Mini layout in the works

[Rico]

Funny how you can spend weeks or months on a layout but people don't seem to notice any progress until a splash of paint hits the surface!
That's how my last layout went.
I like the pier idea, maybe a dump onto a barge?

[RW&C]

LOL yeah, all sorts of good stuff happens when you leave the blue foam stage!

I like the dumper idea... still thinking how to build the pier, and I may well work that in. Thanks!

The ballast is in!



Lessons learned so far...

Don't use Sharpies on foam you're going to paint over. It'll bleed through multiple coats of water-based paint.
Make sure the tracks ends on something are high enough before you glue it up.
... and maybe having a plan before starting something like this

[RW&C]

Another lesson learned... don't apply ballast that's got iron filings in it.

I've got a little short somewhere in the yard end, probably near one of the uncoupling magnets, where the iron filings in my ballast (which I sifted from dirt from the side of the road) are probably bridging things together. It only shorts if I bring it above a certain voltage. I've got it out in the sun drying out, hoping that it won't short once it's dry.

Edit: It dried out and quit making crackling sounds. Works fine now.

[waltr]

I'd try to scratch out some of the ballast while holding a magnet close.
But that might only work if you have a good idea where the short is occurring.

Good luck with burning out the short. Just be sure to keep yourself safe.

[railfan]

Track is a nice rust color....and the rolling stock has a vintage and slightly grungy and weathered look.....in a good way.

[RW&C]

Thanks Railfan, it's just rustoleum primer and weathering powders applied with alcohol.

The short seems to return whenever I get the ballast wet. I'm not sure but I suspect that it's bridging the cuts in the cladding on the PCB I soldered the tracks to... oh well, a few hours in the sun always gets it working again.

So I've been applying more scenery.





I threw an old car into the lake...



and dumped another into a cow field. (Like a force field, but it smells worse.)



I'd been wondering what to do with the area in front of the table, because it was just too flat, but I'd already painted it. I ended up pouring a little alcohol onto it and setting it on fire... it didn't burn long/hot enough to ignite the foam, but it melted it in places and gave me some nice topography to work with.

The weeds are bits of some cheap pine trees I got a while back, folded over and pushed into the foam. They're a little big, but this is freelance... maybe it's agave or something. They'd be perfect for HO.

[ho/ttothemoss]

Originally Posted by waltr

Here is a link to a video with a transfer table in operation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hzQtnz2GuE

Table is after the 5 minute mark.

great video!

[Cjcrescent]

Originally Posted by RW&C

Another lesson learned... don't apply ballast that's got iron filings in it.

I've got a little short somewhere in the yard end, probably near one of the uncoupling magnets, where the iron filings in my ballast (which I sifted from dirt from the side of the road) are probably bridging things together. It only shorts if I bring it above a certain voltage. I've got it out in the sun drying out, hoping that it won't short once it's dry.

Edit: It dried out and quit making crackling sounds. Works fine now.

While using natural materials is a very good way to get ground cover, ballast, etc, unless certain things are done before using it, problems can and as in your case, do arise.

There are a couple of things that need to be done to this material.

One. Spread out a thin layer of the material onto a flat surface. Run a magnet through it to remove any ferrous material. Then put material into a separate container. Repeat with the rest of the material until all has had this done to it.

Two. Place the material into a shallow baking pan, and bake in the oven at 400` until the interior of the material, has reached a temp of 300`, for at least 10 minutes. This will kill any living "material" such as mini-bugs, bacteria, and seeds, that happen to be in the material. After the material has cooled, it can be shifted, to remove any out of scale material and then used on the layout.

[railfan]

RW&C, Great to see your update. The backdrop and the pier look good. When you get a moment, a photo of the entire diorama from a short distance away, or from above would give perspective. I am with you when it comes to using available natural resources for landscaping supplies.


Mike

[railfan]

I wonder if I could use black/gray spray paint on some coarse sand to make ballast? Might have to shake the sand between a few coats. I know there must be some black sand out in the ohio countryside somewhere......but I don't want to mess around finding it. Maybe fine aquarium gravel. Local craft store has diorama supplies.....except...I'm on a zero income budget at the moment. Perhaps some nice gray parking lot sand.