Layout update: scenery is complete on the upper level

Finally finished the scenery on the upper level.  I redid the scenery in the corner the cat destroyed a few months back.  I also completed the last "bare plywood" in the VC area.  This area has been voided of scenery for a number of reasons.  Main reason: it was a repair/maintenance spot.  But it's done!  Now you are wondering what got me into high gear.  I had people coming by to look at the layout today.  Nothing like a deadline to get you going!

Land form for the replace corner near BY.  The foundation is blue foam and the tan is 2" foam.

Basic scenery on the foam.  It's nice to do this where you want then add it to the scene.

Scenery mound in place

Decided to add some rocks.  These were made with plaster and molds.

Rocks have been hot glued in place now time for bushes, trees and the like.

The cabin and the truck have been put back in the scene.  Most of the trees have been reused.

Close up of the cabin in the woods.  Definitely a rail fans dream!

Thought I had completed the final track for this layout and I look like I'm headed down a redo of the lower level.  Not a total redo but one that will make the layout flow.  It includes a lift-out crossing and staging near the helix.  A wye will be put in to have continuous running on the lower level.  I will also redo the town names mainly switching them around.

Rough sketch of the new track plan for the lower level.

A little scenery and boom it's back!

Yes, tearing up a completed section and putting it back together took longer than I thought but finally it's done.  I'm talking about the track to the helix from BY.  I did the ballast last night because it needs several hours to dry so I did it before I went to bed..  Completed the scenery (grasses and weeds) this afternoon and just put the trees back in order just now.  Now the scene is complete and I can move on to other items.

I find I get really distracted once I get in the layout room.  I have some signals that I need tested that came off the layout last year.  The wires are not marked well so I will be doing some figuring out of them.  I was going to do that tonight knowing all I need to do is the trees for the area I have been working on.   But, I find myself working on a few car cards.  Where did that come from???  I did get to the trees...

The shack is still by the tracks.  Lighter ballast in the new area.  I'm calling it done.

The object of the bridge is help conceal the "hole" to the helix.  

VMID #299 staged for a photo in the new scenery.

Are we hauling coal on the Midland?  Looks that way.  I'm in the process of building a small unit coal train for transfer to the F&NN.  Should be about 6-7 cars. 

Progress since last weekend

I got a few things done on the layout last weekend and continued a little during this week.  Still working on Rappahannock Aggregate area with weeds and details.  I also starting adding signs and and other details to the road and road crossing to RA.

Here is the road to Rappahannock Aggregate.  Added a speed bump to hide a seam.  

Add some weed clumps to "vegitate" the area.  Got to find some more dump trucks.

Found a decent enough picture online to use as a backdrop.  Added some trees and bushes to make it look move believable.  The pic makes the backdrop pic stand out.    

 

These two ridges are for the spot in the background.  I will add trees to them.  Used the florist foam for the first time.  The Foam is definitely easier to paint.

On the lower level, I switched 2 industries around on the Mine Run Branch.  I switched the propane dealer and the woodchip loader.  It seems to me they fit better now.

This was the spot for the small propane dealer but the woodchip loader takes up less space in this spot.  I also did that homemade chip load with foam and sawdust.

This spot will hold two propane cars and is less tight for the larger propane tanks.  

Overview of the propane dealer.  The backdrop on the left is a print from online and the right is hand painted.  I need to add some more olive green to the paint!  

Progress from this past weekend

Got a bit done on the layout this weekend, but not as much as I hoped.  My layout room is still a disaster from all the work I've done.  I hoped to "straighten" it, but it never happen.  The new area I put in over the summer is a shell of it's former self now.  I've got the scenery just about done.  Should hope to complete this weekend.  The main thing that is incomplete is the assembly of the sand unloader.  The silos are done but the small elevator is not.

Here is the overpass section near the light switch.  Alot easier to scenic when the section is removable.

Little retaining wall I put in the scene.

Super tree painting and drying rack.  These are outside getting their gray paint.  

Here's my rack inside and the tree making has begun!

Here my overpass foam before scenery.  Notice the light switch,

Scenery has gotten a little more vegetation and some rocks (made from plaster) from my old bridge scene.  Just needs some trees.

Another view

The scene in the upper right is complete with a trees and weeds on the small ridge.

The area is starting to come together.

Another view.  Need a few smaller trees on the ridge.

Another view of the ridge.

Thanksgiving Break Finally!

First, I want to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving!  You probably have been wondering when my next post would be or maybe I fell off the face of the earth.  Yes I know I have not posted since the end of October but really nothing has been going on on the layout at all.  I started coaching another sport this fall and my 10 hour days have been literally kicking my butt.  Today has been my first day off since Labor Day and I made sure I got some modeling in.  The crappy weather made sure that it was going to happen.  My main point this week is to get scenery on my new peninsula I added this summer.  Being the first thing you see when you walk into the room, it was a priority.  So I tackled that today.

