Today was a "train" day. Started off by laying down some dirt in the team track area. While that was setting up I started building a loading ramp kit. Thank goodness for the optivisor, that thing was tiny! 20180407_121848 by Rocket Jones posted Apr 7, 2018 at 8:03 PM And here it is, temporarily in place. Still needs weathering and lots of ground work, grass, weeds, etc. 20180407_185758 by Rocket Jones posted Apr 7, 2018 at 8:03 PM Also in the works was this dilapidated shed. Built this board by board after cutting the scale-ish lumber from wooden coffee stirrers. It's set more or less in place here, next to the trailer that will be part of the scene. I still have to paint the corrugated roof and weather everything. And dirt, tall grass and plenty of weeds too. 20180407_185726 by Rocket Jones posted Apr 7, 2018 at 8:03 PM A closer look at the shed. 20180407_185716 by Rocket Jones posted Apr 7, 2018 at 8:03 PM Thanks for looking.
I was suffering from a kind of "analysis paralysis" at the front of the layout. I knew I wanted a few small buildings along a road, but needed to keep things sparse to allow my clumsy hands to easily reach the switch throws. For quite a while now, I've had some paper laid down to simulate the road, and I would make it shorter or longer or wider, and move structures around along it to see how it would work. Much procrastination was accomplished. So this weekend I cut some styrene and glued it down for the road, because progress. Then I lined up a bunch of different glue bottles to weight it down while the glue dried. Weighing down a new road by Rocket Jones posted Apr 16, 2018 at 8:39 AM My wife's reaction to seeing this was to ask if I had enough different kinds of adhesives. I told her there was this stuff called Canopy Glue... She just looked exasperated and walked away. LOL Next up is painting the road, and then structures. I have a small gas station kit that my son bought me for my birthday years and years ago. I also have the pizza joint and an auto parts store, both nice and compact. I'm also thinking about adding a "gentleman's" club, just for a little local color.
Alright, a little progress on structures and placement... Here's more or less where these small structures will be placed. The key is to not block the Caboose throws directly behind them, and try to not make it difficult to wrangle an uncoupling pick. View down Front Street by Rocket Jones posted May 7, 2018 at 3:00 PM I started building the final structure for the road in front of the tracks. Held together with blue tape is "Wootie's Bar and Grill" from gary60s' plans in the Resources section. It's going to become "Pinky's" Gentleman's Club. I also spent some time developing signs for it. Mookie's Pizza is next door, in red. Scratchbuilts in progress by Rocket Jones posted May 7, 2018 at 2:43 PM This is an old Micro Engineering gas station kit. Needs a little work, but it's compact and looks great when it's all set in place. Gas Station by Rocket Jones posted May 7, 2018 at 2:39 PM Thanks for looking.
Rocket, I have the same gas station kit as you do. Mine is a Phillips 66 station using logos I cut from a road map. Also have a Walthers Grain Mill that I used a business card logo for MFA. The grain mill looks similar to the one in Aurora. Mo where I used to live. My cousin and I used to play on the tracks near the mill, can't do that anymore because of security. Joe
I'm in a temporary lull. Got back from the hospital this morning after my cardiac ablation yesterday. I was under for four hours as they did a little more than originally anticipated, but apparently it was spectacularly successful. They had to use both sides of the femoral at different times, so I am forbidden to use stairs for a couple of days to let the punctures heal and rest up (and the layout is upstairs). Surprisingly little pain, which I'm ok with. My fingers are crossed because the best possible result from this is that the problem is fixed once and for all, and that seems like a likely outcome at this point.
It is good to hear that you are home and recuperating! Now, you have down time AND have to stay DOWNstairs! AARRRGH! Well, patience does require practice to keep it in shape!
Thanks for the well wishes everyone. I was able to telework Monday and Tuesday, and today I went in to the office. Half mile walk to and from the parking garage, and I feel pretty good.