I know, I know, I'm really slow. I'm just getting around to my Feb. MR.
And I know that this topic as been hemmed and hawed about the relative merits and insulting nature of the article.
But what I've never seen is a post on how people take short-cuts in building their layouts.
So how do you put your layout construction on speed dial? When do you dance with a jig? How can you deal your hand so that you don't do the royal flush?
Chip
Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.
Well...... instead of living with the plywood pacific look while waiting for real scenery. before laying track I give the plywood a coat of Ralph Lauren RiverRock paint from HD. It has sand in it,I get the warm gray so it already sorta looks like ballast.
Speaking of painting, I try to make that the last thing I do during my work sessions so's I don't have to sit around and watch paint dry.
How about .... mountains in minutes ?? During the construction phase of my Allegheny & Cumberland, one shortcut I took was to make some of my background mountains with nothing but cardboard grids with painted aluminum foil on top. I then applied my clump foliage. Since there would be no weight laying on top & no need to apply pressure, you'd never know any different. Everything else is cardboard grid & plaster cloth & then painted aluminum foil too, where strength is needed. It's quick, goof proof & no mess !
I think extruded foam has done more to advance quick layout construction than anything else in the last 30 years. A 2" foam panel can be used as a shelf layout without any wood framing whatsoever, of course other than the shelf support.
It can be carved, cut, stacked, sanded, painted. Many modelers bypass plaster, and apply their scenery directly to it. It's truly a time saver.
Lee
Route of the Alpha Jets www.wmrywesternlines.net
reklein wrote: Well...... instead of living with the plywood pacific look while waiting for real scenery. before laying track I give the plywood a coat of Ralph Lauren RiverRock paint from HD. It has sand in it,I get the warm gray so it already sorta looks like ballast.Speaking of painting, I try to make that the last thing I do during my work sessions so's I don't have to sit around and watch paint dry.
Got to be the quickest way to inhance a layout
Best example Tom's NYC layout
BIG DIFFERENCE !
TerryinTexas
See my Web Site Here
http://conewriversubdivision.yolasite.com/
SpaceMouse wrote: I know, I know, I'm really slow. I'm just getting around to my Feb. MR.
I'm still reading my January issues!
Black foamcore lighting valence boards. I'm working on a short article to post here on the topic, but I was able to build about 40 feet of lighting valence in two evenings, for less than $100 including the lighting system. It helps that I already have the backdrop and some layout done, but it added a great deal to make the whole room look "finished" on a very tiny budget. The matching fascia is a little more work, as I am making that out of 1/4" fiberboard, since it will have to resist more leaning and dinging than the valence, but that was a pretty cheap & easy project too (an hour or so to rip the boards and paint 'em, another hour to nail them up once the paint was dry.)
I'm still trying to figure out the cheap & easy way to simulate street trackage...let me get back to you on that.