Well, we are all, after all, at-play here, on OGR, as well as when we are at our layouts.
When I was a kid in Duquesne , PA, we liked the kids who were fun to be with, whom we enjoyed. Those were the ones we asked to come out and play with us, again and again. We gravitated to the ones who understood our way of playing.
Those friendships I have carried with me to this day. FrankM
Art,
In addition to the plaster impregnated sheets I mentioned earlier, I also use structolite for covering and creating additional features. However, for the rock outcroppings, I like regular plaster of Paris best, for while not as hard as Hydrocal, it is less expensive and works juts fine.
Here are some of my rock outcroppings-
Keep up the good work!
Alex
PS. I painted the rocks using Jim Policastro's drybrush method. (Give credit where credit is due.)
Here are a few recent progress pictures. I have been trying to put in an hour or two every day to get the ball rolling again.
Behind the curved stone arch bridge I have the basic plaster painted and now ready for adding grass, shrubs, trees, and etc. I have to finish the banks or shores of the lake that will be below the bridge next. Then seal all the cracks with caulking, paint the lake, add sand to the shore, and then add the water material.
I also started adding a bridge that will extend the main street of my town of Spencer. It will be Iowa Highway 71 and the RR crossing will be protected by signals.
It's not shown in these pictures, but I have removed all the crumpled Kraft paper that I have used as temporary rock walls and are replacing them with the final plaster. I want to get all the basic plaster work done so I can graduate from this phase of the scenery construction process.
Art
Nicely done! Hopefully all these 50 degree days disappear so you can get trapped down there for a few weeks.
Great looking progress! Its nice to see you posting again. I also agree with ZETT, just because it is fun to fallow your build!
Impressive progress!!!
Art: Is the cross-over shown in the pix made with Atlas"O" #5's?
BTW-Layout progress looks super!
Art, after I go back to the first pictures I will make a few comments, but for now, from what I see, Wow....Keep us posted....Great work. It’s goung to be a really fun to run railroad...
It's looking great Art! Maybe the delay of the delivery with the Spencer Refeers is to allow you more time to get more completed before they get to ride the rails of your layout!!
D&H 65 posted:Art: Is the cross-over shown in the pix made with Atlas"O" #5's?
BTW-Layout progress looks super!
Thanks!
Yes all the crossovers are Atlas #5's.
Art
Thanks for all the nice comments. It is fun to be working on the layout again. I'm going to try to get a lot done this time and not get burnt out by overdoing it.
Art
Art, great job so far. It is looking good and it is good to see you working on the layout again. It is a fun hobby. Take your time and have fun building it........Paul
Art, great to have you back posting updates on your layout. Your updates have always been among my favorites.
Art,
Agree with Pat and the others, great to have you back posting. I learn so much from your postings and the railroad looks great. Fun to be one of the gang following the progress of your wonderful railroad.
Tom
Welcome back Art! Now you just need a good blizzard 
(don't we all?)
Bob
Looking good
Glad to see you back, Art!! I really like the highway bridge coming right out to the front of the layout. It breaks up the long great looking wall!
Good going Art!!! I hope to see it one day!!
Looks great Art
Gorgeous!
Peyer
Looking great Art
Alex
I am impressed by the design and the quality. Looking forward to seeing more as the layout progress continues.
Thanks, guys! Your comments are very motivating to me.
I worked again yesterday and am continuing to expand my plastering. I removed the first double-track truss bridge so I could better work under it with my plastering. Used the Topside Creeper to reach further back behind my town of Ruthven to plaster the areas between the tracks. Working for a couple hours on the Creeper helps me identify muscles that haven't been used for a long time. (It's also called getting older.)
Completed the road surfaces leading to and on my new bridge, but still have to weather the road and apply lane striping. Adding road signs will further add to it.
More pictures soon.
Art
Can't wait to see the updated picture Art! You do great work!
Just incredible. I enjoy watching your progress and frequently re-read this thread for ideas.
Yes Art, I was afraid the topside creeper is just an unused muscle detector just like the automotive creeper is. LOL I don't like these detectors!!
Mark Boyce posted:Yes Art, I was afraid the topside creeper is just an unused muscle detector just like the automotive creeper is. LOL I don't like these detectors!!
Mark, I have a 'love/hate" relationship going with mine. I hate to have to spend a lot of time on it, but love having it available for hard to reach places. The alternative would be to be on a step stool or short ladder and balancing above the layout. Once delicate scenery details are added that will become much more difficult. I was lucky in that I had a good friend that wasn't using his any more and he offered a "can't pass it up price" on his and even delivered it to my basement.
Art
Art, do you have a picture of it? Also manufacture and where to buy?
Thanks Art, I will have to check them out!
WOW Art, I think for that price I will try to build from the wall out! LOL
They do run sales frequently on them. I had a friend that had to tear down his layout prior to moving to Arizona and offered his at a deep discount. I wasn't ready yet, but another friend bought it. He couldn't use it because he had his layout legs too close together and it was collecting dust and he offered it to me at the bargain price he paid for it. I was ready and it was perfect timing for both of us. The friend is a retired structural/mechanical engineer and he improved it by modifying it so will fold-up flat for easier storage. That made it even more of a win-win for me. You can obviously do without it, but it sure makes life easier with it.
Art
I agree, but my layout is only going to be 30" around the room, maybe 2 levels.
Yes I someone else here on the Forum has one of the ones marketed by Micro Mark. I looked at them in the catalog. I will be building a shelf layout where I won't need to reach that far except possibly the two end turnback loops. I will see if I can get by without, but we will see. Thank you Art for the photographs and Mike for asking about it!!
I wrote a little description of my recent progress on the "what did you do on your layout" thread and promised some pictures on this thread.
First some pictures of the status of the new bridge leading into my town of Spencer. I have the road deck on and the street leading to it. Next I have to weather the road, stripe it, and add road signs. Then my Milwaukee Road track crew will have to work on the crossings.
I have been busy plastering. I am on my second 25# bag of Durock 45 Plaster and have used 10 rolls of Woodland Scenics plaster cloths, but I am getting there. I have the third coat on these areas and when they dry will be ready to paint base coats.
The river valley is starting to take shape. It will be another focal point on my layout.
I then switched to the area of my grain elevator complex. I moved all the buildings and silos and cut and installed Masonite retaining walls on the track that runs behind the elevators. Then painted it with an aged concrete color, made a 45 degree wing wall and finished the plaster up to it. I had a missing strip of wood the length of this area just behind the fascia that I filled in and painted earth brown color. I then sprayed all the track with camo brown spray paint. Moved the elevators back and experimented with moving them further to the right so I can another grain hopper on the siding. Liked it so will add track and the install a permanent bumper. Painted the plaster to the right of the elevators.
Still getting a little done every day and it is starting to show.
Art
Looks like you've gotten up a head of steam. Keep the train rolling. Lookin' good.
I like that highway bridge, Art! All the rest of the progress looks great too!
Amazing as always!! Glad to see you are making nice progress.
All I can say is WOW!
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