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

Mike,

Thanks and I hope so too! I can be a little too optimistic sometimes but if you're not you don't get things done. 

Dave

Dave, Thank you for the underside photographs.  I didn't get dizzy, and that is even considering I woke up with the flu last night and fell down twice getting to and from the bathroom.  Mike G. must have sent it 2500 miles to me.  He is such a generous, good hearted fellow!    I'm getting along somewhat better now.  I think the weakness of both legs going through this lower back/sciatic problem contributed to me falling.

Back to the layout!  Everything seems braced good, and I don't care how much you weigh, if it holds you, there should be no worries!!  I'm 170 pounds, and I know I wouldn't be putting that much weight on any given spot.  I am going to have at least two curves on inside corners that the Mianne angled solution is too much benchwork.  I don't want to put the money into a custom solution, but I think I will be fine.  Past experience with L girder tells me the facia gives a lot of stability to those spots as well.

I'll look forward to your progress.  You have Mike in the Northwest Washington state and me in Northwestern Pennsylvania rooting for you!!! 

Will be watching your progress this week. This is an enjoyable part of building a layout. You seem to have thought things through and can just let your creativity and imagination go wherever they will. Can be frustrating too because it may be more difficult or time-consuming than you expected. Just a suggestion... Have you considered carved pink foam covered by lightweight hydrocal instead of plaster over screening?

MELGAR

Mark,

I'm sure you know you need take it easy. I don't like the sound of you falling once let alone twice. I'm sure you don't either. As far as it coming through the air thousands of miles away, all I can say is "That's What Friends Are For" in Stevie Wonders voice. Mike I hope you are prepared to chime in...some things you just should not share with friends! Send best wishes, send gratitude, send gifts, but don't send illness or any of the like.

Anywho, I don't plan to climb on bench work once scenery is done. I have a few pop ups. However it is nice to know that I don't have limitations on what reasonably I can put atop the bench work.

Melgar,

I will meet you half way. Most of the substructure is pink foam, then plaster cloth, finally rock molds. I have found in the last year or so, there are not many land forms you can't do with pink foam. I am curious why you mention or suggest light weight hydrocal.

Dave

Dave,

Yes I wrote all that part for Mike’s benefit since he just wrote.  I want to see what his reply is and yours too.  

I agree, some folks with basic scenery walk on their layouts instead of having pop up holes.  Anyone with more elaborate scenery won’t want to walk on it.  It never occurred to me to walk on a layout until I got on this forum.  Just to make a structural test while building makes sense though 

Good Morning. The goal for yesterday was accomplished but unfortunately not too long afterwards I took a nap. I would have still been sleep but realized I had to make a run to the store for some acrylic paints and isopropyl alcohol. Once I got back home I did some cleaning where the work was done in the train room. 

The first pic is what I call the "hot mess". This is because the area worked on is also the work bench, etc. 

Today land forms were installed and shaved, then plaster cloth was added, followed by rock molds and carving those molds. Track was painted in the area being worked on but still need to paint the ties. One of the retaining walls was installed from molds I made on this past Monday. Tunnel portals and lining was installed. Two of the tunnels will be natural rock and the other will be a pre-fabricated portal.  Lastly, fascia was installed in this area.

Today the plans are to continue with the land forms, plaster cloth, and more rock molds. Next sculpt-ta-mold will be added in the dirt areas. Another retaining wall will need to be installed. Once this is completed color washes will be added to rock work. I may end up painting the fascia as well. This task will be more time consuming as there is a period that the land forms will need to dry. To not waste time I may start a smaller project on another section of the layout. 

Tomorrow, will be dedicated to finishing up the coloring, adding ground foam,  and ballast to track. I will again post when the work is completed and include brief descriptions of what was done.  

Dave

Wow Dave!  You were right when you wrote you planned to move forward with this quickly!!  It is all taking shape nicely!!!

WOW, I am with Mark, you are moving at a record pace! Makes me want to do some scenery work, but I also had a plan on getting all the track down first! Seeing your work and may others here has me torn, track or scenery? Oh well, its nothing but time! Great work Cant wait to see what comes tomorrow!

Mark and Mike,

Thanks! It's called sleep deprivation. Seems like I just got done and I'm right back at it as we speak. Well not right this second, taking a breather. Plus I have to cook dinner for my guest.

Actually most of the track is in place. I just need to install lift bridges. Also,this is only one side of the layout. I still have the other to do and am using this to learn some new techniques.

luvindemtrains posted:

Mark,

I'm sure you know you need take it easy. I don't like the sound of you falling once let alone twice. I'm sure you don't either.

