First Annual International Winter Layout Party

Denny, Which picture is before and which one is after I can't tell. Jamie

 

Gary, the backdrops look great!

Denny, what a huge difference!

-Mike

 

From start to finish: Recap

Well I guess today mean's the "party" is over. Recap? I think yes....

So I started out with a plain base made of two 30x40 foam core art boards.



I took that base and cut out the path the track would lay on about 2 inches wide. I then made strips of 3/8th inch foam board from 0 - 2" over 100" long, most simple 2% grade ever. I glued the strip vertical along the track plan to the base boards and in a matter of about an hour I had perfect elevation.



Next I cut bead foam in quick and sloppy shapes to fill in the space between the elevated track plan. I filled in the gaps with expanding foam and the results were very impressive.



Next it was sculpting time! One of the more fun steps (I think because it's the messiest), I sculpted the terrain, cutting rock faces straight into the foam. Shown here with track and trains.



...

 

recap continued

... Next came painting.

The first coat is when I found some major issues with using expanding foam as a filler...
Air Bubbles... They were not a huge issue until I started on the rock faces.


A simple fix, although took a few hours, was to go back and with a paintbrush, I generously painted on spackle.


With the base coat re-painted after spackle was applied, we saw the world of difference that was made on the rock faces.


Also shown here with a bit of ground foam and foliage added.


...

 

recap continued again

...From that point, the scenery of the layout took off. Adding all the little details was really fun and brought out just what the layout needed. Things like:

Wild grasses and weeds:


Talus to enhance the rock faces:


Dead trees: (well, just tree for now)


And even a guy being stalked by monster ants:


...

 

recap continued for the last time.

... and to wrap up the recap, here are a few more shots of the layout as well as a short video riding along a freight.

My accomplishments were about 95% of what I planned to finish. I knew I wouldn't be able to get structures in place, and once I do, I'll definitely share.

Overall, I loved this party and I cant wait till next time. Seeing everyone's progress was a real motivator in getting things done myself. There is definitely some talent, brought out by everyone in their own way, in this thread.











http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6U0H2CFXhc

 

Mark, you won this layout party! You basically started from scratch and you ended up riding a 1:160 train :mcool:

Jamie... biggrin:biggrin:

 

Great work everyone! Whaen does the next party start? Jamie

 

Did I miss the closing ceremony?

I was traveling this week, so my final post for the party is late.

I worked up the gumption to weather the yard at Myersville; here's the yard before weathering.



Now, it looks like this.



I sprinkled finely ground charcoal dust over the site and brushed it into the ballast texture with a stiff brush. A brief shot of alcohol/water solution rehydrated the ballast glue sufficiently to bond the charcoal in place.

Thanks, TB staff, for hosting this party in the winter. Winter is my peak modeling time, so this works out better for me than would the spring layout party.

Thanks, fellow modelers, for sharing your progress, inspiration and encouragement. It's great to be among peers.

 

So how do these things "officially" end? I started on a Sunday so I'll post my last update on a Sunday =)

Here is the completed subroadbed for the upper level, with some roadbed and track to boot.










And here is a short autorack train on the new track. Hooked up some power and got to see the train curve back and fourth =)





I didn't complete all I wanted to, but I did get some stuff done, so I'm happy with that, and I didn't get burnt out either, so that's a big plus! I finished painting my backdrops, rebuilt my drop down access bridge, finished the subroadbed on the upper level and started the roadbed and some track. I made a crappy MS paint picture, received some advice from my fellow TB members and the best part, I had a great time!!


-Mike

 

Todd,
I thought the yard was already done before weathering... Now it's simply superb! :ru-wink:

 

Hey, don't sell that crappy picture short--after seeing it I am going to use the same technique to preview my scenery! Good work on all the projects. Jamie

 

Hello everyone,

I know I'm late to the game. I just joined the boards as this was nearing an end. I don't even have a layout, but I have started planning one. In the meantime, I decided to try my hand at a 7 foot long static display. This gave me an opportunity to see if I liked railroad modelling before committing to a full layout, and to test some of the techniques. Its still not done, but it is getting close. I made a lot of progress today.

 

Yeah, I guess I was having a little too much fun with the bears.

 

Its not done yet, and as you can see in some places the glue is still wet, but it'll be a few days before I can resume work on it.

For the last shot I put my train on the tracks. Loco does not yet have the couplers installed yet.

EDIT: Just noticed the tree on the right in the last shot looked pretty scraggly. Just fixed that with some hob-e-tak and some tree-foam.

 

Nice! What a cool idea for a static display!

 

Thanks!

This board has been a great inspiration.
Trying to hash out my layout, but thats for another thread.

 

Well Guys

Last Chance to Make an Update or a comment. The Layout Party Ended Last Friday. I will leave this Open Until Friday Feb 20th and then will lock the thread.

What will we do Next, wait until this December or run a Spring one in March, Looking for suggestions.

This has got to be the best Partys we have ever held congratulations to all who participated.

 

Owen, I think some of us would like a spring party as well.

-Mike