This is just my opinion. I have put a lot of water in my layout and the Magic Water is the very best I have ever used. The Woodland Scenics "realistic water" you have to be very careful or you will get bubbles. I was extremely careful and still got air bubbles that I had to use a sharp point to get out. Magic water is a two-part system and when I mixed, 8 boxes, I never had any trouble with the bubbles and one other thing. With woodland scenic's material if you are going to pour very deep it has to be layered where as the Magic Water you can pour as thick as you want to. This is strictly my opinion. Larry

I have not had a chance to get back to you all but the engines I am having a problem with is a Bachman PK2 and Doodlebug by Bachman. Thanks

What would make an engine go thump, thump, thump going forward and then run smooth as silk going in reverse. Any suggestions from the experts? Thanks Larry

Jim
What you are saying about the Christmas lights is to cut them up into five bulb sections and then you can attach them to your ac bus line. Looking forward to your article. Larry

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. You all gave me some great suggestions. This forum is really neat to get some others perspective. I appreciate it very much. Thanks again and Keep looking at larrystrain.org and see how I follow your suggestions. God bless you all. Larry

Thank you everyone for your help and suggestions. They were extremely helpful. God bless you all. Larry

Hunt,
I see it now there were two pieces of glass and they slid over each other in the middle.
Thanks Glenn, I am familiar with Toy Train Heaven. Thanks all. Larry

Hunt,
I have looked all through that site. I must have missed that. If you used tempered glass couldn't you put some type of sucktion up to life it up to get your hands on one end. Bekatronics' plans had glass all the way around and on top but they say nothing about how to lift the glass on top. Where in that site you took me to was the glass discussed? Thanks Larry

PS. This is a gift for my daughter so I can't have it too complicated. I plan to use Bachman's Dcc to operate the layout. Does Bachman have DCC installed engines in N scale? I know nothing about N Scale.

Gene,
Hey I never thought about an old boxcar or caboose. That would really be neat. I am basically modeling 1955 which is the transition; this being the case your saying there would be a mix of gravel and cinders. I have Walthers deisel facility which would be new in 1955. Just a question: would you use gravel around that area and then around the coaling tower and tt and roundhouse it would be mostly cinders?

Mr. Baker if you read this can you tell me more about what you were suggesting around the hills. Thanks to all of you. Larry

Thirdrail,
Do you have any ideas how you would hinge a glass top on a coffee table layout. Maybe you have a good suggestion. Thanks Larry

Gene would you mix with regular ballast or would you go with total cinders? Larry

Thanks that is what I needed to hear. Sometimes you just draw a blank and then others give you some great insight. Can you give an example of what kind of shacks and sheds you might be talking about. I did make up a rip track but I don't think I have a picture of that. What was the name of George's book? Thanks again your ideas are great. Larry

Mr Hunt and Tim,
I just finished the coffee table from the instructions of Bekatronics. Has anyone every built from their design? I have not stained it as of yet or started the track work. The track work will be simple since it is under glass and hard to get to if it is derailed. If anyone else has ever tried this it would be interesting to know all that you did. Thanks Larry

Gene thanks for trying to help. When you go into the website you click onto images and it will have several areas to look into. You have to go to the second set of 50 images. You click onto the + sign where it says engine facility. Thank you so much for any input you have. Larry

Sure was hoping to get some input from you guys on some things I could do especially around the engine facility to make it look more like a work area. I know it had to be a cluttered area; but what was some of the clutter they had laying around? Thanks for some help. Larry