Ken, there is no question we will film the first train to make its way from the bottom of the layout to the top. In the interim, we will also run a train on the upper level (still isolated from lower level until helix table is built) and the lower levels once scenery takes better shape. Thanks for the suggestions! Smithsr: thank you for the kind words, if you live somewhere near and would like to come by, send me a PM. Michael
Layout Progress Thru Jan 8-12 Here are the latest pics from the RGW. Foam now runs down the upper line from Mt. Rainier to just short of Franklin junction. Started experimenting tonight with the transition from Renton Yard to the Upper Line; not sure about the results just yet. The middle tier landscape takes shape and finally, a 3 foot section was given some very basic scenery to experiment with colors and textures and how they look in the provided light.
Update through March 11 Here are a few shots of the progress on the RGW. It continues to be a "foam out" and frankly at this point I am starting to lose interest in the color blue! All kidding aside, the shaping and placement of the foam continues on just about every area of the railroad and scenery will begin in earnest quite soon. We are on track (pun intended) to make the June layout tours of the 4th Division PNR NMRA. We hope to have all basic scenery in, ballast, some structures and a flawless working RR for the meet. As you can see from prior pictures to today, we have chosen the fascia color, Olympic's Knight's Armor Gray. Thanks for checking in.
More photos 3-11-12 Here are three more photos from today. The scene at left is ready for Micro Engineering's Tall Steel Viaduct kit with extensions. The other two are opposite views of same scene running along north side of Franklin Peninsula.
Ah. A few months have passed and at a different angle, with some landscaping now done, I did not recognize the scene.
Scenery begins As we wind down the install of the blue foam, it is time to start painting the foam and getting the real dirt base down. The dirt was dug from a hillside very near the existing Pacific Coast Coal mine in Black Diamond. It is a very interesting hue of red when wet. I just finished a kitbash of the New River Mine kit (shown), this will be Pacific Coast Coal's Old Mine 11 in Black Diamond. I wanted to also share with you a pic of the Black Diamond area of the layout that includes the first piece of skirting we will be using. Thanks for checking in. Michael
A few pics for visual update of Black Diamond mine area and Molzahn Bridge scenery. Put the mine diorama together, including landforms and gravel roadway. Added concrete portal for mine shaft. Much left to do, but good start. As for the valley, rocks have been put in place and are ready for coloring, then the scenery fun begins. Michael
No, traced out shaft then used 12x12 styrene to build around outline. Then took .04 sheet styrene, painted it grimy black and glued it as a backer board to the shaft form. Cut along outline. Black gave illusion of depth.
That's what I get for trying to answer while driving. The hillside is all blue insulation foam shaped to the hillside. M
Here are a couple of shots from the Black Diamond area of the layout. The mine diarama is taking shape and the hillside gets its first "green" scenery.
