The Credit Valley Railway circa 1900

[Will_Annand]

I guess I should revive my CVR thread here.

I started out to do the shortline's branch that ran from Streetsville to Orangeville. When planning I was thinking about HO scale as that is what my father and uncle model in. However, I wanted more in the space I have, also I went and saw a buddies N Scale empire and realised that you can do great stuff in N and have more railroad in a given layout.

Initially my trackplan was for a 4m x 2m alcove.


Photos of this layout can be seen here: http://www.muskokacomputes.com/CVR/CVR-Layout-04.html

But then when I opened my shop, Muskoka Computes and Hobbies, http://www.muskokacomputes.com
I suddenly had a spare room free...

So now I had a 3m x 3m (10' for those still using the old method) room. so I pulled down the layout and started fresh.
With a new track plan.

That was late 2007. I have progress photos from March and May 2008 up on my site:
http://www.muskokacomputes.com/CVR/CVR-Layout-01.html

And Feb. 2009 on the second page.

With the track laid, wired for DCC and Tortoise machines mounted I had to hide the toggles for the Tortoises...


My latest project was to start the backdrop...
Not being an artist, and not being able to afford a 10.4M (34') printed backdrop...

I took a page from a friend's layout. He had done a 3D backdrop. So I tried my hand at it.
Taking a piece of 30CM wide hardboard, left over from the fascia installation, I went to work...

Paint, cotton balls, ground foam, turf and lichen... some white glue and Woodland Scenic cement.
I am happy with the results, so will continue.. it will be slightly different as it goes around the layout...

Here is the first part, covering a mirrored closet door.




That is about it for now.

[MasonJar]

Wow...! Great progress Will!

Andrew

[Will_Annand]

Thanks Andrew.

Been awhile since I posted... did not like "the other" forum...

This one seems great.

[LynnB]

I see you have a good start there Will, who makes the great looking passenger cars?

[Will_Annand]

The locomotive is a Model Power 4-4-0 CNR and the passenger cars are the 4 pack of Canadian Pacific oldtime Overlands from Roundhouse, now Athearn.

[LynnB]

The locomotive is a Model Power 4-4-0 CNR and the passenger cars are the 4 pack of Canadian Pacific oldtime Overlands from Roundhouse, now Athearn.

Ah ok so athearn now sells the oldtime overland passenger cars.

[Will_Annand]

That's right Lynn.


Worked a bit last night, got another meter long section done of the backdrop. Just have to fix the seam...

I will post photos tonight.

[MasonJar]

Hey Will,

What's that wheel-like structure in the first big picture, beside the windmill?

Andrew

[eightyeightfan1]

I was wondering the same thing.

[Will_Annand]

Sorry, the structures are all out of place

I just set them up thee as I wanted the front of the layout clear to set the backdrop on.

The wheel is actually one of Robin's structures, it is a water wheel that I will be putting beside a mill building on the edge of the river, once I get the river on the layout.

Tonight I have the second piece of the backdrop mounted... I still have to close the gap between them, I was thinking on using drywall tape and plastic wood, then repaint it.





The bottom will semi-hidden with ground foilage, plus a row of trees in front of the back track.
Behind the station on the first section will be a bit of a rise with a warehouse structure on it, also in the right hand corner will be a hill with a cabin on the top.

[Biased turkey]

Its looking good Will.
I'm glad you are happy with the result of your work on the background. I like it too.

I visited your website, the story about the Credit Vally Railway is interesting.
I always thought that railway name was a fictitious one invented by the hobby store of the same name located in Streetsville, Ontario lol.
Good hobby store by the way, if I can't find a specific item here in Montreal I order it online from the CVR hobby store.

Nice idea to have a watermill on the layout, it is an unusual structure.

Jacques

[Will_Annand]

Thanks Jacques.

I appreciate the comments on the layout and website. Yes the CVR was real alright.

By the way, I hope you will give our hobby store a look, we ship worldwide and have free shipping on orders over $50.00.
We also carry some lines that the Streetsville shop does not carry.

[Trucklover]

Wow Will thats looking great!! I like the trackplan and i love the way your doing the backdrops!! Its a great alternative way if you dont like/cant paint your own (like me, not artistic at all lol) so i will definitely give this a try on a scrap piece of Masonite

Thanks for sharing

[Will_Annand]

Josh. Thank

No problem, but it was not my idea originally. A friend Ed Sutherland painted his walls blue, then used cardboard cutouts with rock and Lichen glued to it to make his backdrops. I am only incorporating both ideas into a one piece backdrop.

[LynnB]

Josh. Thank

No problem, but it was not my idea originally. A friend Ed Sutherland painted his walls blue, then used cardboard cutouts with rock and Lichen glued to it to make his backdrops. I am only incorporating both ideas into a one piece backdrop.

Ed sure had a great idea as well, the closest I've come to this is attaching wet bragdon rock molds to the wall.