I am doing a small 4x6 layout to practice on. I haven't heard of anyone doing such small practice pieces that would be used on a layout later. Some do small pieces that can be interchanged with others in a certain spot to change era or just change the look of the layout occasionally. A piece of 1/4" plywood, masonite or some such would make a good base and come up with a way to hide the seams.
You might try doing 2'x2' or 2'x4' sections and use the modular idea. Have your track all line up so that if you liked the results you could add it to the layout and your layout would grow. Also, this way you wouldn't have to change the track unless you really needed to.
Just a thought.
Have fun,
Years ago when I lived with my parents, I had an area on my wooden book shelf that was approximately 34" x 12". I decided to experiment in creating a diorama.
I laid a double track mainline next to a small yard area that was also a crew change point. The yard was composed of 4 tracks that "supposedly" led to the end of a ladder pattern. I used an old Tyco freight house that was weathered as a yard office. I littered scrap pieces of ties, rail, and debris around the structure.
The ground was covered in a Georgia clay-red earth that completely covered the track ties in the yard. I liked how the yard trackage looked with only the rails being visible. The material wasn't from Woodland Scenics but a company that I think is now likely gone.
Since the shelf's backboard was already white, I painted a blue sky with latex paint in a sporadic "side-to-side"pattern. When finished, the white sections look like Cirrus clouds.
Next, I installed telephone poles along the mainline and used ordinary black sewing thread strung between the poles. (talk about cheap!).
I felt that it was not big deal since I didn't have a layout. But I was amazed at the compliments I received from my family and visitors regarding the realism.
I went a step further and hooked up a powerpack so that I could test run my locomotives.
To me it seems like yesterday, but that was about 32 years ago.
"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"
I'm thinking about trying out various scenery techniques before building a layout, including track and structures. Areas around 20"x10". I was planning on using spline roadbed, so some partial substructure would be needed to support the scenery.
Obviously, if it turns out bad, I recycle what I can and trash the rest. But if it turns out good, I'm wondering how it can be used in the layout; how the track roadbed and substructure can be tied into the layout latter. Has anyone tried something like this?
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading