Weekend Update 2/5/12

[chuck geiger]

Back from Missoula, MT after a week there, lots of action there. Montana
Rail Link is the best short line Class 2 ever. Lot's of trains and the yard
in Missoula is great. Small hobby shop there, decent N scale stuff. Now
back to work and some modeling.

[GaryHinshaw]

+3 on the backdrop _FSJ: a true work of art.

[BCRail_FSJ]

That backdrop is fantastic.  the horizon is very well placed for the scene and will blend beautifully with the scenery.  I also like how it looks good from a variety of angles- sometimes backdrops become very one dimensional when viewed down the length, but you nailed it!  It looks like it was hand brushed- no airbrush involvement?

No airbrushing but quite a lot of 'dry brushing' especially for the clouds and hill forms.    It's time-consuming work but worth it for a small layout..

[BCR 570]

Gary:

Compliments on the continued progress - nice to see another N Scale layout taking shape here in town.  We must connect some day . . .


Andy:

Another super backdrop shaping up there - well done.


Tim

[GaryHinshaw]

Tim,

Rest assured the locals (and all asshats who wish to make the trip) will be invited over when there is something worth seeing and running.  Right now it's just wood, so until then, perhaps I should break out my kid's old Brio trains and we can all have a play day on the Loop.   

Scott, you need an excuse to visit your brother out here - c'mon.  BTW, I highly recommend wood benchwork.  It's old school, I know, but I dabbled with foam a while back and never developed a taste for it.

-Gary
 
P.S. When Tom appointed me a mod, he didn't realize that Canadian content law would apply to Railwire, but it seems to be working out just fine. 

[James Costello]

Back from Missoula, MT after a week there, lots of action there. Montana
Rail Link is the best short line Class 2 ever. Lot's of trains and the yard
in Missoula is great. Small hobby shop there, decent N scale stuff. Now
back to work and some modeling.

I love Missoula. It's a toss up between it and Whitefish for my fave MT town. The rail action is great as you said. We had a great feed at the Iron Horse brewpub and you've gotta love Big Sky IPA.... if only I had time to visit the taproom!
http://www.bigskybrew.com/Our_Beers/Big_Sky_IPA

[Puddington]

I love Missoula. It's a toss up between it and Whitefish for my fave MT town. The rail action is great as you said. We had a great feed at the Iron Horse brewpub and you've gotta love Big Sky IPA.... if only I had time to visit the taproom!
http://www.bigskybrew.com/Our_Beers/Big_Sky_IPA

Missoula used to be home (and may still be for all I know) to a Stone paper mill that shipped significant amounts of corrugating medium (I seem recall they did linerboard too) by rail. I used to get tonnes each week by rail when I ran a corrugated plant in Richmond, B.C.

[coosvalley]

I dabbled with foam a while back and never developed a taste for it.

Well, there's your problem, your'e not suppposed to eat it, you build layouts on it!

[Gen]

SLR #2062001014 by My Weathered Railroad, on Flickr

Did some bulk decal scaling/photo editing with Gimp.

[Philip H]

@Gen,

NICE!

[Day One]

Missoula used to be home (and may still be for all I know) to a Stone paper mill that shipped significant amounts of corrugating medium (I seem recall they did linerboard too) by rail. I used to get tonnes each week by rail when I ran a corrugated plant in Richmond, B.C.

Unfortunately Stone Container shut down last year. It was a major source of online traffic for MRL and the loss was big.  Luckily the sight is supposed to be developed again with MRL providing switching services.

http://www.kpax.com/news/rail-service-deal-signed-for-former-smurfit-stone-site/