Looks good. Are you planning on mounting trees on the hills? I had a section I had used screen wire to create the small humps and topped it with plaster. When I went back to mount trees, there was nothing under to hold the trees and they just fell over in the hole. Yesterday, I ripped out all the screen and replaced with blue foam. Don't know if you'll have the same problem with the cardboard strips or not, just maybe want to keep a heads up. KB
Jamie, I have to ask, as I'm starting to plan a new layout. What program are you using to develop your track plans? I really like the one you posted and would like something similar. Also, I'm jealous of the room-size, tri-level layout! ... some day, some day. But keep up the good work!
Thanks for all of the kind words and encouragement everyone! If I keep this up, I may wind up with a layout after all. Actually, I only used just over one roll of 2" wide masking tape on this entire area--that stuff goes a long way! Yes I am planning on adding trees and yes I have thought about the same problem you describe. However, I will be adding about a 1/8" to 1/4" thick layer of Sculptamold over the hardened plaster shell and I am hoping that deeper hole plus the use of hot glue will do the trick. Of course, I have never been this far on a layout before so it's all theoretical to me until I actually try it. I am using Microsoft Visio for my track plan, only because it is what I have used for years at work to do drawings like flowcharts and software screen designs. And as for the tri level layout, I am approaching the two year anniversary of starting my layout and I should have about 1/3 of ONE level with track and basic scenery done by then. I could look at it like I will never finish, but instead I think about how many years of fun I'll have working on this thing! Jamie
Jamie, Wonderful project, I'm enjoying watching it grow. Would you mind providing some detail on the design of your swing-gate at the door? Particularly how you maintain track alignment, and whatever other "how to" you might provide? Are you planning to "scenic" it (if so, how?), or leave it as the basic woodwork? It might even merit a separate thread... My current plan also spans a door, and I've been searching for examples and pointers. Yours seems very well done, and very applicable to my planned situation. Thanks!
I have an entire article on my blog devoted to the construction of the gate: http://csxdixieline.blogspot.com/2009/01/howto-install-dropdown-gate.html By the way, the gate will not have scenery; it is part of an "out of bounds" area and will be painted a neutral color (the same color as the fascia). Someone probably has some templates somewhere, but I just draw using the basic shapes and lines. There are no layout-specific features such as placing turnouts, easements, parallel track, etc., but I am creating a presentation track plan rather than a precise scale track plan used for construction. Jamie
I am using plaster cloth for the hardshell terrain with a layer of Sculptamold applied to provide the final contour and texture. These three photos show the completed hardshell terrain at South Emerson, Emerson Curve and North Emerson. Sculptamold has been applied to the entire South Emerson area. Jamie
I can't take full credit for all of the work this week, as I got a helping hand from my daughter. Here, she is applying Sculptamold over the hardshell at North Emerson: She loves working with this stuff as much as I do! The kids like it when they get to enjoy "hands on" involvement with the layout. My son is not yet old enough to help with construction, but he does a super job as engineer of the test trains used in all of our photos and videos. Jamie
That's great Jaime. My two daughters are now 43 and 40. When they were your daughters age, They always helped me build my layout. In those days it was HO scale. Now my four grand daughters help me with the layout when they come over and visit.
Sweet work Jamie! Sculptamold is fun stuff. Having the whole scene under one uniform color and texture makes a huge difference.
looking good and nice progress. I do agree if you can get the kids to do something hands on that is a plus. I have tried with some sucess in the past and have plans to do so in the future as time permits.
You will never regret the "daddy/daughter" time! My little girl is now a mommy and her little boy loves to see pop-pops choo choos when they come for a visit. Our son's oldest boy (almost 4 yrs. old) is also a train fanatic. When he visits is very capable of running DCC with a hand held throttle. This is also the reason why I program my decoders to have a realistic maximum top speed Congrats on a great looking layout and on making quality time with your kids a high priority.
Ugh...my updates are slowed as I try to get all of the work for the Winter Layout Party completed. One quick photo for this update showing how I have applied the base terrain color at South Emerson. Compare the beautiful red Georgia clay in the foreground to the stark white plaster scenery in the distance: I am using the River Rock line of latex paint by Polo/Ralph Lauren (well la-di-da!) in a color named Adorondack Bark. This paint is textured with fine black sand and is the same color Bernard Kempinski is using for his new O-scale Civil War layout. It does a remarkable job simulating the red clay in the area I am modeling. Although it looks more like the red rocks of New Mexico now, it will really pop (well la-di-da!) when the green vegitation is added. Jamie
Looks exactly like Georgia clay to me. It could, of course, also be New Mexico dirt. But I believe it all actually comes from the same underlying geological formation. (well, la-di-da...) So where can I go to find this fancy-pants line of paint, eh?
Be certain to hold your pinkie up high when you speak of our beloved Ralph Lauren, won't you, dahling? (smirk and sarcasm required for full effect)
Home Depot believe it or not (I didn't at first). It is about $40 a gallon, but worth every penny IMO. Dries extremely flat (zero sheen), has a perfect gritty/scratchy surface for the base terrain, and did not run or sag anywhere despite the heavy coat I applied. I have heard rumor that HD will be discontunuing this line of paint so you may look for a clearance sale anytime now. When I purchased my gallon a month or so ago, there was another line of Ralph Lauren paint on clearance but the River Rock line was still full price and in stock. You could probably achieve the same effect with any latex paint plus a layer of zip texturing, but getting it all done in one step with one brush was worth the extra $$$ for me. Jamie
HAHA yes and I'll make sure I flip up the collar on my $100 turquoise Polo shirt while I am painting. Jamie
