cudaken Micheal, I not sure what I am more impressed by, your work it self or the speed you are getting it done in! You have take a bridge that seemed to have no reason for being and have brought it to life! What else do you plain to have in that area? You might all so try adding some ground foam to the grass mat as well to add some more color. Looking pretty good if you ask me. Ken
Micheal, I not sure what I am more impressed by, your work it self or the speed you are getting it done in!
You have take a bridge that seemed to have no reason for being and have brought it to life!
What else do you plain to have in that area? You might all so try adding some ground foam to the grass mat as well to add some more color. Looking pretty good if you ask me.
Ken
Thanks Ken! I appreciate the great feedback and help from you. I've been putting in alot of hours working on this, and haven't even ran trains in a week. LOL
Basically, when I get all the scenery done, you won't even see any of that matt grass anymore. Gonna add some rolling hills and ditches in this area. To the left of the creek is gonna be an ethonal plant (that's what the road crossing under the bridge is for the ethanol plant trucks), and inside the loop track will be a farm scene with a cornfield, farm house, etc.
This kit here
Michael
CEO- Mile-HI-RailroadPrototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989
MotleyWow 3 levels!! Do you have a trackplan you can show us?
Wow 3 levels!! Do you have a trackplan you can show us?
Sure, will post in another thread.
jacon12Speaking of progress, I made alot of progress on my revised creek/bridge scene. I got the water poured and just need to scenic the area.
Speaking of progress, I made alot of progress on my revised creek/bridge scene. I got the water poured and just need to scenic the area.
I hate Rust
Rob_C Thank you, Michael and Hamit. The layout is somewhere around 3.5 levels with a reverse loop sandwiched in a sub level and also at the top. I know I am going to regret the elevation gain and to compound problems I'm building it one level at a time so I *really* hope I've done the math right! ;)To keep my interest I created a level return track for running just the first level so I wouldn't have to complete the entire layout before running trains. Rob
Thank you, Michael and Hamit. The layout is somewhere around 3.5 levels with a reverse loop sandwiched in a sub level and also at the top. I know I am going to regret the elevation gain and to compound problems I'm building it one level at a time so I *really* hope I've done the math right! ;)
To keep my interest I created a level return track for running just the first level so I wouldn't have to complete the entire layout before running trains.
Rob
Spectacularly good waves! I would like to see a more detailed image, maybe twice the density in pixel count? Is that possible, Rob?
-Crandell
Great Beach Rob. Lovin those waves.
Springfield PA
secondhandmodeler It's nice to see some progress photos on here again. The finished shots that everyone posts are fun to look at, but I like seeing how somebody else progresses. When I first joined on here there were many more progress shots than polished photos. It's too bad that the 'photo wars' of years past have scared people away from posting snap shots of their work. Not every shot needs to be a well composed, perfect depth of field, computer enhanced masterpiece.
It's nice to see some progress photos on here again. The finished shots that everyone posts are fun to look at, but I like seeing how somebody else progresses. When I first joined on here there were many more progress shots than polished photos. It's too bad that the 'photo wars' of years past have scared people away from posting snap shots of their work. Not every shot needs to be a well composed, perfect depth of field, computer enhanced masterpiece.
I have to agree with this. For the last few months, my layout has been half-finished, with many shots published here, and half raw, benchwork, pink foam, WS roadbed and the like. I've take a few progress shots along the way, but my goal has always been the finished scenes, the beautiful work that's usually exhibited here.
I've got a 45-degree roofline over the new section of my layout. Rather than ignore it, I decided to work with it. I built 45-degree scenery to go behind the track, into the narrow space twixt track and wall.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Wow, a lot of great stuff to inspire this week!
I'm still just getting my feet wet with the hobby, but I always have a bad habit of dreaming too big and getting in over my head. One of these days I'll learn that smaller and well done beats everything including the kitchen sink and a detail nightmare any day!
Here's some updates this week from my Eastern California RR project.
Finished painting my waves at the beach:
Installed the LA Union Station I've been working on. Still lots of details to add. (detail nightmare, yes) I wasn't sure this thing would ever be completed, so I decided to put it on the layout and add detail there. It started as just a diorama mock up (I did the same thing for San Diego to create a placeholder for a future scratch built structure when/if my skills reach that level). I did LAUS with the idea of keeping it in place a bit longer, maybe a few years until I have the skills to do it right.
Station tracks ballasted:
Hope everybody has a productive weekend!
