This is the area I am starting with. I have painted it with a cheep flat house paint called Sahara sand. In the photos it looks shiny but it is actually a flat finish. I will start in what I call the stream gorge and lay the bottom and river stone. However I have a question. Which should I do first the scenery or lay the track?
Well, I would plan the scenery but put down the tracks first. Actually you've already done the first couple steps. Move on.
Most folks do track first. There are an adventurous few who do scenery first. My perception is it makes them feel something like building a real railroad through real terrain.
Track first, then test test test. Make sure things are running the way you want them to. It's much easier, imo, to make any necessary corrections without scenery/buildings getting in the way. Then, cover the tracks with strips of painter's masking tape. Go to town with your scenery. You can always give in to the desire to see trains running by taking the tape off even if the scenery isn't done. Re-apply the tape when your op session is done, and continue with the scenery. Repeat as necessary. Good luck!
If you do the scenery before track, only to find out later that you have problems with your track plan, you will have to rip scenery that you spent time on. Additionally you may be hesitant to rip upscenery to fix track issues and settle for a poorly operating layout. This could potentially become frustrating and cause lack of intrest. Definitely track first in my opinion.
Hmmm!! Am I reading you right. First you point out why not to do scenery first and then close with "Scenery first in my opinion" Or is that covered by your Disclaimer
Definitely get your track rock solid reliable first. Things get a lot harder when scenery is in the way, and harder still when you find the scenery needs... to be excavated.
What? What are you talking about? (I guess I should hit the preview button prior to posting. I've got the edit button down!)
"Oh nubbins!" There is a cartoon in an olde Atlas 'track planning book'. It shows a person who has fully sceniced his layout including a huge mountain in one corner. The track extends out of the mountain and off the layout. Oooops. In General I *Used To*: Layout the track Paint the foam Lay down the track again See how it runs / looks I have since added: 5. Paint a smaller section and test the actual colors / add a structure and / or trees etc. In following this plan I have found that I *should * have tested the color first. My Kato track is not (for me), easy to see against a dark tan. Good news: I can share the experience. I have plenty of paint. I have plenty of time.