The JACALAR RR

Bill,

Yes, using my iPad. I also bought the telephoto and wide angle lens kits, which should help make some interesting shots: dissolves between views, etc.

Will still need to figure out mounting for more stabilization. Also, there are a couple spots on my layout where the ear bud at the rear of the camera sticks out too far and contacts scenery. I might avoid that on a flat car vs gon, but then I need a bit of counterweight, as I noticed my flat car wasn't stable with the camera off center. I am loathe to file down the bud, just in case I ever want to use this as a headset, though I doubt I would.

Thanks so much for turning me on to this camera!

 

Some new arrivals on the JACALAR - MicroTrains Heavyweights. I picked up four cars: Santa Fe's "Moose Lake" Pullman sleeper; SP's "Berkeley" Pullman sleeper; SP's T&NO #403 sitting car; and SP's "Shasta" observation car.

Here we see them coming around the lake area




This is a shot of the train crossing the ridge above Laurel Gulch

 

Approaching and crossing the trestle leading to the High Sierra tunnel

 

The newly acquired Micro Trains heavyweights, going past the yard/roundhouse, pulled by SP #4276 AC-12 cab forward

 

Late Summer Afternoon Sun on the Roundhouse

This time of year, a special lighting occurs in late afternoon, as the setting sun is just at the right angle to shine through the door to the layout, and the rays fall on the roundhouse area.

 

And, with all this photo activity, it also means that I am starting more scenery work. The area in front of the tracks as they lead up to the High Sierra tunnel and trestle has remained my tool shelf the past couple years. But, it is time to finally add terrain and scenery.

Here is what it has been (cleaned up)




And here, a couple hours later, the basic terrain is in. Now to let the plaster cloth dry overnight, and then start touching up with joint compound, and finish specific features I want. I won't get to the pigmenting until later this coming week.

 

Well, weather conditions were favorable, letting all the plaster dry overnight, so I was able to get the base tinting done. Here we see a similar overview as the prior pictures



This photo shows the rugged terrain and rock formations as the ground approaches the layout's fascia



This area is where the farmhouses will be.



And another wide shot, with the houses in place. Lots of landscaping and details to put on over the next couple weeks, plus finally ballasting all the track covered in blue tape.

 

This weekend was spent ballasting the approx six feet of track running through my newly terraformed area. Also got down some of the static grass, and a few shrubs, etc.









Knew it would be slow, as once I applied the glue to the ballast, that was it for about 24 hours.

 

Thanks, Jim. It certainly looks better in that area than it did over the last 3 years. Now, to find some of those Ferengi cows of yours, and put them on these new foothills.

 

All the grass in the new area is either static grass (Silfor Calif Gold and mixes of WS Harvest Gold and Burnt Grass) or Silfor buffalo grass tufts

 

WOW!!! Thats looking awesome!!! I love the way static grass brings a scene to life.

 

The only track that I paint are the switches. That way, I can blend the Unitrack roadbed and the ballast, keeping the areas around the moving mechanisms free of rock. If you go back to the "initial" view from last week, you can see that switch is colored.