Sunday 19-Aug update

Got about 6 hours to work on the layout, made some real progress. Learning to focus on enjoying the journey, instead of rushing to the finish. I'm task oriented so I need something to focus on. Today was Deck 1. Started last week roughing in the scenery. Continued that this weekend. Goal was to Sculpt-a-mold front side and turn, and rough in the back side. Each section is about 15' with the area I'm working on being 13' on each side for 2 decks.


For reference this is the before picture. Track laid and Tough Cuss Pass roughed in. Not a whole lot else done.

Started with the back section on Deck 1.


This is the curve from Golden the section here with cardboard webbing for mountains is Magpie Section house location. Wanted more hills but had to transition to verticals quickly to merge in with Tough-Cuss pass.


This section is Chimney Gulch, it is one of my 2 passing sidings in this section of the layout, one per deck to allow trains to pass. Roughed in to allow a section-house if needed. Not sure who normally threw the turn-outs on a train. If it was a crew member no section-house needed. Advice anyone?


This is Magpie with plaster cloth in-place. I use plaster cloth from Dick Blick. Cost is half Woodland Scenics but it does not have quite as much plaster, so a trade off. Since I use Sculpt-a-mold for strength it is not a problem for me.


This is looking toward Magpie through the pass. Creek on left of photo still needs to be roughed in.


This is looking upgrade from Tough-Cuss pass. While I was working went ahead and secured buss wiring and made LED channels. Still need to back LED's with some kind of reflector.


This is the 180 turn to the front of deck 1. I added another string of 300 led per 5 meter warm whites to help with color balance and increase light level.


Moving around the turn, we continue upgrade. Sculpt-a-mold has been applied here. The mine is set in place but not permenant. Need to drill holes for wiring. Mine has 4 lights in it. One for tunnel, one in main building to show interior, an outside pole light, and one in the building with the bin. May need one more on bin to allow night loading.


Moving upgrade more of the mine is visible along with the siding servicing it. Note the sculpt-a-mold gives nice texture to rocks. Still have a little Plaster cloth to add to mount mine. Have to do wiring first.


Moving upgrade approaching the turn that leads to deck 2. A Steel Truss Bridge goes across creek. Was planning to use Central Valley kit, but bridge is too large and metal girder underneath does not match prototype. Got a Campbell Steel Truss to try in it's place. It represents bridge 613 on C&S.


This is the turn to deck 2. I need to camouflage where the decks meet. I think some Trees will do the trick, maybe with some dark paint behind to hide wood. Base coat installed and creek bed roughed in.


Here is section on front with Base coat applied and creek roughed in.


And finally the 180 turn base coat applied.


This is 180 turn showing deck 1 & 2. Light levels are much better. Not sure why Deck 1 base paint is so much more yellow than Deck 2. Waiting for it to dry to see in I need to repaint.

Next steps are to sculpt-a-mold back of deck 1, rough in creek and plaster coat. Then paint. With that I'll be entering a holding pattern for several weeks. Leaving in late August to Colorado. This trip will let me see first hand and take lots of pictures so I can make the scenery more true to local. Then off to Narrow Gauge Convention. Meeting lots of my HON3Chat friends.

May use a Flat rate medium box to ship myself some dirt to use for the scenery.

Thanks Cameron