Grizzly Valley N scale layout

[RWSlater]

Well it’s time for another Grizzly Valley update. Can we say still working on the logging camp and pond area.  I swear someday I will finish the camp. I am enjoying the process even if it feels like it takes me forever to do it.  I weathered all the buildings in the camp now. I painted the roofs with Vallejo dark rust and light rust. Then gave the buildings and roofs washes of oiled earth and European dust. Then I used some slime grime dark and streaking grime in some spots. Over all I am very happy with how they turned out.

 

 

I also managed to put down my sand and grout mix for the first layer of the base for the camp.

 

 

I installed my log sled and then applied some sculpt-a-mold around it. I used some rocks from my drive way to make some cliff faces.  I used some watery plaster to pour the pond bottom. I plan to use Woodland scenic’s deep pour water in the pond when I am ready.

 

Again thanks for stopping by to take a look.

Robert

[swisstrain]

Things always take longer than we think ...  I hope that I will be making some progress on my own layout this weekend.

Very nice job on the logging camp, I like the weathering, just to the right degree.  Clearly aged, but buildings are functional.  Looking forward to see you pour the water into that pond.

Keep it going!

[RWSlater]

swisstrain

Things always take longer than we think ...  I hope that I will be making some progress on my own layout this weekend.

Very nice job on the logging camp, I like the weathering, just to the right degree.  Clearly aged, but buildings are functional.  Looking forward to see you pour the water into that pond.

Keep it going!

 

 

I will keep my fingers crossed that you make some progress on the layout. thanks for the kind words.

Robert

[RWSlater]

Well Its time for another exciting update for the grizzly.  I finished up the ground cover for the lumber camp. Now I just have to pain up some figurers and some other detail parts and the camp will be ready to fit into place.  Now I just need to finish up around the log pond so I can install the camp.

 

 

 

 

 

Robert

[Tinplate Toddler]

[RWSlater]

Its time for another great Grizzly valley update. The work crews had a fairly productive week. I managed to get the ground color painted, painted my track and built most of a water tower.

 

The tracks down by the logging camp were painted by hand (note to self paint track before scenery in back)  using Vallejo German camo black brown and dry brushed with a light gray. Painted a couple ties strait brown black and some ties almost straight gray to vary the colors more. Then I painted the rails Vallejo light rust.  I like the look of the rails even if they are not prototypical.

Also built this water tower from scratch. Would be easier to follow a prototype but this is just all my imagination. Used a pill container for the tank and put scale 3X12 around it and used some .10 styrene for the bands around the tank. I think next time I would try foil to get it a little thinner. The tank still needs a little work.

 

 

 

Thanks for stopping on by

Robert

[swisstrain]

Thanks for the update, Robert.  Amazing what you are doing in N-Scale.  That scratch built water tank looks great!

I am taking note of your delayed painting of the rails, and will try not to make that mistake when I get to that on my own layout.

[RWSlater]

swisstrain

Thanks for the update, Robert.  Amazing what you are doing in N-Scale.  That scratch built water tank looks great!

I am taking note of your delayed painting of the rails, and will try not to make that mistake when I get to that on my own layout.

 

 

Glad you liked the update

 

Robert

[RWSlater]

Time for another Grizzly Valley update. It has been a little while my model railroading collided head on with real life. Finally got some time to do a little bit on the old Grizz.  I ballasted some hard to reach track behind the logging camp. Not 100% happy with the color but it is growing on me and I think it will look good once all the scenery is in place.   I also painted the rocks on the hill by the log pond.

 

 

 

 

I also had to order some frog juicers after running my new 4-8-0 over my turn outs. I find it hard to believe but my little 4-4-0 handled my unpowered frogs better.   Actually both engines went through the frogs fine at speed step 6 but started to stall at step 5 or slower.  After filing some on the frogs and installing the Frog Juicers the Locomotives are handling the turnout’s great.  Also learned that I have to run my Locomotives both clockwise and counter clockwise to find trouble spots, the locos liked going one direction and stalling going the other. But everything is working for the time being.

 

 

Thanks for stopping by

Robert

[RWSlater]

Time for a quick update on the Grizzly.  It has been a relaxing two days tinkering on the railroad. I installed all the frog juicers under the layout and I put my basic scenery layer down around the log pond and painted the log pond with woodland scenic’s water undercoat. I will be starting to construct my log slide next and then I can pour my pond and install the logging camp.

