Dec issue

[Marty Cozad]

Just bought an issue and the artical was very good. great photos and lots of good info on how HE built it. Very good time managing on his side.

They even had a LS photo in trackside photos, which used to be my favorite part of the magazine. 

[Ray Dunakin]

I have a few scale plants that I made from parts of artificial flowers from Michaels. The look good, easy to make, and have been outdoors for well over a year without any damage. I'm still experimenting with some other things. When I know more, I plan to write up an article on the subject.

[dwbeckett]

and have come up with some promising artificial plants that should work reasonably well

what did you find " if it's artificial it will work indoors"

Marty the Rod S layout is in the Dec issue

[Ray Dunakin]

Building and maintaining a model railroad outdoors is definitely in a class by itself, with some very unique challenges. In my case, I'm a scale scenery nut. Detailed, realistic scenery and structures have always been my primary focus. One of the things that kept me away from outdoor model railroading before was the concern that I couldn't have the kind of scenery I've always wanted in a model railroad. Fortunately, the climate in San Diego is mild enough that I don't have to deal with heavy rain or snow, and only get a few leaves from the neighbors' trees. Modeling the rocky desert terrain I love so much helps too.

So far, I'm enjoying the real-world aspects of modeling outdoors. I've had to solve some interesting problems, such as providing access into long tunnels under mountains that aren't hollow plaster shells. Scale foliage is another one -- I'm making do with a few very small live plants, and have come up with some promising artificial plants that should work reasonably well in an outdoor environment.

Building large scale structures with real stone and concrete is fun too, as is floating track on ballast just like the "big trains" do.

I've had to accept some compromises but overall I'm pleased with the amount of realism that can be achieved despite the challenges. And nothing beats the look of real sunlight (and moonlight!) on a model railroad. Eventually structures will decay or be damaged, but I can cope with that.

[gardenengineer]

Its not.... doing yard work and enjoying your favorite hobby at the same time.

[imrnjr]

Marty --

I'm retired, and I build as much as I can based on the money generally saved and the "hands-on" satisfaction, but sometimes when it's a really prominent scene and I just don't have the skills needed to make it look right  ..... well, that's when I default to the checkbook!

Given the weather in my part of Texas is pretty mild, just maybe 15 to 21 days that are really cold/wet/and or terribly windy from now to mid March, I get to continue building and landscaping .... you may just have to wait till 10 or 12 o'clock to do concrete or mortar work and cover it with thermal blankets overnight if there's a frost warning out. 

With that said, to learn new skills here.... well pick a project and get started!!  Waiting till you get a number of inside only days just delays the completion.

My only problem is I get too many going at the same time!! Then it just seems to take forever to complete any one of them! 

Different subject, but really like the look of the yard your building.  

Mark

[LGBtrains1963]

Marty I'm just like you, I have 25 LGB engines and I have worked for everyone of them, I had a huge HO scale collection that I had collected from 1967 to 1984 and I sold every bit of it to just to go G scale in 1985 and I have been there ever since... I love this scale and will never go back to any of the smaller scales... I also agree that some people take things and twist it to fit there needs, I stated in one of my post on here that we as G scalers all should share our hobby with others to help build this hobby up and bring new blood in to it, I also had a negitive reply from someone.. There is no question on this forum that is stupid no matter what the question is. As the old saying goes 9 out of 10 will agree that 1 out of 10 will disagree...  We all have our own ways to model trains and we should respect each other in that fact, if it was not for all of us we would not have any G scale trains! No one would make them, Just a thought.........................   

[Marty Cozad]

Its funny, I'm just a normal Joe who works alot of extra hours to afford to buy more trains. i often wonder if I was "rich" what would be different.

 

I was at Erics O. house yesterday and we was talking about how folks view things so different.

What we deam valuable. In 13 years I've spent around $8,000 worth of track and still don't have enough to do what I want.

I buy alot of stuff but over the years have gotten bord with whats on the market so that in its self pushed me into learning to weld bridges and scratchbuild cars.

