alcoRS1

Nice I have two selves in my garage pre built that are 14ftx2ft. I had 2 US layouts on them, One has been stripped down, the other is about too. Now what to do? Your Layout is very nice. Very inspirational. Last media I have from one of the layouts

what are the dimensions of your layout?

It has been many years since I have modeled, Railways. I got sucked into Warhammer 40K and that is a bad place to go. 40K has increased my painting skills, I became a great painter. I still have my 14ftx2ft sections (1 on top of the other). I am planning on reviving one of them. The lower one has some high end 1999 high powered UNIX workstations. Does anybody know looking at my prior posts, what track CAD I used?

it seems his layout has not progressed much over the last year, the video footage is the same I saw a while back, I looking forward in seeing some buildings and other detailing done.

awesome, really looks good. about the mojo, I go though this too, and at the moment, don't have it.

really good way of doing it, thanks for the advice.

BTW it looks awesome

Deseret News, looks like you have a Salt Lake City sence

I was waiting for the drainage ditch to have a mini flash flood.

awesome, but I would recommend not flashing the ditch lights, UP don't flash it ditch lights.

awesome, you layout is just coming along nicely, and that tug boat looks good.

wow great atmosphere John, you layout looks really good.

looking good, love the concrete.

it really does not matter what you use a base, it is in the painting the makes it. The road in this layout is made using woodland scenic smooth it. sand it smooth, filled some holes. I found a better method of using thin foam sheets, then paint them, using the airbrush. Originally I painted it woodland scenic asphalt but it did not look real enough. I then painted it gray using a latex paint from the the paint store, this was to light, so I got my air brush out and blended UP Armor mist, and gray under primer, with a hint of bunt umber and black. the sidewalk is made from foam sheets cut and scored to create the details, then painted and installed. I made the lines my using white and yellow pine stripes, next time, I will mask and paint instead. To weather the road I used a airbrush with indian ink thinned down with 91% alcohol. I also mixed a small watered down rail brown with 91% and sprayed to make it look dirty. The drains and man holes are stickers, I found at the local hobby store, but to be honest, it would be easier to print and glue some.

Thanks Jack, Layout is on hold, until I work out what I want to do with it, not sure I like my plan.

nearly finished the road, one section left to detail as for my brass, the motor and trucks have been sent back to NWSL, for an overhaul, my version was the first of this product line and a prototype, so David agreed to upgrade them for free (add a motor to the dummy, so I will have duel powered trucks), put the self setting fuse so, the decoders are protected. I cannot speak highly enough about NWSL, the quality of product and the service they give, just awesome.

Painted the backdrop, and the new road, Time to make the sidewalks and start ballasting the track. I am a little pissed, the soundtraxx decoder I just got back from being repaired has blown the on board fuse (it only effects motor), instead of paying $23 dollars to get it fixed I have decided to just put in a digitrax, and use the soundtraxx for sound only, stupid decoder. the train jumped the switch (got an issue with the dummy truck, one wheel is wonky and sticks, will fix it at the same time I put in the decoder).

from looking at other CSX GP30M, the horns are wrong and the bell is mounted on the right side, could not find a picture of CSX 4229, but there are many other ex B&O chessie that you can get the idea. CSX4228 CSX4330 CSX4227 CSX4233 found one CSX4229

I do not think the CSX GP30M had the prime mover changed from the 567, but were downgraded from 2250 hp to 2000 hp, also had electrics internally upgraded. I found this YouTube of a guy starting a GP30M same GP30M prime mover is a 567 with a turbo This GP30M was CSX 4204

Track is glued in place, wired, Started to build the roads, next will block off the fiddle (staging area) yard. Purchased some street building to build up the store front of the down town. The trains enter from the fiddle yard between buildings, roll across the road and into the down town yard. There are 3 business served in this area, West Mills Gains, Albania Oil Products (asphalt) and Vancouver Goods Exchange. tomorrow I will also set up the switches (points) switches.

I really like it Dave, looks really good. How long is the layout?

will paint the back drop tonight here is a length shot

Final plan for the new layout, shelf is built (minus back drop, that will be glued today, painted tomorrow).

the paper mache should help, just beware, duct tape glue loosens with hit, and will be subject to shifting. but I am looking forward to see this progress.

are you confident that that foam board/duct tape solution will be strong enough over time, my first layout I used 1x1 and they warped in less than 2 months.