Adding some paint to the area around the sand plant.

Larger view of the area I'm working on.

Sculptamold around the edges of the base of the road.  The fascia board base is a little thick for my liking but it will have to work now.  

The styrene asphalt road on top of the fascia board.  The dark patches are supposed to be road repairs.  I need to weather  the road.  

After letting some Sculptamold dry, I ran a rail cleaning train.  I picked up a rolling track cleaning car to pull behind a loco.  I also build a track cleaning car to pull behind it.  I cleaned the lower level and the helix.

Here's my Centerline track cleaning car I picked up at a show earlier this month.  It needs a little more weight but still pulls the rolling rag around the layout.  I use CRC 2-26 to clean the track.

My homemade track cleaner.  I use WS track dusters attached to the wheels to slide on the tracks.  It's a boxcar frame with lots of weight.  The wooden planks keep the dusters on the track.

Gotta have some muscle to move this train.  VMID SD50 #706 does a great job on this train.  She been weathered finally.

Here's the roller car.  Looks like the track was quite dirty.  The colorful rubber bands are from the kids loom kit (makes wrist bands)  These little rubber bands are perfect for keeping the cloth on.

Back to the scenery work:

Ballast added to the hopper spurs.  Some sand mixed in also. 

Going for a sandy/dirt area around the plant.  Still going to sand it down a bit.   

Ballasting is complete in this area.  

A view from the other end. Hope to get this area most of the way done this week.  

More progress on the layout: A video

My summer vacation is slowly ending.  Back to the grind on Monday.  Thought I would update with a video this evening.  Enjoy!

Scenery Update, USPS frustration and a sketch of the lower level trackage

This past weekend I had planned on getting the helix out to the garage and start installing it.  Well the USPS made sure that did not happen.  As I posted last weekend, I ran out of track for the helix.  The track has to be laid as you go up.  So on Tuesday, I ordered from Mainline Hobby (the best only train shop on the east coast!) in PA.  As always, I usually get my items 2 days after I order them.  Bonnie who runs the shop always sends out the tracking number on the USPS priority packages.  So it would be here in Thursday as per the tracking.  Thursday comes and no package.  To boot, I was off on Friday because of the weather.  OK, it will be here Friday, Nope!  Did not come Saturday either.  I was a little ticked.  The worst thing was it still said delivery on 1-9 even on Sunday!  This package went to a distribution facility near Baltimore, MD for 2 days, then to another one in Baltimore for a couple of days and then to Richmond, VA for a Sunday trip.  It finally came today.  Very frustrating!

While waiting for the track, I turned to my creative side and put the finishing touches on the scenery at the end of Battlefield Yard.  This is just about complete except the railroad tie retaining wall by a switch.

This is the tail track of the layout.  The tie retaining wall will by the switch stand on the left center.

GP11 #280 tkes a peek at the new scenery.

A detail shot of the weeds and growth.

Add some of my leftover trees to the scene.  Need to probable put a few more in.

I just about have my track plan for the lower level.  The top is complete. It's the lower left corner that's tough.  I'll go with what I have.

Battlefield Yard (BY) action video

Here's a video I shot last night.  I've worked on the scenery on the tale track (on the right).  The Yard has a few more things to "finish" up on then it will be totally complete.

I will have an update later today or tomorrow about my current stage on my helix build.  Until then, enjoy the video!

A video through the new scenery

Also the first annual Mid Atlantic Rail Prototype Modelers Meet is exactly 3 weeks away.  It takes place in Stafford, VA and is worth the trip!  I am helping to organize the show and it will be a treat with the door prizes itself and the great clinics we have lined up.  Also bring a model to share!
Register today at: www.marpm.org

Scenery update day #2

Well the scenery is 95% complete in this area and was not as hard as I had envisioned.  Here are a few things I have to finish up:
-weather the overpass
-ballast some areas where the scenery meets the ballast
- vacuum the area in a day of two, gives the glue time to fully dry

Things that I liked about doing this large scenery: (You must try these!)
- Heki Wildgrass Fiber-  this stuff is awesome!  Got the tip from Lance Mindheim and order some a couple of weeks ago.  You tear it and glue it where you want.  Sorta like static grass,  Good for clumps of weeds and grass.

-Super Trees:  A must for good background trees.  Mine have been sitting in the garage painted ready to go all
  summer.  I added the different leave colors to them.  It was so easy, my 7 year old was making nice trees.  

You can see the Heki wildgrass on this little hill.  The shack was a late minute add last night about midnight!

Gotta work on this siding a little.  Don't know if I'm happy with the blue hole for the overpass.

A different angle.  Got to get the masking tape up off the tracks.

VM #281 makes the first run through the scene.

A closer view of under the overpass.

Decide to use some static grass in a small field near the entrance to Battlefield Yard.  Thought this picture was the best I took!  No unfinished scenery in it!

My afternoon/evening task:  Cleaning up my scenery mess!