I like to see water scenes, and waterfronts on layouts. Keep posting pics! Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk
I really like your track plan. You gave an elegant look to an oval. You ballasting and painting is very nice. I was happy with my ballasting and then I see yours, back to the grindstone for me. Well done. Trey
Hi Trey and Dom, thanks. The only issue I had was glue in drive bar area of one switch. That switch was to be replaced. No ballast within switch point and frog areas, only paint powder. I had to be very careful too while painting switch outside because that drive bar. Normal tracks are without any problems. Now I am happy enough, all rolling stock is running fine Steffen
Last weekend I was an exhibitor of a modeltrain show. For the show I added some mock ups of buildings to give an impression of things to come. And I could test my version of carcard system. While this two days of operations there was only one failure of a switch drive. Here are some pictures.
Yesterday I could make a little bit of progress and started to cut foam into shape. I found two nice Rokuhan Truss-bridges on sale, which would make a better transition to backdrop hiding the left loop. So I decided to change from my planned concrete version to these fine structures.
Last steps in 2016! After foam cutting I glued pieces of newspaper to make final hill shape. Then I painted it brown and added some layers of sand in different colors and sizes to make some kind of ground surface before adding grass. For road areas I plan to use plaster. All the best for 2017, Steffen
Steffen it really is taking shape and looking good. Your use of different colors is good and Im curious to see how this one finishes up. Well done.
Hi all, although it is winter time, grass is growing - on my layout. After adding fine sand from Baltic sea shore and many different layers of high-diluted acrylic paint I began to apply ground cover. I had to paint this turf too, because I use material of my brother, which is too bright green. I felt, it would be nice to have some "tracks in the weeds" and applied more turf on runaround tracks. This would separate the two mainline tracks of the loop. For areas inside of rail I have sifted the turf and got very fine material. Steffen
Hi all, today I need some input from you. While preparing bridge supports for the Rokuhan trussbridges I noticed the angle of slope facing towards freight house / team track. I think it is a bit over 45°. Now my question: Do I have to install a retaining wall there? The base plate shows where freight house (Micro trains) will be situated. I planted some bushes where trains will go trough a cut. As this should be something like midwest grassland there will be bushes and meadows only: Steffen
Steffen, I am not sure about American approach but you might be right asking this question. Polish formal norm is explained by the picture: This means that in your situation you should rework the slope or install retaining wall. Pawel
The slope largely depends on what the slop is made of. loose dirt or gravel will be a 1-1/2 to 1 as shown above. tightly packed un disturbed dirt with a thick grass coverage could be as steep as 1 to 1 or 45* but for the most part unless its a solid rock face anything at a 1 to 1 slope 45* or steeper will have some some sort of retention system. Some will have retaining walls others may have the slope covered in concrete or some combination of both. A steep slop as in your photo would have some type of retention system. most likely a retaining wall of some sort. David
Hi guys, thank for your answers. Therefore I cut into my slope and now I am installing a retaining wall. I tried a paper print for brick work, still a bit wavy from glueing. Steffen
Thank you very much for the WIP thread documented with very detailed info, pictures, mistakes AND solutions. I've learned a lot and there's still more to come! Very much appreciated.
I like the double-layer benchwork, the storage area is nice and it keeps your controls from sticking out too much. I'm looking forward to seeing your progress.
Thank you guys! Currently I am improving lighting system of my hobbyroom, therefore little progress only. But I experimented with static grass again (Heki summer meadow 6 mm), because trains should be running through deep prairie. I use a electric fly catcher equipped with metal tea strainer. Here some pictures of test areas beneath crossings. Compare with pictures (GP9 and Caboose) above on this side. I am pleased. For yard areas I will test short Heki grass 2-3 mm. Paper work on retaining wall was unsatisfactory. I changed to plaster to make concrete textures. I still have to smooth and paint surfaces. So far now...
Steffen, 6mm grass in 1:220 equals to 1,3 meters. This might be a little bit to high. I would also suggest to mix different colours of electrostatic grass for better realistic look. This is also good to have various sizes. You can achive this effect applying first 1 or 2 mm grass of basic colour or mix and then to use in some points hairspray or acrylic "no colour" / clear paint from can (I use Tamiya) and then once again use electrostatic grass of different size or colour in those points. Another tip is to prepare the ground - can be brown paint or some dust. On the second photo there is to much white ground - maybe it is a white glue - still wet ?? I do not know... Anyway nice result for this experiment.
