Day 1, Post 1.
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John Allen famously built models of his layout before building the actual product. I am going to do the same thing, but in full size.
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I have the advantage of an inexpensive hot glue gun! Can you imagine what the modelers of the 50’s and 60’s could have done if they had access to a hot glue gun and a Hot Wire Foam Factory?
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Here is what I have accomplished today:
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This going to be a model of the most important corner of the layout. I am going to make sure everything works before anything gets built.
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Progress will be posted.
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What a great vacation this will be!
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-Kevin
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Day 1, Post 2.
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Got more done today than I thought I would.
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Just finished installing the turntable.
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Starting on the Roundhouse tomorrow.
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-Kevin
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Day 2, Post 1.
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Working on the roundhouse like a madman this morning. Progress is going surprisingly fast.
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Time to paint the interior black.
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-Kevin
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Day 2, Post 2.
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The roundhouse is 99% done now. The roof was very hard to make. Probably spent 4 hours today making everything fit.
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Tomorrow I will begin with bridges and tunnels.
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-Kevin
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Wow! That’s taking mockups to the max! Very clever.
Kevin:
This is a very interesting thread. You really will know whether or not you are happy with the layout before you sink your time and money into it. I don’t have the patience to do what you are doing. I get a picture in my head and go with it. Usually it works out, but occassionally not.
Dave
Day 3, Post 1.
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Thanks for the comments Ray & Dave.
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Moving forward today I am starting on the bridges and hills in the corner.
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Hopefully I will be about half done with this project tonight.
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-Kevin
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The roundhouse and turntable look good for cardboard mockups. So does the bridge.
Maybe this should be the final layout it sure has character 
Hahaaha! That’s pretty awesome.
I’m definitely interested to see.
Great idea Kevin, nothign like seeing it “as it is” to make sure your satisfied.
Day 3, Post 2.
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Did not make as much progress today as I thought I would. Mocking up all those retaining walls ate a ton of time. Had to re-slope the mountainside a couple of times.
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I think I should get the paper mache on it tonight.
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-Kevin
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Day 4, Post 1.
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Made one heck of a mess this morning! Thank goodness I covered the floor with kraft paper before I started this.
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I have a lot of paint to apply now. Hopefully the paint will make all this mess go away.
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A lot of water went through the cardboard when I put down the hillside covering. With some luck it will not weaken the whole thing enough for a collapse. I have been fighting warpage all through this project.
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-Kevin
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Day 4, Post 2.
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Paint makes everything look better!
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I am quite happy with progress now. I love this corner.
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-Kevin
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This thing is really growing on me. I had no idea I could become attached to a cardboard mock-up. The thought of destroying it in four days is now upsetting to me.
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-Kevin
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I am surprised at how satisfied I am with some of the features. I really thought I would hate the cut-down roundhouse, but now that I see it in 3D, I really like it. The structure looks truly massive in five square feet.
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I also got the chance to redesign the interchange track with the COPPER CANYON RR. The way I drew it did not allow for the planned photography location.
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-Kevin
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Day 4, Post 3.
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Began laying out the second corner. I found I will need to make the layout 6 inches wider. This will take it to 7 foot 6 inches. This leaves only about 4 feet of width for the staging yards and reverse loop behind the wall.
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Time for bed. I hope to get as much done tomorrow as I did today.
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-Kevin
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Thank you for the compliment.
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The bridges look really good as stand-ins. The long bridge will be a Central Valley Pratt Truss Bridge, and the shorter bridge on turn 2 will be a Campbell Howe Truss Bridge.
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I know the truss patterns are incorrect on both stand ins, but I wanted to make them easy to cut out.
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-Kevin
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Day 5, Post 1.
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Starting on the scenery in the second corner. I have the plaster cloth down now. Paper Mache will come as soon as it is firmed up.
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I was smart enough to put plastic over the rest of the model this time before I made another huge mess and had to repaint everything again.
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Live and learn.
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-Kevin
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