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Finally, it has survived longer than any other I've started.

Discussion in 'How this forum works - FAQ' started by Setaf, Feb 23, 2022.

  1. Feb 23, 2022 #1
    Setaf

    Setaf Full Member

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    Since I joined this forum last month I have had an interesting time looking at all the posts and photos and have somewhat inspired to keep going. Also appreciated is the welcoming attitude from the administrators and general group. I have been building and rebuilding layouts for going on four decades now off and one and would barely get one started when I would see some better ideas and start over again. It became a pattern. A few years ago, I started my current one and have stuck with it in hopes my grandchildren would appreciate it and become involved. My kids never got the chance due to my constant changing. It's been slow going and sometimes months go by with no work, but I keep coming back.

    It's in the shape of an M with rail yard on the left leg, town in the middle and mountain and coal mine on the right leg. The track is like a lazy dog bone with a loop in the middle and each leg is higher than the one before it. The idea is a small branch line of the Lehigh Valley RR here in Pennsylvania. The main business is the mine as well as a couple smaller operations such as a milling company, dairy plant, and fuel distributor. The town was settled by a German who had discovered the coal and later brought in a partner from the UK. Hence I have a somewhat convoluted explanation for the three Pola buildings as well as for my future card stock UK architecture mixed in with the US. The original founders insisted on remembering their homeland with the architectural style they were familiar with.
    The branch has now partnered with a small up and coming RR museum and though it's a very rundown area, they have high hopes of running the museum with a limited tourist operation.

    Now that I've twisted the background story into a bowl of spaghetti, I want to thank my local hobby shop owner for his support over those decades and his prodding me along, always reminding me it doesn't have to be perfect...or make logical sense......it just has to be fun. If it is fun, then the next generation has more incentive to stay "on board." The photos show the basic plan. Buildings are far from set, just sitting out to be arranged. Streets have been added now thanks to Gormo and black sand paper. Trees are from on sale Christmas garland. Will also have deciduous trees. IMG_9278.JPG IMG_9279.JPG IMG_9280.JPG IMG_9281.JPG IMG_9282.JPG
     
    Last edited: Feb 23, 2022
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  2. Feb 23, 2022 #2
    Jim Freight

    Jim Freight Full Member

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    Like the rock strata making up the tunnel, that's certainly different :thumbs:

    Jim
     
  3. Feb 23, 2022 #3
    gormo

    gormo Staff Member Administrator

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    G`day Setaf,
    I would hazard a guess that changing your mind about the layout design for your railway would be quite common amongst railway modellers.
    I drew up my track plan for GCJ about 200 times before my wife said " Why don`t you just build it "...........so I did eventually.
    But now you have a design and you going with it and it will be fun to build it. There is no time frame set in concrete so just enjoy running it while you build it.
    Like your model shop guy said " it doesn't have to be perfect...or make logical sense......it just has to be fun " and to be honest, who here has ever seen a perfect railway.?........I don`t believe there is any such thing. People aim for perfection but I think nobody ever gets there......so no point in dwelling on it....just build it and enjoy the journey and enjoy your railway.
    Just remember Rule#1 though " Your railway, your rules ".......anyone who does not like that can stick in their pipe and smoke it.:avatar:
    :tophat:Gormo
     
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  4. Feb 23, 2022 #4
    Setaf

    Setaf Full Member

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    Hi Jim, It's probably not as good as I would like and I'll have a fair amount of greenery covering it. It's made of extruded styrofoam, the dense building grade stuff which also is what the mountain is made of and the baseboard also. My hobby shop friend started using it several years ago and then made up a book of sorts detailing how he used the stuff. here it is. https://www.flickr.com/photos/40167777@N03/sets/72157651876285815
     
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  5. Feb 23, 2022 #5
    Setaf

    Setaf Full Member

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    Many thanks for the kind words Gormo. It took me a long time to finally get it through my head. :)
     
  6. Feb 23, 2022 #6
    paul_l

    paul_l Staff Member Administrator

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    Hi Setaf

    It becomes more fun when you can see the results, I like the track plan mmmmm .......

    Like yourself I used insulation foam as a base, then covered it in plaster bandage, and added some plaster castings (from Woodland scenic moulds), to break up foam board shapes and add texture.



    For the plaster casts I added some acrylic paint into the plaster (as well as some PVA to help reduce cracking). So if I chip the plaster work it won't appear brillint white.

    And don't throw away the broken bits, they will form great Scree for the bottom on the slopes and shores.



    The layout is looking good, and also looks fun to operate.

    Keep up the good work

    Paul
     
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  7. Feb 24, 2022 #7
    Gary

    Gary Wants more time for modelling.... Staff Member Administrator

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    G'day Setaf,

    From seeing Robert Mountenay's 'Merk' layout (Reading based), I can really see the German influence of architecture quite clearly in parts of Pennsylvania, from houses to barns and other industrial and commercial buildings. If I'm correct, Pennsylvania is where the American railroads were born and I bet some of the station buildings are quite unique as well.

    Like you, I always go through several different layout track plans before I am completely happy. My Miami layout went through 7 different incarnations before a track pin was hammered into the baseboard ! My other layout, The JSRR went through four, maybe five track changes before I was happy with it and soon, it will go through another quite major change, stepping away from rural short line to industrial short line. (keep this one a secret ;))

    I also build my layouts on extruded foam, commonly called insulation foam here in Australia.

    Looking forward to following along with your layout build.

    Cheers, Gary.
     
  8. Feb 24, 2022 #8
    Jim Freight

    Jim Freight Full Member

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    The thing about scenery you can work it and rework it, just like some of the old masters with their paintings, going over it multiple times until you get the effect you want.

    If it still doesn't quite look the part look around at the outside world and pictures, when I started placing a lot of trees on my railway it just didn't look right, but then looking around my local park it hit me, some of the models were just too dense and uniform, from the ground many trees have a very open foliage, firs can be very dense but deciduous were not.

    So you just do it and then tweak until you are satisfied, it's all part of the fun, it certainly develops your power of observation, Jim :)
     
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  9. Feb 24, 2022 #9
    Jim Freight

    Jim Freight Full Member

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    I don't think we see much of your layout Paul, or have I just been looking in the wrong place, or you posted them a long time ago .... :scratchchin:

    Jm
     
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  10. Feb 24, 2022 #10
    Setaf

    Setaf Full Member

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    Thanks Paul for the photos. I really admire the work you have done. Something I hope to shoot for as time goes on. Here is a link to some work my hobby shop friend put together a few years ago.

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/40167777@N03/sets/72157651876285815

    Steve
     
  11. Feb 24, 2022 #11
    Setaf

    Setaf Full Member

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    Hello Gary, As a matter of fact just a bit east of me here in NE PA, is where it all started.
    https://www.waynehistorypa.com/exhibitions/permanent/stourbridge

    Cheers,
    Steve
     
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  12. Feb 24, 2022 #12
    paul_l

    paul_l Staff Member Administrator

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    Hi Jim

    It was my first and only O gauge layout to date ..... and can be found here Another Bridge Too Far

    The only purchased items were the track, some Woodland Scenic Plaster moulds and a textured rolling pin, everything else was either 3D printed or made from household materials.

    Paul
     
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