Great work, all. For myself, I'm slowly getting the yard done. Too slowly for me, but the financial department is holding up purchasing the turnouts needed. Apart from being behind on updates, I'm also due for some pictures. Here's a pic of the current state of the yard. Dave.
I managed to stage and photograph another backdrop scene for Dixon. Its size and orientation depended in part on the placement of my new building flats. Yesterday, it all fell into place. Here's what I started with in December. Earlier in this thread, I showed the backdrop created for the street behind the depot. Now with the new building flats, I'm getting more of the effect I've been seeking. Here's the backdrop photo I staged using other buildings from elsewhere on the layout. Like I said a few weeks ago, my digital camera is now a very valuable tool for creating model scenic elements.
Here's one pic from the weekend at the FREMO meeting. This picture shows the "status quo" from my Diamond Valley. At the bottom left you see the latest addition, oil dealer. Wolfgang
Some family changes are in the offing, so I'm way way way behind. In fact, most of my goals are now, abruptly, changing. I had intended to get benchwork built for my N scale layout. That was supposed to be at least a door-sized layout. The new goal is to build the benchwork for ONE (yes one, because of space restrictions for about the next six months) 2x4 N scale module. That should be done this week. I had intended to do it today, but I wound up rearranging the storage in the garage to make room for a load of temporary storage. There will eventually be real benchwork and a "full-size" layout built, but it's going to have to wait about 6-8 months. On the plus-side, I've finished upgrading the couplers and trucks on the cars I had intended to do. That goal, at least, is completed. (I'll get pictures up this week when I find where the camera got put to keep it safe.)
He he, that's why I love N scale: people is great Again good stuff from everyone! Mark, your rocks certainly rock! Those details you added, like the grass, are very nice - the giant ants, too Mike, good to see more subroadbed is in place, I think you won't complete all the 8 steps in the next week, but you are not so far from the golden spike! Diezmon, the cracks and the weathering on your street are awesome! Keep up the great work! Dave, the yard is coming along very neatly! The roadbed and the tracks seems to be very well laid. and Todd, I am really, really, impressed. Suddenly the scene came to life and looks like the background is 2 feet deep instead of just few inches! Wolfgang, isn't it cool when all the modules are assembled and your little spur finally sees the traffic you have planned?
What about my progress? Well, no progress at all Last saturday I held an op session so I had to keep the train room tidy and clean Here is a pic from the evening, me switching cars in the Callender area - still needing some static grass applications.
Good work, everybody! I especially like Mark's ants, Todd's photo backdrops, and Diezmon's roadwork (best pavement cracks I've seen since driving into work today). Todd, I was wondering how to create a decent backdrop for the peninsula divider on the layout I'm currently working on. You have provided a great solution that gets terrific results! Thank you for sharing the technique. I do not have a photo this week, but I managed to get half of the track glued down this week. Next step is fastening the peninsula table to the rest of the layout. Then comes gluing down the rest of the track and dressing the edges of the layout with masonite fascia.
More weathering complete I'm not sure why, but it took me a while to get around to weathering the site for my Ellicott tipple. Here's how it looked until last night. Supposed to be a coal mine, but alas, not even a smudge of coal anywhere. So, I fixed that. I glued down a new layer of fine sand mixed with finely ground charcoal dust. Tonight, to dull the glue sheen, I applied dark gray ground pastel chalk with a stiff paint brush. I mixed up some lighter soil color pastels to eliminate uniformity and simulate muddy spots on the site. Now that it looks so much nastier, I feel a bit better about it.
Yep, dirty and dusty... looking good. I did some dusting myself. Working on getting some lines on the road. I thought about painting them.. but I don't have a real steady hand. So I made some decals and printed them on the alps. for some reason decals don't like to stick to dusty spackle LOL so I tried some diluted white glue and saran wrap. followed by mucho dust.. Just have to sharpen my pencil and draw some cracks.
Hey Tim, you sure use your Alps printer alot, even though stuff for it is super hard to find! The lines look great, but I had one question.... That last pic above, you have the street going over the ties in all but the bottom part. Any reason for this? :ru-confused: Oh, and I have no pics, but I got all the rest of the homasote for the main line and passing sidings cut up today, all 1440 inches of it. -Mike
that's because they're for ME LOL. Since the recent alps discussions I've discovered that the inks are actually out there.. so I'm not so anal about NOT using it.. oh.. I'd like to say it's for some good reason.. but I just don't pay attention sometimes :tb-biggrin: I'll put wood crossings there...
Ok, so Here's my attempt at crossings.. get some wood sheet.. and a pin. (I'm not spending six bucks at the hobby shop for the 'pre-made' wood crossings LOL ) and some india ink.. maybe a shim to match the rail level... and more ink...
Like it a lot! The roads look so much better with those crossings; and the stripes look perfect. Lots of times they can be too bright. Jamie
Todd, the mine detailing is looking great and the backdrop treatment is superb - well done. Very impressive for a large mammal with no digits, let alone no opposed thumb! Tim, the crossing is spot on. The individual boards look... individual! And I see you have found a use for pop tarts in your second photo. Well done mate! Mark, those rocks and details came up really well. Denny, disconnect the power and remove the controls from the layout or you won't get anything more done. Believe me - ask Colonel.
I'll second that! The scene is great! Oh, actually I have been a good boy and I just finished applying some static grass on 1/3 of the scene. Time to let the glue dry and time to go to bed for me More on this tomorrow!
Ok, I haven't posted in awhile but it wasn't my fault really. last Sunday week we had a really big thunder storm here in Christchurch and Bang... Thump... Wallop... Fizzziitt. A lightning strike fried our modem and damaged my computer. We do have surge portection for the electical outlets but not the phone line, Aahhhh! My computer is still in the shop waiting for some repacement parts that will take about two weeks but in the meanwhile Tina got out her old computer and did a lot of work on it so that I can use it while I wait for mine to be fixed. She had to wipe the hard drive and reinstall Windows XP then connect to the web, all up it took about 10 hours to get it up and running. So I am really grateful for her help. My layout progress will pickup a little also as I just received a package from Feather River Train Shop that includes some new turnouts so work on the yard can now go ahead. I will be doing some more scenic work on the upper level as well. But the down side is Tina does not want me to install my camera software on her computer so no pics untill I get my computer back, sorry.
Thanks, folks, for your generous encouragement. Yep, large, no digits, no thumbs, but I make up for all that with an awesome trunk. Perhaps you saw me in the recent movie that bore my name.
