So I killed some time the last couple days putting together a simple little layout. It's on a 24"X80ish door. I had some regular track but no switches. I had switches and curves in EZ-track. So I basically molded the two together. Still along ways to go, but when is it actually finished? The door layout is going to be a guiena pig for some ideas I have and trying out "thinking outside the box" sorta things. I am by no means trying to recreate any time period, location, or anything along those lines. I needed something to try some new ideas, and get me motivated to jump back into things. Also I'm using this to test out the cheaper read;non-hobby related products.
I like your Mt Rushmore! A small "try it out" layout is a great idea. If I had the room to set up my HCD, I would probably do the same, with simple track for car/loco testing, and areas easily changed for scenery tests.
Thanks Rick! I was actually goofing around with a chunk of pink foam and the dremel. It's not 100% but it makes a great tree holder!
It's a good way to keep interest high, while building the larger layout I see in background. You can take a break and play any time desired... Boxcab E50
Thanks Boxcab! I've hit a roadblock with the larger layout. I ran out of 1x3 and plywood, so now I'm waiting to get the lumber I need and a jigsaw. Until then it's at a stand still. I had the door and the n scale stuff so I figured why not.
Funny that I had been thinking about the same thing for my layout. The main plan is for a 6x9 foot L-shaped layout, but in the interest of having something to use sooner, and to have a test ground to experiment with some concepts, we were considering building a smaller layout, 2x3 or 2x4 in size, with just enough track and switches to make it "operational", rather than just a roundy-round.
Nice work Danny Danny Keep posting your progress on this layout you're really doing some nice work. Small layouts can be really cool. It sure looks like you are having fun.
Thanks PW&NJ and Joe! I'll keep them coming in. I'm going to get those lanscapers busy today! I'm working on getting my ballast dyed, so once I figure that trick out the joy of ballasting starts!
So I have spent a good chunk of the day trying to make ballast. The top left is a ink from a bic ball point pin and alcohol mix. Well lets just say I now know black ink isn't really black. Who knew? And purpleish ballast isn't gonna fly on my layout. The top right is acrylic craft paint the color being steel grey. The lower left is the ball point pen ink again with a darker media. It almost looks black and brown, but there's a hint of that purple again. The lower middle is the darker media with burnt umber, and the lower right is darker media with mississippi mud. Both being acrylic craft paint. The ones with the ink actually changes colors in different lighting. I put some of the upper left stuff in my hand and it looked black/grey, under regular lighting it looks blue, under the drying light it looked purple. I'm going to pick up some india ink and try it next. Hopefully that won't have the purple effect. A few more tests and I should be on my way to ballasting soon!
