Need Help building a Fastrack layout

did some more changes and building tonight. then took some more photos. I guess this could be a start to finish post. designing and then planning and now building.  I"m going to have to make portals still for the 2 new tunnels. I ran out of plaster cloth and really didn't want to do the whole paper towel and plaster thing tonight so I'm done for the night. I did also wire up one Signal and created the first block. it changes right now via a relay from green to red. next is to figure out how to do the yellow. . I know the chessie seems to be in all my pics and your right . when I first got into o gauge back around 2000. I wanted it but I couldn't with 2 new born babies(twins) well last summer while in Michigan. my uncle gave me 2 engines a powered Alco and a dummy Alco Santa Fe #218 well as the story always goes I had to pull what I had out of the attic to test run them. then I always wanted the Santa fe passenger so off I went looking for them. then happened to see the Chessie and now I have both a passenger Santa Fe and the Chessie Steam special. I am missing the diner car for it but I'm watching one that I am probably going to buy so I have the whole set . I'm thinking of doing a ERR upgrade to it for rail sounds and a a/c commander. sorry long winded tonight I guess.

 

Curious:  Did you or do you like the plaster cloth?

I like it but dont like the price 8 bucks for a roll i can imagine it getting very expensive

I just don't like the holes left--I always have to buy and fill with more plaster anyway.  It looks great afterward but the paper mache is easier and much cheaper!

My wife went to Michaels yesterday and bought up there plaster gauze. it's 8 bucks a roll for the same size as woodland scenic. and I have to say no more holes without adding more plaster.

video of running

J,

   Looks like you are really coming along, heck you do not need advise you just need to have more time to engineer your ideas into final build.  I have one recommendation for ya, invest in some FasTrack Command Control Switches, if you don't already have them, for you nice layout.

Have fun!

PCRR/Dave

I have 4 remote switches now 3 will be in use I was thinking about the sc-2 switch controller since I have tmcc. I would like to control all loops with tmcc.

at the moment there all separate.

 

 

 

it's made by Artminds

Thanks...I'm going to look for it just in case.

well did some more on the layout. my daughter built a mountain side she's learning. she did the cardboard lattice and the plaster cloth herself I just watched from the side and painted the other side of the layout. then today I did some more plastering and made a river going no where but atleast it's there.  

 

well tonight I made my first structure. I did once build a station but the edges were all off and it just didn't look right. so it doesn't count this is the first structure that will go on the layout it needs details of course but the structure is there now. completely scratch built no plans at all.

another update I don't know if anyone is watching or not but, I work atleast an hr every night on it. so tonight I sat at the dinning room table and the computer to print out a few textures and added a little details to it.I know practice makes perfect. I'm happy with the results so far. but I feel I could do better.  but here it is at this point . no option to upload photos

 

I have been playing around with cardstock buildings the past few days. trying to figure out the small city I want to build and soon a station. trying to figure out a bridge for the other side of the layout and for the two ends but the b54 bridge. attached are the photos of what I think I am going to do and the buildings I have been playing with.

 

Hi,

you're still moving along. I built the little country store as a test. I made a rabbet edge on the front and back to get nice corners. Have to careful only to cut off the inside paper and foam leaving the exterior paper.

 

I also used a tip from one site and got a cheap pack of pastel chalks (1/2 sticks). Use them to hide the corners and color the exposed edges. That blends the colors together. I've also considered an over-the-top treatment for windows and doors by using those ready made that are available to enhance the depth. Like the windows on the engine shed. A few places have them. I liked Grandt Line, but there are others.

 

I used MS Publisher to make signs.

 

Bad News, I didn't print on photo paper for the test build. The ink blurred when I sealed it with Matte spray.

 

I also discovered that the slower you go, the better the result. I do a step and leave it. I have more patience for the build that way.

 

Keep chugging. It's nice to see the progress.

I also rabbit the Joints that was my first one I ever built from a kiT or plans it's also made out of foam stock so it looks a little bit different little bit Thick I would also like to add windows lights and of course details a little bit To hide the edges of the foamcore

I have built a few building for the layout. tonight I rewired some old street lights I had from a Christmas town that the bulbs burned out and added them to the front of the buildings. then I lined one of my tunnels and added lights to the tunnel. here's some photo's of the last weeks work.

 

 

if you don't mind a sideways video LOL here is one.also here is a photo of the lights in the tunnel and the TW Trainworx bridge to see if I Like it lite up.

 

 

Well some more updates. added some lights rewired some lights. made a overpass. wired up switches and a few block sections . here is what I have gotton accomplished.

 

Tw Trainworx b54 Bridge with lights

 

think I might take up alittle more of the room theres a 31 X 87 area on the back side of the layout. here's what I came up with using that area also.