The O Gauge Layout Has Left The Chat! 

A few suggestions: Paint the walls light blue, Ditch the curtains, Tint the windows to keep the sun out, Use homasote on top of the plywood, Have lots of fun. Looking forward to the build.

Hey Zach, now would be a good time to put up backdrops. You could even fill or partially fill in the window openings with Masonite panels with the same matching backdrop. I used a sky blue and white latex wall paint from Home Depot for my sky and a primer for the lower scenery area and I hand painted my scenery with Liquidtex Hooker green and Master Touch Medium Yellow acrylic artist paint from Hobby lobby blended together. It's not that difficult to get basic scenery. The two colors need to be blended together, wet or dry to get the shape of the terrain. Putting the Hooker green on straight will turn to balck which is good for tree lines in the background and lightly adding dabs of yellow over the top once dry will give definition and depth. Be sure to use the hooker green as it is a dull green and will provide depth pushing scenery back to add depth. Bright greens will bring everything forward. I don't recommend painting clouds unless you have artistic tallent. Some have cut out cloud stencils and spray painted in light coats with great results. I would practice this technique on scap first becuse it should be done in light layers as your moving the stencil around to achieve layers. You don't want a heavy hand with one solid layer. Less is more when painting clouds. Another good technique for painting sky is to gradually and evenly blend light from the horizon to dark the highest portion of your sky. Instead of mixing the two ballast materials together, you might try sprinkling a thin coat of the black over they grey to stretch it further. I think I would try a sample of each method first.

WOW 😮 😯 😲 🤯 I'm going to miss the red trestle bridge. I added 2 Atlas upper loops and love the stuff.

Great move! My first layout was like yours. Hard to reach everywhere. I have a walk around now, love it! Plan your tracks on your floor with painters tape before you start to build

Thanks for the update on this section of the layout. The only suggestion I would make is to paint the walls on that side of the room in sky blue. That way, any scenic backdrops added would blend in better, and wouldn't just stop at the poster border. Nice to see you using Atlas track. I love it on my layout and you will too.

Yes!!! Paint those walls blue!! The first thing I did in my hobby room many many moons ago was paint the ceiling blue and added clouds!! Makes all the difference!!!! Popcorn ceiling many be a little different or difficult to roll, but at least blue walls from the top of the table surface to the ceiling. Looking good!!!!!!!!

Speaking of using the school glue of Elmers. We used it in a different way. We laid down loosely kitty litter riddled to the finer stuff. . Laid it along the track as ballasting. Used a brush to tidy it up to our liking. Then with watered down Elmers's glue squirt it on the litter. Let it dry and have the ballast stay in place. It is hard and not lose. Nice screwdriver idea to clean off the tracks. Are you able to walk around the layout so you can have access to it at any position? Looking forward to seeing the result of your labor of love. JH

Zack you will absolutely love that Atlas O track. I’ve been using it since it came out way over 20 years ago and it’s been on 3 different layouts and still works great. Good luck with the new layout. I’m looking forward to seeing the progress.

Hey Zack; change is good. Between you, me, and the rest of the train-er-verse, Eric is in desperate need of the same. With a collection his size he needs another home with a huge outbuilding for a layout befitting the collection- the existing looking very dated. Your lightning clouds indicate whatever you do it’s gonna be cool looking.

Maybe it’s because I’ve seen so many good things ruined by sitting in a window, but first thing I would be doing is either tint the windows and make curtains actually close off or I would probably be covering the windows completely with posters or something. Then you upgrade your lighting to offset loosing the natural lighting. As you found out with the bridge, the sun wreaks havoc on plastic.

Since you are going to be building a horseshoe type layout brother, you should make a lift bridge where on both sides on the positive and nagtive ends, You can sodder brass clip end pices on and when you put the bridge down you will have great contact at both ends of the bridge. I do not remember what RU-vidr did that to there 0 scale layout, I remember watching a video on it a year or so ago brother. You will be able to have your trains run a full circle.

