California Northern layout in HO

[torikoos]

A bit stupid perhaps, but I can't remember if I ever started a thread about my own home layout, so I thought I better get one started.

My home layout is very loosely based in California, and one of the areas modeled will be the Napa Jct yard of the California Northern.
here's a bit of scenery recently started (and not yet finished).


Untitled by K2K Koos, on Flickr



And here, the napa jct area under construction:


Napa Jct CA by K2K Koos, on Flickr

And finally the track plan, so we're all up to date :-)


California Northern Trackplan rev 2K by K2K Koos, on Flickr

Koos

[Ralph]

A bit stupid perhaps, but I can't remember if I ever started a thread about my own home layout, so I thought I better get one started....

Glad you did! Looks good! Keep us up to date on progress!

[faraway]

That looks good. You have got an engine in the California Northern paint scheme. I love that paint scheme.

[torikoos]

Thanks Ralph, will do. Here's another picture of the scrapyard area, which also is far from finished, but gives an idea

Koos


Napa Jct scrap yard by K2K Koos, on Flickr

[torikoos]

That looks good. You have got an engine in the California Northern paint scheme. I love that paint scheme.

Yes I did that myself. I took an old Athearn Bluebox SD9, which I detailed, and custom painted. Getting the cream was a bit of an experiment, but the green is polyscale new brunswick green, a decal set was used from Microscale. I also have an Athearn Genesis GP15-1 in CFNR scheme on order.
I model my layout in the first half of the 90's, where the CFNR just started operating, and SP power was still about. I've taken some modelers licence though and placed the locoshop facilities on the layout. I'm not 100% certain it actually was existing at the time, but did by the end of the 90's.

Koos

PS: Here's the loco shop, as pictured in BING maps.
   

[faraway]

...Yes I did that myself. I took an old Athearn Bluebox SD9,...in the first half of the 90's, where the CFNR just started operating, and SP power was still about...

I did wonder what "off the rack" model it is. That explains a lot. I did wonder about the SP switcher too. The time frame you picked is clever.

[torikoos]

Here's a bit of background on the layout:

I started to develop this plan when looking for a small size switching layout, based on an area in California, where the SP would operate. A couple of influences can be mentioned here: Pele Soeborg for his beautiful California desert scenery, Joe Fugate for his Siskiyou layout, and Lance Mindheim and his switching layout approach.

It started with an L shape design, which is most of the left side of the track plan, plus the top side. I then 'stumbled' upon the California Northern, a regional railroad that began operations in the early 90's, and discovered this runs over former SP tracks. The CFNR in it's start up years, operated with SP equipment, until enough 'own' locomotives appeared on the roster, but SP retained a couple of trains on the routes in these years until it's merger with UP, about 3-4 years later.
The plan slowly grew (almost unavoidable for any model railroader), and the left side was now loosely based on the maintenance yard near American Canyon (Napa Junction). I decided to model the area with a couple of compromises, but am aiming to get the feel of that area. I did not have space for the WYE nearby, so left that out. However I've scratch build the engineshops, using Google Earth, and Bing etc as my sources, along with some photo's I found on the net. The building dimensions are entirely guestimated, and I build it a little shorter than the real thing, for lack of space, but it has the right feel to it. A picture of the area is visible in an earlier post.
Further down the line we find Cordelia Tunnel, from which the line continues and eventually (via Davis) ends up in Sacramento, but also goes north via the former SP West valley sub towards Woodlands, Corning, etc, while the other side of the wye on the real CFNR , goes via Suisuin to Willits.
i decided to use Cordelia tunnel as a scenic divide. The west side will have a dryer/western CA feel, while on the other side of this tunnel, I will be modeling the line much further North a bit of a , where the scenery changes to a more forest type and lusher greens etc. As seen enroute to Willits. I haven't completely developed the scenery and locale for the right side yet, but my intention is to model a bit of the west valley sub around the track on the layout edge, using scenic divides (trees etc), and the small 2 track yard behind is actually on the pacific sub towards Willits. I've also taken significant liberty in making the line split on the East side of the tunnel, and one of these goes towards a single mainline 'staging' , behind the back drop and continues all the way around. Not only will this enable the storage of a train, but I can also make a longer run, or let a train run while doing some switching etc.

Anyway, it's very modest, but I'm hoping to capture the feel of the area in due course, with nice scenery, and a potential for some modest ops sessions, although the order and geographical locations are freely intermixed , as they say, it's my railroad :-)

Koos

[torikoos]

The last couple of days I've been busy on some scenery work on my layout. A few hours here and there.
Among others I've added some roads (which still need more paint and weathering), and more ground cover (static grass etc), as well as painted more track a rusty brown colour so I can continue to ballast on another part. I've also started to erect and paint the fence that will go around the scrap yard area. Below are some random under construction photos.

