Stu's new layout

Looks like a great start Stu. Looking forward to seeing your progress. Good luck and enjoy!!!!

Have fun, Stu!

MELGAR

Looks great, Stu. 

Jim

Stu, Looking forward to updates, I always use a no plan track plan.  It doesn't work for everyone but I find it to be more fun to create as I go.  Nice mural work also.

I have got some nice comments about the backdrop.  This picture shows how I painted the individual trees.  Using some round pads I dip them into the green paint of different shades and then just randomly pad them onto the wall.   To make one mountain look closer I used a lighter green along the ridge.  If you look close at my left hand you can see that only the top of the pad is touching.  This gives the top of tree highlights.   

I now have the full lower loop together and can run a train around.  I have also started to put the upper level in around the back side of the layout .  When both loops are up and running I will then start to place buildings and make changes to the track to work best. More pictures of the layout soon.

Stu,

I love the backdrop.  I see an OGR feature article here.  Your use of different shades of green (and I'm guessing some white for highlights) and the round pads (where do we find them?) is just about the best idea I've seen for covering large areas with greenery.  Thanks for sharing.  

Earl,

The pads are from home depot in the paint department.    They have a fuzzy surface on a foam handle and are often used to cut edges.  This foam handle can easily be cut with a band saw or copping saw.   For paint colors I got the small paint sample jars in a medium and light green.  The base coat was a dark green.   To pick the colors I took the color charts out side and compared them to the trees.   I did not use white to highlight.

Got a lot done this weekend with the help of a friend.  We figured out how to add 3 staging tracks under the upper dog bone.  If I include them as sidings I now have 8 sidings to drop and pick up cars.    One return loop on the dog bone will have industrial buildings and the other will be a small town or the edges of the city.   I was able to work in the red bridge that I have had for years and looks home made.  I am also using the AF station.   The water front is a good size.