Geeky, I'll do that. Thanks! During construction I "found" an extra foot at the end of my Phase III area. I'm looking at creating a modular yard where I could slide in fully loaded tracks . I am also looking at the same option along the frong edge of Phase II and III.
Work on my layout has come to a full stop. The thread on backdrops made me accept that I really really need to one, and do it before I do anything else. Arrrggggg! I was going to hire an art student. But ya know what? That ain't gonna happen. If I can do the carpentry, I can do the background. Yes it might come out just a good as the bench work. So? At least I can say, "I did it". Basic Specs: 3 feet tall - Puts the top edge at 6 feet 30 plus feet long - The entire perimeter of the layout and beyond. What Type? 1) Blue / light blue - all the way around 2) Gradediations of Blue from dark at the top to light at the bottom 2a) Add clouds 3) Full landscape that will make it look huge Ok, let's be realistic. 2 and maybe 2a. What do I paint it on? http://www.railimages.com/albums/1_Grey_and_Grandure/aau.jpg
Steve: Use wallpaper of sky and clouds for your backdrop. Any wallpaper store has the blue sky and clouds design in many different shades of blue and cloud formation. Buy a double roll of wall paper and you're all set. A double roll of wallpaper is 30+ feet. Have fun.... Stay cool and run steam....
Thanks Bob, I will probably do the wall paper thing. Scenery Throughts: Basically the Grey and Grandure starts on a plteau at 2"s and descends to the Grey Valley where it will follow the front edge of the table. For continuous running a loop has been created with the portion from where it passes under a bridge just east of the yard till it passes under the main again and enters the Grey Valley near the west end of the yard. The GN / CP main line has an interchange with the GandG at Grandure. It leaves west out of the yard and climbs gently following the rout as shown. There may be quite a bit of double track main or more sidings. It depends on how it fits. [ July 23, 2005, 02:20 PM: Message edited by: Grey One ]
Steve: The wallpaper is an easy solution to your problem. That way you don't have to find an artist to paint the backgrounds for you. Stay cool and run steam.....
Steve: Your entire layout trackplan looks great. You've spend a great amount of time designing it and it's paid off handsomely for you. Stay cool and run steam......
Thanks Joe, I'm working on it and hope to have basic scenery and wiring done by next spring. Bob, and no small thanks to you. How many times did you say something about too much track and reduc my grades and ...and...oh, yeah, and... Darren, For passenger / excursion it will be these. Do you know any cool gifs for these?
Steve: Just have loads of fun in building your layout and scenery. You deserve it... , my friend. Stay cool and run steam....
Wish I had said that. May I quote you? </font>[/QUOTE]Steve: You can convert the MP 4-4-0 to DCC easily. When are you getting the Lenz 100 system? Stay cool and run steam..... </font>[/QUOTE]Answering this here so as not to hi jack the other thread: When I have the basic layout tested with DC. Though in the mean time I may build a 2' x 4' module to test on so it could be much sooner.
Steve, you want me to make those updates to the track plan for you? I can add a few more "Nice lines". LMAO. I can see all of another 10 minutes work for the track changes...
Dis Is Me That would be Great! Thanks I updated the plan. Notes: Track of the GandG portion is far from final so feel free to just put the yard and a few sidings or spurs. The Phase III Area is now 3x9 feet The corner curve from Phase II to Phase III is as tight as you can make it fit. Feel free to include the "RORO" (roll on roll off) area Feel free to put anything you like, (including nothing), in the "Tentative module“ areas The crude "curve" track at the bottom is a siding.
good grief.... I cant find the original xtc file.... let me hunt a bit, otherwise I'm back to scratch.
Next update will be when I have resolved the backdrop. I realize I discussed this a few days ago. 1) Wallpaper with clouds. - Cheap, Easy, and Quick. Hard to mess up. The mind will “grok” that it is sky and disregard that it is really a flat surface. 2) A hand painted on canvas sky with wisps of light Sirius clouds. This would take about 10 hours with a little help. 3) A mural like background painted on canvas that would take 10s of hours to get right. Why don’t I want to take the easy rout? Because in taking the "long view" so to speak I want to be able to see into the distance. Despite or because of my vision I don't like it when my eyes come to a complete stop at a wall. I do a lot of mountain hiking. I like being able to focus on something more than 20 feet away. Looking at carefully done photos of John Sing’s Pea Vine, (or showing them to friends), it looks huge. I want my background to have that affect.. I’ll probably go with option 2.
Next time you go mountain hiking take some pictures. Then have them printed professionally on large sheets of paper for your backdrop.
