Well, after 2 years of procrastinating, $6 in “mistinted” paint, and 4 nights of painting, I finally converted my 4 x 8 “pink pavement” to something a little more respectable looking. Here’s a before and a few after shots:
Click to enlarge picture(s)
Now what I need to do is to get a move on scenicking in some of the bare spots. Owens Corning has informed me that they are pulling out all further funding…[:(]
Tom
That is a substantial improvement, Tom. The photos are eerie in a way, but I like the effect.
So, now that you have broken the procrastination cycle, what do you intend to do next? Would you consider lifting sections of track and creating some gentle topography? You know, crumple a few sheets of newspaper, cover with paper towel and plaster, and then sprinkle with ground foam and add a few nice trees? Do I hear winter plans on the boil?
-Crandell
Crandell,
Yea, the paint really accentuates the bare spots, doesn’t it?
As far as subsequent projects is concerned, I’m definitely looking at road bed/ballasting. Before that though, I’d like to put in a small gravel or asphalt road that enters from the middle of the west end of the layout up to the two freight depots then turns right and crosses the tracks north of the larger depot. I’ll put in a working crossing there. (A wigwag would be kinda fun.)
The loading zones of the two depots will be cinder, as well as the fueling facility tracks and yard area. That will take care of a lot of ground cover - minus the tufts of grass and weeds. I’ll be adding more scratch-built lighting in the yard area, too.
Because of the layout configuration, I won’t be able to do much in the way of elevation change with the track but I might be able to do something subtle. As far as the rest of the layout, I could have larger elevation changes in the corners areas to utilize the space there. A small creek or pond would be fun to add but I want to make sure that it appears “natural” in it’s surroundings and isn’t contrived looking. I eventually want to learn the art of tree making using natural foliage. (Lou Sassi just kills me with the realism and subtlety of his trees.)
Letting my imagination run wild, I’m mulling over the possibility of rotating the benchwork 90 degrees so that short end of the layou
That really does make a big difference. I need to do the same. Maybe I can sneak some time this weekend.
and get permission from the Missus [;)].
Looks great Tom!
keep the pics coming as you start adding your ground cover/foliage!
As for the procrastination between going from the pink plains to the “dirt” - I’ll bet that it was the NYC’s fault. Those depots must’ve gotten really busy really quick as soon as the final spikes were in place [:)].
Thanks for the encouragement, Dan. Yes, those plans would definitely need the approval of my dear wife. [:)] The plus is that it - a 12" wide shelf - wouldn’t take up much wall space.
Tom
OK, so here’s the plan*:
Suprise her with dinner and a movie**, maybe flowers or candy too
after that, when she’s all happy from the nice things, THEN you ask for the 12" shelf to add to the layout
*guranteed to work until you finish reading this post [;)]
**I find girls/women like it when you make it for them more than going to a restaurant…as for the movie, whatever genre is her favorite
First things first, Tom. Get that Pink Prarie out of your avatar/signature. You’ve earned it.
It’s amazing how much difference just a little painting will do. Well done! On to terra-forming! There’s no stopping you now.
Fred W
Looks good man. It’s a big improvement.
Wow! Way too obvoious! She’ll be onto you in a heartbeat!
Start out with the flowers. Bring them home on a monday or tuesday after work, “just because”. They eat that up! Don’t do anything else that day. Sometime in the next day or two call her up in the middle of the day to “just talk”. Let her do most of the talking. On thursday take her out to dinner. Friday, popcorn and a movie, in bed. Saturday, you can get anything you want! You’re THE MAN! in her book.
Trust me, I’ve got this down to a science!
Can anybody say “Man-i-pu-la-tion”?
Treat her nice 'cause you love her, not 'cause you can get something out of her.
Or else, name a station or observation car for her. [swg]
FT
You got that right, and if she is cagey, she won’t let on until after all that you offer. Then…WHAMMM!
NOOOOO!!!
Dad-nabit, Tom… I’ve had pink foam for almost 5 years. and for the last year now, i’ve procrastinated painting my pink foam because I knew of one other person who’s layout was stuck in the pink groundcover stage. I even have a can of mis-tinted paint… assuming it hasn’t gone bad since i bought it two years ago.
sigh… i guess it’s time to get busy…
Dean
(Boy, you had me chuckling up a good one there, Dean. [(-D] ) If it makes you feel any better, I’ll be glad to come over and give you a hand with it one evening. Course, I’m only bringing my 10-0 brush with me…[swg]
Tom
MB,
Done! Thanks! [:D]
Tom
No, no, no, it’s not like that. I agree with you whole heartedly. Treat her nice because you love her. But you can go out of your way to make sure that you’re not standing in your own way.
It seems great minds think alike (and us too)… I just finished covering over the pink prairie tonight. Definitely makes a big difference. Definitely makes those big empty spaces look that much more in need of filling…
Congrats and good luck!
WOW ! what a change some paint makes. Lookin good!
I haven’t seen a tranformation like that since the Genesis Project in the Star Trek
Movie
Why do they make that foam pink anyway ?
Terry,
I think its from the extrusion process. Not many people know it but they actually make the extrude foam insulation out of pink “peeps” - the same ones that they sell at Easter time. (Or, is it the other way around.)
Seriously, I don’t know why they color it pink and blue. My guess is that the manufacturer paints it in a color that will make it definably noticable from a distance - i.e. pink (Owen Corning) or blue (Dow). Maybe the color is to encourage us to paint the top BEFORE laying down the track. (Like I should have done. [D)])
Tom