Earwicker Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 Hi all, a few years ago I posted some of my efforts in modelling New Zealand railways on the forum. Since then I've changed scale and location and I thought I would start a layout thread. This is very much a fun layout. I really wanted something to run trains on in my garage and have some fun building scenery. So, it's a roundy roundy 9 feet something by 5 feet something portable layout set in the Southwest USA. I'm really imagining some logging line in mountain Arizona. I'm not really aiming for realism or prototypical accuracy here, I'm leaving that for the next layout. Here is the progress of the last two years. As you can see by the last few pics I am finally up to the fun stage of doing the scenic detailing. I plan to run various steam/diesel era logging trains on this. I'll let the pictures do the talking and hopefully follow this up with posts on my progress. Cheers, Grant Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortliner Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 Whew - You do woodwork much better than I do! very good indeed! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanielB Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 Looooooooovely. I'll be watching this thread for sure! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ceejaydee Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 Looks like you could spend many a happy hour watching trains trundle by on that layout Love your rocky outcrops. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Reichert Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 My 2015 prescription for emergency Iodine tablets just arrived arrived in the mail this week. So I'm personally not a fan of the Diablo Canyon name. But apart from that I really like your scenic approach. Great job! Andy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robatron86 Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 I too will be following this with interest. This looks cracking already. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earwicker Posted January 10, 2015 Author Share Posted January 10, 2015 Thanks all. I've now split the layout into sections that I will will finish individually. Today I worked on one end gluing bushes etc. This afternoon I ran some trains! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earwicker Posted January 12, 2015 Author Share Posted January 12, 2015 Started gluing trees and bushes to the forest scene. This is going to take a lot of trees! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earwicker Posted January 12, 2015 Author Share Posted January 12, 2015 The whole scene. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasond Posted January 12, 2015 Share Posted January 12, 2015 Wow Grant, what was the rocket fuel in that glass in pic 1? Ideas for the layout I must build after this ********** protracted house move now on the increase again, including how to let SWMBO get to the washine machine during operating sessions. But all those cardboard boxes still packed away - uh-oh, sobbing starting again.... Good to watch progress Jason Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanielB Posted January 12, 2015 Share Posted January 12, 2015 Awesome. MOAR! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earwicker Posted January 16, 2015 Author Share Posted January 16, 2015 Time to pose for a shot between sessions of ballasting. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earwicker Posted January 19, 2015 Author Share Posted January 19, 2015 Some minor progress and a small setback. The past couple of very hot days in Christchurch (probably well into the mid/late 30s in the garage) has made the rails expand and has buckled one of the switches. I didn't leave enough gap between the rails on that side. Luckily it happened in an area I haven't ballasted yet. Amazing that the rail expands that much actually. But it's an easy fix. Anyway, here's some more progress with ballasting and surfacing etc. I'm not sure what is going to go along this siding. I have a Walther's propane dealer kit that might fit the spot. Thanks for looking! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robatron86 Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 Looking very impressive! I can imagine it does get that hot in NZ. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earwicker Posted January 21, 2015 Author Share Posted January 21, 2015 Looking very impressive! I can imagine it does get that hot in NZ. That's the problem with having the layout in the garage; hot in summer and much too cold in winter to work out here. Hopefully my next layout will have a dedicated room in the house. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanielB Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 Excellent progress, your trackwork looks superb. Sorry to hear about the buckled turnout. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earwicker Posted January 24, 2015 Author Share Posted January 24, 2015 Modelling clay + paint = cacti. These were a lot of fun to make. I think I can improve on the next batch. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortliner Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 For saguaro see http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/blog/33933 Look down the page for "Building a better cactus". I think yours may be a bit dark and a bit small Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Focalplane Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 Most interesting layout - the desert scenery looks very real, Utah perhaps? Sorry to hear about the buckling, we had that temperature range in Houston, plus the mosquitos! I gave up with the garage and moved indoors. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earwicker Posted January 25, 2015 Author Share Posted January 25, 2015 For saguaro see http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/blog/33933 Look down the page for "Building a better cactus". I think yours may be a bit dark and a bit small These are a newly identified sub-species of dwarf saguaro. They are very common in the area around Canyon Diablo. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earwicker Posted January 25, 2015 Author Share Posted January 25, 2015 Most interesting layout - the desert scenery looks very real, Utah perhaps? It's sort of generic Southwest. We did a roadtrip through the area a couple of years ago. I also took the Southwest Chief from LA to Chicago several years ago. I really like the scenic opportunities. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earwicker Posted January 27, 2015 Author Share Posted January 27, 2015 Chugging along with this. I worked on the propane dealer and also carved a rock face to separate the two front scenes. Pics aren't great unfortunately. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earwicker Posted February 17, 2015 Author Share Posted February 17, 2015 A few more pictures of my progress on the forest scene. Still more trees and foliage to be added and the building also needs painting. Lots of detail to be added when I get around to it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Reichert Posted February 17, 2015 Share Posted February 17, 2015 Nice, precise, track work! Andy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earwicker Posted March 14, 2015 Author Share Posted March 14, 2015 I've completed track and general weathering with the airbrush and a variety of weathering powders. Added a few more trees and lots more bushes. Still a way to go on this scene. Next up I'm adding a detailed scene to the bare patch of land. Cheers for looking and commenting! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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