Free-moNebraska

[M.C. Fujiwara]

Very groovy video!
Love the blade train rolling through the scenery, especially by the grain elevator.

Looks like a great set up and fun for all!
Thanks for sharing.
[Except for the long ad I had to sit through before I got to your video  ]

[Mark W]

I had to sit through before I got to your video  ]

https://adblockplus.org/

[jereising]

Hmmm.  I had no ad...

Yep, that train looks great.  Nothing else quite like it.

[Mark W]

Basic Scenery 101:

Step 1: Fill in terrain holes/gaps with lightweight spackle


Step 2: Paint non Earth tones a nice shade of poopy Earth tone


Step 3: Cover that ugly poopy earth tone with fine and coarse ground foam


Once that glue dries, just a quick touch-up of ballast on the ends, add trees, and we're done!

[Mark W]

Ballast fixing went way better than I feared!
Now just more waiting for glue to dry.


Suppose I could start making trees while I wait.... ugh, I hate making trees...

[M.C. Fujiwara]

Yeah, hate making trees too.
Especially after you spend time making a "big" batch (20-30), and after planting you realize you need about 200 more 

But a batch at a time over a couple weeks gets 'em done.

Just curious: did you paint your rails?
Or is it just the ends that are unpainted?
Gonna NeoLube? 

[Mark W]

I've been off experimenting with some ideas and think I've come up with a workable technique for trees.  The only thing left to test is whether they hold up or fall apart over time.  Once the initial assembly dries, I'm hoping to do a once over with white glue/water mix to really lock it in.

Locomotives, buildings, track, and everything have a pretty price tag, but I think trees are the absolute most expensive part of the hobby! 


Funny you should mention the rails.  These modules were originally ballasted about 3 years ago.  Just tonight I realized that the short curve has painted rails (except the new ends), yet the long ess is bare.   

Just one module plus a few inches though, I'll probably just whip out the micro brush and tough it out with paint.

[RBrodzinsky]

Mark,

Looking extra great, as always.  Saw your test photos of trees over on FB, all 4 options look good.

As MC says, you always need 200 more! (I still can't believe how many I ended up putting on SV Station, and there aren't "a lot" of trees on it!)

Rick

[Mark W]

Thanks Rick. 

Here's a detail shot.


Start to finish was only about 3-4 minutes, and this uses the least amount of materials.  I think it will make decent filler with Super Trees added for higher detail accents. 

[railnerd]

Mark, looks awesome except for the plastic base.

[VonRyan]

How wide are your endplates? 18" or 24"?

[Mark W]

These two "in-betweeners" as I like to call them, have 12" end plates.  Just enough space to accent the mainline with scenery, making a simple module to add distance 'in between' the larger featured destination modules. 

[VonRyan]

These two "in-betweeners" as I like to call them, have 12" end plates.  Just enough space to accent the mainline with scenery, making a simple module to add distance 'in between' the larger featured destination modules.

So I'm guessing you use 18" width on regular modules?

[Mark W]

Marsland is 24" wide, most everything else is 18" on the outside standard end plates flaring up to 20-24" on the inter-module plates in the middle. 

Here are all the "featured" modules. 

[M.C. Fujiwara]

Free-moN standards dictate a 12" min. 24" max endplate.
(The internal sectional plates can be as wide or narrow as you wish)

Some groups decide to "group-standardize" the measurements: N-Land Pacific dictates that all their modules be 24" wide so there's a continuous uniform fascia from module to module.
(And they have a large trailer/truck in which to transport said modules, in addition to individuals bring their own)

Silicon Valley Free-moN accepts whatever between 12" & 24" but strongly encourages people to build modules at 18" as we've found that to be a good balance between scenery and ease of transport (in our various little cars)
But we have 12" modules and 24" modules and so it goes.

Most of Mark's modules do the narrow-endplate to wider-midsection compromise that works very well (especially with his scenery skillz).

It really comes down to measuring your car/truck and fitting the modules into the transport space.
18" endplate is a happy medium.