Fifth Annual International Spring Layout Party

okane Feb 4, 2007

  1. MP333

    MP333 TrainBoard Supporter

    2,704
    208
    48
    Everyone is doing great it looks like.
    Update for Week 2 (is this week 2???)
    I have continued progress on the supports and skyboards. Still need a few cuts, then will paint skyboards. I installed four more handles in the modules for easier handling, and some wiring loops for the busses. I now have temporary cardboard in place on top, checking track locations with the Big Plan. I'm moving slowly, but surely. This is MUCH better progress than I was making before, which was nothing, so I'm happy :).
    I could be only a week or so away from gluing down some cork roadbed. That's when it gets fun.
     
  2. MOPMAN

    MOPMAN TrainBoard Member

    1,429
    1
    23
    Here is a pic of the area just west of Ozark where I am carving the rock facings. The total area from the seam at the far end to the end of the foam is 9'. I have completed the carvings to the end of the cut which is about 6-1/2'

    [​IMG]
     
  3. Cleggie

    Cleggie TrainBoard Member

    525
    76
    18
    I got a bit done on the layout over the weekend as well as building Tina Maree's laundry shelves :angel: (lots of brownie points there)

    Painted all the remaining track, prep for ballast and ballasted a short section over the duckunder to wye junction. Added a bit of greenery and took some pics. The glue will take a couple of days to fully dry so the tracks are closed to all traffic untill further notice.

    It's funny how you notice things in photos the you don't get even though you have looked at it a hundred times. There is a kink in the track just before the second turnout in pic #2. I will wait untill every thing has dried as I may be able to tweek the rail with a pair of needle nose pliers.

    Cheers, Ken.
     

    Attached Files:

  4. Michael S

    Michael S TrainBoard Member

    62
    0
    12
    Backdrop

    Well it was fun painting the backdrop as far as I went. I hope to finish up next weekend.

    [​IMG] [​IMG]

    [​IMG] [​IMG]

    The next section I'll try photoshop to do the buildings. On this section the must be four or five different prespectives going on at once. Good thing San Francisco is a hilly, and earthquake prone area, so I have an excuse when someone points it out.

    Great looking cliffs Mopman.

    Ppuinn your community real has come together, I bet property values in you neighborhood have gone up. You asked about the plastic wrap on the lights. It is just kitchen food wrap to keep the flat white spray paint off the bulbs. The bulb are compact florescents and they barely get warm to the touch.

    Michael
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 20, 2007
  5. pdx1955

    pdx1955 TrainBoard Member

    169
    5
    22
    This weekend I managed to continue on with my DCC installation. I got my PM42 wired up and installed and everything still works. I am now starting on getting all of the UP5 throttle panels hooked up. Once I finish this last task, any wiring left will be "detail" wiring meaning building lighting, streetlights, signs, and eventually signals.

    Peter
     
  6. Grey One

    Grey One TrainBoard Supporter

    8,903
    3,622
    137
    Progress!

    Rrrr and I turned this:
    [​IMG]
    Into This:
    [​IMG]

    It's kinda dark to see. We will lighten the paint and do an overcoat. The ovals are not the final shape. I hope for a couple of smooth curves.

    The "passenger" station area along the front will have a few extra storage tracks.
     
  7. okane

    okane TrainBoard Supporter

    1,923
    860
    43
    I am not as far along as I had planned. After last week, and then a trip up north this weekend my time has been occupied. I did with Dave's help (PPUINN) finalize the initial track plan.

    I have the wood, some foam and track, so we will start the bench work this week and weekend for sure.


    [​IMG]
     
  8. okane

    okane TrainBoard Supporter

    1,923
    860
    43
    Steve

    You and RR have made some good progress this past weekend. Looking good, very good.
     
  9. Grey One

    Grey One TrainBoard Supporter

    8,903
    3,622
    137
    Thanks Owen,
    Looking at your plan I am suffering serious yard envy.
     
