Rick, you threw a great Layout Party, man! I've still got a hangover... A lot of folks participated and a lot of work got done. I thought it would be kind of cool to thank our party host (Rick) by telling and/or showing what we accomplished. Here's my original goals: ----------------------------------------- - Install tunnel portal on backside and finish mountain area around it. - Cover risers (currently window screen) with something, I've been using sculptamold and think i will continue with that. - Finish the canyon area - Paint and/or cover the mountain and all other terrain. Currently my mountain is stark white and looks kinda goofy. - Trees, bushes and shrubs to come later ---------------------------------- Here's a before: Notice the screen hanging over the track to the left, and the cardboard tunnel to the right. Another before, this is where the logging camp will be: Progress. Snow? No, just sculptamold. Getting there Tonight: Looking west: Scratched portals: one is warped, but what can you do! Beginnings of the logging camp: Thanks again Rick RSN48!! I have a LONG way to go, but this party was definitely a jump-start. Disclaimer: This is my first layout in 30+ years and I'm very excited about it! I've been posting several pics lately, hope people don't take this as bragging. I'm a rookie and just trying to follow in the footsteps of the great stuff I see on Trainboard and the, uh, Forum We Don't Mention Here! (bah dum bump!) Cheers!
Jim, It looks outstanding thanks for sharing, Ricks layout parties are very inspiring and i'm sure he will be hosting another later in the year.
Jimbeer Those pics look amazing!! Inspiring me to get back to my "rolling hills" that need help! Jeff
Great stuff. Everyone post more pics of progress please! Before: After: A little more foam carving, ground cover, track laying, ballasting, and bridge making. Now it's time for more ballasting and a backdrop.
Jim: You did a great job on your layout. I'm partial to graded mountainous layouts. Stay cool and run steam.....
Here was my starting point: My goals were to (a) complete the terrain around the base of the buildings; (b) add roads and a perimeter fence; (c) build a vehicle inspection point at the entrance; and (d) if time permits, install a commuter station. Basically, I completed most of part (a) and some of part (b). The landscape "base" around the buildings, and the surrounding roads, are complete. But the work of integrating the "base" and roads into the rest of the module is still underway, and the perimeter fence is still in the design-and-test phase. Here's the situation as of this evening: I too want to say thank you for inviting us to the party--I had a blast. Even though I didn't get everything done yet, I wouldn't have made nearly as much progress without the party to push me along.
Thanks again Bob, as you saw, I kind of repeated/modified this thread on the atlas board. FD, I've said it before, but you've captured the rolling California hills so very well! and the bridge is just fabulous. Great, great work! As I think was mentioned in the original Doorknocker thread, the Jupiter II is no longer Lost In Space! Looking good Rob. I'm torn between continuing with ground scenery and getting some buildings built. I've got 3 or 4 laser kits just sitting in drawers...
Sorry for a late reply. I was away settling up my mother's estate on Vancouver Island and just returned. I have been busy doing that and writing short stories around model railroading and rail fanning themes. And have been back at university taking creative writing at the age of 57.... lol! I was impressed with your pictures and the pictures of other members during the party. I think from a motivational point of view, the motivation helping others getting work done on their layout, the party was successful. Its nice to be thanked for the party. I've personally hit a bit of an impasse on my layout as I recruit volunteers to help me with my DCC wiring, which isn't that simple unfortunately. I am very much electronically challenged, but certainly less so since I entered the DCC "family." I have reversing loops I hope to have automatically thrown, signalling, and computer running of trains in and out of staging. Most of the electrical nerdy guys I know who have been helpful to others, can't help me as my friends, most of them, are still "block" running their layouts and my nerdy friends haven't gone DCC (they don't have their own lay outs but run on friends instead). Fortunately for me and unfortunately for a friend of mine, whom was laid off in the CN slashing of BC Rail take over, I have found a volunteer. He was in communications and has set up his own layout running DCC and has volunteered to help me. He has started his own business making electronic items for this hobby. At the first show I saw him at, here in Vancouver, he had created train men holding lanterns that can be set between track in one second and their lantern's red light comes on. You can remove them in one second and place them elsewhere (kind of neat in a yard). He has also created other train men holding lanterns that are permanently placed on a layout and their lantern turns red or green at the flip of a switch. I'm sure with a stationary decoder this brakeman could be controlled in a DCC set up for those guys with signalling or not. He has also created a DCC Digitrax throttle holder. I expect he will become more enterprising as time goes on. These parties are always well attended and most of the participants seem to greatly benefit from them. Again, thanks for the thanks.