 

 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by to take a look

Robert

[RWSlater]

Finally got something done on the Grizzly. A serious bout of no motivation and dealing with a hernia defiantly slowed down the construction of the railroad. I finished up the water tower by putting it on a base and installing a small pump house next to it. I will run a pipe to the lake once I put it in its final position and before I pour the water. Now I just need to finish my lumber chute and I am ready for water I think.  It just feels good to be working on it again.

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for stopping and taking a look and home for more soon.

 

Robert

[mbinsewi]

Excellent work Robert!  I'm usually not around much through the summer, so I had to go through your thread and catch up.

The logging camp buildings are excellent!  And your working in N scale, wow.

Mike.

[RWSlater]

Thanks Mike

[RWSlater]

I am still alive and progress on the grizzly is moving slowly forward. I have been working on the lumber slide and it’s been one of those projects that just never seem to end.  I also have to take it slow because the work has been detailed and I can only handle it a little at a time. Originally my plan was to cut all the planks at 20’ It worked on one side but it was taking forever to get it done so the other side I used longer random planks and it looks ok at 36”.  Also I found out that it would have been easier to build the log trussel first and then shape the landscape around it.  Still have to finish the bracing on one side, handrails and put some water effects and logs in the slide.

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look. I am hoping to finish this up this weekend but we will see. Been saying that for the last 3 weekends.  Oh well some day it will be finished.

 

Robert

 

 

 

 

 

[RWSlater]

I hope everyone had a good weekend. With the addition of water and handrails I finally finished my first big scratch build. The flume is finished and I am fairly happy with it. I can now get logs down to the logging pond.  The only other thing I will do to it will be to put a figure on it for scale. I learned a lot on this little adventurer and ready to tackle more projects in the future.  One thing I am learning about N scale is size shape and color are almost more important than the fine details. Just can’t see them unless there is a photo taken.  Might have to set up a small On3 layout that I can supper detail later.

Thanks for stopping by the Grizzly.

Robert

 

 

 

[RWSlater]

Its time for another Grizzly update. I have been hand painting a bunch of detail parts for my lumber camp and a mechanics shed for the camp. I used the Faller Hay and Straw Bale Storage kit for the mechanics building. It was a nice and easy kit to build. The kit wood was pre weathered all I did was paint it and installed some trim boards. The kit did not come with any trim.  All the detail parts are from Model Tech Studios.  Thanks for stopping and taking a look.

Robert

 

 

 

 

 

 

[hon30critter]

Robert!!

I will start my comments with an apology. This is the first time I have looked at your thread. I guess it was my HO scale snobbery which prevented my from looking in before.

To say that I am totally impressed is an understatement. Your work is amazing! The fact that you are working in N scale makes it all that more so. I can't believe the accuracy and quality of your work on both the buildings and the figures. You must have very steady hands!

I can assure you that I will be paying much closer attention in the future.

Cheers!!

Dave

[RWSlater]

hon30critter

Robert!!

I will start my comments with an apology. This is the first time I have looked at your thread. I guess it was my HO scale snobbery which prevented my from looking in before.

To say that I am totally impressed is an understatement. Your work is amazing! The fact that you are working in N scale makes it all that more so. I can't believe the accuracy and quality of your work on both the buildings and the figures. You must have very steady hands!

I can assure you that I will be paying much closer attention in the future.

Cheers!!

Dave

 

 

Thanks a lot for stopping by Dave I greatly appreciate it. I have been enjoying your club layout a lot.

Robert

[RWSlater]

Finally got all the details installed in the logging camp. Now if I only had better eyes to see the details. This finishes up this part of the camp.

Over view of the camp

 

Crew replacing the wire rope on the log Derek

 

 

 

 

Cookie talking it up outside the Kitchen

 

Other Details

 

 

Robert

[RWSlater]

It’s time for another exciting update from the Grizzly Valley Railroad. Been making a little forward progress on the layout. I have started the Long Valley Lumber company kit. Just got some bracing and staining the wood on one section. This kit could take a little while it is the largest one I have tried to do yet.  I got the maintance building done to about 98% still needs something just not sure what yet.  I also have had the blasters working on the tunnel for the layout. We will see how that goes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert

[hon30critter]

RWSlater

Thanks a lot for stopping by Dave I greatly appreciate it. I have been enjoying your club layout a lot. Robert

Hi Robert,

I wish that we were as far along on our layout as you are! We just started to install some aluminum mesh for the scenery.

