Uptoday- Someday! Before I start my next layout, the two biggish purchases I'd make are an airbrush and a Noch Static Grass Applicator. - - - I got more done on my grade crossing, and slapped a fresh coat of black paint on all of the fascia -hopefully I won't have too much more Scenic Cement "drooling" down the sides and messing up the paint! I can't say that I'm 100% satisfied with it (like most projects I've done). But often times I realize that I just gotta be content, and move on! I've got a bit more work to do on the shoulders, then it's on to the next project. I'm just happy to be slowly chipping away at finishing the layout.
Those crossings are looking very nice. Are you considering any paint on the roads to warn of the crossing or is this a lesser traveled road? If the former, I'm anticipating your attempt and technique! Sent from the magical mystery box
Those crossing look great !!! I am going to have to go back in this thread and see how you made your roads and road stripping. Its one area I am struggling with tremendously :-(
Agree with all other comments, looks great!! What type of crossing inserts does this represent? Steel plate, rubber pads etc....?? That's got me wondering right now. Gives me some ideas for my 36x80 HCD, as I progress further along.
Thanks for the nice comments fellas! Jeepy84- yes, I have a RR XING stencil that I used for west bound traffic -probably noticeable in other pictures. I just haven't done the stencil on the east bound lane yet. Keith- a member from N-Scale Net lasered these for me. They are meant to represent a modern crossing - most likely rubber pads. It was tough to get the color right, but this is about the best I could come up with. There certainly wasn't any commercially made grade crossing details that fit my road width, and these three radii of track. Plus, I don't own a laser cutter. So yeah, I'm satisfied.
Howdy Trainboarders. All I've really been working on lately is making more trees. I've decided the poly fiber process is right up there with ballasting for most mundane tasks of a model railroader. Anyhow, I thought I'd just post some scenic shots (below). I figure the layout is at about 80-90% complete at this point. Here is a quick summary of the remaining tasks: - Touch up landscape ground cover - Add more bushes/shrubs - Build & plant one more set of trees - Roads: stencil RR Xing, and touch up - Lumber yard pad: score expansion joints - Shoreline detail for river - Wharf area (front right of layout) ground cover, build structures, detail - Add a boat or two - Pour Magic Water for river - Lumber yard: build Long Valley Lumber kit, details, lighting, fencing, etc - EZ-Line to telephone poles - Pasture fencing with posts + EZ-Line - Possible roadside tourist trap (methinks Firework stand) - More detailing, weathering, etc. And this is what about a half-batch of trees looks like (pre-ground foam stage).
Layout looking fantastic Noah. Dont let the more tedious boring parts of the hobby get you down. I find that they are the most important part of the modelling stage. They bring everything together.
Ahh I don't let them bring me down. I enjoy just about anytime I can find to work on the layout. But some tasks are certainly more entertaining than others! Tonight I finished up that last batch of trees, and pulled out my unbuilt laser kits. I'm contemplating those as my next projects. But I'll most likely try to wrap up landscaping first. I've realized I have no set plan. I just try to maintain forward progress!
I pulled out all of my 100+ trees, and decided to re-arrange them on the layout. Mind you, none of them have been glued into place. But the technique I'm using with the 'nail' for sticking them into the layout, creates a pretty secure bond. The trees stuck into wood, wire mesh, or Sculptamold, certainly need glue to be stabilized. I first dreaded having to make another batch of trees. But after the re-arrangement, I realized I had about 8 trees leftover. If anything, I might make a single, more well-made "Fujiwara" oak trees for the triangle of space to the front-right of the layout. Slightly different [but still crummy] lighting. The thing I'm not happy with, is the overall color of the landscape seems...drab or washed out or that it's just too many shades of green. I'm thinking/hoping that once I add some yellow "mustard" to the pastures, the painted structures, cars/trains, Magic Water, etc, the layout will come to life a little more. Thoughts? Side note: After I finished up with the trees last night, I started cleaning up the layout and track, in preparation for ACTUALLY RUNNING TRAINS again! Haha. Anyhow, this camera squeeze-blower cleaner may be on of the handiest tools for a model railroader. You can delicately dust locos, structures, track, etc etc -you could never use the office supply-type compressed air sprayers. Those would cause have on a layout. This squeeze blower works especially excellent for landscaping; you can blow off any loose ground foam, ballast, sand, dirt, excess weathering powder, etc. I HIGHLY recommend getting one for your layout!
Maybe I should dig out my old SLR. There should be one of those lens puffers still in the bag. What is your technique on those tree with white appearing trunks? I'm thinking about such as birch trees...
The scenery looks real good to this set of eyes. The various shades of green have enhancing effects and looks pretty realistic. When you start putting in the details and such things will liven up and become more pleasing to the eye. Looking good!
Definitely use the squeeze blower if you've got it! It's honestly like having a scale leaf blower. - - - And thank you guys! I cleaned off my rails, and actually ran trains tonight for the first time in months! It was great. I'll try to film a little video tomorrow -the latest update for iPhone 6 gave us 240 frames per second HD! Its incredible quality for a phone camera.