Melgar,

I will meet you half way. Most of the substructure is pink foam, then plaster cloth, finally rock molds. I have found in the last year or so, there are not many land forms you can't do with pink foam. I am curious why you mention or suggest light weight hydrocal.

Dave

 

Dave,

My personal preference is for "Mold-a-Scene" over carved pink foam. I suggested lightweight hydrocal because it can be carved to look like rock.

Mark,

Please be careful not to fall. My wife fell recently and dislocated her shoulder. Improving now but still not 100%.

MELGAR

Mel, Thank you for the good reminder.  It is always welcome.  While I was not an athlete or daring kid or young man, it is remarkable how I find so many things that don't work quite right now that I am getting a ways past 60.  

I'm glad your wife's shoulder is improving.

Looking great so far Dave , keep the progress photos coming 

Alex

Now this looks great Dave. Glad I got to see this post(some hide from me until someone comments). Best ideas come from seeing someone else's progress. I'll have to look at this even more.

Mark, no falling please. Let me fall down a bunch. I'm still young enough to bounce right back up(knock on wood) and fortunate that the nasty bugs like the flu stay away.

Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:

Now this looks great Dave. Glad I got to see this post(some hide from me until someone comments). Best ideas come from seeing someone else's progress. I'll have to look at this even more.

Mark, no falling please. Let me fall down a bunch. I'm still young enough to bounce right back up(knock on wood) and fortunate that the nasty bugs like the flu stay away.

LOL

Thank you very much, Dave!  I let the dog out this morning and the patio was a sheet of ice.  She got her lead stuck on a clump of icy snow.  I was able to reach her by holding onto the door handle for support!  I remember how we used to like to take a running start and slide on the ice with our boots!  Those days are gone for me!  LOL

Alex M posted:

Looking great so far Dave , keep the progress photos coming 

Alex

 

Thanks and will do Alex!

Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:

Now this looks great Dave. Glad I got to see this post(some hide from me until someone comments). Best ideas come from seeing someone else's progress. I'll have to look at this even more.

Mark, no falling please. Let me fall down a bunch. I'm still young enough to bounce right back up(knock on wood) and fortunate that the nasty bugs like the flu stay away.

Thanks a lot Dave! It's a big undertaking but I haven't been doing what I should for months. The motivation comes and goes. That's why I get on here as often as I can. This forum is a big part of my motivation with all the great ideas and projects fellow forumites are doing. Is that even a word?

Dave

Good Evening,

Today all rock work was finished. The first couple of coats of wash was applied and we are now in the "Ugly Phase" of this project. The last 3 pics show what I mean.

However, on tomorrow, rock work will be dry brushed, ground foam will be applied, track ties colored, and track ballasted. At that point the outcome should usher in the "Pretty Phase". Stayed tuned and we shall see! 

Dave

The rocks look great!

Mark, 

Thank you kindly sir!

Dave,

I’ve just gone through this thread, and I have to say you’re very talented! Progress comes in spurts for most of us, but you really make hay when you can. I’ve enjoyed your progress to this point. The expansion is great, glad you got the extra space. Thanks for the updates and explanations.

Andy

Andy,

I recently saw your underpass posts and thought to myself, I would like to see more of his layout and BAM...an entire thread before my eyes this evening.  Your track work and installation of signals is breath taking. Your type of  work is one major reason I come to this site. When a modeler of your talents compliments me I know I'm doing something right. Great work on your layout and you now have a new fan. 

I'm happy you were able to check out what I have been doing with the layout and very much appreciate your encouraging words.

Dave

Dave like I said in the other section, WOW your work is a blistering pace with wonderful out comes! Great work!

Dave, you have done a great job on that scenery. When you have the real estate to do this the sky is the limit. Can hardly wait for the finished scene......Paul

luvindemtrains posted:

Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:

Now this looks great Dave. Glad I got to see this post(some hide from me until someone comments). Best ideas come from seeing someone else's progress. I'll have to look at this even more.

Mark, no falling please. Let me fall down a bunch. I'm still young enough to bounce right back up(knock on wood) and fortunate that the nasty bugs like the flu stay away.

Thanks a lot Dave! It's a big undertaking but I haven't been doing what I should for months. The motivation comes and goes. That's why I get on here as often as I can. This forum is a big part of my motivation with all the great ideas and projects fellow forumites are doing. Is that even a word?