I would replace curtains with blings because they could be inside window frames and easy to open and close. Actually I would remove windows and glass door. Don't need them with proper lighting and damn the fire code. Rest sounds good. Have fun in York!

I'll start with what else you should do. Repaint the walls before you do anything else. A blue about the color of the sky in that backdrop would work well. That's what I did before I started building my current layout. I know about the mixed emotions of tearing down a layout. I did that last year in preparation for a move. Fortunately, I had documented the building of that layout on my RU-vid channel. I also documented the teardown, and the building, so far, of my new layout. Each time a build a new layout, I incorporate lessons learned from building, and that usually makes the building process easier, and provides good results. My previous layout was an island layout. My new space is so small that I really didn't have any choice but to build it with the control and work center near the center. That does allow ready access to almost all of the layout, and a lot of good photography angles. The one corner I can't reach is right in front of a sliding window with a lot of roof overhand on the outside, so I can easily work through that open window. I will be watching your new layout develop.

I’ve been looking for that York building. All over the internet lol . I love your channel

I’m looking forward to your new layout. I think your horse shoe style layout idea is a good idea. Ken

I was 'Smart' enough for once to have bought cases of Gargraves flex back about 1990 when it was still pretty cheap. I love it and I owned it!!!!! Midwest cork roadbed. If you what your ballast darker spread an amount out on a shallow box lid, spray pant with cheap black spray paint, mix it back in. Good Luck!

While it’s always whenever a layout gets torn but hope the rebuild looks great Zach.

Congratulations on the beginning of your new build!

Good luck with the atlas track Zach. Looks great

I think your new layout along the walls is the way to go. You should consider connecting the new layout to your new one so you can have long runs. Where the sliding door is you can put a drop in landscape with tracks to connect the layouts.

I bet the cats are having fun with the open floor space for right now brother lol. But I know Zach that you are going to make another kick ass layout even better and I can not wait to see it all.❤❤❤❤

Atlas 21st Century track is EXCELLENT. a couple pieces of advice: 1 - on the clips squeeze them first (top to bottom) so they go on hard. Trust me that is the biggest problem as the connection works loose. In hindsight on my 32'x55' layout I wish I had soldered them. 2 - Make sure you separate the track into power districts. Best is 12 to 13 lengths of track (REGARDLESS OF LENGTH - whether it is 1.5" or 40", only 12 to 13 sections per district), It will make trouble shooting if needed an absolute dream. YOU will NOT regret doing this.

When the new layout goes up, how about connecting it to the bigger layout? maybe put up a lift up draw bridge to get in/out of the doorways.

That second layout is looking great. I like your plan for the new layout and being able to to go inside of it and look around. I also use Elmers clear glue and agree it's a great glue for ballasting track. Atlas O track is the best you can use and can even be used outdoors. But as you mentioned it's expensive. At the time I built my layout in 2015 Atlas O track was on a huge production back log and there wasn't much to be found. So I went with choice #2 Gargraves track.

What you really need is a new train room. I feel bad for you guys down south. You don’t have basements to turn into train rooms! You’ve been creative with the room you have, but a sunroom has many limitations.

Good Luck On The New Layout👍👍👍👍.

The 2nd Layout is Looking Good.👍👍👍👍.

I cannot say I will miss seeing the original. The trestle, oh that trestle. You could not see the railroad for the trestle track blocking the view of what was on the table. Remember it for all that you learned building the table which helped you build a better 2nd table. By the way I'm going to keep you awake tonight by putting an idea in your head. Atlas O track is weather resistant. I have heard of it before, bought some Atlas O myself, but I met a guy last weeked building an O Gauge Garden Railroad with Atlas O track. Just in case you got a part of your backyard that you want to experiment with. Work on outside Railroads are best done in Fall and Spring. In North Florida a lot can be done in he Winter too.

