Layout Progress...Never too late!!! "Steel Mill Painted and Weathered" 6/25/24

Joe,

Thank your for taking the time to provide me with that information. I know with "spaghetti" junction labeling is going to be very important. The picture I showed of the panel unfortunately does not show that I have labels on each circuit board. The labels basically have the direction(east or west) and the route(mainline or diverging). I did pretty much the same thing on the signal wires themselves.

I like what you have done with your panel and I may have to take you up on your offer and contact you. I want to make sure maintenance on this as painless as possible.

Dave

Nice job !!!

Nice layout!!!

Thank you kindly sir.

Dave: I am in the last phase of troubleshooting my signal installation. I have 56 signals and 25 switches. The last 10 are really giving me the gears. Solution may be simple, once I figure out the cause. Contact me when you are ready, Happy to share what I have learned.

Dave, the folding benches are slick looking!  You have great looking signal masts.  All the wiring makes me remember I am glad I am retired from working with electronics for 43 years.

Thanks Mark! You are correct, that's why I said this would be the last major electronic endeavor on the layout. Though the signaling process can be interesting and I'm sure will garner a sense of accomplishment, I want it to be over. Though, I really like all aspects of model railroading I must say these types of projects are my least favorite. With that being said, I know this will add another level of dimension to the layout.

Dave

Hi Gals and Guys,

In an effort to play "catch up" on the progress of the layout I wanted to share some efforts that date back several months. All of these projects were "DO OVERS". All of these areas, in their original attempts, can be seen earlier in this thread. I sat on the other attempts for a bit, but realized I would not be satisfied if I overlooked them and the project would be more difficult to redo as more scenery was added. So the modifications and "face lifts" began. I clearly took photographs during the process but simply didn't post them. Ask me why and you will not get a confident answer. Anyways, pressing forward here you go! I will go in order of each project.

The first few shots are of the started but not completed gorge area. The rock work has been completed but as you can see, I still need to add ground cover, bushes, trees, and water for the river. I am planning to install a road bridge across the river with a tunnel on either side of it. Progress is forthcoming. This is the only area that can be seen as you're walking down the hallway to the layout room.  I want this first view to give the visitor a true sense  of the level of modeling I am going for before they actually see the entire layout.

Secondly, is the creek. The first modification was to extend the creek further back as not to see the end of it. Prior to that I had the river starting at some culverts. After sitting on that for about 3 months I didn't like the concept. Also, I was unhappy with the banks and rock work within the creek bed. Except for a few small details, some dry brushing, and oh yeah, some water this area is almost completed. I will add "water" to all creeks and rivers as I am nearing the end of all basic scenery on the layout.

Third and final for this update, was the rock work in the second room of the layout. I call this room the 2-rail room but the 3-rail system does make an appearance in this room. As soon as you walk into this room you will see the area pictured. The first attempt was ok but I wanted to do better. As I did some research and learned some other techniques I wanted to feel better about this area than I did. I can now say I am happy with the results. The rock work itself is completed but I do have some ideas of how I am going to detail the area and will update when that work is completed.  The last two photos show the "in progress" control panel for the few switch machines located in hard to reach areas of the layout.

Thanks,

Dave

The rock really looks great!

WOW Dave, thing are really looking great! Keep up the wonderful work and keep us posted!

Nice work !

Hi Dave,

Very impressive!  I especially like the rockwork.  You've used a combination of carved foam, rock forms, and resin casting.  Do you have a preference?  In my opinion, they all look great.  I'm going to add this thread to my reference list for when I get to that aspect of my layout.

John

Dave , wow everything is looking fabulous. Excellent craftsmanship!

Alex

Outstanding rock work!

Peter

Hi Everyone,

I did some scenery work on the back side of the layout. I'm sure once I add a few buildings, trees, etc. some of this will not be seen easily. I guess I don't want to regret not doing something back there as I move towards the front of the layout.

Check out the video I created of my shenanigans by clicking the link below.

Dave

Layout Update #6

Mark, Mike, Alex, NYC 428, and Peter- I'm extremely late but thank you for your positive comments. This forum keeps me on my toes and I have gotten many ideas simply by looking at what others post.

John,

Thank you for your complimentary words about the rock work. The techniques all have their pluses and negatives. Plaster work is faster but resin gives great results. I use them all to create variety which is how it is in real life.

Dave

Dave, things look great! I wish I would have been smart enough to do the stuff in the back of the layout first! LOL

Mike,

Thank you and it happens...don't ask me how I know.

Dave

@luvindemtrains posted:

Mike,

Thank you and it happens...don't ask me how I know.

Dave

LOL, at one point I hope it ends!

Dave, looks great!

Dave , fabulous work !

