Fluesheet's Shelf Layout

[MountainMan]

Aha! The edit button is back today - I've either recovered my eyesight, or I've been removed from some moderated status or other.

In any case, I have some additional tie detailing that I've been experimenting with on the shelf (the following, and a few additional, were posted in the Distressed Ties thread in the weathering forum). These were formed by cutting various notches out of the ties using a hobby knife, then airbrushing some white over the tie to give it an aged look (I need to fix the overspray in the first). The CVT ties are especially good for this because they're hollow, making a deep split relatively easy to reproduce.


Full sized image here


Full sized image here


Full sized image here

Next is the final tie work for two turnouts that have gone tieless for far too long...

Build thread: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://goodman312.zenfolio.com/p802892396">http://goodman312.zenfolio.com/p802892396</a><!-- m -->

Those weathered ties look terrific, but I would comment that you might not want to have one in the middle of a stretch of "good" ties as maintenance would have caught that, and not on a mainline, either. On a seldom used and/or semi-abandoned spurline...outstanding~!

Meanwhile, I would be remiss if I did not compliment you on your use of your track gang to showcase your progress!

[Fluesheet]

Those weathered ties look terrific, but I would comment that you might not want to have one in the middle of a stretch of "good" ties as maintenance would have caught that, and not on a mainline, either. On a seldom used and/or semi-abandoned spurline...outstanding~!

Meanwhile, I would be remiss if I did not compliment you on your use of your track gang to showcase your progress!

Thanks for the kind comments Mountain Man. Your point is well taken and I agree. The layout represents a very low speed and deferred maintenance industrial area, so can get away with bad ties given train speed - even on the "main" line. In a perfect world, the distressed vs. good tie ratio should be reversed - but there are just too many! I'd estimate that 10-15% of the ties are at least faded / aged with white paint. Very few got the "rotted" treatment, though I really like it.

I may destroy a few more over time (it's fun!), though most will be limited to fading and putting in a few superficial scratches that can be darkened with a wash.

[Fluesheet]

More ballast was put down a couple of days ago, which I used to continue my experiments with adhesives.

To this point, I've used diluted white glue, Future floor wax and, with this this spur, matte medium. I haven't yet tried the Scenic Cement



As described earlier in this thread, the particular ballast I'm using (Smith and Son's cinder ballast mixed with Woodland Scenics cinder ballast about 4 to 1).) doesn't pull in wet water very well when applied with a pipette - this is due to Smith and Son's high dust content. The successful way to accomplish wetting with this type of material is to spray a mister into the air and let the water settle onto the ballast. The smaller droplets penetrate well and this approach has the side benefit of not disturbing the ballast; especially fine, dusty ballast such as this. It makes a heck of a wet mess though....



I'm not happy with diluted matte medium - it leaves the white talc residue behind after setting. (and by the way, that grass needs a good comb!)

The worst of this stuff showed up where I had really soaked the ballast with the medium, maybe it could be reduced with more application care. Also, Dave Frary has discussed letting getting around this by letting the talc settle in the container and drawing the adhesive (medium part) off into another container. For this application, I don't see the value of this; diluted white glue works as well or better without the extra step.

Any thoughts from the matte medium users out there?

As a side note, I put a path in the grass between the main and spur. The idea was that this path is worn there by brakemen, hobos, young punks, etc. I thought it was pretty cool, however, my wife was not impressed.

Full build is here: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://goodman312.zenfolio.com/p802892396">http://goodman312.zenfolio.com/p802892396</a><!-- m -->

[Len Turner]

Matt, if you haven't already done so, you might try Mod Podge (Matte Finish). I use it full strength to glue down wood ties directly on the foam and diluted (with windshield washer fluid) on the ballast. I pre-wet the W/S ballast with 70% alcohol then drizzle on the diluted M/P. It dries to a clear, matte finish, plus its tough and somewhat flexible. I also use the gloss finish for water. Handy stuff...

[Fluesheet]

Thanks Len, I'll have a look for some. One can never have too many adhesives.

I'm staying away from alcohol as a wetting agent, at least for the Smith & Sons ballast. I gave it a try in one location and seem to haver caused some rust colored discoloration. I should conduct a wetting test with alcohol and this particular ballast to confirm that it was the cause.

[Steamtrains]

Matt...I don't think it was the alcohol that caused the rust effect. Alcohol vaporizes much faster than water, so I doubt it has a chance of causing any rusting. I've used a mix of water & alcohol all over my layout without any problem. I use NS rail exclusively. Are you using steel rail ..?? If so, that may be the source of the rust.

Just a thought....

[Fluesheet]

Matt...I don't think it was the alcohol that caused the rust effect. Alcohol vaporizes much faster than water, so I doubt it has a chance of causing any rusting. I've used a mix of water & alcohol all over my layout without any problem. I use NS rail exclusively. Are you using steel rail ..?? If so, that may be the source of the rust.

I'm using ME rail on Central Valley tie - so nothing ferrous from that standpoint. You make a good point about alcohol flashing off quickly. At that particular place, I was using a weird (relatively) combination; Smith & Son's ballast, Alcohol wetting and Future Floor wax for the adhesive. Something didn't agree with something! That experiment was what led to the track crew digging out ballast scene I'd posted earlier in this thread; I was happy to have their help!

I have a few updates - I've combed the grass out a bit using a set of curved point tweezers. This also thinned it, and I think it looks a little better. Cinders aren't very fertile after all (in fact, one of the advantages of using cinder ballast was it's ability suppress vegetation). I've also used some grass tufts and ballast up to (almost) rail level at the end of the warehouse spur and a few other spots. I'm not sure if it's over done or not, but it's a good start. These tufts have another benefit in that they are stiff enough stop a rolling car dead without a problem.

Two crewmen inspect air hoses - with a bit of seasonal help.

[Len Turner]

Matt, very nice!

[Ralph]

Great looking raised grass!
Ralph

[doctorwayne]

I think that Santa may be contemplating your good-looking grass as fodder for his reindeer, Matt.

Wayne

[sailormatlac]

Looks like your little path in the grass is quite busy! ;-)

The grass turn out pretty well since the last time.

Matt

[Len Turner]

I don't know, but I sorta' thought Santa's presence had a lot to do with the contents of that reefer...
Looks like he's lost his sleigh and reindeer.

[mountaingoatgreg]

Looking good!!!

I just got a box from Scenic Express full of Silflor tufts and a pack of static grass. This thread makes me want to get to work on it right now!!

As for Santa and the beer car, why do you think his cheeks are always so rosy??

[Fluesheet]

Breaking News - Video of the layout!

I took this with a newly completed iCar from Minuteman models (thread here: <!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="http://www.the-gauge.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=5240">viewtopic.php?f=40&t=5240</a><!-- l -->). The track looks pretty good from this angle!

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jl31IdwrH8s&list=UUuy8QJAsn4szEkIxh7jJ-aQ&index=1&feature=plcp">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jl31Idwr ... ature=plcp</a><!-- m -->

[Brakie]

I agree your track looks great..

Maybe I should hire your track layers when it comes time to start laying track on Slate Creek..

I finally see the light at the end of the tunnel and as soon as I recover from the move I'll start building Slate Creek..Hopefully around March or at the very latest April.