Love the channel! Found you almost by accident, so glad I did. On the lighting situation. Usually amazon or lowes may have an led adapter to position light around the room.

hello Zach & it's is Randy and i like yours video is cool & Thanks Zach & Friends Randy & Good Luck Zach With Yours Layout & Friends Zach & Randy

Looks good and lonely 😞,looking forward to seeing the progress 👍 Happy Easter 🐇 🥃

Concur with delhudson on painting the wall sky color. Looking forward to the newbie.

Good luck to you on this new adventure!!!😊

Just wanted to say Have a blessed Easter.

Hi Zack best of luck with the rebuilding of your layout I know its a lot of work . I just finished my layout now I'm running 72 inch turns and some nice flowing turns for my Angus steam engine I got as a gift I'm looking forward to seeing your layout oh that Elmer's glue you can water it down for your. Ballest just spray it down ,

Thanks for sharing!! Great video!!!

Can't wait 2 see the progress still say lol connect the 2 tables with a lift bridge right by the corner towards your living room thanx for all your informative videos and the excitement of the new rebuild videos cya later Zach, David from Wisc.

One of the best days of the years here in Dearborn. The first time you hear the steam engines over at Greenfield Village! Spring has arrived! (The crocus start coming up in February so it's been spring. Lol) The ballast situation sucks. Sending it back?

I have my train around my room and a bridge that flips up for the closet and a removable section for my door. I feel you could do something like that and connect the two layouts.

Good luck. Also, congrats on finding enough atlas track for the new layout. I used Gargraves and while it conducts power well the curves are not a consistent radius and the rail heads aren’t level. This is a known problem and it’s impossible to totally rectify it. If I had to replace track I’d probably use Atlas as well, but it would be costly.

😊 I got my large soda and my large popcorn !! I will be watching every step ! Can't wait to see what you have planned!! I love the steam era!!

Well, Zach, you've set yourself up for a big job ahead, so I'm glad you love the challenge. Looking forward to seeing the track plan you have in mind. It sounds very awesome.

Im glad you are making a new deck can't wait , keep riding them rails

Nice work country bunker Please put the extra work into the background before building your new layout. 8' x 4' Masonite, have it bend around the corner, incorporate it into your bench work or you can mount it to the wall, I have done both. You can either go use a printed backdrop from backdrop warehouse (well worth the $$$) or paint it yourself (see Dave Frary videos). Keep it simple and natural.

Great video Zack.

Hi Zach, It's been a few months since watching your channel and wow, I have never seen your original layout area of the room empty! I looked back at one of your videos from 5 years ago and never realized how much you kept adding and changing your original layout, as I would watch your videos over the years, I guess I was too interested in watching the trains run! Looking forward to watching you build the new layout! Paul from Michigan

Can't wait. Keep em' coming!!

Dang cuzin you been busy ... The UV Light prolly got the railing if the sliding door is single pane would be #1 culprit. I like Norm's work alot as well.

Also on bumpers you can install a grain of wheat bulb by drilling a hole and then soldering the wires to the track. It makes it easy to see if the siding is powered.

If only money grew on trees. I would cover the sliding door off the bedroom. I might do the same with both windows. Maybe with plywood which you can paint and cover with a backdrop then remove if needed later. With the old layout, having the windows and slider available was needed to get to the layout. The new design will eliminate that need. I would also try to cut down on noise from running the trains. Maybe use some homosote or rigid insulation on top of the plywood. Its your layout. Do what works for you.

You should add LED strip lighting all around the top of the ceiling edges where you are going to build your new layout brother and get the kind of led lighting that can change to different colors and when you play music, the led lighting will flicker to the sounds of the music and also you can change the colors of the lights and dim the led lighting also. My friend has led lighting on his layout and it is really cool and it also saves him money on his power bill brother. My friend and I are low income, but I do work, my friend is not able to because of medical problems brother.

Can you put LED bulbs on the track lighting where you can control the color with an app? Dark blue looks great for night footage. Eric’s trains does that I think.

