CSX Cumberland Division

[Bob]

I think you are right Ed - my tallest trees are 70 to 80 scale feet.  I should summon up the courage to make some larger ones!
  I"m going to use your ground cover technique to make a hayfield in the relative near future.  For that I think I'll just the grout and follow that with static grass.

[wm3798]

Do you need some local native flora to fill in some scrub under your trees?


I got all you need right here.  And I asked Santa for lots of glycerine and Rit dyes for my stocking!

Lee

[Bob]

Love your foraging approach! Do you use that lichen on your layouts?

[wm3798]

As is well known here and elsewhere, Free and Cheap are my favorite colors.

So yes, absolutely.  It also helps that my modeling has taken on a retro vibe, so using old school materials like lichen helps to maintain the illusion that I'm still 13.

I'm working on improving my coloring and preservation methods.  Much of what I've put on the retro layout has dried out and faded, but I'm always working on the recipe.

Lee

[Bob]

I renewed by Helicon Focus subscription and merged some focus stacks.  I took these with my cell phone - I need a good, really small tripod so that photos line up more effectively.  I then use Luminar Neo to add a sky image in place of my plain blue back drop, which I think adds alot.
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[Ed Kapuscinski]

This is some really good stuff man!

[SAH]

I'd occasionally visit Shen Jct on a Sunday afternoon during our No. VA campaign a few years back.  You models certainly do it justice and I agree the sky enhancement really sets off the scene.  Well done.

[chessie system fan]

You definitely nailed those scenes.  Seeing your pictures got me thinking about perspectives.   A few years ago, I would have called those camera angles "model railroady."  But now, they just look like drone shots.  And if the scene wasn't so spot-on, would I even notice those N scale cars in the parking lot?

[Bob]

I was thinking the same thing - with the proliferation of drone-based photos, perspectives that you would never see except in a model are now relatively common place - I love seeing drone photos of Tehachapi, for example.

[Bob]

Well, after a long hiatus I am back to modeling.  Right now it is track work: one of my two helices has been a never ending source of frustration while the other works just fine.  I finally got fed up and tore out the offending helix.  I ordered a new helix from the Model Railroad Benchwork store, built a table for it and have started assembly - it is going together nicely. The new helix is larger than the old one (I think about 3" additional radius) which will give me a gentler grade and more room between levels for the inevitable (though hopefully rare) derailments.  And, by positioning the new helix differently I can extend my staging track lengths by about 3 feet which will solve my second frustrating track work issue: not enough staging tracks and the ones I have are a bit too short.  It remains to be seen if I add another staging track or two, but I will positively extend the length of the existing tracks.  Once I have the trains running again (smoothly), it will be back to scenery.
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[GaryHinshaw]

Good to see you back at it.  What kind of problem was the previous helix giving you?

[Bob]

Hi Gary. The central problem is that the track joints were at the same spots as the joints between the pieces of wood.  As a result, There were several spots where there were vertical alignment issues and this then resulted in spontaneous uncoupling. The alignment issues were relatively slight, but you don't need much of a variance to cause issues with N scale.  I was able to fix some but not all of these.  THen, I had to physically move the helix module as I needed access to the ceiling to replace a water valve, and when I put the helix back I had even more alignment issues.  Also, I like running trains that are longer than my staging tracks, so that was a frustration as well.  All in all, this resulted in a lack of enjoyment and so I finally had enough!  I appreciate very much how much time you spend making sure your track bullet-proof as well as the efforts you devote to making sure your rolling stock is perfect - your current coupler replacement project is a great example of this.  I feel I've learned my lesson and will spend more time on make sure my track and rolling stock are perfect as this will make me happier and more motivated to get back to building Harper's Ferry!

[GaryHinshaw]

Good on you for fixing problems.  Layouts are a big investment in time and money, so it's a huge waste if it's not working for you.

I was having issues with loco performance and coupler compatibility and I've been slowly knocking those down with ESU decoders+TCS keep alives, and N-Possible couplers.   It's making a world of difference in my enjoyment of my layout.   Your execution of prototype scenery is inspiring.  Scenery is where I'm still falling far short of my goals...

[samusi01]

Tore through this topic at lightning speed again to indulge in it - excellent modeling.

Regarding the helixes - could they also be incorporated as part of the staging? There's a lot of track space in one... having gone one round with helixes already, and consequently avoiding them on the present layout, I salute you for going with two.

[Bob]

I'll be back to scenery soon. Visited Harpers Ferry recently and took more photos and so have more buildings to assemble - goal is to start putting structures in place on the layout by the end of the year.  The iconic Harpers Ferry station will be right up close to the aisle and so will be very visible - I think my modeling skills are to the point where I can tackle this.

There is a great deal of space in the helix, but not enough for staging tracks.  I actually have plenty of room on the lower level of the layout, so I plan to work in two more staging tracks in addition to lengthening everything by 3 feet.