I use a 50:50 mix of patching plaster and plaster of paris and I mix it with a solution of water and a couple teaspoons of white glue. Patching plaster sets up slower than plaster of paris, but patching plaster alone is too slow, so the mix is just right ... takes about 10-15 min to set up so I have some working time. The white glue mixed in with the water makes the patch more rubber-like and reduces the tendency later to crack.
Thanks Joe for the explaination. It sure helped me to understand to process, and hopefully might help others here who would like to have an attractive backboard. Bill
You bet, Bill. Like to help out whenever I can. Say, just a note that my first video has started preorders on the myMemoirs Video web site. They're offering a couple special deals to the first 100 (200 actually) who reserve an advanced copy. They'll put your name in a hat and one lucky person gets a free sub to the entire series (worth about $170 with postage) and another gets a free roundtrip ticket to come to a Siskiyou Line op session (worth up to $500). See http://my-memoirs.com/model-trains.asp If you use coupon code SW0322r, you can save $5.00, too ...
Anybody willing to take on my questions? You need to know the layout somewhat to answer them. You can visit my website (see my signature) to learn about the layout and then answer them. Here you are ... What's your favorite part of the Siskiyou Line layout? What do you think I should have done different? What is the one greatest weakness of the Siskiyou Line track plan? I have my own answers that I will share with the group ... but first, anyone else have some?
My favorite part is the way the layout makes a viewer feel he/she is actually following mountainous grades. I noticed that the front fascia works to draw a viewers eyes up and down the scenery, even though the rails are relatively level. It is a breathtaking effect, highlighted in the photo below. With the black upper fascia and the matching lower fascia rising and falling, along with the brightly lit scenery, a viewer is drawn into the railroad- instead of just looking at trains traveling along walls. It's not often that I notice things like fascias, but yours makes me want to think about mine more. http://siskiyou.railfan.net/images/shadow.jpg
That's what I call the "shadow box" look and I do like it a lot. The other thing is my valance is deliberately deep, and dropped down quite a bit from the ceiling. That actually has an unanticipated benefit that you can use lower wattage lights and still get a brightly lit scene. In my case this was especially valuable because I wanted to use incandescents (not florescents) to light the layout so I could dim them for night effects duing an op session. I used 15W and 25W bulbs to light the layout and it's plenty bright. Most of the photos on my web site are available light and what you see is how it looks when you are here in person. Anyone else have any comments?
It might be hard to judge any weakness. Having not operated on the layout, which is probably the time when most shortcomings show themselves. There are probably very few model railroads without some minor drawback. When the photos were opening up, I was drawn to your bridge. Thought perhaps it might be the one at North Bend. If your version of the Umpqua River structure took some time, I'll bet the span across the Bay would be a fun project! It's been many years since I was in that area. My brother lived in Coos Bay, North Bend, and Lakeside for a long time. Thought I might have a photo or two stashed away. But so far have not found any. Boxcab E50
My favorite part of the Siskiyou Line has to be the bridges, no doubt. But to do them so they look like their prototype, they do take time. Truss bridges take the most time, primarily because of all the cutting and fitting. The trestles go quite a bit faster if you use a jig for the bents. And I build all my bridges in styrene, because it makes them (the trestles any way) practically indestructable. Yep, the North Bend bridge would take a long time, indeed! Since my freelance version of the branch comes from Roseburg (as planned in the 1890s, but never built) the North Bend bridge does not exist on my layout. I assume there are a few large industries (like the paper mill) served by rail on that side of the bay, and they use a car ferry to reach it.
Wanted to mention that the producer of the video series on the Siskiyou Line, myMemoirs Video, has posted the covers for all 5 videos on their web site. See: http://my-memoirs.com/model-trains.asp [ 31. March 2004, 18:41: Message edited by: siskiyou*guy ]
Hey, just a quick update to say video #1 is shipping! For more info on the video series see: http://model-trains-video.com We estimated 9 weeks, it took 13. Now that we know what it takes to produce DVD quality video of the Siskiyou Line, myMemoirs wants all future videos to be scheduled at 15 weeks between releases. That puts video #2's release at August 30. Let me know what you think of the first video!
Here's the winners of the Siskiyou Line Video pre-order drawings! Winner of the free video subscription: Patrick Dillane of Ashtabula, OH Winner of the free trip to a Siskiyou Line Op session: Michael Morris of Carbondale, IL Congratulations, Patrick and Michael! Going forward, myMemoirs will be holding a monthly drawing among the series subscription purchasers for a free sub to the series. If you buy a subscription, you automatically get entered into a drawing for a free sub that month. Each month there will be a drawing to win.
People are starting to receive their videos and posting comments (very favorable, BTW). Here's a representative sample that was posted today on the Layout Design Special Interest Group board: ================================= From: "Verne Alexander" <crapmanvpa@m...> Date: Fri May 21, 2004 2:56 am Subject: Re: [ldsig] Siskiyou Line video 1 - yay! Joe, and all: I viewed volume 1 tonite. My reactions are mostly highly favorable. The great scenery I remember from my one visit photographs very well. (The scenery volume can't get here quickly enough!) The camera is steady. The narration and the narrative interaction is for the most part relaxed and sounds natural. It is at all times audible and intelligible. The orientation to the layout via diagram is excellent, and the explanation/illustration of the mushroom concept is about as effective as I have ever seen. The operation of the hauler out of Coos Bay and over the layout conveyed the feel of operation in a manner which I would think would be seductive for those who have not yet participated in operation. The tutorial regarding the mechanism for manual turnout control was excellent, and is something I will be revisiting soon with an eye toward possible use on [my layout] ... Overall, I think the DVD is a huge success at introducing the scope and feel of the layout, the type of operation that is used and the quality of the instruction that is forthcoming. It significantly surpassed my expectations. Verne
Hey, it's been a while since anything was posted to this thread! I've added some new photos to my web site. Here's one: Or see: http://siskiyou.railfan.net/model_p.html
Yep, silflor is great, although pricey. I use a combination of fake fur (cheap) and silflor to get larger grassy areas. I firmly believe the way you get the most realistic scenery is to pay attention to texture and color. That means you can't just use ground foam for everything, even though that's a popular approach these days. You gotta mix your scenery materials, since that's what nature does!
Hey, just an update! Gave a DCC Clinic in Seattle last month, and it was pretty well received. I've been using DCC for 11 years, so I've learned a couple of things along the way, and I shared my hints and tips in my clinic. In case you missed it, you can get it on video ($15) at: http://model-trains-video.com In other news, working on the layout, getting it ready to start the operating season again this September (we always take the summer off).
