Steve's SOCAL BNSF layout

[steveparkinson]

Real nice work so far, Steve.

Thanks, I started painting my track brown last night the same way you did yours. Thanks again for the tip.

Steve


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[logandsawman]

Your tunnels look great, good idea on the retrofit. Thanks for keeping us posted!! lasm

 

[steveparkinson]

Couple update shots of the layout with some ground cover added, clump foliage and the real ATSF ballast added.

I also pulled up a section of that flex track and in the foreground and redid it. It had a set of joiners in a bend and It was giving some cars problems. Need to spray that and add ballast and more details still around that track. Headed to LHS to see if I can get some lighter ground covers too.

Thanks for looking.
Steve


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[logandsawman]

Well done!! Great use of scenery products. Nice photos!

 

[Johne230]

Your landscaping looks great!

 

[steveparkinson]

Thanks for the comments, here are a few more shots.

Amazing what some track ballast, a few trees (live and dead/broken) and a few railroad ties can do for the scene.

First panoramic attempt, lots more to add scenery to and detail....

Also removed and replaced a section of track passing through a tunnel on the east end of the mountains. Wasn't easy to get to but I managed. Good thing I left myself access underneath the layout.

Added the tunnel linings too and finished up this end so I can finish laying plaster and sculptamold on this end.

Thanks for looking.
Steve


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[logandsawman]

A few trees and the deadfall did add a lot. I like seeing layouts not totally full of stuff. I think it directs more attention to the trains.

 

[steveparkinson]

Added some rock inside the tunnels before the portals go up...

Covered this end up with plaster cloth now that the bad piece of track has been replaced. Didn't want to seal this end up first in the event I couldn't replace that piece of track without removing part of the mountains. Fortunately I didn't have too!

With portals temporarily up, haven't glued these in place because I prefer the concrete look and will most likely replace these before installing.

Did some more scenery work on this end now that I sealed it up (still need to move or hide that outlet cover and relocate my sprinkler control box)....

Still need to ballast this double track the right color and will probably replace this double portal too. I did weather the retaining walls and add some growth around them.

Thanks for looking
Steve

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[Motley]

Boy you've been busy! Everything looks really good. Nice job on those portals.

 

[steveparkinson]

Thanks, I took a week off from work and managed to get in some extra time on the layout. It'll probably slow down again for a bit now.

Steve

 

[Motley]

Are you planning on adding a backdrop? That would make it look so much better than those white walls. Some photo mountain backdrops.

Look here: http://www.backdropwarehouse.com/TnWestMtsHillsGrp.htm

 

[steveparkinson]

That's the plan, I haven't added them yet though. Been debating purchasing the preprinted ones or giving hand painted a go. I need to do something though because those walls do look hideous.

Steve


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[kjchronister]

The beauty of trying to paint it is if you're not pleased with the result, you can always buy backdrops and put over it...

 

[kjchronister]

In any case, just straight up sky blue paint will look 1000x better, and anyone can handle that... that's all I've got and it makes a huge difference. I'm like you... tempted to give clouds and more realism a go. But no artist, so leery of it.

 

[steveparkinson]

What do you guys use as your backdrop material? I read Masonite boards from Lowe's / Home Depot work well. Any other suggestions? The wall is textured so I don't want to try painting the wall directly. Plus if I move I'd like to take the backdrops with me.


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[kjchronister]

I use 1/8" Masonite for exactly the reasons you mention. Nice and smooth, and if you ever move, you can take with, and have nice clean sellable walls by spackling a few screw holes.

Mind you having averaged a move every 2 years since we got married, my wife has informed me she's leaving THIS house only in a pine box. I tend to agree, would be nice to have a layout I don't have to tear down mid-way.

 

[steveparkinson]

Thanks for the tip, I think I'll give that a try. I know exactly what you mean about moving. I've had to quite a few times myself. Once I settle down after the military I hope for it to be for good! Thanks again for the tips and feedback.

Steve


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[kjchronister]

Fwiw, i don't bother spackling the joints between sheets. Even if you tape and sand and make them really smooth, they are visible in a few weeks as temp and humidity shift. I just join them up as nice as possible and live with the seam... but that's me.

 

[Motley]

I used the 1/16" cabinet backing material they have at HD. Its curvable too. Then I used double-sided tape to attach the photo backdrops, I got from Backdrop Warehouse.

 

[kjchronister]

I find the 1/16 stiff too flimsy for my taste unless you're going to glue it to the wall... doesn't hold a screw well IME.