Backdrop at the Team Track

[Gary S]

Started on this last night. It is the backdrop behind the BNSF team track. There is a huge metal fabricating complex with numerous buildings.

A few photos of the real thing:

   

   

   

I took a whole bunch of photos of the real thing from various spots, then sized them and pieced them together to what felt right. Then used a pencil to transfer the basic building outlines onto the wall.

   

   

Then began blocking in the colors.

   

So far, this hasn't been hard, just used a level, ruler, straightedge and pencil to draw in the geometric shapes, then put in the colors with craft paint. Still have a long way to go, the vegetation, the details, shading, all that.

I was thinking of biL while doing all this.

[ocalicreek]

I was thinking of biL while doing all this.

That's funny, because I was thinking about him while reading this post. He's probably watching over your shoulder. He was a man full of ideas.

Looks like you're off to a super start. Glad to see you back at work!

Galen

[mountaingoatgreg]

Gary,

Glad to see you are posting some new work on the layout, as always it is looking great.
Now I need to get of my tushy and get back to work on my layout

[Gary S]

Galen and Greg, thanks for taking a look. I have actually been working on the layout all along, ballasting and painting track and ties, but just wasn't up to posting anything because of biL's passing. This project is a memorial to biL, after all the coaching and motivation he gave on the other sections of backdrop that we did. So here's to you, biL!

[e-paw]

I like it Gary. What did you use as ground cover?

[Gary S]

e-paw, the lighter area around the team track is dust from a crushed concrete parking lot. The brown areas around that are powder from a dirt road near where I live. The rest is just painted blue foam right now. I'm very much looking forward to adding a barbed wire fence line behind the tracks, with weeds and bushes and trees growing along it. Of course, the entire area will get a good application of ground foam, static grass, bushes, and trees, and debris such as old tires and pallets.

[Gary S]

Oh... also wanted to let everyone know that I will be catching back up on everyone's threads, I have been neglecting that lately.

[Gary S]

Andrew made a wonderful suggestion via PM. The name of this complex is "Brigdon American" but it will be renamed "Marsland American" in honor of biL.

Some more photos of what was done tonight. Can't really see a big difference in the photos from before, but I did some detail work.

   

   

   

[nachoman]

Nice to see you posting again, Gary. I really like your ballast and trackwork in this scene - very realistic. I also notice you window is open aren't you glad you installed those?

[nachoman]

oops, double post! :oops:

[MasonJar]

Andrew made a wonderful suggestion via PM. The name of this complex is "Brigdon American" but it will be renamed "Marsland American" in honor of biL.

Some more photos of what was done tonight. Can't really see a big difference in the photos from before, but I did some detail work.

Andrew

[Gary S]

I also notice you window is open aren't you glad you installed those?

Yep, I'm very glad that the building has windows. It is nice to be able to air out the room when needed. Plus, I have run the AC only one time so far this spring. We've had a nice breeze almost everyday, and with the windows open, it feels nice and cool in the room.

[doctorwayne]

I also notice you window is open aren't you glad you installed those?

Yep, I'm very glad that the building has windows. It is nice to be able to air out the room when needed. Plus, I have run the AC only one time so far this spring. We've had a nice breeze almost everyday, and with the windows open, it feels nice and cool in the room.

Funny, when I saw that window in the scene, my thought was "I'll bet you wish you hadn't put that there."

When I built my house, I purposely allowed for no windows in the basement, the future home of the layout. I prefer to control the lighting and I definitely don't like people looking, or even worse, coming in.

Wayne

[nachoman]

Funny, when I saw that window in the scene, my thought was "I'll bet you wish you hadn't put that there."

When I built my house, I purposely allowed for no windows in the basement, the future home of the layout. I prefer to control the lighting and I definitely don't like people looking, or even worse, coming in.

Wayne

I think the difference may be a latitude (ontario/houston) thing I saw the darkness outside and thought Houston night may be cool and refreshing this time of year.

[Gary S]

Kevin and docWayne, definitely some different philosophies on the windows - you may remember we had a similar discussion way back when the building was being built.

The windows are small, 12" x 24" and up pretty high. The layout height is 58", and then somewhere around 14" up to the windows, putting the bottom of them right at my eye level. From the outside, the bottom of the windows are about 86 inches above the ground, so a person would have to be quite tall to see in. Also, with them being right under the roof overhang, the sunlight coming in is rather subdued.

I really do like the ability to open the windows and let the breeze in. I also generally leave the door open and raise the screen on the outer storm door so I can get some air circulation that way too. As Kevin said, the cool air is rather refreshing.

I just like the connection to the outdoors.