Hi everyone. Here are pics showing the latest progress I’ve made on the layout. The completed area shown in these pics is 3.5 feet deep x 13 feet in length, which includes the classification yard, roundhouse, turntable, coal and sand facilities, and a few supporting industries. The layout is now 80% complete. However, the last 20 percent will feature a dense urban scene, which will take a few years to build all of the structures I’ll need. For a complete history of my layout progress, please visit my photobucket album under album “engineerbob.”
The first two pics show a panoramic view of the finished new area.
The remaining pics are close-ups of the scene taken from left to right.
My new layout was started in September of 2008. The majority of the structures were salvaged from my old layout. It’s been in the planning stages for more than 6 years. This gave me plenty of time to build many of the dioramas you see posted. As far as where I have been? I been an active member of this forum since 2006. I used to post more often before I started my new layout. Lately, I chime in every so often to share my progress.
Bob, WOW! Please tell me that your backdrops are “store boughten”. I can’t even begin to match them by hand. I think I’ll be buying Photoshop and making my own with panoramic shots stitched together, then having them commercially printed.
The backdrops were all hand painted by my wife, so I can not take credit for them. I think she did a nice job on 'em. It’s the first time she ever got involved in the hobby, and had fun while doing it!
They were done using 1/8 tempered masonite panels. The corners have a 24 inch radius in order to achieve the “endless” horizon look. That was something I did not have the luxury of doing on my old layout, due to space, and had always bothered me. The backdrops were the first items to be completed after the bench work went up.
I believe it! The detailing is outstanding and the transition from scenery to the background treatments are very well done. I am very much looking forward to more updates on this one.
The November 2006 issue of Model Railroader featured Bob’s previous layout (and there was a photo in one of the MR special issues as I recall). Always impressive work and attention to detail.
Yo Bob! Reporting in from Huntington beach, CA … lol… you are a stones throw away from me… wow Impressive if not down right pure envey. I tip my hat to you.
Thanks for the kudos. Since you’re only a few miles from me, how about a layout visit? Send me a PM.
As far as my pine trees, all were scratched using balsa trunks and caspia branches. To achieve the needle pine look, I flock the caspia with WS Dark Green Flocking material. BTW, I stopped counting after 450 trees… still need a few more to complete the remaining section