 

Last night I chated with Ed H. and he asked me ,"what will he do all winter beings he can't work on his RR?"

 

Thats when you start to learn how to grow in other areas. Some of us welcome winter simply cause you have more time to practice and learn skills.

Its a year round hobby. 

 

[Anonymous]

I did not mean for this to start an arguement. 

Marty, I know what you mean. The way I took it was that you were NOT putting down his RR nor the scale/gauge. You were just showing, in a poetic way, your love/passion/nearly spiritual relationship (maybe obsession)with big, robust trains that are in the challenging environment of the great outdoors. To me, Marty, when I read your articles & view your layout, well...!!!!!!  Some day I just hope I can make the trek westward to the North Table Creek RR to witness your poetry in motion firsthand. 

Just my worth. 

Jeff, the Hoosiergscaler

 

[imrnjr]

Marty -- I believe what you do with the trains are / is amazing.  I would truly like to visit and talk with you on the various merits of different construction methods and realistically assess what i'd have to do or pay to get to the quality of your road. 

But just 'cause some one pays for versus builds.... well we all have warts and carbuncles and some of us are not gifted with hands or minds that lend themselve to craftmanship ... or some semblence thereof including me ....

my Dad would never work on a car...but he delighted in me doing it.  he never would go hunting for anything other than birds, but he encouraged me to hunt anyhting I thought I was capable of going after.... just 'cause you didn't build it don't make it bad.....

Mark

[devils]

Its just not,,, outdoor model railroading!! 

 

Marty, there isn't a barn big enough for your railroad and You'd need planning permission to build Rods skyscrapers in G.

Some of us make do with HO for modern trains as it's the only way we can fit them in! I buy the magazines to see layouts like yours and dream while I get on and build my Swiss HOm and British OO and US HO layouts, ah I get it I've got too many interests. 

I too wondered how much he did himself and was very impressed by his work, just a shame he didn't use all that space for scenery.

 Keep taming the outdoors Marty.

[FJ and G]

off topic, Marty, enjoyed your honorable mention photo in Dec GRR 07, it was without any doubt the most realistic looking of the batch (I don't model modern at all but nonetheless impressive)

[Marty Cozad]

You have a good memory, I was teaching him, I cut it, layed it out ,and tacked a lot of it so he would not mess it up. Now he welds his own projects that he designs.

 

I did not mean for this to start an arguement. 

 

Dave everything you have is older than me,heheeh 

[Curmudgeon]

I got an old truck.

And it's a Ford.

And, it's older than you, Marty!

[Anonymous]

Like the photo of your son welding one of your bridges? He did it not you.

Toad in da Swamp

[Marty Cozad]

Its not a wrong thing, just would like to know.

Kind like me listening to folks talk about how they built their new house. then smile when i know who really built the house. 

When some one ask me about my new engine, I say its an Aristo engine.

But

 the scratchbuilt cars , I built them....

 

OH, you got a new truck, yea, its a Ford.

 

Thats why I like going to old car shows where many of the folks spent years rebuilding (with some help) a work of ART.

[Anonymous]

"see how much of it he worked on vs paid for" - Ain't it his RR Cozad? Who cares?

Toad

[Marty Cozad]

...of Model railroader.

 I had asked my wife to keep an eye out for the next issue of MR so I can see Rod S. RR and see how much of it he worked on vs paid for.

But It was the Nov issue.

 I looked through it 3 times,,,,but

??

 

?? Its just not outside..

 

I look at the beautiful work, but its not real dirt with real plants that grow, with rain that makes it a mess, its not that cold 15 degree day with fresh fallen snow and snow plows clearing the line.

 

Its just not the wind blowing those ^%$^$#%#^$^ leaves all over the line.

 

Its just not the natural sun set with rays of yellow light shining throught the trees and the moon raises in the east early fall.

 

Its just ,,, cheating when tring to build structures to with stand 102 degree days, and 45 MPH winds.

 

Its not just concrete abutments supporting the 66 pounds of locos as it pulls that 150 pds train.

 

Its just not,,, outdoor model railroading!!