Dave

[swisstrain]

Great to see another update, Robert!  As others commented, it is unbelievable that you are doing all this in N scale - I am struggling with the detail in HO.

Please keep the updates coming.

[Marc_Magnus]

swisstrain

Great to see another update, Robert!  As others commented, it is unbelievable that you are doing all this in N scale - I am struggling with the detail in HO.

Please keep the updates coming.

 

 

First congratulations for this nice N scale layout, which I just discover.

This is the evidence of extremly nice scenery and structures with excellent details can be done in N scale.

 

Yes, you are able to have details in N scale much more than many are thinking about; I model also in N scale and you can acheive extremly good looking structures with numerous details.

Many say N scale is too small and it's not possible to work with because of the well know proverb used and abused "poor old eyes"; this is truly not an a reason, since small details in HO are as small as some in N scale.

Just to say I'm sixty and I wear glasses with diotptry 3..., and to say tiny, these are laser kit of shanties which are ....1/2" by 1" maximum....

Enjoy N scale details !

[hon30critter]

Marc_Magnus,

Those structures are amazing!

Dave

[RWSlater]

Hello everyone, It is time for another update on the Grizzly Valley. I have been slowly working on building the Long Valley Lumber company kit from N Scale Architect.  Over all the quality of the kit is very nice, The only two things I do not like about it was the printed roofing and some of my parts were severely bowed and warped before I did anything to them finishing wise to cause the warping.

I braced all the walls before finishing the walls and installing the windows. I have had to use CA glue on the walls to help work out the bows in the kit parts but in the end It came out looking pretty good. I used construction paper and corrugated roofing on the main part of the building. I used gloss medium ad black paint to make up the roof tar. I know it’s a little heavy to be to scale but at a normal viewing distance it looks pretty good.  Also the tar makes the roof look more aged to me. Still have more work to do wreathing the roof. Still have more to do on the kit .

I may have to rework the track plan around the mill. It is just way larger than I was planning on but it will look great once it is done.  Thanks for stopping by and taking a look.

Robert

 

Picture of the Long Valley Lumber (Box Art)

 

This is what comes in the kit, As you can see some parts were pretty bowed.

Here is my work so far.

 

 

As you can see from this shot it is a large kit.

[RWSlater]

Hi everyone,

Here is another update from the Grizzly. Making some good progress on the tunnel and mountain above it. I scratch built a timber lumber portal for one end of the tunnel and the other end will be a blasted portal. I am in the process getting the sculpt-a-mold in and shaped. I still have not fully decided how I am going to blend/ hide the lift off section of the mountain in yet. Thanks for stopping by again.

Robert

 

 

 

 

[swisstrain]

As always, great to see that you are moving along.  I am continued to be amazed about the craftsmanship and detail that you are achieving in N scale.

[caldreamer]

I am onlu 5'3" tall and with my current layout at 40 inches I can reach in 24 inches without any problems,

    Caldreamer

[RWSlater]

It was a very productive weekend on the Grizzly. I managed to finish up the terrain work around the tunnel and managed to keep the lift off section working. I used serran rap to keep the lift off section form sticking to the lower section. It worked just great. The only thing I do not like about sculpt mold is I find it harder to sculpt than plaster. But that could just as easily be user error. Then I painted all the rock faces and terrain.

 

 

 

 

I also started to work on the dirt road that is coming in from the mountains. I used Vallejo Brown Earth and put it into place with a stiff brush and then used a tooth pick to make ruts in the road. After it had dried I used some brown wash to darken the ruts.

 

The last to projects were for my work shop. I built a new paint rack to fit behind a door and then I reused my old paint rack for a car display case.

 

 

 

Thanks for stopping bye

Robert

[mbinsewi]

Looking great Robert!  The rock is excellent!

Just one thing....that paint cabinet has to go!    That is just too neat and orgized, I mean orgenezed,  wait, I'll get it,  too engorgenized, OOOH!  I can even spell organicized!  I give up. 

Mike.