OK.
I have structures, level crossing materials, track in place and running smoothly.
What is the common wisdom on the sequence? I am thinking
1. ballasting
2. placing structures
3. create roadways to the townsite/downtown
4. telephone poles
5. ground cover (don't want to place structures on top of grass and tumble weeds. (modelling semi-arid) and cut it away...better to bring grass and weeds etc. up to structure foundations after structures are in place??
6. individual veggies, trees etc.
7. last minute trackside and town site details...garbage cans, etc., mileage signs, static signals etc.
I kind of have so many balls up in the air that I am paralyzed by indecision.
Congratulations on "running smoothly"!!
I'd agree with the ballasting as the next step. It has to be done, and you want all of your ballast to look the same. If you do some ballasting now and then buy another bag a year from now it might not be the same color.
Adding structures and related details is one of the favorite parts for me. There is no reason why you can't place buildings, ground-cover, and details on one area of the layout. If you place those structures along that spur, for example, it will be much more pleasurable to spot some cars in there. The whole layout doesn't have to develop on one step-by-step plan, especially if you have operations well in hand. When I finished ballasting (which is a messy and time-consuming task for me) I decided to build a couple structure kits (one of the "best" tasks in my view) to reward myself for getting that done.
Most of all though, when feeling "overwhelmed" by all the tasks: DO Something. The little improvements will add up but if things just sit it can result in some loss of interest.
Bill
Chip
Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.
I always ballast LAST, so the ballast covers up ay rough edges of the scenery near the track.
SpaceMouse wrote:IT's just me, but I like to get the scenery done ASAP as much as I can without encroaching on my buildings. Then I build the structure, paint it to match the location, and set it into place, then I add the landscaping and details to get that section done. Then I repeat with the next one.
with two t's
Pretty much the same except that I definately prefer to let the track settle in (and get adjusted if necessary) for several hundred passes of train or six months, whichever comes first, BEFORE ballasting. Then I do minor scenery touchup near the ballast.
Track or base may move and you want the track bullet proof before you lock it into place with ballast.
Just my inflationary three cents.
Karl
The mind is like a parachute. It works better when it's open. www.stremy.net