A little more progress in the Ozark area Over the weekend I worked on the cliff formations around the Ozark area. Right now it's just pink foam that still needs more shaping but you can see how its starting to shape up. First pic looking west Looking east This area is along a 23' wall over staging so there's still a lot of work to do. Those fans who have the Kevin EuDaly Mopac power book can see a pic of the scene I'm trying to reproduce looking west at the top of page 188.
Great! I like the cut where the tracks pass through it. Nice completed hills along the other wall in the distance, BTW.
Well it's been a while since I posted to this thread. So just to update the progress - over the holidays I was off for two weeks. As ususal we never get as much work done as we would like but on a MRR any progress is progress. I was able to ballest some of the track in the Alma area (pics later) but I didn't have the elevator spur in place for spotting grain hoppers. So I laid out the centerlines for the cork roadbed. Then glued down the cork and ties Spiked the stock rails & frog Installed the point/closure rails & guard rails - soldered the PCB tie bar - then installed the ground throw Now I have a place to spot the grain cars. The structures are still under construction. Since I do my painting outdoors, it may take some time to finish the overall scene, but at least I have another industry to work during an operating session. I also need to add Butler bins, scalehouse and other details to finish out this area. Hope you enjoy.
I can envision an old clapped-out GP9 or chopped GP18 working this elevator now...... Nicely done- I'm gonna have to try to get a visit made when I get home next month
That too.....actually, I saw all three diesel models on the ready track at Van Buren- at once, no less!
Thanks all. I received a couple of GP7's for Christmas this year so that scene will become a reality when the weather allows me to start painting again. I have about 8 engines that need detail and paint, so it will get pretty busy in the paint shop this spring. Right now I am concentrating on scenery and installing the valance for lighting (the temperature in the attic is ideal this time of year for wiring). I'm not on the layout tour for this years Plano show but I'm hoping to have the layout on the tour next year. That gives me about 366 days to get my rear in gear to complete all of the trackwork, build a couple of memory throttles, complete the aforementioned engines and get a car-card system up and running for operating sessions. If anyone wants to visit, let me know. If I'm available, any and all visitors are welcome.
I started doing the scenery on the area just west of Ozark which I will probably cover in the layout party thread. Here are a couple of pics of the area. BTW I just got my DSL installed on the home computer so I will be able to submit stuff from the house now. I have just started putting the plaster "skin" on the foam. The second coat is what I carve the rockwork on.
I recently picked up an Athearn GP35 off of eBay- it's in MP blue sublettered for T&P. It'll go well with my GP35M and GP38-2 on my MP interchange freight. I recommend at least one or two for your MP layout.
Nice Layout! Im still kicking around the idea of running the MoPAC, as those blue Geeps and that sawblade is etched in my childhood memories. Growing up in Southern Illinois, and my dad being a miner, and all my relatives having a railroad track literally in their yard, those long coaldrags are what I dream of. To get from one town to another you pretty much followed railroad tracks somewhere. Even if I never get my layout as far as yours, I will look forward to seeing the eagals flying on you layout. Keep up the good work!
Bob, there are plans to add more GP35s to the rooster. K.P.E.V., go for it. The Dupo area would be a great basis for a model. I'm hoping to finish the area I'm carving this week, then I can post a pic of the area when the rockwork is painted.
Friscobob, I would love to see some photos of the GP35. I've been busy buy geeps recently on ebay. I have 3 GP18s (one low hood), 2 GP7s and a GP38-2. They are all P2K units. I've also bought a number of other MP units too. Unfortunately I didn't see a GP35. How does the Athearn unit run? So far the only Athearn engines that I intend to buy are the BNSF GP60M and GP60Bs. Let me know because I wouldn't mind having one in the mix. MOPMAN, great stuff, can't wait to see your MoPac equipment traversing those freshly installed tracks. verse
Verse- I have two GP35s in Frisco colors that run nicely, even with other MP GP35 yet, but I expect no different from the Friscos. All three are the new RTR series.
