Rick all of them look like junk. Cut your losses. I'll be by tonight to pick them all up so you will never have to look at them again!:teeth: No they are looking great.
Nick, I am sure yours will turn out well, too. I still surprise myself with my terra forming. Will get the station track laid tomorrow at the work party. But, except for ballast, will probably focus on the desert module between now and the show next month.
The other cool thing about modules is you can take them out for photo shoots. MC has some very nice examples in his threads.
MC came over again and we got the rest of the track laid. Bullfrogs are all installed (with the frogs wired), but still need to drop track feeders on each section. Not much else will be happening for another week, as need to move youngest daughter Sacramento to start grad school this weekend Here's a long view (pins still in track while caulk dries) Overhead shot of right side Overhead shot of left side
+1 ! The coloring looks really, REALLY good. I've hacked and carved at that kind of foam for years and haven't been able to get the detail and "rightness" of the surface effects you have. Rick, thanks for taking the time to document your build with photos. It helps show how these fantastic modules come to life. Some of MC must be rubbing off (in a good way, of course) NCDaveD
The module set is coming along nicely! I hope to be at the show with my first module too. My sons have been talking about this show for months. I'm a step behind you though, I've laid the cork and next is the track. Keep posting progress photos, they are encouraging.
I ran my first loco on the modules this morning. A Kato Mikado, DC (haven't converted yet to DCC) and it has just been sitting on a dead track next to my roundhouse. [video=youtube_share;VbczPnEcnkY]http://youtu.be/VbczPnEcnkY[/video]
Rick, I can't weight to see this in person!!!! Nick Lorusso Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free
Looks good Rick. I'm working on a much smaller module (1 to 2 track). I spent 6 hours today working on the track, switch mechanism and wiring. How have you wired your sidings? Is each track insulated at the turnout and a separate feeder for each track? I really should know the answer but it's better to ask then have a non-functional module on show day!
Each track is wired separately, and, of course, on each section. The switches are gapped with powered frogs, controlled by the micro switches on the bullfrogs. On the two station end sections, the two outer rails are continuous (the diverging rails from the first switch). I dropped the feeders around the center of each section / module.
You're using hand made turnouts, right? I'm using Atlas code 55. It's gapped on both sides of the frog, is that like yours? I don't think I need to use any additional insulators or gapping but I could be wrong. Since I'll be laying that part of the track soon, I'd like to get it right!
Correct on both accounts. Just make sure that whatever you use to control your turnouts powers the frog correctly.
I'm using the New Rail Models "Blue Point". http://www.newrailmodels.com/ Thanks for the reminder about powering the frog, I probably would have forgotten!
Started fully laying out the ghost town of San Felipe on the desert module, today. Got some "seconds" from Randy at Downtown Deco to use as ruins, plus you can see the Frijole Flats depot, and the new Fifer Organ Models ruin. Lots of details to complete of course I also got the ballast down. Glue was just applied in these photos. Will let dry overnight.
Thanks, guys. I got the first set of ruins weathered, and placed some foundation stones, nothing glued yet. Sheriff and gas station only primed
Not to be too nosy, but what kind of vegetation are you going to use on this module. Also, not to but in, but for the best coloring, you may want to get some of the weathering powders from Arizona Rock and Mineral. It is a very fascinating scene you have planned!
Vegetation: am going to plant some more of the yuccas that I made following Mike Fifer's technique, and two saguaro right near the depot, so that it is clear they have been planted and not natural. Other than that, some grass along the two end plates, Calif gold and burnt, with just a hint of green at the very edge, to transition in from other modules, and then just some random Silfor or ball of twine tufts to be the occasional tumbleweed, or growth along the track at the edge of the ballast. All will be very sparse. I have both Bragdon and ARM weathering colors available, and am planning to use as appropriate. Plan to place two coyote on, one on each formation. Need to maybe get a skull to have placed out in the flat. Would love if there were a prospector with burro . Haven't figured out how to do n-scale lizards and rattlers yet. LOL