It's going to be an awesome layout are you going to build some more tunnels that's the best part of the layout 👍🏻💫💫💫💫💫

Can’t wait to see what you do next! Do you think you will add some grades to connect the upper and lower loops?

Can’t wait to see the new layout

I know exactly how you feel Zac. My layout is always changing, I can't seem to make up my mind lol. Good luck to you on your rebuild for this section of the layout.

Looking forward to watching your progress.

I'm excited to see the new layout. With all the pre planning your doing, it's going to be awesome sir

you are going to love that atlas track. It looks great, but it is also the quietest and smoothest running. and never a derail.

Have you thought about foam board so you have elevations? I did not do that but wish that I had. And I totally agree on the cost of the Atlas track, but you only buy it once.

Around the room would work well in that area

At least you got more space too move around the room

It’s amazing you are able to use the space so wisely. I’m using a bedroom for mine but I don’t use the same track as you. Is that fast track? I am using real O gauge but wish to change to something better later on. I have a ton of fast track I’m not using and if I change from O gauge I have a lot of that too. It’s real impressive all your upgrades.

Brave man... How cool would a lift out bridge between the existing layout and the new layout be? That would make for a looonnnngggg run. I am willing to help fund that bridge if you're thinking of selling the PS3 DRG SD45 lolol. Excited to see where the new layout takes you, Zach. Cheers

That Atlas track looks the best, Zach! Looking forward to to the build. Will the layout be long train friendly?

Exciting Times. Out With The Old, In With The New👍👍💪💪🔥🔥

Can't wait always fun to watch, plus might get some great ideals. Are you going to extend the current layout? Or build a separate layout?

Maybe you should consolidate the existing layout since it was difficult to reach items on the layout you just removed. Then again building a layout is also a lot of fun as well

Should come out nice

Very nice. It looks like you have plenty of things to do to get the room ready. The room looks much smaller without the layout in it. Just curious, what are the room's dimensions? I've just started my new layout and I'm in the process of building the platforms, as we speak. It will be an 18'x26' L layout. It's been a while, so I had forgotten how much of a pain putting the tables together is. Either way, it will be interesting as you proceed with the build. Hopefully, you can still use some of the bridge. Good luck with the process and I'm looking forward to many updates as you move along. As always, an excellent video.

Hi Zake always fun starting a new layout I did a video on center aisle design on the DT Shortline if you get a chance 👍😃🚂

On the Bridge.

I can see that room is difficult with windows, doors, passage way and curtains to deal with. No good solution.😊 Florida typical no open area basements.😊

predicting more great videos coming, will there be something connecting new to layout two ? TY

Change is good. It allows us to better. You learn new things and ways to improve. It’s hard to dismantle something you put in so much work. Doing the same thing myself. I would say good luck but as is documented here you do pretty damn good just getting into it. Thank you for sharing. Looking forward to seeing your vision.

In my 66 year I cant tell you how many , I have had to do that

Is the red raised bridge for sale

So sad to see it go 😮

What are the dimensions of your area of the layout you just took apart? I'm curious because I have a 10x11 room that I'm thinking about creating a layout in.

What are you going to do with the old MTH track brother?

Tint the windows and maybe paint. Those are my two cents

Are u going to try an joining both layouts now is there a way now

Pai t the walls a sky blue

Zach you did not use a ship.

On your new layout I thought you would be using Menards track what happened

I Have Painted My Tracks And I Don’t have any problems with Mine.

Think It Over Thoughly.

Hate to say it but I have to - what drew me to this channel has gone away. First you get rid of the old tubular rail layout on the right side of the room and now that wonderful layout you spent a lot of time on is now gone. It's like when Tony Koester ditched his old HO Allegheny Midland that he spent decades on. The tubular track layout had an old school charm I loved. What took it's place doesn't have the same charm. Not denying your modeling it's just not something I can get into. No real operations other than just running trains around and around.