ACTRR is being dismantled and re-constructed

[Fifer]

Thanks Josh , I really had fun tonight . I just love it when things go RIGHT!!!!

Mike

[Wiredup]

lookin good! glad to see you put that table back in...

[Fifer]

lookin good! glad to see you put that table back in...

Well nobody wanted to buy it so i'll use it!! I wasn't going to have room until I stuck the shelves on either side of the door back in.
Thanks , Mike

[Wiredup]

lookin good! glad to see you put that table back in...

Well nobody wanted to buy it so i'll use it!! I wasn't going to have room until I stuck the shelves on either side of the door back in.
Thanks , Mike

are the lead tracks to the table still kato? it looks like it is and you just used cork to flatten it out and make it more uniform... am I right?

[Steamtrains]

Great work on that backdrop..!! Clouds and sky look A #1....

[Fifer]

are the lead tracks to the table still kato? it looks like it is and you just used cork to flatten it out and make it more uniform... am I right?

Yes that is right . When you turn the HO cork upside down and put the tapered edge to the taper of the Kato track it is a near perfect match.

Thanks Gus , I am working on more printed backdrops right now.

Mike

[Fifer]

Today I did my first piece of scenery on the new layout. I have re-installed the mesa corner that was there before. I raised it up about 1" and have made the surrounding hills. I also put up some more printed backdrops on the long wall.







Thanks , Mike

[Wiredup]

wow thats looking good!

really makes me wanna move to kato track too... very inspiring!

[Fifer]

Thanks Luke , I am having some fun now!!!!

Mike

[Fifer]

Here is the Youtube post number 6. It just shows the blending of the scenery in the mesa corner and the painting of the unitrack.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qOI_kVWGNE">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qOI_kVWGNE</a><!-- m -->

Thanks , Mike

[Steamtrains]

Mike...Great job on that layout....I don't know how you do it, but your scenery blends perfectly with the background...that's seamless..!! What type/color of ground cover are you using (the greenish shade) to "liven up" the otherwise bleak landscape..?? I think that's what my layout is missing...it looks a bit too "lunar"....

[Fifer]

Gus , I would recommend a light Black Wash over the whole thing and my base ground cover is just some Woodland Scenics Earth Blend.
I add it while the paint is wet but it can be done after by wetting the whole area with a spray bottle and then sprinkle on and glue with Woodland Cement from a large childrens eyedropper.
Thanks and I love the trackside formations there.

Mike

[Wiredup]

Hey Mike,
Regarding your turntable area... and I ask because there is a huge chance I'm going to be restarting with Kato by September....how did you do the lead tracks from the table into the roundhouse?

I thought about just taking out the inspection pit in the walthers kit, and then just placing it over the unitrack... but with sheet styrene cut to block off the ties, and maybe painted a bit so they look like inspection pits.....

I'm having too much of a frustrating time with flex track and the humidity changes here in Alberta to have a sustainable railroad... Kato time it is... expect a big order since no one around home carries the stuff! lol

[TCWORLD]

I am currently working on a layout with similar styles of scenery, and I was wondering if you could tell me how you made the hill in the back corner by the double crossover? Also, where did you get your backdrops from, could you send me them?

[Fifer]

Hey Mike,
Regarding your turntable area... and I ask because there is a huge chance I'm going to be restarting with Kato by September....how did you do the lead tracks from the table into the roundhouse?

I thought about just taking out the inspection pit in the walthers kit, and then just placing it over the unitrack... but with sheet styrene cut to block off the ties, and maybe painted a bit so they look like inspection pits.....

I'm having too much of a frustrating time with flex track and the humidity changes here in Alberta to have a sustainable railroad... Kato time it is... expect a big order since no one around home carries the stuff! lol

Luke , I used calipers to detrmine the height I would have to raise the table to match the unitrack and then used small styrene blocks to raise the table to the correct height. The roundhouse and engine shed are using Peco cd 55 up on cork. I think (but am not sure ) I raised it 70 thousandths.

Mike