I got so frustrated with my tree making that i ordered some from an online dealer. The fir trees arrived yesterday and I got busy straight away. I had already done some ground work so it was just a matter of planting them on the hill. The hill ready for planting. A pair of SD70MAC's hual a stack train through the cutting. The trees have a sprinkling of flock grass on them to disguise the "bottle brush" appearance. A head on shot of the SD70 MAC's, this pair were accidently bumped while testing helix two and took a dive hitting the floor. The only damage suffered was to the front coupler which is missing from the lead loco.
Thanks Mike, this only one small section of the upper level. There is sooo much moooore to do. I will add some more detail to this area also. Some grass clumps and small shrubs and whatever else I can come up with.
I have been playing around with bi-polar LED's again and constructed a signal mast. While not as flash as some manufactured items, being a little rough, I am getting better. The signal heads are a little over size, but close My paint job is a bit blobby as well. I will use an air brush rather than a paint brush next time. Photos really show up things you tend to miss otherwise
What mistakes? I happen to think that actually looks pretty darn good! And even more impressive when I think back to my own efforts working on such fiddly little things. What options do you have for getting any smaller LEDs? I know you could go to SMD, but they're probably just Too Small/Fiddly
Ok, I admit I am probably being a bit tough on myself given that these signals are made from brass tube, 3mm washers and a couple of hours fiddling about with this and that. I thought about smaller SMD's but I'm not sure if they come as bi-polar. Even so it is the wires that are the most fiddlely bit. Also thought about fiber optics but I doubt that I could get a sharp 90 degree bend into the signal head from the mast. So the 3mm bi-polar LED's are workable with a maximum of three wires down a 1/16" brass tube or two signal light heads per mast.
I love your scenery,very well done.The rocks that you have added are very realistic and well done,It looks as though your track plan has a good flow to it plenty of operational possibilities.Keep those photos and updates coming,I like what I have seen so far.You do very good work,I am very impressed.
Thanks Steve, the areas photographed so far are far from "finnished" there are lots more detail to add, loose bolders, dead fall trees more shurbs and grasses. But ok, the aim is to get the whole of the upper level to at least this stage. Here are some more pics: First a closeup of the pine trees. I have run out of trees to plant and that is why the hills in the background are a bit bare. I have about 250 more trees on order and when they arrive I will complete the forests. The forest here is also a bit thin, more planting required. Even so, I have planted out about 130 pine trees so far. Another closeup to show non flocked trees compared with flocked trees in the background. I am thinking about getting one of those insence burners and putting pine resin in it to complete the sence of being in a forest, LOL!
I have now got three projects on the go, while I was waiting for the tree order to arrive from the States I got a little bored and thought "why don't I strart the sub-roadbed and lay some track on the lower level" So... I am really keen on pushing this along and finally have both helii connected on the lower level. It's just track and push pins at the momment untill I can work out where it all goes and if it works. But I still have a lot to do on the upper level... This is the start of the plasted work that will hide my "pop up" access to the back of the layout by helix 2. And...Then the trees arrived. I hope to do a little on all three projects this weekend.
I knew a guy who used orange air freshener near his orange groves on the layout. It was effective and always drew favorable comments.
Hi Ken, looking good. I really like the way the track flows into the yard. Do you plan to add some sub-roadbed like cork or is the track already glued down? The "Bush" pine tree pack looks very fmailiar. I have used a few of these packages myself, and though they are not the most detailed pine trees available they will let you plant a forrest in no time. Great to see your progress! Cheers Dirk
Thanks Dirk: The track work is all "loose" at the momment as I attempt to transfer trackwork from paper plans to layout reality. Once I have the sub-roadbed complete for the lower level and am happy with how the temporary track mock up looks, I will then make it more perminent with foam roadbed and track all glued in place. I planted 60-70 trees last night on the hills at the back of helix 1 and am amazed at how many trees this area soaked up. I think I may have under estimated the number of trees needed to get that "forest look" and may have to order more. It is working out at around 50 US cents per tree which is half the price offered by my LHS.
Ken , Background trees can be made from Clump Foliage and round , dyed , toothpic's. Just dye them , run them into a Walthers Goo tube and stick on your favorite color. Robin and I made hundreds in one evening. Mike
I only have a few trees left from the 250 that I started with the other week, having planted most of them around helix 1. This is the view from the train room doorway. There is still a lot I want to do here, but this is how it will look for the time being while I work on other areas of the layout. I will plant some more trees on the inside of the track at the back of the helix Thanks for the tip on background trees Mike, although I am unsure how well this would work for pines.
The trees you see here in my photo were easily made, I have an article that was published in NSR a few years back that i can email you if you would like a copy
Nice trees Paul. Thanks for the offer and yes please e-mail me the info. My own attempt at making pine trees was a complete failure.
