Hog Waller Junction

I didn't take it that way. I just wish I had taken the step first of taking the wires off of the selector and hooking them direct to the power pack as I did later. Would have saved me a lot of time and labor. Probably one out of maybe 5 or 10 thousand that came off the line with a defect. My bad luck to get that one. However if the 2nd one decides to do the same thing after a while of operation I will be getting in touch with Atlas to apprise them of a possible issue. I am not a big fan of Chinese electronics anyhow. The landfills of America are full of Chinese made electrical appliances that failed.

 

You would not think that a simple basic 30 inches deep by 55 inches wide basic small module designed to be a stand alone for awhile would be this many headaches. Ahh but it is and has been and still is. I am getting to the thought that taking up chasing Killer Bees in nothing but a speedo and sandals with a little net would be more enjoyable.

First off I found that the right side needed some sanding since I have got a terrain feature sticking out, or I should say had, that will prevent me from getting the last backdrop up tight to the edge. Broke out the sander and went to work and in the process created a dust storm coating things I did not want coated with dust since I just finished cleaning up the layout. Out came the vacs again, more work. Why did I not hand sand the area? Moment of terminal stupidity on my part.

Next issue turns out to be the selection of backdrops I have and my design on the right side. On the left I chose to bring the higher elevation almost down to the front. That left me with scenery dropping down towards the front and only a small gap that is easy hidden by some paint on the bare Masonite and some shrubs or trees. On the right I dropped the higher elevation down at about 14 inches from the back and there in lies my problem in matching up scenic backdrops and covering the Masonite at the front. If I had done the same thing with the right as I did with the left I would not be looking a an issue of how to connect the dots.

Part of my design problem probably stems from my having the bottom mainline at 9.75 radius thinking about being able to run some of my larger power on that line. I never tested those locos for minimum operating radius. Imagine my surprise when testing some of my FAs and RS units that they would cruise through the 8 inch radius on the incline like it wasn't there. Dang it I could have reduced the right end to 8.5 or 9 radius and had more room to bring the higher terrain down to the front. Ahh the hindsight being 20-20 thing. So I am going to see how creative I can be with my scraps of trimmed backdrop I saved and the backdrops I currently have.

At the project time rate I am going I suspect that it will ultimately take about seven years to complete a full layout which by that time I probably will be to old to see it. Maybe I want to give the Killer Bee collection more thought.

 

John, following your progress as an artist has been wonderful entertainment and quite educational. However, following your self-deprecating insight has been more than that, it has been a marvelous mirror of myself, and often very amusing in a sardonic manner. Thank you for this.

 

At least in my artists' role I could have just said Nottafinga and gone over the part of the canvas with another base coat and started again and then blended some stuff at the edges. Not so with this medium. At best I would have to rip up all the lower main at the right side where it curves into the tunnel, redo the tunnel portal which would most likely destroy that, uproot the light house and two structures, possibly have to redo the engine maintenance leads, and then construct the terrain rise like the left side tapering abruptly upward. A lot of work that would almost have me thinking about salvaging all I could off the layout and starting again from scratch. So I am going to see if I can pull off this blending of backdrops.
This shot show the left side and how the terrain slowly drops to the front. The side backdrop gives a distant effect and only a small piece of Masonite shows right above the lower track that is easily covered.

100_4602-1 by John Moore posted Aug 6, 2015 at 1:02 PM

The right side show the more abrupt drop off of the terrain and getting a matchup is going to be a bear plus convey some distance again.

100_4603-2 by John Moore posted Aug 6, 2015 at 1:02 PM

And the backdrop for the right side. I decided that I would use a band of sky at the top that I had left over from the rear backdrops. Then I have a section of the rear Tall Timber backdrops that I can blend to it and then hopefully blend in a section from the next backdrop to cover the lower area. Once this section of sky is dry enough to handle I will put it up and mark off the boundaries of where the next has to go. Going to be fun though. Sort of like a one armed paper hanger working in a closet with no lights.

100_4604-3 by John Moore posted Aug 6, 2015 at 1:02 PM

I still think chasing Killer Bees clad in only a speedo and sandals will be more fun. Might even get the neighbors to throw money at me to quit and go inside and put some clothes on.

 

John, everything you've done so far diminishes the credibility of your efforts at self-deprecation. I have great faith in the capabilities of your remaining arm and night vision. Go for it, we've got your back...or something like that.

 

Well I took a senior nap on it. No vision or dreams, no sudden enlightenment that had me spring outta bed and dash to the trainroom, in fact my springing anywhere in my golden years would in itself be a miracle of sorts. And not to worry the Big Guy had my back literally. Twenty pounds of teeth claws and attitude, tucked firmly against my back. Got up and enough had dried to apply the 2nd layer of scenic backdrop.
Time to stumble downstairs and prepare supper for the Missus who arrives home in about 2 hours. Tonight Beef Broccoli over Rice, Spring Rolls, Dim Sum, and Tuscan Cantalope. Four more weeks and the Missus retires and I can semi retire from the Chef Boyarewe duties.

