Priorities

[Anonymous]

I am modelling in On30 on open grid and risers with plaster over formers.
It seems to me that if I constructed a coloured shell base with no detail then laid the track and then detail you would save a lot of covering up and end up with a more natural result ?????
ta Ruprect

[jhugart]

This approach -- scenery first, then track -- was suggested by one of the hobby greats. It works fine if you don't run trains so heavy that they need special subroadbed.

What happens is that you have to grade the scenery much as a real railroad does. Suppose you construct some hilly terrain, and want to put in track. You will need to cut and fill, and make sure you have the subroadbed support. It might be difficult to do some stuff with the terrain in place, even undetailed (imagine installing track inside a mountain).

Your hope is that following prototype sequencing will result in a more realistic look, but there's no guarantee.

[DSchmitt]

On my current RR (On30), I but down the roadbed then built rough scenery around it (the basic form with coloring and texturing, but not detailed), then laid the track.

I did have a little trouble snaking the flex track through one narow canyon, but it all worked out OK.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the replies. I will probably go track then scenery in the yard areas then visa versa where more plaster is involved. Think I will also do a couple of trial runs to get the technique right. That should sort it out too.
All the best for Christmas.