New layout progress (Some scenery)

No matter what you end up building, i know that it will turn out great! I saved several of the articles about your layout over the past couple of years and i have been very impressed with your detail and weathering! Great Job... and i'm waiting to see the updates as you post them on here... 

Any progress on the layout ??

Jim, I was hoping to start posting some scenery shots soon but haven't gotten there yet. I am ready to ballast up a good section of the mains and install some signals. After that, I hope to start showing more progress. Here's a quick shot from a couple weeks ago:

 

Looking good Norm. 

Thanks Charlie, I have been watching your progress too. Looking good!

 

I took some better shots just now. I have the track weathered and ready for ballast. Sidings are still a work in progress. I am going to put up the signals for this area then ballast the mains and the passing siding. I'd like to replace this tower eventually but I think it's fine for now.

 

Norm,

Love it. Looks really great. Thanks for sharing.

 

Spectacular work, Norm.....

Peter

Good to hear and enjoy the new photos. really liked your old layout that was in OGR and looking forward to more on your new one. Looks like a lot of progress on the rail work.

Norm,

 

Looking fantastic, so realistic.

 

Alex

Very nice Norm!! 

 

Alan

Spectacular scenery as always Norm. Looks fabulous so far.

I'll take the tower when you replace it!!

 

Sweet work Norm, Dave and I need to plan a visit soon. I still have a few weeks vacation I need to use before years end.

Norm,

 

Are the flat structures scratch built?  Would like to do that on my switching layout.  Thanks.

Great Job Norm!!!! as always...

Just found this thread Norm. Will keep watching. Greg A.

The back drop scenery looks great!  The buildings, the rock cliffs behind the switch tower... AMAZING.

 

Thanks for sharing.

Norm,

 

Simply beautiful!

  

 

 

Keep us posted.

 

Alex

Wow

Just outstanding work!

Thanks for posting

Very, very nice Norm. So many talented folks on the forum.

 I have found that so many factors need to be addressed to achieve realism....creativity, size, proportion, placement, structure arrangements, designs, details, perspectives, colors, shadings and weathering etc.   Bringing realism into a model railroad is truly an art form and Norm is really exceptional at it. 

I totally agree with you.

Hi guys, thanks for the kind words on my efforts. I've been pretty busy this weekend, finishing the street layout for Northbrook and setting some buildings in place. I also found some details that were still packed away and found some spots to plug them into. Sorry if I am lame at keeping my threads updated. I've pretty much given up on my old blog, just too busy working on the layout.

 

Here's some quick shots I took tonight:

 

 

Is it real... or Memorex??? 

 

Great stuff, Norm.

 

David

Thanks David! Here's what Northbrook looked like Wednesday night...

 

 

Fantastic work Norm.

From a blank canvas Wed. Nite to THIS !  You must never sleep. Just Unbelieveable. I keep looking at the pics and seeing things I didn't at first glance. I've visited George Selio's famous HO layout a few times in the past. Your modeling as far as coloring and detailing rivals what he's done. It looks totally real. The ballast has that gritty look as well. Like it's been there a while. Not like it just came out of the shaker bottle.

 Norm, question on the concrete portions. Are you cutting each piece separate to form the expansion joints ? Or are you using some sort of paint marker ? The best concrete work as far as detail and color I've seen.

I can't add any more superlatives so I will just say that I thoroughly enjoy your work and the pictures of your layout.  It s the best and I plan to keep the pictures. Thanks for sharing.

Dave, the streets are 1/8" masonite cut into 2.5" strips, then laid side by side. Sidewalks are ripped into 1.25" strips and stacked. I have also used 1/4" masonite in the past for the sidewalks, just didn't have any around this time. I hot glue everything down then cut expansion joints with a straight edge and a utility knife, holding the blade sideways a bit to scrape material. The cracks are free-handed using the same blade. I also dig out little spalls here and there and try to chip the curbs up a bit. I spackle some of the bigger gaps and expansion joints, then paint mostly with flat latex and acrylic colors. I make my streets a bit narrow as I think they look better, especially since this isn't a big area (it basically fills the inside of an O90 curve).

 

Home Depot used to have nice 1/8" masonite (also called hardboard) handy panels, which were smooth on both sides. The new stuff I keep finding has a rough side with perforations and doesn't cut and scribe as well. The stuff I'm using now comes from Menard's and is OK, just not as hard as HD's old stuff. I'm not sure if you have Menard's in MA.

 

Here's another photo that might help explain:

 

 

Wow Norm. That maybe the best pic I've ever seen? Got to be in the top ten. (even with that extra rail)

Norm,  what is your plan for the sky?

Simply outstanding, Norm. It's been fun watching your layout come together, it has such a great look.

Norm, Congratulations! Very cool! What is the manufacturer of the buildings?

 

Thanks,

Your layout is coming along great Norm. I am really impressed by your layout. 

 

Ill keep watching,

 

Dave

This is my favorite shot!  That engine coming around the bend with the city in the background.... AWESOME!

 

Thanks for sharing your work with us Norm.  Looking forward to more updates when you have time.

I agree. This is about as close to the the work of the late John Allen as I have seen.

Brad

I really like this shot.  It looks amazing!

Thanks guys, glad you liked the shots. Taking pictures helps to organize the thoughts a bit as to what needs to be done next, at least for me. I may play around with that vacant lot a bit to make it more interesting for viewing. I plugged that fence into there just to take up space but it may not stay.

 

Leandro, all the background buildings in that photo are scratchbuilt (except for one fairly stock Walthers flat). The track/street level buildings are Downtown Deco, Stone Mill Models, and Tom Yorke kits along with a Lionel kitbash and a couple scratchbuilt houses.

 

I pulled out a lot of my old buildings from the Greenbrook days but have yet to use them because they were all built to fit odd-shaped spots.

 

Merry Xmas Norm. Any more neat photos of your new layout to share ??  I really enjoy seeing your work.

Norm,

 

First, let me say that your work is gorgeous.  But, I do have one question.

 

In the picture above with the five tracks shown next to the switch tower, it appears that you have laid out a small "S" curve right off of the switch that creates the second track from the left.  Is that intentional for some reason out of the picture's sight or is that just temporary to be fixed when track work is finished?

 

Chuck