  10. MOPMAN

    MOPMAN TrainBoard Member

    1,429
    1
    23
    Nice plan Owen.

    I finished the rock carving tonight. And to think I started this project a week ago Monday. I hope to have pics uploaded tomorrow.
     
  11. MOPMAN

    MOPMAN TrainBoard Member

    1,429
    1
    23
    Here are a couple of pics of the area I finished carving last night.
    Now all I need is paint and ground cover.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  12. okane

    okane TrainBoard Supporter

    1,923
    860
    43
    Mopman

    Thanks for your comments. What you have accomplished is exactly what I need to do on the left and top of my layout, cannot wait to get going.
     
  13. Grey One

    Grey One TrainBoard Supporter

    8,903
    3,622
    137
    Mopac - Nicely done - I love the curves through the cuts / canyons!
     
  14. MOPMAN

    MOPMAN TrainBoard Member

    1,429
    1
    23
    Well, when I got home this evening I went straight to the train room to start painting/staining the plaster. After a couple of hours I now have the basis for some serious scenery. I still need to apply a diluted black wash over the rock work then I can start applying ground cover.

    Closeup - GP35 leads SD40-2 & U30C west out of the cut west of Ozark
    [​IMG]

    And a more distant view
    [​IMG]

    At least now that the plaster phase is done, I can run trains again - Whoopee
     
  15. Michael S

    Michael S TrainBoard Member

    62
    0
    12
    Mopman that cut the train is passing through sure adds a lot of drama to the scene. Very cool.

    Ppuinn Some of your structures seem to be cast. I'm not a fan of prebuilt models. These however are effective. Can you tell more about them?

    As to the State Belt, next up is the sub-roadbed for this secton. I want to get the track and some building mock-ups in place before I do more on the backdrop. So in a few weeks I'll know if the backdrop will be finished by painting or with images.

    Today I installed the stationary decoder for the staging yard, and wired in turnout indicators.

    [​IMG]

    The leds aren't pretty. Photos sure drag you back to reality.
     
  16. okane

    okane TrainBoard Supporter

    1,923
    860
    43
    Michael

    Which Stationary Decoder did you use to control the turnouts and LED's. Looks like you have two different sizes of LED's as well.
     
  17. ppuinn

    ppuinn Staff Member

    2,377
    1,444
    55
    Michael:
    The ceramic houses are from the "Liberty Falls series in the American Collection of International Resources, Northbrook Illinois" www.libertyfalls.com. I picked them up at a flea market for 4 or 5 dollars each. Most are on a 1/2inch thick base, so I just cut out a hole in the homasote and stuck them in with some spackling compound to smooth the surrounding area. The lichen trees hide a world of sins!!:eek:mg: They are at the back of the shelving where the lower detail is not as easily seen. Two houses are prebuilt models, and 2 or 3 were built by someone else and I got them at garage sales.
     
  18. Michael S

    Michael S TrainBoard Member

    62
    0
    12
    Owen I used an NCE Switch 8 decoder, the leds are wired in series with the stall motor switch machines. The nearest set of leds are from a decade old project, they fit right in a bachman signal head. Try to find a bachman signal set now LOL. The rest are just full sized bi-color leds. I hope they will look better with a little black tubing around them. I know, way to big, but this is the out of sight staging area.

    Dave H, I will try to find some thing similar to fill the residential background areas.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 25, 2007
  19. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

    22,015
    27,407
    253
    Wow, Mopman, that's impressive!!!
    My DCC gear came last night PM42, 2 UP5's, a UT4 throttle, some New Rail Models throttle pockets, and a power supply for the PM42.
    I hope to tonight start wiring up the 44-pin connector.
    That should be interestig!
     
  20. MOPMAN

    MOPMAN TrainBoard Member

    1,429
    1
    23
    Thanks Hemi. I was wondering when you were going to get your stuff in the mail so you would start posting in this thread again. Have fun wiring that connector.
     

Share This Page