And here're the latest pictures. Now I've put this module back under the layout. Ready for the FREMO-meeting in Unna on Jan 23 - 25. And this picture gives the same view like in the first picture. This was the pic from Dec 19: Wolfgang
It is hard to post after Wolfgang. That is a great facility and just as I would have imagined a small one. Great design work! I see that you have put some of the structures right next to the edge of the module. I like to do that; it is a "false front" building except it is next to the fascia instead of next to the backdrop. That is what I have done with the two small Quonset huts below. But, here are my small Quonset huts. Pretty easy to do. The long hut on the right is all paint and some Rustall. The two on the left are gray acrylic paint on each panel for a new look and then chalk weathering for the rust and dirt. It surprised me how "related" they appear; I didn't want them to be completely different. Front porch view: Now for some dirt parking, bushes, gravel, etc.
Well, interesting weekend. First, before I report on my own progress, the stuff I'm seeing in this "party" is fantastic inspiration. Great work, everyone! I guess I'm "off track" some, but still pointed in the right direction. This week, I managed to: * Clear space in the garage to set up the lumber for cutting (that was 4 hours of hauling junk to a dumpster, as well as selling some unwanted exercise equipment that needed to be moved out). Now there's room to set up and cut! * I found a place that will custom-frame the SP Daylight blueprint I have that I want to hang above my layouts. Not easy. It's 12' long and I've been searching for a framer for about 4 years. * Went to the Great Train Expo in Sacramento today. The vendor area was great, the layout area was disappointing (though the layouts that were there were great, the number was lacking). * Found some old Model Railroad magazines and brought those home. The budget was limited due to some reasons beyond my own control. I did put 2 locos on layaway though. So, my progress so far, while not worthy of a photograph, sets me up to put benchwork in place next weekend on schedule. From there, things should progress faster.
Carved and painted. Well I got the layout carved and painted ok. I stated before I was very satisfied with how the foam in a can was making things pretty easy to put together. Carving the terrain was great as well, however once painting came along I began to realize why the stuff is not the best for the job... tiny air bubbles everywhere. :-( Some pictures:
You can see here how the air bubbles stand out quite a lot. Added some spackle to fill in the bigger holes. (I do this after the first coat of paint so I can see where I've applied spackle and where I havent.) Second coat of paint added, looks a lot better now, but still not great. Put the track and a train on to see how it looks.
I added some rock paint to the canyon, but the bubbles make it look unacceptably fake. Here's a better shot of the terrible rocks. I'm going to cut them out and use plaster rock molds since this didn't work out. That's all I have so far. I'm going to go pick up some rock molds and plaster in the next few days to fix the rock problem and begin planting grass/trees.
Myster, Have you considered the GOOP method to apply on top of the foam? Wall compound mixed with a color of paint of your choosing, Celluclay(craft store), some white glue, vermeculite or sanded grout for texture. Mix it to cake batter consistancy and go to town. Do a search on Goop and you will see more application ideas and mixes.
Mystere, I was thinking the same thing that John (spidge) was saying. Maybe some sculptamold or something? There's gotta be something you could use without having to tear any of it up. -Mike
Foam almost always needs something to cover it up - like Goop, sculptamold, plaster cloth, groundfoam, etc otherwise it just looks like...well...foam. Peter
You can mix plain sand, water, and Elmer's glue into a paste and spread it over the holey spots. Use water content additions to adjust viscosity. That should fill it up, but the surface will be very hard and tough. That is an old NMRA/Model Railroader Magazine technique from the 1930s or 1940s. I have seen it done to just make rolling hills and ditch bank areas.
Diezmon n spidge I sure need to look into one of those window well covers. We had at the time just built the house and the initial backfill and grading had left a bump out about 30' from that window that held the downpour in against the house instead of letting it drain away. I was out on the tractor correcting it just as soon as we noticed it during the downpour and got totally soaked like a drowned rat. Was to slow getting it pulled down to prevent the basement taking water but hopefully it won't now. If I can find a cover to fit the well it would help even more. All this progress by everyone is great. I get a good lift when I check this thread everyday.:tb-biggrin:
Myster, How about just a big tub of cheap vinyl spackling compond? Any Wal-Mart, Home Depot, etc. should have it and this should take care of the craters left behind when the air bubbles were exposed during carving. Or even just some of the Woodland Scenics plaster cloth should do the trick. Either way, just a few bucks and no do-over needed. Jamie
Great work everybody. This is my favourite thread: It keeps me motivated and inspired by seeing and reading what you all have been doing. My work will come to a grinding halt, as I am back in the States for 2 weeks on business travel. But I did manage to get one more building "roughed in": It is only the main building with a lot of details missing, but here is the first "under constrcution" shot: This is one of the buildings where I could find very little photographic "evidence" on the web, but it has one feature that is too good to pass, which is ahuge advertising sign painted on the roof: The sign is easy to spot in the lower right hand corner of the picture, reading "Norwood Plywood": I found another picture that just shows the roofline of the Norwood Plywood plant and it also shows in the background (but without a lot of detail) in some shots. So I kept it "generic" until the time more info surfaces. Still to be done (which is quite a lot): Complete the roofs and add the advertising sign (already printed, it just needs to be glued to the roof) Add the sawdust extractors and piping Build a loading dock at the back of the building (it will be difficult to see, but will show up in photos if I hold the camera against the backdrop) Add the "bridge structure" that extends from the building towards the Waterway So I have 5 buildings completed (out of these 2 are background reliefs) and the barge build. Left to do are 4 more main buildings and a lot of smaller structrues like sheds, maintenance buildings and the like. I look forward to see your progress! Cheers Dirk
Yep, I still have 1 and a half small tubs from previous layouts. I initially figured spackling all the rock faces would take too long and it would be easier to go with plaster rock molds. I still think I'm going to get a few plaster molds for highlight areas, but I went back and realized I could used a paint brush to paint spackle over areas that are to be rock faces. The result looks fantastic as of now (not re-painted yet). The holes seem to be gone and it left a realistic "Dusty" rock face look, vs. the sharp/clean power washed look some of the plaster molds leave. I'm thinking it might be a great improvement to brush a thin layer of spackle over rock molds when that time comes. Anyways, great suggestions! Thanks. Spackle will be ready to paint in about 30 min, so I should be able to get pics up in about an hour.
Rocks look way better now! I still need/want to add a few more washes to the rock face to give it a bit more saturation, but here's how it looks after applying Spackle with a paint brush and 3 washes of paint. Before: And now: Different views: I might actually have ground foam on before the end of the week!
Finnaly here is the pictures! The camera is working again!!! I am trying to install a potato dealer in a unsceniced corner of the layout. There are three views looking overhead somewhat, west, and south. TATERS you can count on them for wholesome goodness!
This is such a great thread! Love seeing the work everyone is doing! For me, I have now completed the monumental task of filling and sanding every seam and screw hole on the backdrops. This has taken waaayyy longer than I thought it would. But I'm on the home stretch. Just need to add paint.... although this will be delayed until I vacuum every square inch of the layout room. Filler dust EVERYWHERE! =( Here is the cover for those 2x4's painted to match the ceiling. Here is prior to sanding the rest of the joints and screw holes. Here is the mess I have on the floor, which is all over everything else. and here I am covered in filler dust, making my hair grey! -Mike
