Looks good! Are you gonna include the I-540 overpass east of the grain elevator? It would make a good scenic divider. Next question-is your layout DC or DCC? If the former, I have an Athearn RTR GP35 and GP38-2 in Jenks Blue that would look good on the point of a local.
Bob, I don't think I have enough space for the overpass. I'll have to think about that (good idea). The layout is DC. Bring on the power when your in town (if you ever get back). Seems like your gone more than at home, but I'm sure your family says the same thing.
Here is a pic of the test fit of the final valance panel over Van Buren. As you can see, I will have to cut the facing to clear the crown moulding on the cabinet. This will give me a chance to try out a pattern tool I have.
Funny......after being off work for seven weeks I was getting antsy, and it was to the point my family couldn't wait for me to get back to work However, I should be home the first week of July, and I have a grandchild to introduce to her uncles (My younger sons), plus an ailing mother to visit. I'm gonna take off two weeks before I hit the road again, where I do not know.
Back to overpasses......there IS a state highway that crosses over the tracks at the feed mill, and it's a two-laner- could be a possibility. It runs east-west.
Bob, sorry I did not get back sooner; if you can work in a day while your off.... I am aware of the overpass on the lead to the elevator (the two lane) but at the time I thought it would look kind of funny climbing over the tracks and leaping into the air off the edge of the layout but I might revisit that idea.
I finally got around to trying my hand at making trees (its been along time since I did this). I finally found something that I liked for a tree armature in the form of the part of a Nandina bush that produces the berries. When the berries fall off and that portion dies it produces this So I spread hot glue on the ends and dipped them in WS undercover gound foam (which is similar to the extra course ground foam) and got this result If I say so myself, it is my best effort (stick pin in head to deflat ego) So got one of those round tuits and planted those suckers and heres the overall scene so far plus a close up of the head end Once I get more of the scenery done, I can get the water effects in. Well its off to make more trees.
Trees, what trees? That SD40-2 was in the way.... Just jerking your chain....those are good-looking trees. And that SD40-2 ain't bad, either.
Well its been a little over a month since I posted to this thread so I guess its about time for an update. Since I spend a lot of time in the kitchen area of the train room watching TV, I wanted to improve the view of the layout in that area so I started with the cannery on the west end of Van Buren. This is a start of the cardboard mockup This is what you see straight on from the kitchen area. The overall length of the structure is 52". Here's a couple of shots from each side
Excellent work Mopman, next time you are taking photos can you take one of the trackwork. I'd like to see where the yard connects to the mainoine.
The trees look great! There is a certain satisfaction in making your own trees. Thats going to be an impressive building when done. Looking forward to more.
Nice-looking mockup, and pretty close to the real thing at Van Buren! BTW, do you have a trackplan of the layout? If I've asked this question before, forgive me.....I've slept since then.
Sorry I'm just getting back on. Thanks for the comments guys. Paul, here is an older pic. The curved turnout leads into the siding and yard. I'll try to get a better pic posted later Jerry, what I'm ready for is that water effect. I still have about 6-7 more feet of river bank to complete before I get that going. Bob, you and Paul both have. I started one on Xtrakcad but never had a chance to finish the tutorials in order to finish the project. But if I do get it finished, don't expect anything like Pete Nolans' with scenic highlights and such :teeth::teeth:
Well I know it's been a couple of months since I've posted anything here. The main reason is my workplace has installed software that blocks certain sites from being accessed including this one. Now when I'm at home I don't get on the computer much since I'm on one 8 hrs a day at work. Besides, how can I work on the layout if I'm on the computer? Things are progressing though. I'll try to upload some recent pics later. For the first time in about 20 years I added my layout to the open house tour for the Plano show this past January. There were 30 layouts on the tour this year. I had a pretty good turnout considering all the layouts were spread out from Ft Worth to Commerce TX. Also this was my first year to operate the Trains at Northpark exhibit over the holidays. There were literally thousands of people that came to that show. So you can see time was a bit tight at the end of the year. Now lets see, oh, progress. All of the mainline trackage is in and wired, backdrop painting and ballasting the yard has started in Van Buren, and the layout looks presentable as it took me a little over a week to cleanup the room for the layout tour. Here is a teaser of Van Buren until I can upload more photos
I would like to come to the op session. :angel: Too far away. :sad: Here's my last op session: Friday night Wolfgang
