Big John:
This is the first time I have viewed your thread and I am impressed indeed! The city scene is something like what I want to do in my yet to be started layout, and seeing the way you have done things is an inspiration.
Well done!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Thank you very much Crandell. I did pack alot into it as I am trying to get everything I can. A Yard, enough switiching to keep me busy, and rural and urban feel to it, along with a little mountains..... just depends which way your looking
Best Regards, Big John
Kiva Valley Railway- Freelanced road in central Arizona. Visit the link to see my MR forum thread on The Building of the Whitton Branch on the Kiva Valley Railway
I think it is a grand effort, John, and it looks like a great solution for your circumstances. It looks convincing....everything fits, it looks natural and realistic. Very nicely done!
-Crandell
I havent done much major, but been havign slowly bringing the scenery along, buildings and weathing rolling stock. I think the next project this summer is to finally finish off the wraps for the ends. Been putting it off.
Here's the Kiva Valley today.
DavidH66 I think you have a magazine quality layout there! Also I think a small littles barrier around the edge of the layout would help, cause it looks like a long fall for any train that tips over on the outer portions of the layout.
I think you have a magazine quality layout there!
Also I think a small littles barrier around the edge of the layout would help, cause it looks like a long fall for any train that tips over on the outer portions of the layout.
Wow, thank you. I am not sure if its magazine quality.. But I will take it as magazine quality in terms of effort. I am pretty proud I squeezed in as much railroad as I did in the main room. I admit, I really need to finish off the foam. Some kind of this valance. Just havent gotten there yet. While it is a long way down, never had a problem with falling off, as it is a steep curve. So if there is a issue, its get dragged in. That said. I am very careful and avoid long pushes. Dont wont squeeze one off.
Now that you mention it, you gave me an idea, some thing plexiglass would work well. And I could paint the bottom to act as a valance, then maybe add 1" up to keep them from falling off.
Mind is spinning now. Thanks David
selector Hey, Big John, it's really good to see you posting again, but also to learn that you are well and still enjoying the hobby now and then. Welcome back. -Crandell
Hey, Big John, it's really good to see you posting again, but also to learn that you are well and still enjoying the hobby now and then. Welcome back.
dknelson Hey John, thanks for the update old friend. So good to hear you still have your hand in the game. I don't know if we'll ever go railfanning again but it's good to see you're still doing fine work on a layout. Dave Nelson
Hey John, thanks for the update old friend. So good to hear you still have your hand in the game. I don't know if we'll ever go railfanning again but it's good to see you're still doing fine work on a layout.
Dave Nelson
Gentlmen, great to see you guys. Yes, while the hands are busy with life, I am still very much in the game. Either working on a building, or scenery (I admit, I am slowing down on it as I am running out of stuff to do) or trying my hand at weathering with powders, which happens to be my latest enjoyment.
Dave, I am trying. I a might find myself in Michigan this summer for a work related trip again. Its a bit of a stretch, but it be a bit closer :) Ill keep you posted if I am heading east
Well, well.... sure has been a long long time. I admit, life has been hectic, but well. I havent spent as much time on the layout as I like, but none the less, still working away on all sorts of train projects.. Major steps foward? Working on my main street. Never had one before but it is coming along. Buldings need finished, then settle in for the details, both, in and out.
Also on my plan is to improve the lighting and a back drop. I do live in a small 1 bedroom and this more or less, becomes the key display, being over top on my "entertainment center". That said, lighting, back drop and finishing off the edgeing of the foam to clean it up, will make a huge difference.
I picked up a nice display case from favorite train shop closing. Owner was selling everything and I asked. Being a faithful shopper for 10 years, he gave me a good deal. Really helps finish the front room, hence the desire now to clean up the layout for more presentation as major construction is over.
Happy rails!
That spray pack paint your using for the ballast really does the job well. Every time I peek on this thread there seems to be more and more to like.I see you have done some landscaping as well.
Nice work John
Cheers...
Chris from down under...
We're all here because we're not all there...
mwcohio You really have done alot with the space you have, looks great. Have Fun!
You really have done alot with the space you have, looks great. Have Fun!
Thank you again. The kinds words are encouraging.
Well, I finally, came to peace with my yard. It is short, but I was able to get in a extra track for 3 more cars, and added an extra spur for an engine. With the yard design, and placement done, I finally did some scenery. Knowing that this layout could be tempoary too, I wont be ballasting tracks... maybe later, but for now, I did my usaly, base coat of gray laetx paint, then hit it with a sprinkle coat of flake paint, or Krylon's "Make it Stone".
