Layouts and layout building

I know this was posted a while ago, but...

Most likely the gray on the ties is a combination of ballast dust and glue. You can easily remove this from the ties by rubbing them with a scrap piece of cork or a rubber eraser.

Randy 

Idaho Trains wrote:

Here are a few more update images - I have the tunnel constructed now. I have more work to go, but any useful comments are welcome? Image 1 - framework covered by tape

The tunnels are very toylike, and that's because they're isolated lumps. A prototype railroad, confronted by these cliffs, would likely go around them, not spend the money and time to bore through them.

Real hills or mountains generally blend into the surrounding terrain, and these look like they were simply plopped on top of it. You might fix the problem somewhat by making the existing hill shorter and then adding "more" of it inside the parallel curved track (so it looks like the cruve goes through a cut). Adding more downslope near the tunnel portals--not upslope, as you have now--will help it blend in, too.

And, yes, the sky is very dark.

Midnight Railroader wrote:

You probably don't want to hear this, but you asked: The tunnels are very toylike, and that's because they're isolated lumps. A prototype railroad, confronted by these cliffs, would likely go around them, not spend the money and time to bore through them. Real hills or mountains generally blend into the surrounding terrain, and these look like they were simply plopped on top of it. You might fix the problem somewhat by making the existing hill shorter and then adding "more" of it inside the parallel curved track (so it looks like the cruve goes through a cut). Adding more downslope near the tunnel portals--not upslope, as you have now--will help it blend in, too. And, yes, the sky is very dark.

MR,

Thank you for you input, I know the tunnel is a little on the small side, but I only have so much room to make it work. Actually if you look at some of the other images you will see that there is more hills added to the tunnel. I will post some new images soon that show the rocks and trees added. It is actually starting to look more realistic.

What do you mean by

Midnight Railroader wrote:

Adding more downslope near the tunnel portals--not upslope, as you have now--will help it blend in, too.

I am going to lighten the sky once I am finished making my mess with the tunnel scenery.

Thank you,

Jeff

Not sure if it will but this video on how to ballast might help.

It is free by the way.

http://fsm100.googlepages.com