Re-arranging the buildings trying to get the town to "look right". I'd like to put a scenic divider down the center, and have something (maybe a mine) on the other side.
A couple aerial views.
Aerial view looking down future "Main street".
Ground view looking down "Main street".
Still haven't decided if it still need more re-arranging, or to scrap the idea and try something different. I may try having Main street slope upwards, making level "bases" for the buildings, and have a bridge over the track leading out of town. I would have a mountain for the divider instead of a backdrop. I have more photos of the large brick factory in my photobucket account, for those who are interested http://s124.photobucket.com/albums/p1/twcenterprises/ and go to the structures folder.
Brad
EMD - Every Model Different
ALCO - Always Leaking Coolant and Oil
CSX - Coal Spilling eXperts
I did some more landscaping, including planting a stand of aspens. Here, a DRGW GP-60 exits the tunnel past the aspens.
I completed a new water tower and the first cars arrive in the rail yard.
I also created a short movie. Note that it is around 5 megs in size and will take a couple of minutes to download.
Engineer Jeff NS Nut Visit my layout at: http://www.thebinks.com/trains/
Nice T1 darth!
I need a camera, lol... maybe I can commandeer one of my friends' tomorrow to take a few shots of my handiwork at a red caboose boxcar. took me 3 and a half(ish) hours to finish, and I think it looks pretty good.
-Dan
Builder of Bowser steam! Railimages Site
twhite wrote: As to your question--I don't know how others feel, but I always put the ballast in LAST, after I've done all the other scenicking and made sure that the track is working well. The reason may seem odd, but I always figure that the landscape was there first, and the ballast for the railroad was put on over it. Others might have a different opinion, but ballasting last has always worked better for me, after you're sure that the MR is running smoothly. Even then, you have to do a certain amount of 'clean-up'. Tom
As to your question--I don't know how others feel, but I always put the ballast in LAST, after I've done all the other scenicking and made sure that the track is working well. The reason may seem odd, but I always figure that the landscape was there first, and the ballast for the railroad was put on over it. Others might have a different opinion, but ballasting last has always worked better for me, after you're sure that the MR is running smoothly. Even then, you have to do a certain amount of 'clean-up'.
Tom
Tom, ballasting is always the third last thing I do, right before weathering it and the rails. I then add ground foam and bushes right up and just into the hem of the ballast so that it looks naturally encroached by nature.
Well, a package came yesterday and I was instantly sucked into the basement...for 7 or 8 hours. After a good night's rest, I was down there for another 6 or 7. This is the result of all that time down there.
I've added all the detail and gotten the engine running, so now I can pull it all apart for painting and decaling. For some reason, there's a short that only happens while it's running in reverse around a curve. I'll try and fix that while I'm rebuilding it after painting.
Nice pictures, everyone! And thanks for those tips on grass and ballast.
fiatfan, that had to be pretty cool seeing that DD40. The closest thing I've got to seeing one is a Bachmann pancake drive DD40, which isn't exacly a great runner.
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Great pics everyone!
Went railfanning with a friend today for the first time since August of last year. Not much luck in the quantity of trains, but we made out pretty good with quality. We where out there for nearly 5 hours and only saw 1 train, but I think it was worth it. For those who care, these photos where taken near the Kalamazoo River in New Richmond, Michigan.
I'm trying to improve my photography skills, so any quick pointers are appreciated.
I also laid a little track on a superelevated curve. What do you think? Too much lean?
ARTHILL wrote: Great stuff guys, I love this thread. I am still hooked on trees. Made my first pine tree out of a super tree and static grass. I painted the ST with brown paint, added the larger sized static grass, lots of hairspray and here it is. I also made some more Supertrees with Noch leaf material, as seen in the background. Also added some small pine trees up the side of Green Mountain, sure did add a lot.
Great stuff guys, I love this thread. I am still hooked on trees. Made my first pine tree out of a super tree and static grass. I painted the ST with brown paint, added the larger sized static grass, lots of hairspray and here it is. I also made some more Supertrees with Noch leaf material, as seen in the background.
Also added some small pine trees up the side of Green Mountain, sure did add a lot.
Art: STOP IT!! You make me look as if I'm modeling the Great American Desert, LOL!
Just ordered a new Photoshop for my new computer, it should arrive this week, and maybe by next week, I'll have some new stuff from the Yuba River Sub. Right now, I'm doing "Spring Cleaning" (by California standards). AMAZING how much crud got into the turnouts in a couple of months! Once I get the trains from bouncing through the points, I'll get started on your Ponderosas, and send off a few photos of my "New" (1950) "Royal Gorge". If I can keep the bloody cars on the tracks, I mean!
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
Darth--
Neat photos. I like what you did to the Rivarossi. How's that little devil run, BTW? Always seemed to me to be one of the smoothest running of the Rivarossi locos.
Arthill
Love those trees! Do I understand correctly that you use static grass on them? Also, how high is that rock face, and how far away is it from the aisle? Are you HO?
Cheers
Another great weekend photo show!.....here a few from my camera.
Darth, hate to go against what others may have said, but I ballast first and add ground cover later.
Anyway, have been putzing around on photoshop today. Trying to learn how to add steam and smoke effects. Here's a first bash at it. With time and good criticism (always welcomed), I imagine I'll get better at it. Every week, this is the thread I like the most. Cheers.
Thanks Carl, There all DCC equipeted and that is the consist I run as well.
I notice there was no road number on Your loco, did you take it off or did it come that way.
sledgehammer wrote: Carl here Are mine
Carl here Are mine
Those are Real Nice I hope mine turn out that well .
Carl.
A shot of my RS-18 (Canadian version of the RS-11, converted from an Atlas model):
Bob Boudreau
CANADA
Visit my model railroad photography website: http://sites.google.com/site/railphotog/
Mike, those are some really cool shots. Love the lights!
Regards,
Morning all, Some great pics this week as usual.Not much new on the RR this week but will share a few pics I took this week of the layout. Some of you veterns here may reconize the layout and some of the newer folks may not have seen them. Enjoy and comments are welcome.
45T-2 wrote:All looks good so far guys!Espee engineer...I see we have the same taste in motive power. Looks VERY sharp!Keep up the great work everybody!Rich
All looks good so far guys!
Espee engineer...I see we have the same taste in motive power. Looks VERY sharp!
Keep up the great work everybody!
Rich
Thank you 45T-2, those are my favorite SP engines, I love running them. Good work everyone, have a good weekend!
I cannot wait until I get to the scenery mode! Your pictures are really great.
Super-evelating this 29" radius curve. I use the 14" strips of styrene straight out of the package vs. cutting and gluing down smaller pieces. On other elevated curves I used .010, .020 and .030 but they don't have quite enough lean in them. We'll see on this one.
It looks and reads like all of you are having fun at this point in the season. Nice photos, everyone.
Here are a couple of photos from me. I am definitely having fun!
East bound NS Dash-8 40C leaves the El Paso yard passing a Geep 9 yard switcher while the caboose of a west bound freight heading for Sierra Blanca waits on the siding for the train to pass.
Nice pics Guys! looks like i have my work cut out for me this Weekend .heres a couple of pics before i start
Carl..
Here are a few pictures from Friday. Our model railroad club was invited to set up a 16'X'40 modular layout at a local mall in Nashville. The Amtrak, SP and modern freight cars are mine.
Life is simple - eat, drink, play with trains!
Go Big Red!
PA&ERR "If you think you are doing something stupid, you're probably right!"