Steve's SOCAL BNSF layout

[steveparkinson]

Nice progress! You've got a pretty complex series of tunnels but a nice way to get in them for maintenance.

Thanks for the feedback, I've actually got to get in there and replace a small section of track that causes the occasional derail. I guess we'll see if the access pays off.

I've been really busy lately so I haven't had a lot of time to work on the layout, been working on slowly expanding the yard. I'll try and post some pictures later.

Steve


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[steveparkinson]

Been busy with some college classes so I haven't had much time to work on the layout. A bit here and there so here's what I've been doing.

- added roadbed for 5 additional yard tracks, added 3 of those tracks and added the roadbed for a small engine facility...

Probably would have more progress but it seems these atlas switches are getting harder to find. Have a few others on the way.

- also got some more goodies in the mail. I've been buying some built up buildings from eBay to eventually add to a future industrial area....

- a few more toys from online...

That's it for now, wish I had more to update. Should have more time on my hands now and am planning to finish these mountains and add-on to the yard.

More to come, thanks for looking

Steve


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[cajon]

Steve
Having been a conductor & railfan for 30+ years can say most yard tracks (99.9999999999999999999%) aren't built on raised roadbed, just on flat ground. Guess you can fill in the low places w/ anything cheaper than cork.

 

[steveparkinson]

Steve
Having been a conductor & railfan for 30+ years can say most yard tracks (99.9999999999999999999%) aren't built on raised roadbed, just on flat ground. Guess you can fill in the low places w/ anything cheaper than cork.

Thanks for the feedback. I wasn't going to add the roadbed originally but thought I needed it for smoother operation. I'll have to build the ground up around them to make it look like it's not elevated track.

Guess you learn new tips everyday that make it easier as you progress.

Thanks again,
Steve


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[logandsawman]

Steve,

Your project is looking great and I like all the stuff you are buying!!

Thanks for keeping us posted. lasm

 

[steveparkinson]

Thanks for the feedback Lasm.

Finished laying track, wired track and installed throws for 4 of the 5 new yard tracks. I'm out of turnouts and throws for the last one so it'll get done when I order my next round of supplies.

Couple shots of the east end of the yard...

And the west end...

Going to wait to ballast until I get the actual BNSF/ATSF rock color from AZ rock and mineral online. My previous attempt was too red.

Steve


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[steveparkinson]

Switches are back ordered so I'll have to work on other areas until they come in. Worked on plastering some more stuff in the mountains tonight....

Finished up covering the entrance to the east end of the mountains (portals only temp, need to test with double stacks before securing in place). Single track makes the climb up and through the mountains. Double track just passes straight through under the mountains.....

Also finished plastering some of that single track area climbing through the mountains, this part is sort of hidden by the mountains in the middle, I left it open to access trains if needed. Still need to test portal locations before securing....

Opposite angle....

Also worked on filling in the gaps on the other tunnel portals already secured in place, getting them ready for scenery and making the portals look like they are cut into the mountain....

Did 9 of these tonight and have 6 more to go. I also built up the foundations up to base of the portals. Just need to add sculptamold now to cover the plaster and for the natural earth look.

Thanks for looking
Steve


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[Ken G Price]

For yards and the engine area you can use the cork sheets. A lot easier then doing the cork strips.
On mine I just sloped the roadbed down till level with the layout table top material, then put down the track as the 1:1's do.
With out the ballast under the ties though. Then filled it in with ballast as you did.

Oh, it is looking good!

 

[steveparkinson]

Ken, thanks for the tips and feedback. I'll be sure to try the cork sheets for the next yard expansion.


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[logandsawman]

Nice pictures, Steve, great progress!! lasm

 

[steveparkinson]

First attempt at scenery, played around with some paints I bought this past weekend today. I mixed some colors to see how they mix and to see how this paint adheres to scultpamold.

Mixed colors for that earthy dry vegetation look...

Mixed colors for that sand look that is so common throughout Southern California....

Layers, first was the earthy vegetation and then an area of dark rock covered by the sand color.....

No details, rocks, fine turf, or foliage materials added yet, this is just to get an idea of what it would look like and get some feedback before moving on.

Thanks for looking
Steve


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[Ken G Price]

For a generic southern CA hills look I like the colors. As I am in N. Ca I can't just go out and look, though I have spent time through out much of the south state. Vegetation, at least close to the type in the area you are doing, is what will fill out the scene.

 

[logandsawman]

Steve, your paint effects look great!! I am anxious to see what you are going to add in the way of ground cover, density, rocks, etc.

looking from a distance, between the paint and the texture many would be satisfied with little further embillishment. lasm

 

[steveparkinson]

Ken/Lasm,

Thanks for the feedback and comments. The great thing about this hobby is there is so much good advice out there from others who have already done what you're working on.

Going to play around with the scenery and paints more this week and give the details a try too. I'll post some more pictures over the weekend. I need to blend some more areas of the sculptamold too, you can still make out some of the cardboard strips underneath.

Steve


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[steveparkinson]

Some new pictures of the progress. I added another coat of sculptamold to the areas I had previously painted. I then started with a base of spot areas covered with a darker earth colors I hand mixed. Followed this by blending in the sand color.

This is a couple of hours progress the past few nights. I'll keep working this and then start adding scenery details (rocks, turf etc).

Thanks for looking, feedback always welcome.

Steve




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[logandsawman]

Your paint scheme looks really nice, I am anxious to see the rocks and vegetation, lasm

 

[steveparkinson]

Been working on painting the mountains still. I haven't had as much time the past week so progress has been slower than I'd like.

I did catch a mistake I made and should have addressed earlier. Some of the tunnel portals show light and show the cardboard frame behind them as seen below...

So the past couple nights I spent correcting. I started by painting a piece of cardboard a dark color like so...

I then cut the cardboard into manageable strips I can I can pass through the portals and glue to the inside of the tunnel. I secure in spot using some scrap wood until dry....

Once dry they should hide the frame and also stop light coming through like this....

This particular tunnel is not finished on the backside still allowing light to give an idea what the installed wall looks like.

Another what it would have looked like before covering frame with plaster strips and the portal (much easier).

Finished product...

Had to do this to about 14 tunnels. I also started touching up around some of the entrances building up the base to the track to give a more natural slope (these are night shots so the lighting is different).

Got some new toys in too....

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[Motley]

Some suggestions here to make the mountains look better. Go outside and get some dirt, like a big bucket worth. ITs FREE. Then sift the dirt using a flower sifter. To get all the big chunks out.

Then take some elmers white glue, and paint on the glue on the hills, then sprinkle the dirt over the glue. Use generous amounts of dirt, you want more dirt than glue. Then after it dries vacuum up all the excess loose dirt.

And leave some spots where your trees and grass will be.

 

[steveparkinson]

Thanks Motley, the mountains are only painted so far with a base color. I have several bags of earth and burnt grass to add still. I'm just trying to get a coat of paint on the mountains first to cover that awful white plaster and sculptamold. I hadn't thought about using natural sources but I'm sure there is plenty of the material and colors I need right around my neighborhood. I'll definitely give that a shot too since it's free. Thanks again

Steve


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[A2TwrOpr]

Real nice work so far, Steve.