Hi Guys Couple more progress pix taken after I installed my 12v Halogen spot lights that give the scene a bit more warmth than fluoros Gary to answer your question, yes I am modelling the stretch of D&RGW mainline thru the desert between Helper UT - Grand Junction CO Back to work......
HOW INSPIRING! Hello from another D&RGW N scaler! I've been working on and off -- mostly off, for the last couple years due to heavy work duties -- on a Helper to Soldier Summit layout. I find your work really inspiring and it makes me want to speed up my retirement plans so I can get back to work! My layout is a shelf-based layout in a 11' x 14' over-the-garage room. There's a central peninsula and two U-shaped levels along the walls. The layout design elements (LDEs) include Helper Yard, the Utah Railway junction and Martin yard (Utah Rwy), Castle Gate and the Castle Gate mine, the Lynn crossovers, the Nolan Tunnels, Colton, the Kyune siding, and Soldier Summit. It's a point-to-point layout designed for operation -- specifically, you've got 5 trains at the top and 8 at the bottom, including coal drags, and the game involves making good use of the double-track main... such as using the "wrong way" main as a passing siding for use by fast freights and passenger trains. Complicating matters are two locals, an eastbound tramp freight and the Scofield local out of Helper. I am focusing on 1955-1965 as my time frame, enabling me to run two passenger trains (Cal Zephyr and Prospector) and "short fasts freights" with GP-30s. Since you are modeling the run from Helper to Grand Junction, we should discuss connecting our lines! All the best, Bryan Pfaffenberger Charlottesvile, VA a.k.a. 'bryan9'
Hi guys, A coupla pics of my layout as it appeared weekend before last at a local model RR exhibition All ran pretty well (thanks mainly to my fleet of Kato SD45's + sets of F units) considering I never really had the time or space at home to iron out any bugs beforehand Also included a shot of the staging out back - not sure why but though it might be interesting Was great to run trains & the public seemed to like what I'd built I also won the "Exhibitors Choice" award which was a bit of a buzz
Holy mackerel, it's portable?! Excellent!! Tell me the skyboard comes off and you're going to shoot this sucker in the great outdoors. Other than the lack of wires on the telephone poles, I bet this'll fool even the experts. :thumbs_up:
Steve, I very much like the shot of the backside staging. I think it is a pretty neat shot. Thanks for including it. Michael
Brilliant modelling! Absolutely first class, and I love that it has a realistic scenery to track ratio. I too like the behind the scenes shot. Do you have any photos of the benchwork construction that you could possibly post? I recognise the aluminium strut construction but I'm curious to see how you cross brace it - and what do you use for turnout controls? S
I've never been one to try & model wires between poles - especially in N based on my following reckoning: - The arms length rule / trying to model multiple wires between cross arms on poles / with a realistic sag / in a close to scale diameter > sorry but there's probably a hundred details I'd rather do before that and lifes too short...:tb-rolleyes: Let me know how you go if you model wires in N.......
Hehe. I wouldn't model them either, starting from your last reason first! I'm just saying that in your photo, that's probably the only thing preventing it from looking just plain real. Awesome work Steve! :thumbs_up:
That is absolutely incredible scenery craftsmanship and on a grandiose scale! It was really cool to see it from start to finish. The early progress did not indicate how freakin' STUNNING that scene was going to end up being. Your use of reference photos propped at the workstation is a great tip we should all use if we want to have more realistic looking scenery. Having it as a portable scene w/ several staging tracks behind...how wonderful that you share it with so many other people! Museum-quality work like that should be! I hope scenery ends up looking half that good! Mark Watson's 'jaw-dropping' emoticons say it perfectly! Thank you so much for sharing your work! Smooth rails!