Building a Module; HO Scale Photo Diorama

[Trucklover]

This has been a great thread with lots of tips that I'll use. I'm planning on having a fair bit of paved area on my layout, and it's been good to get a few pointers from you.

-Dr.J

Thanks Dr. J for the nice comments Im glad i could help you with a few ideas :mrgreen:

That's a really nice module! I really like the way everything ties together and it's a good looking place to showcase a new engine or car too. HO has some great looking and detailed vehicles...I wish Nscale had more of them. Really great job on the roads too. I've used spackling compound before for roads but wasn't as patient as you were, so mine cracked. After filling in the cracks and resanding the affected areas, they looked pretty prototypical, but it was dusty work. The WS roads look better, more even and certainly more straight than the spackling compound. Is there much sanding involved with the WS's?

Thanks TN!!

This and my CAT module have been the most fun projects ive ever done and i really enjoyed building them. I think thats one of the major factors that drew me away from another layout and made me stop my shelf layout and instead model the M&ET module style.

I used to use Drywall Compound for my roads too. It worked okay for me, but like you said they would crack sometimes and alot of sanding was required most of the time, at least for me lol. The WS Smooth-It is really great stuff if you can have some patients with it lol. There is a bit of sanding involved between coats of the Smooth-It, but, no sandpaper is required, instead i use a putty knife and scrap raised sections being careful not to dig into the dried material, as it is very soft even when dried. If you dig to deep with the knife, just fix it in the next coat, no big deal.

Like i said above, i will be doing a tutorial on how i make my roads and crossings when i start my M&ET modules, i just keep getting delayed on them lol, so hang in there, the tutorial is coming soon

Josh-All I can say is WOW!! Super job. Although I'm taking a different approach with my roads I've picked up some good hints from your construction techniques. Keep up the good work. Bob

Thank-you Bob Glad i could also help you out with some construction techniques, i look forward to seeing some progress of your roads as well :mrgreen: