Am I doing it right?

[pcarrell]

Jarrell,

It'll come...give it time. Just wait until you get to doing the paper towels and you will see that it comes very quickly. You start to see those landscapes and they just kind of start forming themselves after a little while. In many ways the "lay of the land" will be dictated by the tracki layout. This is where you have to be careful that your track plan doesn't dictate a "lay of the land" that is contrary to where you are trying to model. Big honkin' cliffs might look out of place in Iowa for example. You should be good though since you are modeling the rockies. Cliffs are fine there, as is scenery that is at vastly seperated vertical levels in a very small area. Just try to throw in some areas that have a little more "slope" to them so that it doesn't look like your modeling the Matterhorn or something. [:D]

rrinker,

Ive said it before and I'll say it again,...there's just somethin' that ain't quite right with you! Arlo Guthrie indeed! [:D]

What's scarry is that not only did the tune come into my head instantly, but I realized that I actually own the album (yes, an actual album)!

[jacon12]

Its good to know, since I've never done any of it before, that I'm not alone in changing my mind.
PCarrell, I think one of my biggest stubbling blocks as been not yet having that ability to 'see' in 3D that which is not there yet. Evidently, that comes with experience? I wish I could just look at an area and visualize exactly what will go where and how it will work, but I don't have that ability.
Yet.
Thanks,
Jarrell

[pcarrell]

Hey Jarrell,

You would be astonished at the number of revisions that I go through as I build. Sometimes you just have to see the 3D version before enlightenment strikes!

I try to think of a track plan as more of a "track concept" and it seems to help. I just figure out what I want in the final layout, Get something sort of concrete on paper to represent that idea, and then lay the thing out to see where the revisions need to be. The trick is in planning the scenery along with the track. Like I said, sometimes that's easier when you have something tangable (3D) to work with.

Just remember, don't sweat the small stuff (and it's really all small stuff). Have fun!

[Anonymous]

Jarrell,

I started with a plan straight out of "Project Layouts You Can Build" by Kalmbach, and then had to make modifications as I went because the transfer of the track plan was not exact. In the end I think my layout is coming around and because of the modifications, it's more my own creation than it started off as. I think I get more satisfaction out of it because of that.

Trevor

[selector]

Hi, Jarrell. To answer your question, I can relate that in my own one-time experience, I found myself adjusting from what I had intended, but not in a large and material way. That should be of no concern to you, though, as your experience is unique. You started with one idea, and have had to mofidy it as your understanding changed. It IS natural, and necessary, to modify as needed....so keep up the good work. It'll all come clear as you progress.

Regards.

[jacon12]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rrinker

Twenty-seven 8x10 color glossy photographs with circles and arrows and a paragaraph on the back of each one explainin' what each one was...

sorry, had to do it! [:D][:D][:D][:D]

--Randy

Hey Randy!
"We walked in, sat down, Obie came in with the twenty seven eight-by-ten
colour glossy pictures with circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back
of each one, sat down. Man came in said, "All rise." We all stood up,
and Obie stood up with the twenty seven eight-by-ten colour glossy
pictures, and the judge walked in sat down with a seeing eye dog, and he
sat down, we sat down. Obie looked at the seeing eye dog, and then at the
twenty seven eight-by-ten colour glossy pictures with circles and arrows
and a paragraph on the back of each one, and looked at the seeing eye dog.
And then at twenty seven eight-by-ten colour glossy pictures with circles
and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one and began to cry,
'cause Obie came to the realization that it was a typical case of American
blind justice, and there wasn't nothing he could do about it, and the
judge wasn't going to look at the twenty seven eight-by-ten colour glossy
pictures with the circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each
one explaining what each one was to be used as evidence against us. And
we was fined $50 and had to pick up the garbage in the snow, but thats not
what I came to tell you about."
[(-D] Jarrell

[jacon12]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rrinker

Twenty-seven 8x10 color glossy photographs with circles and arrows and a paragaraph on the back of each one explainin' what each one was...

sorry, had to do it! [:D][:D][:D][:D]

--Randy

Isn't that from a song from the '60s.. something about a 'group w bench' in it too? By a guy named Guthrie maybe? [?][8D]

[jacon12]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Tim_Seawel

Jarrell, what photo editing program do you use to draw the lines and arrows on the photo's you show us?

Thanks Tim

Tim, I use Photoshop. I've been using it for years and its just an easy way for me because I'm so familar with it. Not an expert though.
Jarrell

[jacon12]

PCarrell, I think the towels will be the easier too. Now if I can just get the track reconfigured after moving the mainline around, run trains on it a while to see if anything is wrong, I'll be ready to lay some cork.
Tell me though, is it in the natural progression of these things to change your mind, tear things out, move them over, or do most people have a firm, set-in-concrete plan and stick to it?
Jarrell

[rrinker]

Twenty-seven 8x10 color glossy photographs with circles and arrows and a paragaraph on the back of each one explainin' what each one was...

sorry, had to do it! [:D][:D][:D][:D]

--Randy

[Tim_Seawel]

Jarrell, what photo editing program do you use to draw the lines and arrows on the photo's you show us?

Thanks Tim

[pcarrell]

Jarrell,

You're right on the money! I think what you've got going will not only be more pleasing to the eye but will be easier to scenic.

The paper towels are the way to go too.

