Wisconsin Central - Heritage Division

[LIRR]

not to nit-pick, but the road isn't 'closed'. it ends...……..the actual road part is 'open'.

well done either way.

[w neal]

Its a matter of perspective, I 'spose. I was forced to work with what I had "in stock".

In the meantime, I got some grassing done around the foundry.

[C855B]

Its a matter of perspective, I 'spose. I was forced to work with what I had "in stock". ...

Don't worry it. Both are correct. Locally, we have a nearly identical road-cut-by-the-RR situation (recently removed crossing), and its signs are "Road Closed". I'd run out for a pic for you, but the "out" part is a consideration these days. 

[w neal]

Thanks. I feel better about my sign now.

[w neal]

Some other areas on the layout could use some work too. I never did finish up the road's shoulders here:






And this area could use some grass, parking lots, and a picture from the shores of lake Winnebago (although I may have to wait until the summer train show trip for that).

[LIRR]

I like the silos on the backdrop...

[Rabidchipmoose]

Things are looking good!  Glad to see you've been inspired.

[w neal]

My version of Dale. The elevator is so wrong, but eh, it gives the right effect I rekon. It also helps to hide a seam in the sky here.

[conrailthomas519]

W. Neal Glad to see you back working on this layout. This last scene sure has a lot of potential!

[w neal]

In looking at pictures of Dale Wisconsin in Soo Line days, my representation is wrong. But if you study pictures of it circa the 1990s, it more closely matches the facility during that time. And since I'm simulating it during the WC era, its not too terrible. Well, thats what I comfort myself by thinking...

[Philip H]

I don’t know @w neal - Soo Line F’s in from of a red wood clad elevator screams Midwest to me.

[Specter3]

Glad to see your layout again. Keep plugging away!

[w neal]

Happy to report the first major progress in neigh what seems like a decade. The lower level has been track and boards, and still is, for all that time. As well as 2 other layout projects, I have made progress on the WC layout as well. What looks like a very brown sky here is in fact the "sub-roadbed" for what will be blue sky behind this scene. I have installed something like 128 feet of this stuff. It feels really good to not be looking at bare studs and otherwise backdropless (is that a word?) scenes anymore. Baby steps. Next, some material to paint the sky onto. Pictured is a bridge in the Rocky Run area near Stephens Point. It'll be fun to watch these scenes come to life.

[conrailthomas519]

You know what they say, Rome was not built over night. Glad to hear your making progress.

[w neal]

Trying out some new lighting for the lower level before I paint the sky. My sky has some ripples in it's material and I wanted to see how bad the ripples show up. My sky has a shinny surface prior to painting, matte finish afterwards. I think between the direct lighting and the flat paint, perhaps the "ripples" won't be too terrible maybe. I hope.

The color temps are a bit off as well: 4100 for the top and closer to 5000 for the lower (thats just an estimate). I was worried about the contrast, but it doesn't seem too awful. I think the "pinkness" in the lower level is due to that naked foam.