Weekend Update 11/5/17

[Scottl]

More progress in the Thompson Canyon. 

2017-11-05 12.12.07 by Scott L, on Flickr

[shark_jj]

Time to stop lurking and post what I am working on.  The Grand Trunk Southern is operational and I am starting to move from plywood central to some scenery.  Started with home made backdrops and the scenery behind the tracks.  Here are some examples showing a pair of GTS SD45's on a manifest freight moving through Nathanville. 

[C855B]

Time to stop lurking and post what I am working on.  The Grand Trunk Southern is operational and I am starting to move from plywood central to some scenery.  Started with home made backdrops and the scenery behind the tracks.  Here are some examples showing a pair of GTS SD45's on a manifest freight moving through Nathanville. ...

Very, very, very nice. Great transitions between the 3D foliage and the background photos - super effective.

The only change I would make is to paint the track. The shine from the rail web disturbs the "Is it real?" perception. Otherwise, great job. Looking forward to seeing more.

[shark_jj]

You are absolutely correct Mike.  I am working from the backdrop forward on the scenery.  Backdrop first, then the scenery between the backdrop and the track (current situation), then the next step will be painting the rail and ballasting the track, and then the scenery in front of the track. 

[Scottl]

Amazing composition and execution @shark_jj

[chuck geiger]

Best backdrops ever.

[shark_jj]

Thanks for the kind comments Chuck.  I took what I think is a new approach to creating the backdrops.  I have posted an explanation in my Grand Trunk Southern thread in the Layout category.

[randgust]

One of the odder local stories I've stumbled on is that not only is my hometown the birthplace of the Warren Circus Flatcar, but the owner of the Cole Bros. circus lived a block away from me in a brick Queen Anne house appropriately covered in scrimshaw circus-style scrollwork - J. Augustus Jones.

So I've been slowly building an N Circus train for that show.   I haven't been real happy with the lack of variety on wagons, and the fact that as good as the MT wagons are, you need a heck of a lot more wagons to fill a train.   So I've been working on that.

I debuted the "America" wagon kit with the laser-printed decals down at Altoona - that's a decal, not paint - and I just assembled the first Cole baggage wagon tonight.   I scratchbuilt the master and did it in resin, this is the first build, and I'll be offering it as a kit.   There's an MT wagon here for comparison.



The wheels are also Grandt Line, and I'll be supplying those with the kit.   This one has full undercarriage and the front wagon wheels can be assembled in a pivoting position, as well as support a wagon tongue.

[rochsub]

More shingling...3 of the 4 main roof panels on the Nelson station are done but not glued down.  I am figuring out then test fitting the dormer and bay roofs as I go.





Once complete the entire roof will be faded and weathered.

have a great weekend!

md

Very impressive model, Mark. How many hours have you put into this so far?
Nice work!

Daryl

[rochsub]

I had a leftover bridge beam that made a perfect load for the G33 gon. The Bethlehem sign is copied from signs seen in the PRR gon book.

Nice load. Looks perfect in that gon.  What bridge kit is it from?

Daryl

[rochsub]

Did some water on Fox River and Des Plaines River.

[VonRyan]

Went to an auction yesterday in search of vintage office supplies, but instead I ended up buying nothing that I actually needed. What I came home with could be called a Steampunk's wetdream. A ton of old watch parts. The best is a large cigar box full of glass vials full of gears of all shapes and sizes. Many of which look perfect for use as freight car loads.



Either tonight or Tuesday night I plan on building some test loads in between working on putting custom wood decks on some more Atlas flatcars. I'm thinking that with the shear quantity of gears that I have, I might make some extra loads to sell online. And unlike doing the custom Atlas flatcar decks, there shouldn't be too much involved in the way of tools and supplies for turning watch/clock gears into useable loads, so it's something I could easily do when I'm at my fiancée's house (which is where I spend most of my weekends).

[up1950s]

Time to stop lurking and post what I am working on.  The Grand Trunk Southern is operational and I am starting to move from plywood central to some scenery.  Started with home made backdrops and the scenery behind the tracks.  Here are some examples showing a pair of GTS SD45's on a manifest freight moving through Nathanville. 

Those blended backdrops are outstanding Sir .

[CSXfan]

Great work everyone! Scott, love the canyon. Shark, great work on the backdrop. Daryl, as always beautiful work.
Jeff

[mu26aeh]

No modeling for me this weekend.  I made the trek to Todd Treaster's NYS&A.  I think I'm more impressed with the collection hanging on the wall than the layout itself.  First thing I did when I got home was show my wife and tell her she is not allowed to tell me I have too much stuff, until I get to this point.  It's amazing to see 100+ car long trains running flawlessly for hours without problems.  And for it to be in DC yet, simply awesome.