faraway Wrote:Posting technique might be questionable but the weathering is very good

Well, you can't be good in anything, I prefer to perfect my weathering skills than posting proficiency!!!

I had to travel a lot this week for my work and had an excellent occasion to see in detail how pitiful a road can look after a goold old canadian winter. May looks bad in real, but extremely inspiring for a branchline layout. I'm not sure If I'll be able to work a lot on the layout during next week, I've got to complete some home improvement in a room and sand/varnish an old wood floor.

Matt

I think you mean "everything" not "anything".

Your road looks better than Stone Road outside our little community -- but that's getting rebuilt this year.

I think Mr. Gravett would be very pleased

Regards,

jonte

I've already cut the styrene for my roads, but your use of the sand paper has me seriously considering scrapping my work and moving in that direction - wonderful work!

Well done. I like the weathered ALCO and the road.

Hi there,

Nice little layout.That raod is looking good for me.Tried the sandpaper long a go for roads on a small diorama,too.


keep it going,

Cheers,Chris

I am really liking your layout concept and how well you have captured the feeling of it with your blog header photo. I would like to do something similar based on CN's late operations on PEI. Not much was in very good condition for infrastructure and just a general look of decay on the line.

Hi,

@Stephan: Thanks alot for your kind comments.

Just to let you know I restarted this project. I just completed my home office restoration to its 19th century appearance and can no go back working on my little switching layout. I kept the module in my basement during the last months and when I took a lot at it this week I found out it was really bulky. I don't want to install shelf brackets on my freshly-repainted wainscot walls and I'm actually thinking about using IKEA's LACk shelf to rebuild the layout in a very lightweight fashion. The new dimensions are 75" x 12". An issue with the original concept was the siding lenght. So I decided to make some changes by moving the turnout farther left, out of the module.

The improved track arrangement will offer much more car spot, better switching moves and possibility to run a 5-car train + caboose. I feel this is right for a lightly used branchline. Last week end, I railfanned Sartigan Railway (which operate a small portion of my prototype) and it was nice to see they have similar railroad operations.

About the structures, I'm not sure if I'll reuse what I have and to which extent. But I do want to keep the same feeling. I'm not sure when I'll start building this layout, but it should be when summer will start (and when I get my hand on a set of shelves and lighting units).

If you want more infos about the improved concept, just take a look at my blog: http://theendofsteel.blogspot.ca/

I hope to start working on this project as soon as possible and to post progress pictures. And if you ask me why I restarting this project, it's because I know my first attempt was plagued with flaws. Also, the project was in its infancy, so I see no problem restarting it from scratch on better ground.

Matt

Matt:
I'm using Ikea's IVAR shelving on (or under) my layout. There is one shelf that's 12" by 30" (or so). I set my layout on top, using a frame that comes outside the shelf uprights.
The shelving was faster and better looking than my carpentry, but much more expensive.