I spent some time yesterday touching up the paint on the track and then weathering up the rail. The next step will be to add some details to the switches and track to bring up the realism. I also need to finish up the structures for these modules, but that is not high on the propriety list right now.

**Disclaimer: I have no idea what I am doing!!**

OK with that out of the way, watch me attempt to add LED lighting to my Free-mo modules. I am not an electronics person at all and electrical work is my least favorite part of the hobby. I have wanted to add lighting to my modules but I have not really been sure of what I am doing, so I have been holding off on that part of the project.

So, watch me attempt this new project, or fail miserably. Either way I hope it is entertaining...

Growing up I had a train table above the garage that I built my first layout on. It was built for me after we remodeled our house tand consisted of two 4x8 sheets of plywood in an 'L' shape. I spent many hours laying out track and building a some what prototype based layout. I never could get the switch machines to work right and was only moderately successful in placing a few caboose ground throws. My rolling stock consisted of the typical Bachman Tyco and Athearn with a variety of equally poorly running motive power.

I decided that I wanted to build a small switching layout to demonstrate some of the principals regarding switching safely and efficiently. I had a few things in mind and wanted to incorporate them into a module set.

I wanted to design a switching module that would have a variety of car types, be relatively compact, and have some of the common hazards of the real railroad. These hazards would include things like spurs, crossovers, close clearances, and road crossings.

I had been working on a house for my Free-mo module and it just was not keeping me motivated to keep working on it. I had recently been enticed by an sale at Monster Model Works and as I look through their items I came across Triple J Repair. I really had no reason to buy the kit, but between what I had heard on a few podcasts and seen on the net I decided to give one of the kits a try. After getting the kit home I took a peak at it and put it with my pile of other stuff I had to build.

I really have not had much to post as I have been transitioning not only to a new job but to a new location. I have finally been able to move from the Midwest back to the Pacific Northwest. With the open plains, lack of mountains and Tornadoes in the rear view mirror I get to start over on the Spokane Portland & Seattle 5th subdivision, The Oregon Trunk.

Mr. Humphrey's is doing fine but his property got a little bit of a makeover.

I originally built Mr. Humphrey's house on a piece of 1" foam but after building some modules I  found that the 1" thickness was a bit much for the Free-mo. If I used 1/2" pink foam my dimensions would work out better and be less material to try to account for in the building process.

I picked up a Laser Art Structure Kit the "Drayton" it is a very small house but very common near the railroad tracks. I was really impressed at how quickly the kit went together with the tab construction and adhesive backing on the trim pieces.

I have been working on a design for a portable layout that can be either operated by itself or attached to a set of Free-mo modules. The idea is that when I move again I will have a complete layout that i can continue to work and operate on. I will also have the ability to take it to shows as either stand alone display or as an incorporated section of Free-mo.

I have found myself bouncing back to scenery in between waiting for glue to dry on my other projects. I am trying to only have one thing going at a time, but I get bored and here is the result.

I added the backdrop with photoshop, but the rest of it is real...