Cisco Bridges: a new layout concept

[Smike]

I echo all above, make sure at least your 'artwork' on the bridge module gets a new home. That is truly a masterpiece of modeling. Good luck on the next adventure, hopefully is shows up as a N scale thread on here 

[Scottl]

Epilogue

I am hosting a layout visit stop this Saturday for a group of modelers from Ottawa.  It should be fun to have visitors and hopefully the layout will operate well.  I have been holding off on the disassembly for this event and I expect to clear the room this fall as time allows.

I put together a quick summary of the layout for the visitors that is attached if you are interested.  I'll probably do some kind of picture book for myself as well, but otherwise, I think this is the last post for this thread.  Thanks for your input and feedback!  Hopefully the next layout will not long in coming.

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[Bob]

I will miss following your really excellent descriptions of Cisco Bridges - it has been a pleasure following your work over the past several years - I hope to emulate some of what you have done with my own CSX Cumberland Division layout.  Sorry I am not in Canada to see your layout in the flesh!

[Scottl]

Thanks! 

Fourteen visitors from Ottawa today- it was a lot of fun showing them the layout and it operated reasonably well.  Some random derailments but eventually it started to operate properly.  Those Scale Trains T4 units are real show stoppers- here are my trio leading a train over the bridge.  A bit murky, I need to get out the lights and SLR camera.

[tefsom85]

I honestly like the feel of the picture.  It gives the feel of Pacific Northwest cloud covered days.

[GaryHinshaw]

Nice.  How did you end up managing the human traffic flow?

[Scottl]

We set up the family room in the basement with coffee and snacks, which gave people a place to hang out when they were not in the layout room.  Other than that, the guests regulated themselves and seemed to be in groups of 3-4 at a time. I was on my own but it seemed that everyone had their time in the layout room and enjoyed the company when they were not.  The day went very quickly!

I now have a lot of sympathy for people with large layouts that put on operating sessions.  The set up time was considerable, and all we did was roundy-round.  Setting it up with planned operations is clearly a large task by comparison.

[Scottl]

I have not updated this thread for a long time.  A year or so of other life priorities but still plugging away slowly on this layout and operating it when the mood strikes.  I've also been weathering and upgrading freight cars at the bench.  I've toyed many times with tearing it out, but still enjoy it enough to keep it for now.

My goal for 2020 is to substantially finish the layout so I have been assembling a to-do list for myself.  Some of the tasks are straightforward while others will take some time to get right. 

1.  Trees, trees and more trees.  I'm now at 2400+ trees and need probably at least 600 more to populate the scenes. 

2.  Upgrade the Fraser River scene.  I completed most of this in 2014-15, and there are several components that no longer meet my expectations.  The trees need to be sorted out with a better colour and some are simply too tall.  The rockwork is fine but there are a lot of areas that need improvement visually by improving the blending.  I also need to finish some exposed sediment sections along the CP mainline and the cutoff that remain bare painted foam.



3.  The Morris scene needs to be finalized.  I completed the rock exposure as some point last year and now the scene needs final treatment.  It has turned out to be one of my favourite locations on the layout.  The backdrop needs some attention here too with some unrealistic mountain profiles.



4.  The bend in the river where the west staging turnout is located has some issues that have been a thorn in my side for years.  The rock-sediment exposures don't work logically here and need to be substantially re-done.  The track also needs ballasting and there are some other minor turnout issues to be addressed.  Photos reveal an unrealistic opposite bank of the river that needs to be upgraded as well.



5.  The Skoonka scene needs to be completed.  Railings are needed for the tunnels, some touch up to the talus, and installation of the suspension maintenance bridge. I think I will continue with plans to etch the bridge to get the fine scale appearance. The landing on the other side of the river also needs to be completed including the sediment cut and service access road.



6.  Weathering the Cisco bridge.  The paint job is fine, but the bridge is too pristine and needs some toning down and rust. 

Hopefully I will be able to check my list off in the year to come.  Thanks as always for following along for the ride.

[C855B]

Great to see you back on, Scott! Always a treat to see your layout.

I (and likely others here) were concerned about Cisco given previous ramblings debating starting over - or not at all! - with something different. Relieved that your very fine artistry is still around to set the bar for the rest of us. Thanks!

[eja]

What a pleasant new year's surprise.

So glad  to hea that it had not been torn down and will actually continue to be updated.  ( I was going to say improved, but that layout is so good, "improved" hardly seems like a good choice of words.

Keep the pictures coming.


eja

.

[Scottl]

Thanks both, I appreciate it!  It has been a long year and one with less online activity, but I have advanced things slowly.  I'll try to update more regularly.

[GaryHinshaw]

Another upvote from me!  Really great to see such positive news.

3.  The Morris scene needs to be finalized... It has turned out to be one of my favourite locations on the layout. 

I know what you mean.  Sometimes the bits you least expect turn out to be the most pleasing.  Funny how that works.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Great to see you back on, Scott! Always a treat to see your layout.

I (and likely others here) were concerned about Cisco given previous ramblings debating starting over - or not at all! - with something different. Relieved that your very fine artistry is still around to set the bar for the rest of us. Thanks!

Here here.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Another upvote from me!  Really great to see such positive news.

I know what you mean.  Sometimes the bits you least expect turn out to be the most pleasing.  Funny how that works.

Haha, I hear ya. I just spent 2 hours tinning wires and couldn't have been happier.

[ednadolski]

I just spent 2 hours tinning wires and couldn't have been happier.

Would this help it to go faster:

https://www.amazon.com/Aven-17100-150-Lead-Free-Solder/dp/B017LG2FUS/ref=pd_cp_469_1/142-1230070-7060703?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B017LG2FUS&pd_rd_r=49a1502e-66bd-4b56-ae57-05a01f7437a0&pd_rd_w=3FVIU&pd_rd_wg=Hi8TP&pf_rd_p=0e5324e1-c848-4872-bbd5-5be6baedf80e&pf_rd_r=MKZ70BS45D03CTRQTMCX&psc=1&refRID=MKZ70BS45D03CTRQTMCX