Note: This jumped to a new page on this thread... other "new progress" photos are on the previous page.

This is the first area on the layout that is actually nearing completion. Houston Pipe and Wire is modeled after a pipeyard that is about 8 miles south of where I work. The backdrop painting is done, still have some basic "dirtiness" and clutter to add, and also need to add grass and bushes along the front fenceline. I have to admit it is quite fun switching the gons in and out of the yard. There is a "hold" track just to the left of the industry that will hold 2 gons, so I can bring up to six at a time, then switch the empties into the pipeyard to be loaded. Cool stuff.

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Also made some pipe loads:

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Great to see your layout again Gary ---hopefully we'll see lots more on a regular basis

Thank you Mister Nutbar. My apologies for having been scarce lately. I've just been having so much fun operating the layout!

The north wall is no longer a blue foam prairie. I did some major carving on the foam to match the terrain along Mykawa Road in south Houston. Obviously still have alot of work to do there. Added 4 new buildings modeled after indutries just west of Hobby Airport. The building in the foreground is Shasta Beverages. They receive corn sweetener in tank cars. The second building a Gulf Winds International, a shipping company. The real building has 12 doors, I could only squeeze in 7. Both buildings obviously need detailing and paint.

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Further down the north wall is Univar Chemicals. Neat structure in that the prototype has been added on to three times. Also has very interesting tanks and pipework detail that will eventually be added.

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Mountain King Potatos is next, needing paint and details and the unloading chutes for the SLC reefers.

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Across the aisle from the above is the Almeda area. I'm using two of the buildings that Kurt sent me to be the basis of "Azrock Tile" which is a real company in Houston. There will be more structures added and of course, all kinds of detail like dust collectors and piping.

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Last, all my 40 foot cars ar on consignment at the LHS. Have been acquiring modern rollingstock. Of course, they all have to be weathered too. My friend Aaron has been helping me with that.

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Gary S Wrote:...

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That view is overwhelming. You have the guts to use no more than 25% of the space for tracks. The proportions of the road, the unused strips on both sides, the tracks and the buildings is very realistic. It is a pleasure for the eyes to see no compression at all

Thanks Reinhard. The road and tracks along the north wall is modeled after Mykawa Road and the BNSF yard there. The drainage ditches and measurements were taken from GooglEarth. The buildings aren't actually right up against the yard tracks though like on the layout. The industrial park is actually half a mile back from there. Still, the layout definitely portrays the wide open spaces of south Houston.

One last note. I am doing a clinic at the upcoming San Jacinto Railroad Modelers Train Show on February 18th. The topic will be painting backdrops based on prototype photos. I'll be showing the methods I used for my backdrops in a Powerpoint slideshow, with the pipe yard backdrop being the main subject.

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Gary S Wrote:Thanks Reinhard. The road and tracks along the north wall is modeled after Mykawa Road and the BNSF yard there. ...

There is one tiny detail I miss. The photo is taken heading north. I did drive north and wanted to park the car to take some photo of idle engines. No way, the east rim of the road is to rough to park a limousine. I had to do a turn and park heading south.

Hi Gary
Nice to see some progress photos. They are looking great. You have come a long way, and everything is super from the floor to the ceiling.
I hope you have many more years to enjoy it. The details are wonderful
Charlie

Gary:
Nice furniture. One of our dealers used to use drafting drawers for his inventory.

I'm a bit worried about the stuff you have lining the drawers; I'm afraid it might react with your cars. (It may not.) I saw a brass loco that was taken out of the foam box and the foam had integrated itself with the paint.

Gary,

Those are some very realistic scenes! Some of those photos of the pipe and wire place, I had to look twice, or three times!

Terrific stuff....!!!!
Makes the wait worth the while.... For realism, yours comes up to the 95% mark....

Gary S Wrote:One last note. I am doing a clinic at the upcoming San Jacinto Railroad Modelers Train Show on February 18th. The topic will be painting backdrops based on prototype photos. I'll be showing the methods I used for my backdrops in a Powerpoint slideshow, with the pipe yard backdrop being the main subject.

I'll bet that biL would have been pleased to see this, Gary.

Wayne

doctorwayne Wrote:

Gary S Wrote:One last note. I am doing a clinic at the upcoming San Jacinto Railroad Modelers Train Show on February 18th. The topic will be painting backdrops based on prototype photos. I'll be showing the methods I used for my backdrops in a Powerpoint slideshow, with the pipe yard backdrop being the main subject.

I'll bet that biL would have been pleased to see this, Gary.

Wayne

I love the mottled greys on the road surface.