Jim, I actually plan on using Neolube, but I have a silly reason why I painted the rails on this turnout: I have never painted rails before. Prior to learning of ME weathered flextrack or Neolube, I had always planned on painting the rails of all my track and worked up a real desire to do so. Therefore, even though I will be using Neolube in the future, I wanted to paint these first few just to say I did it and see how the results turned out. Wow 5 stars is a serious honor--thanks to everyone who rated! While I certainly like showing off the layout on here, I really hope I can share some information that will be useful to someone who is working on their own layout. This forum has been the source of valuable information countless times over the last few years, and I would be nowhere near where I am today without that advice. Thanks! Jamie
Here is what I have done so far on the I-75 underpass at Emerson, GA: I built the roadways using a plastic FOR SALE sign, Testors Dark Aircraft Gray spray paint (thank's to Dave Vollmer for suggesting that color), Woodland Scenics dry transfer stripes, and chalk pastels for the weathering. Jamie
As always, very impressive! Keep up the good work... Are you going to model the "rumble strips" along the road edges?
Jamie, There only one thing missing, There should be a Georgia State Patrol car sitting under the bridge!
Thanks for the compliments! I forgot to mention that these roads are the only completed part of this scene and are just temporarily sitting on the layout until I model the bridge and all of the surrounding scenery (ground cover, shrubs, trees, signs, etc.). I wanted to go ahead and model these roads so I could gain some experience and try some new techniques before I build the Allatoona Road grade crossing south of here. My next goal is to complete the scenery between the south end of the layout and the I-75 overpass, which is an area about a 6' long and 12" deep. I actually thought about this but figured it would be overkill. I'll see how it looks when I get around to modeling the shoulders and adding ground cover. If it looks bare, I'll probably try to add them using a mask and chalks. Jamie
Fantastic! Thanks for all the tips and ideas on your blog. I can't wait to get started on my new layout. JSL
Very very nice! Are you going to adjust the backdrop so that the interstate doesn't run directly into the forest? What are the odds? A red pickup and a white CSX tractor/trailer going North and South on I-75, passing below this crossing at the same time.... amazing.
Nice work Jamie! There is a ex-C&O overpass near Richmond VA that I've always wanted to model and if I ever get around to it this will be great inspiration.:thumbs_up:
Pretty much the only way you can see the "dead end" of the roadway is with low angle photography; I may use a mirror in future shots. From normal viewing angles, the bottom of the backdrop is not visible--something that was carefully planned out (I got lucky ). I think that once the rest of the scenery is in place, the "dead end" will rarely ever come into view. And yes, I do need a better selection of vehicles! Jamie
"And yes, I do need a better selection of vehicles" We all do!!! looking great jamie only thing missing is a big black loco prowling the rails i would love to see a NS run through!!!:thumbs_up::thumbs_up:
Driving on I64 through Winchester KY today I passed under a pair of CSX AC4400CWs on an overpass (#93 behind one I couldn't see). My first thought. "man those things are big!" my second. "Hey, that looks almost like the overpass on the CSXDixieLine layout!" Good job on the scenery.
#93 was up through here on the Main Line Sub Thursday on Q574 with 7915 and 9038. Sure it wasn't one of those leading? I think the issue you would have with using a mirror for the end an interstate is it would show vehicles coming in the wrong lane,if I'm guessing right. Then again,my imagination might work different than what might get modeled.
All I can say for sure is there were at least two units, 93 was last before the cars, and the one in front of it looked the same as best I could tell. Trees were obscuring everything from the back half of the unit in front of 93 forward and the train was stopped. As I was driving under the bridge at 70mph I did not have time to investigate further. The cars immediately behind 93 were covered hoppers. It is entirely possible there were more than two units and I just couldn't see the others.
