I started this layout back in 2007, worked on it for a little while, & then I took about a year's hiatus from the hobby all together...

Well, a few days ago, I managed to get back to the train room, did some reorganizing, repairing, & some rethinking/readjusting...In other words, for the time being anyway, I'm back at it!

I decided to modify the backdrop at the end of the sawmill peninsula...I curved it back, giving me a couple more square feet of visible layout...

Before -


After -


I got some more track laid, & started working on building a concrete arch bridge...


Hopefully, I'll have some more updates soon!

Cool, looking forward to more updates.

Cool Drew!! Do you have a trackplan for the layout?

Looks good Drew .. with josh would be nice to see a trackplan

looks cool so far ,you have a track plan? i think we'd all like to see what it will look like.--josh

Thanks guys!

Sorry, as far as a "plan" the only thing I have is this...



That was just a general idea I scratched on paper before I started building...I've never used any kind of computer design software...I just don't have the saavy for it...
Though the basic folded figure-8 idea is still there, a lot has changed/modified...I tend to do a lot of re-thinkuing & making stuff up as I go once I'm actually building benchwork...

btw...the layout is built in a corner along two walls...it measures 12' across the top of the drawing, & 10' on the left side...

Thats a nice looking arch bridge you've got started.
Are you going to paint it or cover it something?

Things are happening! Looking forward to more!
Ralph

Thanks Ralph!

88,
I've been debating with myself about what I want to try & do there...
I may try experimenting with a thin plaster, or joint compound...or I may just paint & weather it...???

For the time being though, I've added some strips of balsa wood to give it a little more detail...

that viaduct is gonna look cool!

How about embossing some cardstock with a pencil or other pointy object to create stone and mortar lines Drew? Then you could simply glue the completed "stone" surface to the viaduct.

Ralph

Glad to see work resume! I know what it's like to take a long hiatus (or a few short ones) and that renewed sense of vigor when you begin again.

I've used lightweight spackle with good results. Nice things about it are, it dries whatever color it is when wet. I added a few drops of Delta acrylic craft paints to achieve either a gray or brown shade depending on the intended surface and was pleased to see it dry the same color as when wet.

Plus, it's extremely simple to 'carve'. Just use a flat bladed screwdriver and push mortar lines & gaps into the dry surface. Yes, the DRY surface. Spread it on smooth (use a wet sponge to smooth it when it is nearly set, a screed of sorts early on when very wet), let it dry, then push the lines in with a screwdriver or other chisel like tool. I went back over the stone wall I made with a variety of stone colors and painted random stones to achieve a varied look, but that's probably not even necessary if you use a nice black wash for the gaps and a dry-brushed highlight for the surface edges.

For a large vertical surface you may want to hot glue some cheese cloth or mesh to the foam, to give the spackle something to grab if it's going to be very thick. Otherwise, it's pretty sticky stuff. Thinned down it would make a good wash over the neat balsa detail you've added over the gap & along the edges.

NOW - I'm guessing the loco is an IHC, but who makes that neat passenger car behind it?

Galen

Quote:Though the basic folded figure-8 idea is still there, a lot has changed/modified...I tend to do a lot of re-thinkuing & making stuff up as I go once I'm actually building benchwork...

I remember (and still pull out occasionally) my first few issues of MR. I've collected many older issues since then, but this one set in particular stands out. It's the series of articles Malcolm Furlow did on building the Carbondale Central. Looking at your rough sketch tickled my brain and it took a few more looks and some scalp scratching to come up with why that looked so darned familiar. The CC used a folded figure 8. The crossing was essentially hidden, giving the effect that the train always entered the scene from either the center-out, or the sides-in, depending on direction of travel. A simple yet interesting and very flexible/workable concept. I'll be likewise interested to see how you develop this plan.

Galen

I don't how I let this thread get away from me. I was trolling down the index and found this one buried near the bottom of the page in the layout forum. When I clicked on the "new posts" icon, it opened near the end, so I've visited this thread before, but I missed the latest posts. Looking back over the thread, I like what you have done so far, Drew.

Galen, that passenger car you asked about looks like one of the MDC 50 foot overland cars to me.

Quote:Galen, that passenger car you asked about looks like one of the MDC 50 foot overland cars to me.

That was my first thought as well, Russ. But take a closer look at the roof curve over the open platforms...doesn't look like any MDC I've ever seen...then again, I haven't been around as long as some of you folks...

Galen