Layout Progress

jonathan · March 24, 2018, 06:59:27 AM

Over the last two months, I have planted well over 100 trees. Trying to build a forest on the hill behind the trackage:

DSC_1186 by Jon Vogel, on Flickr

I like the results, but it's taking forever to finish. I had the same issue with my last layout... never enough trees. I got issues:

DSC_1187 by Jon Vogel, on Flickr

These are the mainline locos I am running at present:

My Bachmann USRA 2-6-6-2 (KK-4b) runs at exactly the same speed as this brass Mikado Q-4b:

DSC_1189 by Jon Vogel, on Flickr

They can pull a pretty good sized coal drag. Took a while to find a loco that would double-head with the mallet.

I'm considering adding sound (econami 200) to the 2-6-6-2. Just pondering at this point...

Next are the two Bachmann 4-8-2 Heavy Mountains. The second one in the photo has given me all kinds of grief over the years. It was always stalling on me. I changed the motor and PCB. Cleaned the thing inside and out. I took it completely apart over a dozen times. Finally, got it running as smoothly as the other Mountain:

DSC_1190 by Jon Vogel, on Flickr

Last on the mainline are also Bachmanns; H16-44s. Tinkered with these guys a lot. They run great:

DSC_1193 by Jon Vogel, on Flickr

Of course, I have other choices... and run these other locos too:

DSC_1195 by Jon Vogel, on Flickr

Took some low-light shots to check progress on lighting for night-time running. Have a ways to go, but I'm starting to like this, too:

DSC_1198 by Jon Vogel, on Flickr

DSC_1199 by Jon Vogel, on Flickr

DSC_1202 by Jon Vogel, on Flickr

Thanks for looking.

Regards,

Jonathan

WoundedBear · March 24, 2018, 07:15:36 AM

Looking good as usual Jon. Those last few shots, with the lights on, are outstanding.

Sid

Len · March 24, 2018, 11:50:25 AM

Very nice! I can't wait to see what the building lights on the display layout I maintain look like when I get them hooked up next week.

Len

RAM · March 25, 2018, 08:44:17 PM

with that one building, you can see the need to paint building black on the inside.

jonathan · March 26, 2018, 07:03:48 AM

Thanks!

Yep. That structure is a different brand than I'm used to. I did paint the inside walls... just one coat, and I didn't use black. The plastic walls must be thinner than the other structures. Now that it's planted, it would be a messy project to lift it out and add more inner paint.

Regards,

Jonathan

Trainman203 · March 26, 2018, 09:55:54 AM

What photo sharing "app" are you using ?

jonathan · March 26, 2018, 11:47:27 AM

Flikr

Not as user-friendly as photobucket, but still free... for now.

Regards,

Jonathan

Barry Karlberg · March 29, 2018, 09:42:58 PM

Nice railroad, Jonathan and quite an extensive roster of power.

Thanks, for sharing your progress.

Barry

jonathan · March 30, 2018, 07:41:54 AM

Thank you!

Regards,

Jonathan

Ken Huck · March 30, 2018, 04:29:08 PM

Love those trees, especially the smaller ones in the distance. What are you using for the trunks ? Wire armatures,
natural products, commercial products...? I have a curious mind and really want to know.

Ken

jonathan · March 30, 2018, 08:23:01 PM

Thanks for asking!

99%of the trees are Woodland Scenics armatures. I use tall ones in front and small armatures high up in the back... for a little forced perspective I hope.

Trying to mix up the colors of the ground foam clusters. Hoping this gives the illusion of tree variety. Also, can't tell from a distance but I use various colors of black, brown, and gray on the trunks.

Once the trees are done, I plan to detail the front edges of the "forest" with ground clutter.

Regards,

Jonathan