anybody model florida?

[Anonymous]

I've noticed over the years that nobody seems to model the south, especially florida. Even people who live there don't base the layouts they build on the local terrain.

[Medina1128]

What terrain? Just kidding. I've never give it much thought. Maybe the south doesn't have the romance of the coal fields of Pennsylvania or West Virginia, or the grand majesty of the Rockies or Sierras. Or maybe no one's ever sucessfully modeled the flat boredom of west Texas or the tedium of planting all that swamp grass of Louisiana or Florida. Just a couple of thoughts.... [:o)]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by vaiomega1

I've noticed over the years that nobody seems to model the south, especially florida. Even people who live there don't base the layouts they build on the local terrain.

I lived in Florida for about 1 year a long time ago, in the Delray Beach / Boca Raton / Ft. Lauderdale area. In my limited experience of Florida life, my impression of railroading in Florida was the main line of the F.E.C. running along I-95 or the Dixie Hwy. Lots of grade crossings. Very long freights. No industries, few sidings (that I noticed back then anyway), nothing but through trains (never saw a train stop once), and dead flat of course - the best vantage points for almost anything were the highway overpasses.

Not exactly the most exciting railroad geography to model, but I guess it would make a good N-Trak module or two [:D]

[eng22]

People may be afraid to model Florida because of the hurricaines![:D]

[Medina1128]

Loosely construct your buildings, turn on one of those industrial fans.. Instant Florida.. Puu an M-80 in an old wooden box in your garage, light it, run and close the door. Instant debris for modeling hurricane scenery.

[MisterBeasley]

Not to say there isn't some fine modelling being done IN Florida. While visiting my in-laws, I also got to visit the layout of the Treasure Coast Model Railroad Club in Fort Pierce. They were building an interesting hydro-electric dam, with a scale height that probably exceed the entire range of elevation in the state.

[tstage]

I grew up and lived in FL for the first 21 years of my life. I have often thought about how exactly I would model Spanish moss if my layout were based in the south. I would think that small diameter gray thread tangled together might work. Unforutately, I'm not sure if it woud be to scale. You'd proabably go through several spools of thread in order to get the desired effect. (Something else to get tangled around your locomotive wheel axles.) I would think that the coast line would be much easier to model than that interior or swampy areas for FL.

Tom

[egmurphy]

A while back MR had a feature on a layout that modeled the FEC through the Florida Keys. It was really well done. I think you could do something interesting modeling the orange groves in the Indian River area, and long strings of reefers headed north.

Saves a lot on hydrocal if you don't need much in the way of hills. More money left over to spend on rolling stock......


Ed

[jacon12]

This question reminds me of what I used to think of modeling my home state of Georgia. I thought how boring could that be. Then in the pages of MR, either this year of the last part of last year, there was a layout... beautifully done.. of a town in Georgia so small even most Georgians never heard of it, complete with tracks and the whole nine yards. I guess a really good modeler can model anywhere and it would look great.
Jarrell

[leighant]

for your information:
FLORIDA EAST COAST KEY WEST EXTENSION
Cal Winter HO layout: "Modeling the Railroad that Went to Sea"
ModRRer Feb 2001 p.60