alcoRS1

this is how i did it http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=MonsterRailroad#p/u/74/uPXZR9qm55A I used a joint compound to begin with, but it said no shrink, but it shrunk. after that I used woodland scenic smooth it, it is cheap and easy to work with. I covered the turnouts, in the compound, then dug them out while still wet, while it was drying I would every 5 - 6 hours I would move them around. Once it has dried I then took a small screw driver and dug them out so the would move more freely. I had done the same with a turnout I once ballasted to much. There are other techniques some people put some plasticard in the middle of the turnout rails and do not compound any of turn outs. Andy has the best way I have seen with his KeyHaven layout, but I had not discovered this until weeks after I had done mine. here is his layout Andy Y's Keyhaven If you place plasticard in the middle you could achieve the same as I have, his looks much better.

better camera, more lighting, this should improve the quality of the picture, but not of the layout, that is all up to me, and that may take some time, as I am new to doing the scenic part of modeling (I have been modeling HO since october 2007, so give a break, lots of trial and lots of error). you can see at the end of the dock, I am experimenting with water, after I have worked out what I really want to do, I will place plasticard over it all and then create on top of that.

Good to see things are back to normal on RMweb. I going to fix the lighting in the garage today so the photos will no longer looks so grainy.

I have been wanting to attach some pictures of the progress, but at the moment I am getting "The Server returned an error during upload". I decided to add new warehouses, when RMweb went down, I had no excuse to sit in front of the computers so I ended up making these link to picture

been playing around with back drops, think it looks a little to large. I need to take pictures in the day, when the lighting is better

for my birthday, I will be getting this an Alco HH660 with QSI sound. I thought about making its own layout but I could modify a section of my current to accommodate this a Coca Cola Plant taking corn syrup. here is the independent layout this is 16" by 84" won't it look good all weathered like this, Atlas will be releasing this end of April, this year. I would like to use the RE601, but it might be 2 new for the layout, but a Southern Pacific will fit in fine. I love these old ALco switchers.

It is the first time I have ever used a filler on the tracks, and happens to to be any area a good few square feet. This week I am working on the back drops, I am hoping to get this section completed this month, but depends on shipping of my other 2 boats. My dad likes it, so must be ok, he just about to start his US layout, but he is located in Macclesfield, Cheshire, a long way to go if I want to help.

I did some web digging around and found the 2 BN RS-1's these were only kept for 2 years after the merge. never rebuilt or repainted but here is some pictures with the renumber BN RS-1 952 BN RS-1 953

welcome those sound awesome, as for the BN RS-1, they would not of been chop noses, NP never chopped those noses, and from what I could tell BN ditched the NP RS-1 in1972. I know BN ditched all the SP&S loco's in 1970. The reason being was the Alco RS-1 was not built to consist, and would require some major refit to enable this. but I have seen some chop noses, they were called RS-1m. Still I wished BN kept those RS-1's, would be nice to see an alco RS-1 working the loco yard. here RS-1m RS-1m BTW great looking layout.

It is joint compound, I scrape a grove along the inside of the rail and flanges. after it has dried and painted I then dig them out, switches are the biggest pain to do, but it end up looking good. I like the "River Queen", that sounds good, One of my river barges in the mail will be called "Fall Leaf".

I managed to pick up a small pilot tug for my port, here it is connected up to the refuel barge. waiting for the 2 barges I have ordered, then my boats will be completed. Now I have to think of a name for the tug? hmm any ideas?

The port is starting to look like a small river port, on the Columbia River, I removing the port front and changing it from rocks to a better port front.

Been working on the dock today, add the algae water line, wooden poles, and started to build the dock front. I cannot add the water until I have complete the boats, which will take a few months. hopefully over the next few days I will be adding the dock yard floor, but I think I need to finish the back drops first. it is starting to look like one of the small docks you see alone the Washington side of the Columbia River

Been working on the port today, Added the rocks for under the dock, tomorrow I will add the wood poles that hold up the edge of the doc, and apply the green algae water marks.

Well here is the start of my Alco RS-1 Brass loco with powered inline trucks from NSWL with not central motor, there is lots and lots of room for a good size speaker, that I could never dream of fitting in a HO loco. very happy with the results. Not finish yet, I still need to add windows and light lens, but I miss placed my Microscale Krystal Klear, and have to wait for a new one in the mail. I still have to customize and reprogram the decoder, with better start voltage, and teak the sounds for my liking. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbpoJI9tmRc

Here is a quick up date, I been working on my port, I picked up this shipping warehouse for $20 at the SPS society swap meet. this will make my port warehouse. As you can see it starting to take shape. view coming in across the bridge into the port, oil terminal is at this end, for ship refueling. view of a new addition of track, this is a port crane (missing the top piece, not painted yet), this will be used to load and unload goods supplies for shipment. view of SPS 11 Alco S1 in runaround track view of SPS 50 Alco RS-1 in port track, and in the back corner is my brass Alco RS-1 Number 53, painted, new in line power trucks and SoundTraxx Alco 539T with 28mmx28mmx15mm speaker, and yes it sound awesome, will be posting a little to youtube later, and better quality pictures, have to finsh the lens and glass, then it is complete, waiting on some Krystal Klear, I missed place mine. latest purchase, also found at the swap meet for a bargin, $50 with decoder, smooth running Altas/kato RS-3 Great northern.

of course I will share. BTW I am originally from Macclesfield Cheshire. I think the UK layouts I see on RMweb, are some of the best I have ever seen, putting most layouts I see in the US to shame, This is the main reason I became a member. I want to make my layout seem more real, and there is a lot of inspiration here, and very talented modelers. Also in the UK, because of the size of the country, there are more model rail shows which is easier for more people to go and see. Here there are very few, in any local area.

Where I live, it is classed as small, some people have 20ft+ layouts, one day I hope I will too. I made my layout so I have 3 separate sections, that can be ran independent, using trays. my small layout allows up to 4 people to run. I should post some more pics, not done much on the layout these last few weeks due to family being up to visit. @Glorious NSE, I understand, there are so many places to model, I would love to do a modern day Pacific Harbor Lines, with BNSF and UP running into the port, but I would need more room to make the layout much bigger.

Well I painted and weathered the barge.

I am on a tight budget, and I want to add barges and boats to my port, so here is my first, made out of Evergreen styrene, and left over parts from other kits. next to paint, detail, decal and weather. SP&S Alco S1 switch switching a tank car at the port.

Thanks I did not come across this, some great stuff there.

Here are some shots from the redesign right side, entry from hidden staging and oil/cement industries. Port bottom of the layout. Grain and port lead left side on the layout. Topside is the main industrial area.

After much thought, I have this new resign, the new wood is in place other than the divider and hidden staging, please let me know what you think of this design?

I am thinking of re-arranging my layout to this, what do you think?