Hi all I am after some constructive criticism with regard to an Exhibition Layout my Friend Roger along with my father and I have been building as a DCC Exhbition layout. The layout is based on nowhere in the NE USA around the Canadian Border. We are using scratch built turnouts and they are controlled using Tortoise switct machines and North Coast Engineering turn out controllers. I intend to place a couple of photos here, so please be patient as I work my way through this process. http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1631559&a=12473943&p=46114811 [ 09 April 2001: Message edited by: Colonel ] [ 09 April 2001: Message edited by: MRL Mick ]
That is a fine "S" curve on the mainline, Michael You have a lot of trees there, and a lighthouse! I look forward to seeing more photos.
Looks good mick, aren't the mainline spaced a little wide apart? I beleive the prototypical standard is 16 feet between track centres now all I need to do is work out that into n scale, i set my mainlines at 35mm spacing.To load pictures the easiest way is to click on the image button then paste in the url
Paul Track Spacing is pretty right further around, this is a spot where the track comes back together after going around a granite block between the main lines. (Digital Sony Camera). I have more photos coming. [ 09 April 2001: Message edited by: MRL Mick ]
Welcome to our TrainBoard family MRL Mick! I really like the Sea Shore effect you have! The photos look like HO scale, its hard to believe you got that good a job done in N scale. Fine scenic ability there Mick! More photos would really be appreciated, along with some rolling stock too.
BNSF's mains are 25 feet apart, so he is right IMO, but i'm not a big prototyper, either Really nice too I really like the lighthouse,too
The water is made from a two part epoxy called Liquid Glass. It is coloured by adding a small amount of Artists acrylic blue to tint this liquid glass. It's pored in layers to allow the epoxy to dry. The weeds in the water are made from blended up oasis foam (Stuff the flower stands up in)which expands and darkens to look like weed. The only trouble is that the epoxy isn't cheep but the results are great. Thanks for the great comments. Layout owner and chief builder. Roger. [ 09 April 2001: Message edited by: Fat Controller ]
Thanks Roger there you have it, straight from the horses mouth. Roger prepared the area the water was to be poured in by using plaster moulds as the rock and as he said he used the stuff Florists use to stand flower arrangements, to simulate weed in the water. The result is outstanding as can be seen and clearly represents deep still water.
Good job Micheal, looks great, especially the water. But its a shame your using scratchbuilt turnouts with the huge Peco Code 80 track! Mike
Mick, OUTSTANDING! Thanks for sharing those great pictures! Add a few trains and the railfans will come-a-runnin'! Have you done some super elevation on those curves? I like the wider spaced mains, they look fantastic! Love the pine forrest too! Great inspiration! thanks again! 2slim
Yes Paul, Roger and I have made all the trees, we both have blisters on the fingertips from using a candle to melt the ends of the Chenilles (green and black pipe cleaners), then using the heat, appropriately shape the tree. We estimate that there now are around 5000 - 6000 trees on the layout ranging from 4mm to 40mm in height. The depth of trees simulate the forest density for each particular scene. Once shaped the trees are painted to change the colour from a shiny chenille to a lovely spruce pine. The cost of making the trees has allowed us to place so many of them on the layout. The cost of one tree is approx 4 cents Aus, 2 cents US. A substantial amount when considering the amount of trees on the layout.
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by atirns: Good job Micheal, looks great, especially the water. But its a shame your using scratchbuilt turnouts with the huge Peco Code 80 track! Mike<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Mike, the track is Peco's code 55. Gary.
Absolutely outstanding! How did you achieve the perfect vertical edge to the water? What was used as a "form" there? How many pours of epoxy did it take do get that depth? How did you overcome bubbles and the "crawling-up-on-shore" problem? I've NEVER seen water done this good before ! Russ
Peco 55 is actually Code 80, its just a little less rail showing. For my tastes Peco is far to European looking and those baseball sized spikes look bad. But I like the concrete tie track used on the mains. Mike
I have to agree with others.....that water looks AWESOME!!!!. I really like the water right to the edge.
The water that goes right to the edge is achieved by using laminating sheet offcuts. The liquid glass doesn't stick to it but allows it to be straight on the edge. To stop it from flopping a backing board is placed on the side temporarly. The water creaping is disguihed by the weeds in the water. I'm still trying to get rid of the lip between the two sections Any Idea's. The track is code 80 peco but I couldn't find any track with the same profile as normal without the lip as with peco code 55. I really didn't want to file off the lip on all the track used in the points. You use about two and a half track as the lenght of the point. I did however place on some points Z scale rail as check rails. The only difference is that the height is 1mm less. This means that the weathered rail stays weathered after you clean the rails. The track spacing is left over from using the standard track spacing as used in BendTrack / NTrack spacing. We kept the track spacing the same so It didn't look out of place. It also allows you to run 90ft flat cars with out any doubt of them touching. The bendtrack web site is - http://www.advancenet.net/~pollock/bendtrack/index.html#toc I hope you enjoy it as We are enjoying creating it. [ 10 April 2001: Message edited by: Fat Controller ]
Wow !!! Beautiful work. Just an incredible number of trees. I agree with the previous post, the water coming to the layout edge is a really neat effect. Can you share any pointers on handlaying turnouts? Chris