Koos


Untitled by K2K Koos, on Flickr


Untitled by K2K Koos, on Flickr


Untitled by K2K Koos, on Flickr

[torikoos]

another few pictures , showing completed fence .
A lot of detailing and weathering still need to be done, to complete the area. As far as weathering is concerned, I also urgently need to make a start with that in regards to the rolling stock and locomotives, all way too clean :-)

Koos


SP 6521 at Napa Jct by K2K Koos, on Flickr


SP 6521 at Napa Jct by K2K Koos, on Flickr

[jwb]

The gold color on the hillside photo you've shown is very good. Most of the trees in an area like that (which is common to coastal and foothill areas of California generally) would be live oaks.
   
I'm a little worried that you're thinking of putting junk yards in the area. Ha, ha, your HO people would be demonstrating like crazy, lying down on the track in front of your train. . .

[torikoos]

The gold color on the hillside photo you've shown is very good. Most of the trees in an area like that (which is common to coastal and foothill areas of California generally) would be live oaks.
[ATTACHMENT NOT FOUND]
I'm a little worried that you're thinking of putting junk yards in the area. Ha, ha, your HO people would be demonstrating like crazy, lying down on the track in front of your train. . .

That's a fun idea, perhaps I'll get a couple of environmental campaigners protesting this little local industry in due course
Thanks for the picture too, that is a great confirmation for me , that I'm on the right track. having never been to the area, I try to judge it via Google earth etc.

Thanks, Koos

[torikoos]

A couple of shots of a small area on which I've started to add some scenery.

Before:


Untitled by K2K Koos, on Flickr

After: (or actually during, I'm not done yet and the glue is still wet in this picture).


Untitled by K2K Koos, on Flickr

And a train passing by :


Untitled by K2K Koos, on Flickr

Koos

[jonte]

A very nicely blended scene, Koos.

I note that you've muted the colouring of the track work since its preballasted look: perhaps by way of powders or even spraying both track and ballast with an airbrush to bring the two together? Maybe you've changed your methods since the last time we saw it? I'd be interested to learn.

Thanks for sharing,

Jonte

[torikoos]

Hi Jonte,

Thanks for the comments. The effect you see on the track is a byproduct of the ballast I've used. In particular the most forward track is ballasted with grey ballast to simulate a newer roadbed and different ballast from a different region was used, compared to the background tracks which contain more of a brown and sand colour mix.

The foreground track was ballasted using gravel from a pet shop. (Pets at Home in the UK). It is grey gravel that is commonly used as ground cover for vivariums that house reptiles. It comes in 5kg bags and is much cheaper than specialist ballast.
The bags do contain a little dust, and that's probably what made the ties etc appear lighter, a not unwelcome effect and tones down any remaining plastic shine there might be.It is available normally in a few colours, sand, grey and a 'blueish' tone.
As this is a natural stone product it is important to glue it down well and vacuum the area, to prevent any of it being eaten up by your locomotive gears. An extra layer of dilluted white pva glue is therefore no luxury.

you could probably find similar materials for fish tanks, but look for the finest grade you can find. If it looks too fine in the shop , it is probably just right (aside from real fine sand that is).

The grass here is static grass, Noch wild grass number 07071 , over which I sprinkled a few pinches of a darker woodland scenics fine turf (forgot the colour, but it's a darker green , nothing too bright) to simulate some weeds in there. The Static grass is applied with a home made applicator, consisting of an electric fly swatter and a tea strainer.. less than 10 pounds together. (see this thread: <!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="http://bigbluetrains.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=44&t=6258&p=127001&hilit=static+grass+applicator#p127001">viewtopic.php?f=44&t=6258&p=127001&hilit=static+grass+applicator#p127001</a><!-- l -->)

Koos

[torikoos]

Hi Jonte , futher to my scenery techniques, before I use any sort of commercial scenery product, the base board is painted an earth brown colour (substitute this for a colour suitable for your modelled area) latex emulsion paint.

Once that's done, I go ahead and use what's called ZIP texturing. Lynn Wescott popularised it in the 60's, but Joe Fugate of Model Railroad Hobbyist updated it a bit and demonstrated it in his scenery videos (still available through his website).
He ran an article on the subject in the magazine too. Here's a link to the article. <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/magazine/mrh-2010-SepOct/zip_texturing_resurrected">http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/maga ... esurrected</a><!-- m -->

ZIP texturing is basically done with pigment powders mixed with plaster of paris. It is applied with a tea strainer, and then misted with 'wet water' (water with a few drops of detergent). The plaster of paris acts as a glue/binder, and ensures the colours are not too stark in the right mixes.

The main mix formulas are in the aforementioned article. A UK supplier of the pigment powders (tempera powders) is here:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.artifolk.co.uk/childrens-art-and-craft/painting-and-sketching/reeves-tempera-poster-powder-paint-500g.htm">http://www.artifolk.co.uk/childrens-art ... t-500g.htm</a><!-- m -->

You want the black, yellow, sienna and blue. Umber is also possible but it's probably not red enough for 'red dirt'.

It really works fast (hence the name ZIP) and gives a great base for any sort of scenery.

Give it a try, it really is great.

Koos