Thanks to the monthly update, I haven't posted over here in almost two weeks. Not all that much going on on the layout, mostly clean up. Patrick is coming over tomorrow, and I have a half dozen little projects in mind. We'll see what we get done.
Toe update: Went to the doctor on Wednesday. My regular doc was on vacation again, third week in the last six, so I saw his associate again. It's like they have a "good cop, bad cop" routine going, with my regular doc being good cop. Bad cop is a good doctor, but I swear he is left to do the dirty work, while my guy is all unicorns and rainbows. He took another X-ray, and the bone is just getting worse. They always say get a second opinion, but what if it's worse news than the first? Unfortunately, I am a believer in science, and the pictures don't lie. I'm probably going to have to lose this thing, before the infection jumps the "fire break" and gets to the next bone. This has been a real roller coaster ride, but I've come to grips with it regardless.
Back to the layout! I did manage to take a few pictures earlier this week.
I've been using extra containers as scenic elements. I once had them stacked neatly over at Park Junction, but they weren't pinned together, and when we used the impact driver on the layout, the vibration knocked them over. Now they're pinned and more stable. What you don't see in this picture is the hole on the backdrop for the track by that CAST container. That was the point of this exercise to hide that.
If you really look, you can still see it, but at a glance it's not bad. BTW, there are really stacks of empty containers in this area between the BNSF and UP intermodal facilities.
Here's another effort at covering backdrop holes, using an old Korber building and a Korber flat.
Here's that same hole from the other side.
I was having a "crummy" day. I think I ordered too many green cabooses, but they're so pretty, aren't they Mike?
Look what I did to the Menards well car. I jammed an Atlas 40 footer into the well. It's a tight fit. Then I stuck a 53' on top. Looks sharp, very prototypical.
More scenicking with containers over at University Junction. I wouldn't do this if the railroads didn't do it first. These piles are associated with CP's intermodal terminal at Shoreham, and they really are organized by owner, not necessarily by color, especially the Hapag Lloyds and the Hamburg Suds.
See?