Summer Projects

Here is one of the many projects on the layout I've been working on this summer.

I finished off the fueling facility by making a simple platform from styrene and I used some parts from my parts box to create the gas pumps and added details. I still have not decided on what i want to do for the sanding storage, two ideas I keep looking at are using a old covered hopper or two styrene cylinders to simulate storage tanks. I also plan to add a new switch to the track lead so that two locos can be fueled at once.

Below is some pictures of other projects that are in progress on the layout. First is a new engine I picked up a bachman RS-3 in B&M maroon livery. 

Next is a few pics of random scenery I have reworked or added.

painted rock face added shrubs and ground cover

New signals and scenery part 2

The new signals are in place and testing is still on going, In the mean time I am working on the scenery in Grafton yard click here for some pictures.

Check out the Updates and Work bench pages for some current projects and layout progress.

Summer is here finally hope you all have a great summer!

Scenery and Signals

Well the temperature outside today is 9° F to cold to go out so what better time than to work on the train layout. For some time now I have been meaning to add some signals for the tunnels and finish a section of scenery that runs between them into the yard. I started with a little demolition to make room for the new signals I will put in this area. Once I had removed the plaster I used two pieces of foam to make the profile of the rock face. I shaped the foam by carving it with a knife and trimming it to fit the space I wanted to put it in. Once I got the foam looking the way I wanted I mixed up some Sculpt-A-Mold and filled in the cracks and voids in the foam to make the pieces all one rock face. While I was at it I decided to fill in the rest of the rock face I had started in the Grafton yard area too. Once the Sculpt-a-Mold was dry, it took a few hour to be hard enough to move on to the next steps. I started making the new signals for this area out of brass.

  

Once the whole thing was dry I started painting the rock face. I used a dry brush technique to shade the rocks and give the effect of sediments and layers in the rock face, I am not impressed with the result but it will work for now once I get scenery on them it might blend better to the scene.

After I finished the scenery I started work on the tracks as I had to add blocks to the layout in this section. I started with the first tunnel coming from Elliott Junction, I was not happy with the track work in this section so I re worked the area eliminating several issues inside the tunnel. I added a much needed re-railer in the tunnel and soldered all joints to created the first block. I then moved on to the other tunnel near Grafton yard. 



Some things learned:
1. Prep work is key and saves time and frustration later on.
2. Using a standardized wiring schematic is a must. many times I had reversed the common rail not realizing it.
3.Access points for tunnels are a must especially on blind corners.

In the next post I'll talk about how I made the circuits for the new signals.