Westbrook

[fast car]

Mal, exceptional job on the trees. Are you using Super Tree armatures with the Noch leaves?

Larry

[alcanman]

Mal, exceptional job on the trees. Are you using Super Tree armatures with the Noch leaves?

Larry

Yes, Larry. Just a regular box of Scenery Express Super Trees. I sprayed them with dark brown paint from a rattle can then fix the leaves with 3M photo adhesive.

I now have a production line set up in my garage to produce more trees to fill the space, approx 2ft 6ins long.

Mal

[alcanman]

With nice weather over the Easter weekend, I ventured into the garage to make more trees for the layout.

Even the relatively small space still required a lot of trees, however, I'm pleased with the results.

My next task will be to start weathering my new locos and cars, the pics only highlight the need for this work to start soon!

   


   

Mal

[Tyson Rayles]

Nice, quite realistic!

[alcanman]

I've now started to weather my new locos and boxcars. I prefer to work in stages rather than over do the weathering and totally mess up.

First GRS/ST #623 received some treatment with a light wash and weathering powders.

   

and a GRS boxcar received as simple spray of dark brown. This pic highlights the difference in Guilford grey/brown used by Atlas on the loco and Athearn on the boxcar.
I believe Athearn got the color wrong.

   

Mal

[alcanman]

To celebrate finishing the layout, well almost, I've still got plenty of detail to add, I've made the first video showing switching action at Westbrook.

Enjoy!

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIqD2SxjMOc&feature=em-upload_owner">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIqD2Sx ... load_owner</a><!-- m -->

   

Mal

[jonte]

Small but perfectly formed; a miniature replica of the myriad videos I watch on Youtube.

A well observed model, beautifully crafted and wonderfully presented. Well worth the wait, Mal.

Oh how I wish the standard of some exhibition models was this good.

jonte

[alcanman]

Small but perfectly formed; a miniature replica of the myriad videos I watch on Youtube.

A well observed model, beautifully crafted and wonderfully presented. Well worth the wait, Mal.

Oh how I wish the standard of some exhibition models was this good.

jonte

Thanks Jonte. As always your comments are much appreciated. Looking back thru this thread there were times when some comments made me doubt the validity of the project.

However, I'm pleased with the end result and enjoying the simplicity of switching operations, despite their limitions.

   

Mal

[faraway]

Mal, that is a great little ISL. The scenery looks phantasmic realistic. The ground cover with weeds and gras is convincing.

[alcanman]

Mal, that is a great little ISL. The scenery looks phantasmic realistic. The ground cover with weeds and gras is convincing.

Thanks Reinhard. I've now added a little more grass and and weeds mainly around the parking lot area.

For my second video I've focused on the silos which receive road salt for unloading, storage and transloading by truck.


<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgmJunam9gE">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgmJunam9gE</a><!-- m -->


   

Enjoy!

[jonte]

Hi, Mal.

I really enjoyed watching this little snippet of the USA yesterday but have only now been able to comment.

Another masterpiece; truly

I've commented previously on the high standard of presentation which makes this a highly favoured rural idyll for me, but what I've failed to mention is that your stock has a sense of mass and momentum about it; just like the real thing, I suppose, as the cliche goes. But it's true. I simply cannot explain why; just a notion I get. Although it helps, sound does not equate to realism: for me there is something more to the equation than that and I think Westbrook has it. If I was more knowledgable, I'd probably be able to explain those 'missing elements'.

This is about the best I can offer, Mal, apart from to say it's probably the nearest you can get to standing track side.

jonte

[alcanman]

Thanks Jonte, your comments are always valued. My aim with the videos is to try and emulate the trackside experience by using low angle camera shots. I guess it must have worked for you.

I spend a lot of time working out camera postions. Videos have now become an enjoyable and integral part of the hobby for me.

Mal

[Tyson Rayles]