Seaboard Central 2.0

[davefoxx]

Dave, The static grass looks very nice, two thumbs up. But when are you going to finish those buildings for those poor people in downtown Aberdeen? he he he   

Actually, about two weeks ago, I started work on a different DPM structure.  But, as I feared, it's not turning out as I had hoped, so that project came to a screeching halt.  However, with the downsizing of the layout, I am picking a few square feet of the layout at a time to work on for detailing.  Right now, it's the corner with the static grass and the eventual Super Trees.  I will get back to the structures in the hopefully-not-so-distant future.

Thanks,
DFF

[davefoxx]

Love the static grass around the brushy areas. That looks quite realistic. My own efforts with it haven't produced photo worthy results yet. I'm trying for more variation in colors for a mid-late summer look.

Thanks, Peter.  Yeah, I'm learning as I go.  I'm going slowly, so I hopefully don't make a irreparable mess.  The key, as you pointed out, seems to be multiple textures and colors.  Nature is random.

DFF

[OldEastRR]

Are you trying to finish the layout before you sell it? Or would you be OK with selling it "as-is" and getting into building your bigger basement-sized one? There are plenty of modelers, armchair or otherwise, who would think your layout is great right now and lets them plan on finishing it "when they get some time" (or never, whichever comes first).
If you're looking at it as a testing ground for your skills I think you've got quite a bit mastered. More than enough to get a great start on the next layout. Plus new plans with new possible scenes will spur your creative thoughts on new methods.
Is it time to drop the training wheels?

[sizemore]

What temperature bulbs are you using in that photo?

The S.

[davefoxx]

What temperature bulbs are you using in that photo?

The S.

@sizemore,

There's a fixture directly over this corner of the layout with old 4' fluorescent bulbs remaining from the previous homeowner.  They only say "Cool White."  The bulbs in most of the other fixtures in the layout room are "Daylight," which have been changed out since we moved in.  What do you recommend for replacement?

DFF

[davefoxx]

I built a dozen Super Trees this morning.  Thar be trees here!



A backdrop might be the next project. 



To please my daughter, I made a flowering tree out of scrap Super Tree material.



Now, of course, she wants a pink tree, a yellow tree, an orange tree . . . .  D'oh!

DFF

[nuno81291]

Looks good. Super trees are wonderful especially with how relatively few you need. Instant improvement..perhaps you can make a removable backdrop/position able to help with perspective when you want to take photos. I saw someone do this in an HO layout and was an interesting g and effective concept.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

When it comes to backdrops, just get some mdf and paint it. Then position it as necessary.

[John]

To please my daughter, I made a flowering tree out of scrap Super Tree material.



Now, of course, she wants a pink tree, a yellow tree, an orange tree . . . .  D'oh!

DFF

Good thing you are colorblind

[M.C. Fujiwara]

The trees look great--nice subtle variation of color.
The trees at the corner, however, might not last very long, being soon felled by the Oopsy Elbow Logging Co.
(Voice of Experience  )
Prehaps you can take care of protecting them & have a temp backdrop at the same time by clamping some sections of painted hardboard at the corner like this:



If you don't want to clamp anything & just want an easy portable backdrop then get a couple of those cheap, ubiquitous 28"x38" foamcore boards ($1.50 at Target) & spray paint them.
I sprayed mine a slate blue-grey & misted elongated patches of white:







Indoors it looks more overcast & you can see the white misting more, but outside it appears more solid.
Also notice the tree shadows cast on the backdrop--indoors you can position the lights to eliminate / minimize them.
(Outdoors involves positioning the module itself, or having a backdrop big enough you can pull back from the scenery far enough)

But you could have a couple painted different "skies" (clear, overcast, cloudy, etc).
If you have scrap hardboard hanging around use that: I recommend foamcore only because it's light & easy to move around.

Looking forward to more trees & fab photos!

[mcjaco]

^ Or just rig the backdrop up so it's not right against the layout for photos.  No more shadows cast on it.

[M.C. Fujiwara]

(...or having a backdrop big enough you can pull back from the scenery far enough)

Great minds & all that
 

[Rich_S]

I built a dozen Super Trees this morning.  Thar be trees here!



DFF

Dave, The trees and static grass look fantastic, what a difference, all I can say is WOW! Very Nice Work.

[davefoxx]

The trees look great--nice subtle variation of color.
The trees at the corner, however, might not last very long, being soon felled by the Oopsy Elbow Logging Co.
(Voice of Experience  )

@M.C. Fujiwara, I definitely appreciate the warning, but since my layout is more than 50" off of the floor, it's hopefully above elbow height.  Being just a HCD layout, I would prefer not to have viewblocks around the side, but . . .

If you don't want to clamp anything & just want an easy portable backdrop then get a couple of those cheap, ubiquitous 28"x38" foamcore boards ($1.50 at Target) & spray paint them.
I sprayed mine a slate blue-grey & misted elongated patches of white . . . .

Genius!  And, I do have just enough fascia below the bottom of the HCD for clamping up a piece of foamcore.  I could probably even clamp a spacer to get the foamcore away from the layout edge to avoid shadows.

Looking forward to more trees & fab photos!

Thank you!

DFF

[davefoxx]

Are you trying to finish the layout before you sell it? Or would you be OK with selling it "as-is" and getting into building your bigger basement-sized one? There are plenty of modelers, armchair or otherwise, who would think your layout is great right now and lets them plan on finishing it "when they get some time" (or never, whichever comes first).
If you're looking at it as a testing ground for your skills I think you've got quite a bit mastered. More than enough to get a great start on the next layout. Plus new plans with new possible scenes will spur your creative thoughts on new methods.
Is it time to drop the training wheels?

Thanks.  Due to family matters that I would prefer not to get into online out of the respect for privacy, I have stepped back from plans to build another layout.  I don't have the time now to remodel the train room, so there's no way I can start over now without running into the same problem that I had with the expanded Seaboard Central.  So, it's not so much that the current HCD layout is a testbed, but I'm actually having fun not feeling overwhelmed with a large layout.  I might actually finish a layout for the first time in my life.

DFF