads up I found to be helpful while illuminating my buildings. You may want to spray the inside of the building flat black (tape over the window material if installed) so to keep light pollution from showing through seams etc. Also, keep a small loop of wire below any lights or buildings in the event you have to remove or repair something. Better to have excess wire than not enough.

[@jamesnicholas7180]

Dan your garbage cars always look great but when you show them on the layout with a trackside view they just look even more amazing! Cool drum kit too.

[@jasonsmity2707]

Slap a coat of paint or clear coat on all your exposed wood bench work , will help a ton with expansion/contraction from moisture changes…

[@jasonsmity2707]

Including the underside of what looks like a particle board material you used? If that’s what I’m seeing that’s not a good choice for a high moisture area.. everything looks amazing though! So jealous of your talents!

[@DansRailroad2011]

Lesson learned!

[@zedman6516]

Looks good Danny, have fun!

[@jeremyaustin4117]

Detailing is Amazing

[@randydobson1863]

hello Dan & it's is Randy and i like yours video is cool & Thanks Dan & Friends Randy

[@justn2trains]

Looking great! Would love to see some run by videos. Thanks for sharing 👍

[@sherman_of_the_lake]

you should add an old caboose on the side of the track that is on display or something

[@ohiorailfan124]

Great video Dan! Awsome work!!

[@davidsheriff8989]

Have you tried roofing felt for track ballast?

[@TomStarcevich-fb3qo]

Looks good 👍 🚂🚃🚃🚃🚃

[@earlwidmeyer2654]

Dan, as the viewers say, you weathered car on the layout look awesome. You talk about cracking ballast and the one section that the benchwork shrank and terrible track alignment. I suspect your issues are because you are in the garage, you can't maintain a equal temperature. I'm not surprised that the benchwork and track are all screwed up that is right along the garage door. Unless you are heating the garage but without insulating it properly, your always going to struggle with these issues. I hope other viewers will chime in on this, cause I think it's important to hear other peoples experience. Nevertheless, Your Detailing, weathering and scenery all come together for a cool layout. Cheers! Earl

[@waynekeeton8327]

Nice weathering

[@RFMCabooseNP1713]

Nice progress.

[@richardcolemanjr3749]

Nice and simple. Have you considered adding a upper deck main line?

[@wolfgang548]

Dan, at 9:00, that's a model of the REGX 6740 cu. ft. trash gondola. Where did you get them? No one to my knowledge makes them.

[@DansRailroad2011]

Scratchbuilt!

[@wolfgang548]

​@@DansRailroad2011 Good job on them. It would be cool to see them squeezed in a future video. I see these particular ones occasionally mixed in with the 6400's here in New Jersey.