Weekend Update 4/12/20

[spookshow]

Thanks, guys. Given the amount of corn on my layout, it had to be quick and easy or it wasn't going to get done at all. What I did was mix up a batch of Woodland Scenics "Yellow Ochre" and "Burnt Umber" pigments (about 2/3's yellow and 1/3 umber) and then dilute it with water (about 50/50). The actual application was dead simple - I just took a small, moistened sponge (2" x 2"), dipped it in the pigment mix, and then dabbed it around on top of the corn. It took me maybe 30 minutes to do all of my cornfields, so definitely quick and dirty 

-Mark

[peteski]

Thanks, guys. Given the amount of corn on my layout, it had to be quick and easy or it wasn't going to get done at all. What I did was mix up a batch of Woodland Scenics "Yellow Ochre" and "Burnt Umber" pigments (about 2/3's yellow and 1/3 umber) and then dilute it with water (about 50/50). The actual application was dead simple - I just took a small, moistened sponge (2" x 2"), dipped it in the pigment mix, and then dabbed it around on top of the corn. It took me maybe 30 minutes to do all of my cornfields, so definitely quick and dirty 

-Mark

That is pretty darn clever Mark. Following your "Season in Hope" site, I know that you like quick-n-easy solutions. It's especially nice when they come out really well.

[nkalanaga]

I imagine  that any similar-color "craft paints" would work as well?

[BCRail_FSJ]

Scenery work continues with the network of rough gravel roads in and around the Fort St John yard.   Two shades of tile grout were used and the tire tracks were burnished in with a small paintbrush handle after all the scenic glue had dried.

[DKS]

Yet another busy week on the last White River and Northern.

Started bashing two shops, the Roscoe Store (Branchline Laser-Art #843) and Dubois Store (Branchline Laser-Art #840). Both had to be condensed to fit by removing the parts shaded red, below:









I also resurrected a structure I'd built for the Penn Central Stockton Branch layout. It's a burned out stone factory that I bashed from the old Pola stone enginehouse kit, my all-time fave retro kit. I condensed it slightly to fit on the White River.



And finally, the big story on Action News tonight is that I altered the track plan. Before:



And after:



The change centers on the enginehouse--in the original version, the doors faced away from the front of the layout, so one couldn't see the detailed interior; also, the more interesting side of the building faced away from the front. In order to flip it around, I took the Bearcamp Springs siding turnout and used it for the relocated enginehouse, then used the curved switchback turnout for the Bearcamp siding. It all worked out much better. And it only took a day and a half to do. Best of all, I didn't need any new turnouts.



Loads more details on all of this in the Layout Engineering thread, starting here: https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=49183.msg658303#msg658303

[spookshow]

My other "do over" this week was to replace a couple of Woodland Scenics streetlights that (for whatever reason) had turned out to be way too yellow -





I'll need an explanation from the electronics experts as to why these things would vary in color. But in any case, the replacements WS sent me were nice and white (matching the rest of the ones on my layout) -





-Mark

[DKS]

I'll need an explanation from the electronics experts as to why these things would vary in color.

It's not an electronics issue, but instead a manufacturing problem. Making very small white LEDs is a little tricky, because white LEDs consist of a blue LED that excites a layer of phosphors that re-emit white light; then there's a layer on top of that with a dye to make it warm white. These layers are very difficult to manufacture with any real degree of consistency because of the small size, and tiny variations in phosphor and dye amounts result in bigger variations in color temperature.

[spookshow]

Thanks, DKS. Makes total sense.

-Mark

[BCR 570]

Hi Andy:

Guessing that first shot is going to be your FSJ elevator track?


My twin trailer flatcars now have couplers and trucks:




Time for their first test run!  More in the build thread:  https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=21968.105

A Happy Easter to all who celebrate it.

Tim

[ns737]

Mark thats not your layout. you took pictures around town. I like how your corn looks great job.ED

[jereising]

Hidden Oakville II:

The staging yard looking north:



And looking south:



I've always envied those who can have perfectly neat wiring - I ain't one of 'em!

[MK]

Your wiring looks fine Jim!  Don't be too hard on yourself. 

[coldriver]

I've been working on expanding the scene at the head of Picture Gorge.  The engineering has been interesting in terms of supporting a back drop against the aisle and insuring that the backdrop doesn't restrict access to the tracks for derailment cleanups and such.  Essentially what I did here is to wrap the two sided canyon around the curve. 

Here's the before view.  You can see the mockups of how much expansion I was considering.  I ultimately decided on a little less additional space.   


Here's the after view. 

[C855B]

Your wiring looks fine Jim!  Don't be too hard on yourself. 

Yes. A handful of zip-ties would tighten up those bundles and you'd be set. They're really cheap, too, ~2¢ each in quantity.

Something to consider for the next layout.

[up1950s]

Hidden Oakville II:

The staging yard looking north:



And looking south:




I've always envied those who can have perfectly neat wiring - I ain't one of 'em!

Geez you could put a hammock in your mountains , or hide from the Feds .