Alex

Wow says it all for me.

Well done! Great work!

Peter

Jon, Alex, John, and Peter thank you very much!

Dave

Excellent job!!!

Don,

Thank you kindly sir.

Dave

Dave, I just got caught up with your thread and watched your scenic work evolve from simple carved foam ( always hard to make it convincing unless you are a sculptor in your day job!) to plaster and rock castings. You are now officially a Life Master Rock Scenery Expert! Great work!  I don't believe you posted a track plan of your new room, or how the two rooms connect. I thought your original track plan was very good: Lots of room for scenery and trains running.

Hey Will,

I'm glad you joined in and thank you for the honorary award! There are so many books, videos, and methods out there that it's very hard to mess up if you are determined to get good results. Sometimes I wonder if I spend more time researching than I do on the layout but that's simply how I internalize information. I do have a separate track plan of the second room and should probably post it at some point. There were a few tweaks done along the way but I will see what I can come up with.

Dave

Dave,

I just finished looking at this thread.  Wow!    Very impressive work and it's obvious to me that your skills are definitely improving as time goes by.   

There are many great scenes in your work, but I was particularly struck by:

• The use of that HO train in gorge - nice forced perspective!
• I really like that steel mill backdrop and how you blended it into the scene
• Your city street scenes are very realistic
• That farm!  Again, the use of the backdrop and its relationship to the foreground is terrific.
• The rock formation are very, very good.  Lots of detail and vegetation make it look realistic
• The river gully between tracks is just outstanding.  I love that.

As to "do-overs", it happens to all of us.  Don't worry about it.  It's your own satisfaction that matters.  That's the great thing about this hobby, if we don't like something we can tear it out and do it over.

Keep up the good work, man!

George

When I saw this all I could think about was when Bob Ross would drop a big tree in the middle of a painting and he would laugh about how people would say "You gone and done it now Bob, you just ruined a perfectly good picture." when he did things like that.

But like Bob you pulled it off!

KUDOS!

Jerry

@G3750 posted:

Dave,

I just finished looking at this thread.  Wow!    Very impressive work and it's obvious to me that your skills are definitely improving as time goes by. 

There are many great scenes in your work, but I was particularly struck by:

• The use of that HO train in gorge - nice forced perspective!
• I really like that steel mill backdrop and how you blended it into the scene
• Your city street scenes are very realistic
• That farm!  Again, the use of the backdrop and its relationship to the foreground is terrific.
• The rock formation are very, very good.  Lots of detail and vegetation make it look realistic
• The river gully between tracks is just outstanding.  I love that.

As to "do-overs", it happens to all of us.  Don't worry about it.  It's your own satisfaction that matters.  That's the great thing about this hobby, if we don't like something we can tear it out and do it over.

Keep up the good work, man!

George

George,

Thank you for your complimentary words and encouragement. At one point I was just so anxious to get to scenery I wasn't thinking things through. Sometimes it was just a first attempt and other times just not well planned or thought out. From this point forward I plan to think things through and do more research if I am trying something new.  This may not prevent all the issues but at least I will know I didn't just  go in blind. I guess that was another part of the journey which means I had to go through it. Sounds a bit like life.

Dave

Jerry,

Thank you so much. Trust me, there were several times during this process I thought about repainting and starting again. Instead I kept going through the process. As I neared the end I became more and more confident because of the transformation I was seeing.

Dave

I just skimmed the thread as quick as I could on lunch (so I looked at the pictures and subscribed to your Youtube Channel haha) and I cannot get over your scenery and that backdrop! The backdrop makes the layout look enormous and your scenery is jaw dropping good. I can't wait to go over the thread in my more detail later on.

Bill,

Thanks for the subscription and your very kind words. I'm planning a steel mill so I will be watching the progress on your layout as well.

Dave

The latest scenery looks great, Dave!  I really like the gravel road and fence going up the hill.

Thanks Mark,

I've added taking dioramas outside to see how it compares to real life. Of course, I build them in the train room because that's obviously the best way to know beforehand how it will look on the layout.

Dave

@luvindemtrains likewise! I'll be asking about your scenery when I get to that point.

No problem Bill! If I don't know the answer we can certainly figure it out together.

Dave

Hi Everyone,

I have been working on the redo of this section for some time now. Most of it was thinking about what I wanted to do.  I've done more work in the river bed, tunnel work, and added trees. I would say this update complete's 95% of the area. I still want to add a few details like vehicles, a few more scenic elements, and oh yea, water. I appreciate all comments and suggestions. Additionally, my latest YouTube video is posted with more of the adventure with this project. Just click on the link.

Thanks,

Dave

The gorge looks great, Dave

Superb!!!

George