[jacon12]

I did.. I did.. I made sure to not end/beginning of the incline on curves and I've left room for some straight track also.
Boy, this is challenging to get it right.. and I still don't but I'm a workin' on it.
Grande Opening..whew.. it's a long way off..[sigh]
But that's ok, I'm having fun with it.
Jarrell

[grandeman]

Jerrell, this is gonna be a cool RR. When should we all be there for the grand (or as I prefer, Grande) opening?

One quick school-of-hard-knocks tip from our previous layout. Give yourself a little "straight and level" after the incline before the first curve. This will help prevent derailments with finescale models.

[oleirish]

[bow][C):-)][2c][tup][wow]Jarrell;
Looks good,I never throught of taking things of the board to work on them,I'am like everyone else I'd be up on a char reaching back to the rear with big belly into every thing.
AGAIN GOOD WORK[dinner]Will be wateing for more pictures[^]
JIM

[jacon12]

QUOTE: Originally posted by selector

Jarrell, I like what you have shown us and what I read! You are definitely on the right... approach.

When you cover the risers, have something built up on the outward side of the tracks (at the lip of the downslpe) so that your plaster cloth or towels drape over them. They should form cuts or low rock faces left over from blasting out the grade and railbed. So, left-over bits of foam will do, here and there, some longer than others, and create the varied and interesting terrain that you will never quite believe you built, and for which others will give you full and amazed credit. It might be slow and painstaking, this part, but you will find it immensely rewarding when you can finally step back and watch that Shay lumber up that unique mountainside.

You're doing great!!!!!

Thanks, I like 'full and amazed' ! Things are coming along, sloooowly but surely. One thing I've learned is it takes time, and if you don't take your time you'll probably be sorry down the road. Its fun trying to out-think it.
I appreciate the tips, Crandell
Jarrell

[selector]

Jarrell, I like what you have shown us and what I read! You are definitely on the right... approach.

When you cover the risers, have something built up on the outward side of the tracks (at the lip of the downslpe) so that your plaster cloth or towels drape over them. They should form cuts or low rock faces left over from blasting out the grade and railbed. So, left-over bits of foam will do, here and there, some longer than others, and create the varied and interesting terrain that you will never quite believe you built, and for which others will give you full and amazed credit. It might be slow and painstaking, this part, but you will find it immensely rewarding when you can finally step back and watch that Shay lumber up that unique mountainside.

You're doing great!!!!!

[jacon12]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ukguy

2032 will be a good year, by then I'll be relaxing on a beach, under palm trees sippin on a margareety and doodling my xxth layout plans, ahhhh, but I digress. All that you say makes sense to me Jacon and seems to be the right way to go(I am no expert, dont quote me on it) I would definately go with the hydrocal towels to save ballast but for any areas that need filling you could use the styrene beads that are filler material in beanbags, lightweight and cheap.

Looking good, glad you decided to keep the incline in the end.

Have fun & be safe,
Karl.

Hey there Carl, I was just kiddin about being finished in 2032... lets see.. I'll be about 90 then. Come to think of it, I just might make it.
Have fun on the beach!
Jarrell

[ereimer]

sounds , and looks great . covering the top of the incline/riser with plaster/papertowel is the method mentioned in the WS manual (and can be sanded to s very flat level surface for mounting your roadbed) , which i just found while doing some reorganizing of my bookshelf . did you know there's a manual ? did you know there's also a how-to video ? of course they recommend so many WS products that to follow the instructions exactly would bankrupt anyone less than bill gates or donald trump , but i haven't heard that they're model railroaders anyway


ughhh just had some thoughts about where we'd be right now if bill gates had been into model trains instead of computers ... trust me , we don't want to go there

[rrinker]

Looks good to me. And I would have never thought to take the whole setup off the layout like that, I would have leaned over on a chair getting it all lined up from the top. Great idea!

--Randy

[ukguy]

2032 will be a good year, by then I'll be relaxing on a beach, under palm trees sippin on a margareety and doodling my xxth layout plans, ahhhh, but I digress. All that you say makes sense to me Jacon and seems to be the right way to go(I am no expert, dont quote me on it) I would definately go with the hydrocal towels to save ballast but for any areas that need filling you could use the styrene beads that are filler material in beanbags, lightweight and cheap.

Looking good, glad you decided to keep the incline in the end.

Have fun & be safe,
Karl.

[jacon12]

I'm working on the incline ... again..... the one you see up against the sky backdrop..

A lot of you are familiar with it already..[;)]
The idea now is to put a little curve or meander in the track to make it a little more interesting. I've taken it off the layout and down to the floor so that I can better see the curvature I'm putting in the incline..

and since this is my first time working with incline, roadbed and track I was wondering if I'm proceeding right. I'm going to outline the position of the incline on the foam base and glue it down, wait a day or two, do the same with the roadbed... trying to get it centered.. and then do the flex track except I won't glue it down now but I will hold it in position with T pins.
Curving the track lets me get some 'hills' behind the track in places like 'A' and will allow me to carve away more of the front edge in places like 'B' to get away from the straight look. I'm also thinking that it would be better to use hydrocal soaked paper towels brought up the the roadbed (like at 'C') so that I don't lose a ton of ballast down in between the WS risers/inclines.
How am I doing so far?
BTW, I think I'll be done with this layout in about.... oh...2032 [:D]
Jarrell
Jarrell