Dave

Forumites? Well, it is now. I can understand motivation  issues, that always happens with everything that there is. The term or phrase, "sucking my motivation right out of me" has been uttered in one way or another many times before. Thing is to always give yourself a break(bit here or there) to give yourself a fresh set of eyes. I still have to get my eyes, lol.

Well here we are guys and gals, day 4 is over. This scene is starting to look "finished". Rock faces and retaining walls were further painted and dry brushed, ground foam was added, tallis was colored, baked, and applied, and dirt road was completed.

So tomorrow we will be adding ground foam to the edges of the road, trees planted, track ties colored and track ballasted, paint fascia, and pour waterway.  I do see the light at the end of the tunnel now. This has been the most aggressive work done to the layout, in regards to time, thus far.

The last thing I will tackle before I break from major layout work is making alterations to the bench work on the other side of the layout. Work on this area will begin tomorrow after the scenery is completed on the area I have been showing all week. Work on the bench work should be completed by early afternoon Saturday.  It will be just a push here, tuck there, and lift over there type of deal.

Thanks,

Dave

Dave, You could put on a clinic!!!  The rocks look great!!!  The texture, the coloring, and the foliage look superb!!  Thank you for posting so much information and photographs!!!

Dave, looks Amazing! Your work is just wonderful! You ever get to Washington state or me know! LOL

Dave,

Thank you for the kind words. The great thing about this forum is that we help and motivate each other. You are very talented and I can learn plenty from you and others here. Mark is right, you could put on a clinic. Your rock work and scenery are incredible! I look forward to your progress.

Andy

Mark and Mike,

I appreciate your kind words and being my number one supporters. I still have much to learn but thanks to the internet and wonderful people who are willing to share their talents I am able to accomplish some wonderful results on the layout.

Who knows Mike, I do need a vacation.

Dave

Andy,

Right back at you bro. Thanks for jumping in on the thread.

Dave

This is some of the best rock work that I have seen. It is amazing what you have accomplished using the pink foam

trainbob posted:

This is some of the best rock work that I have seen. It is amazing what you have accomplished using the pink foam

Oh wow! Thank you very much trainbob.

Dave

Good Evening Everyone,

Today modifications to bench work was begun and will be finished up earlier tomorrow ahead of schedule. As soon as that is done I will take my time with the scenery and still give regular updates.

Anywho, today track ties were painted and track was ballasted in the section I've been showing all week, trees were planted, river/lake bed painted, and fascia was painted. 

As mentioned bench work will be completed tomorrow, water will be poured, and I hope that my girder plates and bridge shoes show up so that it can be painted and installed. After that it's a wrap and I can just go back to running trains. Stay tuned for the finishing touches tomorrow!

Thanks,

Dave

Very nice work,  I suspect you will soon regret not painting the wall prior to construction. 

WB47 thank you much! Believe it or not the walls were painted before bench work was even started. If you go back in the thread you will see when this was started and completed. Unfortunately I will have to do touch up work to the walls after all of this. I also will be adding clouds.

Dave

Dave, That is fantastic scenery, and even more so considering how quickly you did all of it.  I really like it!

Gracious senior Marco!

Beautiful and realistic. Is there a real place or scene that you had in mind when you planned this. And, what kind of trains/railroad do you plan to put into this scenery?

MELGAR

Dave, man that is some beautiful scenery! And fast too! I’ll be referring to these pictures for some inspiration for sure.

Andy

MELGAR posted:

Beautiful and realistic. Is there a real place or scene that you had in mind when you planned this. And, what kind of trains/railroad do you plan to put into this scenery?

MELGAR

Much appreciated Melgar! The plan was freelance but in this small area I wanted as much contour in the land forms as I thought would be reasonable and tasteful. Also I wanted early fall to be the season as that to me, is one of the most beautiful times of the year. Lastly, because the area is so small, I didn't want to just have "rail fanning" be the only option but wanted to add a few switching opportunities.

The plan is to run motive power from the Pennsy or any of its affiliates/successors such as New York Central, Penn Central, etc. Most will be diesel power but will run smaller steam units such as consolidations, mikados, etc. My next order of business is to incorporate a few signature items to that railroad such as the block walls and hairpin fencing.

There are only three small areas in this room where you will see the 3 Rail trains passing through. Most of my 3 Rail fleet is modern diesels with half a dozen or so steamers. So you will regularly see modern "excursions" passing through as well as other road names. As stated earlier in this thread, I extended the 3 Rail into this second room so that I could run longer trains and they could actually "go somewhere". So I wanted to feature the smaller 2 Rail area but serve that initial purpose as well.

Dave