The MV&P's Tidewater Division

[Mileswestern]

Since I dismantled the Mission Valley & Pacific's "Highgrove Division" in mid 2009, I've recycled much of the modular layout to create a new layout with a different concept to model. The Theme of the last layout was an attempt to depict California's Citrus industry in all it's variety. The tidewater division is an outgrowth of seeing inspiring towns such as Alviso, Crockett, Salinas & Alameda, Calif. Other small backwater bay and delta towns in Northern California also provide inspiration to help make the appeal of this layout concept come to fruition.

Such regional features as mission revival architecture, victorian homes, salt ponds, packing houses, shipwrights, seasonal rivers and street running will provide scenic and operational interest.

As of March 20th the Mainline is complete, and both of the freight yards have been laid down and wired for DCC Operations.

This is an overall view of the layout as of March 20th 2010, I'll take an updated photo soon. This was taken minutes after I completed construction on the mainline after 4 days of track work.







These photos were taken two days earlier as I began track work on the part of the layout that will have a tidewater marsh and salt evaporation ponds with various other details including an abandoned narrow gauge ROW as a nod to the real South Pacific Coast Ry.





Of course, the obligatory "golden spike" shot when the mainline was completed had to be put in here.



Meanwhile on the other side of the layout, one of the modules saved from the Highgrove Division layout sees a modern ATSF freight roll across the steel truss span. The cars feature hand-painted graffiti that I did for a client.

[nachoman]

Citrus groves? Salt evaporation ponds? cool! Something different - I am excited to see what you come up with.

[Russ Bellinis]

Miles, I missed this thread. The new layout looks great. I haven't seen a lot of posts form you lately. I hope that means your custom painting business is keeping you really busy!

[nachoman]

That stream in the last photo looks really cool. I assume that is recycled from your old layout? Do you have any better photos, and perhaps a short explanation of how you made it?

[Mileswestern]

Yes, my business has me swamped in a good way. There are better photos of the river here: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.weatheringman.com/Layouts.html">http://www.weatheringman.com/Layouts.html</a><!-- m -->

[nachoman]

Great looking gravel bed river there!

[doctorwayne]

Good lookin' layout, Miles, and nice to see you back here, too.

Wayne

[Gary S]

Great to hear from you!

[Mileswestern]

I've been experimenting with Static grass and the Noch applicator, and I must say I'm quite pleased with the results.

[Gary S]

That turned out great! I really like the look of the last one. Hmmm... does this mean I need to buy one of them contraptions too? (or do I build one a la DocWayne?)

[Mileswestern]

I'd suggest building one, I only have one because a client needs it for a project I'm working on with him. If you don't have the time, then buying one isn't a bad idea either, but they are quite expensive for what you get. It does work quite well though, it's definitely not a "gimmick" tool like some things that have come across the counter at hobby shops in the last few decades. The longer, taller grass really looks amazing, and the best part is, you can make your own silflor grass tufts with this thing, saving massive amounts of money.

[LFDRR]

Any chance of a closeup of the low bridge over the creek? I have dual mainlines and they cross a creek on a curve and that flat bridge looks the ticket.

Angie