The Pacific Wilderness Railway is a small shelf layout 7 ft. long and 10 in. wide and is based on a local tourist operation. This is my first layout. Before starting the plaster work, a Kadee magne-matic uncoupler was buried at the end passing siding. I then ran the wiring to the front panel and installed a 1/8 in. jack mounted to a piece of 0.060 in. styrene. Next came the plaster work using Woodlands plaster cloth. I decided to add a three-story building to the harbour area since my last posting. The cardboard mock-up will be replaced with DPM modules. The Janion Building used to be a railway headquarters building up until 1944. This is a canyon area that will be spanned by a scratch-built trestle. Here is the same area with the rock castings installed, washes applied and the earth undercoat applied (acrylic Burnt Umber, Yellow Ochre, Raw Sienna, Burnt Sienna, and Mars Black washes). In the Harbour area, I tried Woodlands Mold-a-Scene for the rockwork. I'm now scratch-building a trestle and plan to cast Hydrocal piers for the bents. Once that's in place, I can lay the trackwork. [ 29 June 2001: Message edited by: Gerry M ]
Looks good. I like how you also allowed room to LOWER the landscape. It looks more realistic doing that. Many people just make the track level on the bottom and raise mountains around it. You might want to put mat board or something hard on the sides just to protect from getting dings. That is if you weren't going to already. Dave D. Los Angeles, CA -Rail Radio Online - Home of the "TrainTenna" Rail Radio Monitoring Antenna- http://eje.railfan.net/railradioonline ---------------------------------------------------------- -The Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Photo Archive & E-Mail List- http://eje.railfan.net ---------------------------------------------------------- -The Ashley, Drew & Northern Railfan Page- http://eje.railfan.net/adn ---------------------------------------------------------- -Southern California Trains- http://eje.railfan.net/socal ----------------------------------------------------------
Gerry, it's great to see someone modeling the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway even if it is only the first 20 miles. If you need prototype pictures of the E&N let me know, I've got tons. Most of them have the E&N freights or Dayliner but they show off the line too. Something else that might be interesting would be to model the full 181 miles, continue the Victoria Sub right to Courtenay, add the Wellcox Spur in Nanaimo and the Port Alberni Sub at Parksville. Just a thought. [ 28 June 2001: Message edited by: E&NRailway ]
Excellent work, your rock work looks so realistic. How did you colour the plaster? [ 02 July 2001: Message edited by: Colonel ]
Colonel The caption about the colorings Gerry used is hidden between photos 6 and 7 above: "Here is the same area with the rock castings installed, washes applied and the earth undercoat applied (acrylic Burnt Umber, Yellow Ochre, Raw Sienna, Burnt Sienna, and Mars Black washes)." Gerry FANTASTIC work !! By creating the landscape first, you are following the same steps as the surveyors, civil engineers and track gangs did when they built the real thing. Looking forward to more scenes from the layout as construction accelerates. eNjoy Don B
Gerry, you are doing a super job I really look forward to further progress photos. It is good to see a railroad developing. Keep up the good work
Thank you all for the compliments. I've had good success using the Woodlands Scenics method for rock castings. They are cast using Hydrocal Light and Woodlands rock molds. Three acrylic washes were used. 1) Burnt Umber and water 1:16 was dabbed on about 1/3 or 2/3 of the rock. 2) Yellow Ochre and water 1:16 applied the same. 3) Mars black and water 1:32 was applied to the whole rock to tie it all together. Re-apply multiple times until you get the effect you want. More Yellow wash will warm the colour and more Black wash will cool the colour. Here's a picture of a small diorama I built first and the rock colour is a little more true...
The Pacific Wilderness Railway, an excusion operator on the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway may not make it to see the 2002 season , Ohio Central has taken all but three coaches and the three GP10's, ridership on the Pacific Wilderness is down to about 90 passengers a day, alot of people have fought with CPR, VIA, and RA to get an excursion train running and it seems that we may loose it.
Well, that will be a shame if PAW folded . I had heard that it was touch and go to get financing for this year's operation. I guess this proves that there's not much attraction for a short train ride to a destination in the middle of nowhere. If it does fold however, maybe my short layout will become a classic!
Sadly, it is confirmed. This past week, the Pacific Wilderness Railway abruptly ceased operations. Insufficient passenger volume was being generated to pay Ohio Central the leasing costs for three GP10 locomotives and a number of passenger cars plus the fees to RailAmerica to operate on their Esquimalt & Nanaimo Railway track. The rolling stock will be moved north to Nanaimo, barged to the mainland, and presumeably returned to Ohio Central.
Great layout! Since I am just working on my first layout I would like to see some overall shots if possible, especially of the diaroma (sp?), so I could learn from you. It looks really nice!