 

John...

If your background material can connect to that mountain on the right rear...and end up in a meadow or valley down there by the lighthouse area.....it should look pretty good as distant mountians. The illusion of distant moutains will blend in with the rest of the background theme. Just my thoughts.

 

Well I connected the mountains and installed the right side backdrop after a night of drying. Also cut off another feline access point in the process. Score now Felines 4, me 4, so dead even at this point. I connected the mountains and achieved the drop off with minimal fill in at the lower edge. I still have to install the corner brace that is full height so that may pull in the seam line at the corner a little more, but I just may end up with another smoke plume rising out of the woods. Bubba's second still? There is another stamp mill in the scene and the rest of the small town is showing so it also adds depth to the station area, and the impression that water is flowing into the bay, that one is standing in viewing the layout. So a little studying is now in order before I break out my artist's supplies and scenic materials to blend in the bottom edge.

100_4605-1 by John Moore posted Aug 7, 2015 at 9:02 AM

In case some folks may not be aware if one clicks on the image a larger version pops up that gives a closer view.

 

That looks good John....everything seems to flow nicely.

 

Thanks. I went at it after applying the corner brace which brought in the corner nicely. That nasty issue of older versus newer backdrops fading has raised its head again so I will pull out the Acrylics again to apply a light early morning fog and mist. I got rid of part of the water in the backdrop channeling it a little further away by adding my own rock painting. I also went over the rocks in the backdrop a bit to blend them with the terrain rocks and managed to blend the rocks in the middle into the backdrop again with the mixed Acrylics, white, gray, brown, and black mix to get the color blend. So remaining will be to add a short smoke plume in the corner and some fog and mist over the darker mountain section. Then I will take a bit of dark gray and black and apply some strata lines to the new rock paintings. Dig back into my foliage and planting a few small pines and some shrubs should finish the right and since I also did the left bottom the same there.

100_4606-2 by John Moore posted Aug 7, 2015 at 11:52 AM

 

My backdrops are a full two feet high so the scenery terrain projects up into the backdrop which might be why I am getting a slight 3D effect. When I ever get to the harbor part of the layout that will be a challenge to find and blend the harbor scene into the area behind the sawmill. I just downloaded Google Pro version last night so I am probably going to visit Friday Harbor and try to fly in over the harbor to see what type of backdrop I will end up needing. Might be more in the line of Eastern foothills for that section. Hairspray is almost dry on the corner smoke plume so after getting that in place it will be senior nap time. I was running my self propelled track cleaner again and Deekus the Cat was in the room. She immediately went to the end tunnel access ports to ambush it. However my placing the access flaps over those stymied that attempt and frustrated her so bad that she went into attack mode after Samantha the Witch which ended after a pursuit down the hallway and Samantha finding safety. So that deterrent worked, score now five to four my favor.

 

There now will be a deceptively quiet period of retrenchment, allowing time for planning the next tactical incursion....beware, my friend.

I agree with George and Ken, you are creating a smoothly cohesive environment.

 

Had my senior nap and went back at the backdrop blending some more. Added two smoke columns at the right side. Bubba is expanding. Decided that the corner smoke column is just too thin and either needs to be spread out some or more added to widen it some. Rather than hide the corner joint it is accentuating it. Also added about 14 more trees of various sizes and species to the area. Also added my fog and mist to the backdrop to blend it with the rear.

100_4607-3 by John Moore posted Aug 7, 2015 at 4:29 PM

On the left end I again added trees including ripping out and discarding some of those fall foliage that were done with clump foliage. Fine foliage looks far better. I added pines to some of the upper incline and down at the lower end of the side backdrop. Tomorrow I will try some fine foliage in that lower area to fill it in some more and also on the right side.

100_4608-5 by John Moore posted Aug 7, 2015 at 4:29 PM

It wasn't intentional but with both side backdrops in the impression is that the area is the high point in the valley with both sides heading to lower elevations in the mountain valley.

 

Hate to do this to an otherwise outstanding thread, but can other people see the pictures? All I get is the display codes.

Sent from the magical mystery box

 

Chris, I can. Perhaps Ken (BoxCab E50) can help you. We have a new system for TrainBoard and there may be a setting on your computer that needs adjusting.

 

Just checked and the pictures I posted last are still there and so far no on else has had this issue. You can also try the link under my signature line to my albums which I updated last week so that it would work on the new system. The first album in the bunch is projects underway and you should be able to open each picture to full size to view what is there until you get the issue resolved. Also though I have found that the site does periodically log me off sometimes more than once a day even with the stay logged on box checked so check to see that you have remained logged on. I just had it happen again to me when I tested my signature link and got the prompt to log on again.