Interestingly enough, the old low grade through Brookville, PA was oil soaked also and this was post steam era. This was a branch of the PC, then Conrail, and then the Redbank Valley and Mountain Laurel RRs from Driftwood, PA to Sligo, PA. Not sure if there were just some really leaky diesels or if all the grease was off the strings of coal cars that passed through. There are some sections here that are not torn up yet...maybe I will go see if the ballast still has all the grease/oil and get a pic.
Robert H. Shilling II
Good Answer
My loco's of course have yet to leak leaving me nice clean ballast.
Hamiltonblue, if you are asking me about the oil slick in my photo of the J (it isn't clear...), it would not be strictly correct on a transition era layout with almost all steam traffic to see such a slick, but this layout is nearing the end of its life and I am experimenting with techniques that I can apply to the next one.
Let's assume this is a modern excursion run on a line essentially entirely used by diesels.
Nice Pic.
Is the oil in the center of the track correct? I don't have a lot of experience with steamers except my exposure at Strasburg RR. The oil there is around the rails which I assume kicked off of the side rods.
I really like the depth you've got going here, it's like you can see for miles and miles!
Good work!!
Jarrell
Motley Awesome pics so far. Lee, looks like you got a ton of work done this week! Sweet. Speaking of progress, I made alot of progress on my revised creek/bridge scene. I got the water poured and just need to scenic the area. Also, I wasn't happy with the mountain tunnel portal, so I actually shortened it (it was sticking out from the wall about 8") and replaced the portals with concrete ones.
Awesome pics so far.
Lee, looks like you got a ton of work done this week! Sweet.
Also, I wasn't happy with the mountain tunnel portal, so I actually shortened it (it was sticking out from the wall about 8") and replaced the portals with concrete ones.
G Paine Good work Motley, the added creek and pond is a big improvement from the "swimming pool" under the bridge you posted a couple of weeks ago. The additions add some realism and justify the existence of the pond at the edge of the layout. The new bridges add visual improvement to your tracks. Add some bushes, trees, grass and maybe some cows and you will have a great scene.
Good work Motley, the added creek and pond is a big improvement from the "swimming pool" under the bridge you posted a couple of weeks ago. The additions add some realism and justify the existence of the pond at the edge of the layout. The new bridges add visual improvement to your tracks. Add some bushes, trees, grass and maybe some cows and you will have a great scene.
Thanks George, yes I agree it makes the scene alot more believable now.
MotleyI made alot of progress on my revised creek/bridge scene. I got the water poured and just need to scenic the area.
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
I really do/did like your image. In fact, the lighting reminded me of late or early day on the prairies just after a dark summer storm.
LOL - "interesting but appealing" got me thinking I had a White Balance problem - when I took the pic it was half daylight and half incandescent. I've adjusted the balance a bit on this one...
Motley, WOW!!! You are a very promising modeler if you will permit my saying so. This will be a great layout!
Bruce, that is a great photo! A real keeper.
Jarrell, what can I say...? Amazing....
RRCanuck, I love that tower! Nice scene with interesting, but appealing, lighting.
Garry, your photo is like an impressionist painting. Very fetching!
I would like to thank RRCanuck (nice to see him posting again...must be back home again?) for taking the time to doctor my photo with some added steam/smoke for this J shot. He used smoke from a real photo of a J, so....
Norfolk & Western #607 blasts up Seneca Hill at full throttle on this cold autumn morning.
An area I'm still working on. I tried a section of embossed paper to make the 'stone' wall and haven't decided if I like it or not. It photographs a lot worse than it actually is. Under the normal room lighting it looks ok. But..... I may decide to cover it with plaster 'rocks' later on. We'll see.
I hope these aren't too sharp, well composed and color balanced. If they are I'll try and screw it up more next week.
Great photos everybody! ... Nice SD9, Idobo,... CNR looks great on your layout RR Canuck....... DJ, that scene is fantastic.. Nice building, Robby... Lee, your helix looks like a good one! ... MABruce, I like the bridge!
Here's a scene on my branch line. It is not a recent photo.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Grampys Trains Well, I'm at least 2 yrs. past the building phase, so this shot of Blackwood Mine will have to do. DJ.
Well, I'm at least 2 yrs. past the building phase, so this shot of Blackwood Mine will have to do. DJ.
From this distance that endloader looks great
It Doesn't have "matchbox" written all over it
Another great start.
Grampy - top notch work as always!
Jon - I really like your work on the BN SD9.
My latest pic (sky was digitally added):
It's been a while since I contributed - finally home and at the layout again. And I agree - some of the folks here like Grampys set the bar awfully high ; ) Cheers.
Thanks, and I do agree with you that in process photos can be very helpful to people building layouts. DJ.