Gives it a more finished and appealing look Jamie, Nice job. I bet you were glad you reduced that helix a smudge as its much easier to get around in the room. Good to see some progress there Grey One.
Do you have one of those clear plastic covers over the well now? Those things make a world of difference! ugly yes, but they work really well. Speaking from experience here. I feel your pain LOL
weekly report I've finished the basic scenery at my oil dealer. And from the aisle side you see the cropped structures. I've named the oil dealer in honor of Dave who gave me a lot of support. :angel:
This past week I couldn't work much on the layout because of: - work - chickenpox on both my two kids - 15" of snow But I managed to do something I wanted to do for a very long time: a video howto on track ballasting and weathering: Southern Pacific Coast Line in N scale: How to ballast and weather N scale track IN VIDEO! (sorry, VIMEO videos can't be embedded in TB posts like with YouTube videos, so you have to click and watch it on my blog)
Denny: That's pretty much the way I do it. I use an airbrush instead of chalks to weather the roadbed. Why didn't the vacuum pull up the chalk when you cleaned it the last time? Thanks. Most of all, it sure is a nice video. Anyone wondering how ballast can be done should look at this. All the basic steps are there. Also, I liked the weathering on those covered hoppers, too. Thanks very much for taking the time to post this video.
Flash: Thanks! I weather the tracks with airbrush before ballasting to paint both rails and ties with Polly Scale Railroad Tie Brown. The powder pigments aren't pulled up by vacuum since they are mixed with plaster and they stay in place after I mist them with a water: the plaster in the mix stays put together with the pigments. I allowed a couple of hours of dry time before vacuuming, however.
I painted the Quonset hut. Anyone notice anything unusual? I showed it to my club buddies and 9 out of 10 said, "Hey! The corrugated sheets are going the wrong way!" Why would anyone notice that? These guys had too much time in Quonset huts. I was going to leave it, but I used some CA-uncure and I already have it corrected. Pretty easy to do. I need to paint it now.
Denny, thats an exceptional video. Well planned and produced. I do hope Flash puts it in the how to section. I did about 3 feet without as good a results but will attempt this technique on the next section. By the way the fine gray looks better than I thought it would. Where I grew up along the SP through Lancaster and Colton later the ballast was light gray with black specks.
Actually, that didn't take too long. It does look better. Before: After: You learn all sorts of things at the big parties. I did experiment a little. The various colors were applied light to dark in the first photo. They were applied dark to light in the second. Rustall was also used and applied in various strips. Now to paint the other Quonset huts. [edit]Note: This is N scale; I am using a macro lens to take the photo. The siding with the boxcar on it is 14 inches (35 cm) long. Certainly appears longer in the picture.
I wont be posting any updates until the end of January. Will still be working on the layout, just wont be getting on to update for a bit. Wayne W.
Wolfgang, your chain link fence is very convincing. At first, I thought "perhaps he should clean the ground foam from his barbed wire". Then it occurred to me that I've seen vines growing in the barbed wire on fences like this countless times here in Illinois. Filling the texture of the fence with fine ground foam could realistically simulate the vines climbing the fence. Your fuel dealer scene is really well done. Good work!
Nothing to show for my own layout...spent too many evenings getting ready for meetings the next day at work...but I did manage to read my N Scale magazines. Today a group of us spent the afternoon helping a friend put some of his benchwork together following a recent move to a new home after marrying a few months ago. This evening, I took my wife out to a dinner and movie. Tomorrow I'm going to a swap meet in Springfield Illinois (At the Crown Plaza, if you're interested in attending), an NMRA Division Board Meeting and then our Division meet (both also at the Crown Plaza), and then some layout tours.
Flash, great job on the re-done Quonset. Not only the sheets are going the right way now, but weathering is terrific! Wolfgang, your scene is getting more and more realistic. Wish one day I'll be able to come and visit you in Germany
Progress? or Full Stop? The Benchwork is now solid. er, almost. I need to cut a short piece to to support the foam in that gap. Next decide how I want to proceed with the banked track. The idea was completely separated freight and passenger lines. The passenger would be raised and the freight would run around the outside of it. Not gonna fit. Options: Loose the banked track and revert to the GandG II which was flat with concentric ovals using standard Unitrak track. I could still keep elevated passenger with sky scrapers in the center. Mix the banked, (19" radius) curve with the 11" and 12" transitioning curves on the back end. Complex for sure. The hard part for me would be cutting the support. Keep the above Add a 1' x 10' extension to the right which balloons into a dog bone loop back to the main. Freight would run semi-hidden through the city Would have to spend more money - not good Too complicated - I'd never get it running. Suggestions?