With the tracks back in and lined up, I did the scenery between the tracks. and a little around the back.
With that done, I started to line up the yard facilities. Nothing set in stone but I found this great roof piece from a old kit that makes a great parking lot. I can glue that done and change yard buildings out if I find something else. Parking lot, yard office, small tower, rail road stuff and maintence equipment shed will be used here. I haven't figured out the exact placement of items but this is the beginning.
And just a nice "airplane, birds eye view"
http://mwcohio.blogspot.com
I'm digging it, I found the same issue with mine...I still like the abstractedness and motion of a train doing laps. I'm digging the dogbone look, very nice indeed!
Sawyer Berry
Clemson University c/o 2018
Building a protolanced industrial park layout
Thank you guys, and welcome aboard David.
I havent done too much lately. I really did slow down on layout progress as my "train time, I have been busy running on trains or or working on some rolling stock issues. fixing broken couplers, missing brake wheels, etc. Mostly from the move a few years ago. I did get the yard finishd, I will have some pictures up later today.
Tyson- Welcome to trains.com!
Darren (BLHS & CRRM Lifetime Member)
Delaware and Hudson Virtual Museum (DHVM), Railroad Adventures (RRAdventures)
My Blog
This is a great thread. You really managed to maximize the limited amount of space you have to still enjoy switching and have a loop. All in HO scale too? Kudos.
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Thank you David,
It is HO scale.
Very nice! I love the mountain and retaining wall.
Is this N scaled (I wasn't entirely paying attention at the start.
My thoughts exactly, switching layouts are nice but they are even nicer if you can turn em on and watch em run when you want to. Any lay out I build will have a continuous run option if I can find a way to squeeze it in. In your case the radius was less than you wanted but you made do and you are enjoying the rail fanning. Also real railroads had some rather sharp curves in cities so it is not that far fetched that you would as well.
Nice progress.
Yea, I know about sitting back and sipping a brew while watching the trains run. Looking forward to seeing some more work done.
Ken
I hate Rust
Made some progress. I got my corner "mountain" all finished. Well, foam work is done and now Im planning some scenery work and some rock work, via sculpt-a-mold. But for the time being, I am happy with the over all look. I made it completly removable so it wil be easy to work on later.
Also finished my first car project in a loong time. I actually did somethign intersting and was able to find the actual car listed in rrpicturesarchive.net. I decided to weather it around 2009, to match the prototype. Which, really was just a fade. By 2010, it appears the SP logo was painted out and replaced with the UP patch. Ugh, I went withthe 2009 look. I have no easy access to my airbrush so I attempted the redneck airbrush using spray paint cans. Light fading look with primer gray and dusting of red primer on top to simulate the rust.
cudaken Good looking little layout you have going. Glad to see you added a roundly round. I get bored with just switching. Cuda Ken
Good looking little layout you have going. Glad to see you added a roundly round. I get bored with just switching.
Cuda Ken
Yeah.. I agree. All though, I never get bored with switching...but that is part of the problem. Sometimes its more work than I want after a long day of real work. I so miss coming, getting a nice beverage and watching a train run. I suppose its a version of my happy hour.
I tinkered so more with the layout. I have my city congestion/industrial look in the middle and one end, i have the country feel with the feed and grain stroage along with some houses. On the other I have the yard taking up a lot of space but I have corner where I wanted to put in some scenery... So, One small mountian, with my favorite pine tress. I found by using the retaining wall, I could raise it up taller, but still keeping some flat space for scenery and trees. Still tinkering around with it, but I think Im getting there.
BEAR,
Indeed I did. It was the paint scheme I came up with for my Kiva Valley Railway. They were all undecorated models, (hence the hectic mix of rolling stock) but I got great deals on them and adds to the fun of the story behind my rail road.
Congrats! It's looking good. I do have a question abou the pic of the locos. Did you paint them yoursef?
Bear "It's all about having fun."
MonkeyBucket Wow!!! So much progress. Looking good and it must be good to have trains running around again.
Wow!!! So much progress. Looking good and it must be good to have trains running around again.
Oh MonkeyBucket.. it is a great feeling. I have been digging all my cars on running them for the first time in 2 and 1/2 years. I have found myself saying over and over again. "Oh yah!" as I dug out cars and blow the dust off the engines.
Even with the bigger layout space, I have more room for structures and buildings. I have been diving into my boxes of buildings from old layout that I had in the garage and trying to figure out what I want to do. That light green supply building next to the white feed mill was one my favorite buildings and it is so great to have it out.