Rebuilding layout progress 2-26-24 final phase

@Steamfan77 posted:

Nice progress Gene. I like your technique for roads and scenery. Things are shaping up nicely.

Andy

Thanks Andy.

Gene

Layering the turfs. I start by masking where the buildings are. First layer is any leftover mixture of fine turf I have on hand glued with Mod Podge. Second layer is a blend of fine green and yellow grass with a touch of earth. Final layer is dabbing the glue in various spots then applying medium green coarse turf. It’s not the standard way of applying turfs, but it works for me.

Gene

Nice work masking every area you don’t want material.

Gene looking great! I like the step by step!

@mike g. posted:

Gene looking great! I like the step by step!

Thanks Mike. No layout activity this weekend, enjoying the weather. The cold weather temperatures here in New England has an effect on me lately as I age more than it did years ago.

Gene

Looks great Gene, nice technique.

Andy

@Steamfan77 posted:

Looks great Gene, nice technique.

Andy

Thanks again Andy.

Gene

Finished with the coarse turf. Added a concrete sidewalk to and from the maintenance platforms and shed prior to the railyard ballast. Now on to the lighting.

Gene

Gene, the sidewalks look great! How are you going to go about keeping the ballast off the sidewalks?

@mike g. posted:

Gene, the sidewalks look great! How are you going to go about keeping the ballast off the sidewalks?

Thanks Mike. Just like I did the turfs against the gravel sidewalks. Neatly cutting a layer of Mod Podge against the sidewalks and adding the ballast on top. It will be just like the grassy turfs.

Gene

Installed the tower lights. I did order 2 more. Installed courtyard lights, added bushes, shrubs and a few plants, people and started some trees.

Gene

Both scenes look very good!

@Mark Boyce posted:

Both scenes look very good!

Thanks Mark.

Nice, neat work Gene!

Andy

@Steamfan77 posted:

Nice, neat work Gene!

Andy

Thank you Andy. Neatness is my only way that works, but for some it doesn’t lend itself to a higher quality of realism.

Gene

Gene, the tower lights look fantastic! Just wondering where you got them from?

@mike g. posted:

Gene, the tower lights look fantastic! Just wondering where you got them from?

Thanks Mike, they’re made by Lemax. I got them from eHobbyTools. I have 2 more coming tomorrow. Sorry for the delayed response.

Gene

Great looking layout and a lot of operating possibilities.

@dan 77 posted:

Great looking layout and a lot of operating possibilities.

Thank you Dan.

Finished wiring the 2 tower lights that came Monday.
The interior of the courtyard is complete and ran my SD45 for a while. Just enjoying the hobby!

Gene

Looks great, Gene!  The lights look great, and other photographers look like they are in early morning sun.

@Mark Boyce posted:

Looks great, Gene!  The lights look great, and other photographers look like they are in early morning sun.

Thanks Mark. Now that you mentioned it, I didn’t notice the shadowing effect.

Gene your doing a wonderful job! I too like the different lighting in your photos! I cant wait to get back to the point of scenery!

Gene, I like the day/night pics. The shadow effects are nice too.

Andy

Just a quick update on very little progress during the summer season. Finished the ground cover and added trees at the siding area near the station. Also, weathered the turntable.

Gene

For hobbyists who aren't into ballasting ...  Lionel's FasTrack has molded-in "ballast" but it's subtle. A suggestion -- use a thin wash of diluted India Ink and wipe it on and then off of the FasTrack sections.  It will highlight the molded-in "ballast" of FasTrack for effect and avoid what can be a mess-making ordeal with ballast.  I intend no "jab" at ballast-spreaders! Each to his/her own preference.

I'm not a "high-rail" guy by intention. I used the Lionel O-gauge tubular track and switches I had on hand when designing/building my current 15x19-feet L-shaped layout. First, I covered the platform surfaces with green patio carpeting for some sound deadening but mostly for a consistent look. I wanted a retro 1950s style -- an echo of the un-scenicked American Flyer layout my dad built for me in the basement when I was a boy. He graciously called me his helper, but I was merely a "Go-fer" at the start. Later, I  learned how to do the wiring, including an ultra-cool DC rectifier for operating an AF PRR steam switcher on the same tracks fed AC power.

I've attached some pix of my current O-gauge, three-rail layout; mostly Lionel and MTH trains and accessories with a few other brands represented.

Mike Mottler    LCCA 12394

Gene, the turntable looks so much better now that it is painted.  That's a nice scene looking down the tracks.

@Mark Boyce posted:

Gene, the turntable looks so much better now that it is painted.  That's a nice scene looking down the tracks.

Thanks Mark, I used a weathering powder on the turntable. I was surprised how well it adhered to the plastic.

Gene

@Genemed posted:

Thanks Mark, I used a weathering powder on the turntable. I was surprised how well it adhered to the plastic.

Gene

Gene, that is great.  Looking at the photograph, I thought it was painted.

Hi all, I haven’t done much to the layout other than occasionally run some trains. Enjoying the summer here in New England knowing winter will be here soon and hopefully continue then. I figured I’d keep this up to date with what I did during the rainy days.
I started the dark yard ballast after painting a base coat of black. On the finished section I put down a light dusting of Brennan’s fine superior sand.
Also started a stained wood edge on the outer wall loop to match the existing table.

Gene

Nice work Gene, the turntable looks great, and the ground cover really pulls the scene together.

Andy

@Steamfan77 posted:

Nice work Gene, the turntable looks great, and the ground cover really pulls the scene together.

Andy

Thank you Andy.

Hi Gene, it looks like I am a couple days behind! LOL ok maybe more, but the black ballast looks great! I will try to keep up to date faster! LOL

@mike g. posted:

Hi Gene, it looks like I am a couple days behind! LOL ok maybe more, but the black ballast looks great! I will try to keep up to date faster! LOL

Thanks Mike. With all the rain here in MA, I should be finishing the black ballast tomorrow.

Gene

Finished the yard ballast and added some mechanic/maintenance figures.

Gene

Gene, all of your work is outstanding! It has really come out beautifully.

@Pappu posted:

Gene, all of your work is outstanding! It has really come out beautifully.

Thank you for your kind words.

Gene

Wow! That scenery looks fantastic. Some ballast and maybe weathering on the track roadbed would make it look amazing. Keep up the good work, Gene.

@Dylan the Train Man posted:

Wow! That scenery looks fantastic. Some ballast and maybe weathering on the track roadbed would make it look amazing. Keep up the good work, Gene.

Thank you

WOW Gene I really like what you did there! The nice detail with the sidewalks really brings things together with all your workers out there! OSHA Would be proud of how the workers are keeping the area clean and safe!