Sunday Photo Fun for 4-30-06

[Anonymous]

Awesome photos everyone!

Doug... are you still planning on building a Trolley/interurban layout? I really liked that idea. Your helper looks like he's having fun.

Greg

[cnw1995]

Yes, Greg. I've got to figure out another way to plant trolley poles (and trees for that matter) Need a sharp awl to punch through the carpet.

[Buckeye Riveter]

QUOTE: Originally posted by laz 57

Great Photos GIZ,
BUCKEYE love that hand car.
Where did you get that life like character of me fishing?
laz57

Glad you liked it LAZ.

Great photos and Colin I really liked the videos. Is that your Southern Pacific Diesels in the video?

[tmcc man]

Buckeye, they are indeed my SP F7's. I LOVE them.

[Anonymous]

That big boy is kick ***!

[Kooljock1]

Jim,

I used Dow blue foam insulation board. It comes in eight foot sheets and is around 5/16" thick. I used my keyhole hand saw to cut the board into "mountainous" profile shape.

I then took it out into the backyard and sprayed it down with a thick gloppy coat of hunter green spray paint left over from a patio furniture painting project. While the paint was still very wet, I sprinkled various shades of green ground foam onto the "mountains". After this I sprayed over one more time lightly to even out the color and fix the foam to the board.

As far as mounting the mountain goes, I force bent the board around the edges of the elevated section of track and then screwed "L" shaped brackets into the homasote base of the layout table behind the mountain. The brackets hold the board against the plywood sub-structure of the elevated track area. To remove for maintenence or just photos, they lift straight up and out!

Be sure to check for over-hang clearance with your biggest engines and cars before final installation of the "L" brackets, as I ended up with an engine full of ground foam in the cab! I used small wood shims between the mountain board and the elevated substructure to "space" out the overhang problem.

The whole project? About ten bucks and two hours start to finish!

Jon [8D]

[Jumijo]

Jon,

Thanks for the great tutorial! I had guessed that you made them from ridgid foam, based on the dimensionality that shows in the photos. You really did a great job.

I'm working on painting some backdrops now. I just might try adding some dimension to them after seeing your mountains. You made it sound so easy. I'm also going to go buy a key hole saw. I've been using a hacksaw blade.

Jim

[Kooljock1]

Jim,

Thanks. The saw was actually part of my first tool set that I got around age 7! With its pistol-grip and small size, its perfect for cutting foam of all sizes. The real secret though is coating the paint with ground foam. It really gives the mountain texture and dimension.

Jon [8D]