Wow! That is a nice layout! I really like the paint scheme…reminds me of the Utah Belt.
Nothing this weekend from me. I’ve got some more scenery in Lebanon and Enfield, and Delery Pulpwood in West Canaan is finished except for the chipper, but I have a bit more work to do before all that is photographable. (I think I just invented a new word!) Next weekend…
Here’s a new photograph of what is probably the last run of WRS #1402. It’s been brought out of retirement due to a power shortage but replacements will most likely be operable by the operating session in January.
Merry Christmas for everybody, I hope you have receive all your dreams trains under the chrismas tree.
Since two weeks I am hardly working to an old Heljan/Walthers roundhouse in Nscale for the small steam terminal of my Yard on the Maclau River RR.
I have buy the new Walthers Roundhouse but feel it was to big for the small engines I want to use on the yard; so in my “reserve” of model to construct, was some old Heljan roundhouse.
Everybody know thats it’s not a perfect model but I was able to modify it with simple things to give her a better look.
I was asking for some doors on the side, hide some wall seams, some better looking interior, a removable roof and give a somewhat different look.
Below a few pictures and comments of the work I do to this old model.
I add brick pilaster on the front and back walls seams and a stone foundation; inside big seams received also a brick pilaster
I modified the windows by cutting them from the big supports to make in dividual ones; glazing is Microscale Klear
The roof was heavily reinforced because I wanted it removable and the Heljan details on the roof were erased to put roofing for an another look
The first time I tried following the train and the result was terrible. One problem I had was holding the video camera while manipulating the throttle, switches, and sound controls. So, I reverted back to a static camera.
There are more recent videos (some not as good) that can be accessed through my website and Photobucket.
Wow. Looking back on 2009 shows only a modicum of progress on the layout. I’ve started
dismantling some of the temporary trackage in preparation for a modest expansion,
Although the budget situation remains an obstacle to going at it full bore.
One thing I’ve enjoyed is a lot of visiting power through the Decoder install shop:
And through the paint shop…
And during a couple of operating sessions…
The best part, though, is always having a great group of friends that seems to keep growing each year thanks to this great hobby.
No new photos but, seeing as this the last SPF of the year, here’s a brief rundown of what I’ve been up to in 2009
I spent the early part of the year building 2 new turntable fiddle yards for Sweethome Chicago, used when the layout attends exhibitions. I also spent time building some Westerfield resin kits and re-scenicing several areas of the layout (including trackwork)
In the summer I got the urge to start a totally different layout and started Sweethome Alabama - diesels in the 1990s rather than steam in the 1930s (my cellar is thankfully big enough to accommodate both). I am now at the stage where the track is laid, electrics are done and some buildings are ready to fit.
I’m just picking up this WPF on page three, so I’ll need to go back and see all the other stuff after I post.
Jon, great job - on your Chicago layout and on the building for your new layout area. [tup] Whose backdrops are those on the Sweethome Chicago pics? Look great!
Myself, I’ve got back to one partially started building project, my Delaney Transfer Company building (here with one by flash, and another with available light):
The kit is from Railway Design Associates, And comes with a fair number of detail parts included. I still have much to do on that one - braces under the roof, a cupola that fits on top of the roof, plus painting and weathering and details when I get it on the layout. The directions said the cupola could be left off, but it makes the buildings look older with it (which I like). Oh, yeah - and of course, the painting to do yet…
My other project is just starting - more trees for the layout. I decided for my foreground pine trees I’ll be using the Woodland Scenics white metal trees. I have some of their plastic trunk pine trees, and will mostly relegate those to background use. On the white metal ones, when you rotate/spiral twist the trunks/branches, they hold their position better than the plastic ones do (IMHO). Also, I can scratch or file additional detail in the tree trunks if I want to. So here’s a before (left) and after (right side) shot of how I’ve been doing them. Have another six in this batch to do.
You have to paint or stick sheets of your own sky onto the backdrop. the discs have hundreds of landscape scenes, buildings, billboards, storefront signs, wallpaper, carpets, etc, which you resize, print and cut out, before sticking them onto the backdrop.