Western Carolina Somewhere

[GimpLizard]

Nice. Especially like the size of your trees. Very believable.

[jmarley76]

Nice. Especially like the size of your trees. Very believable.

Thanks! That was one box of Super Trees with a little pruning. I have another box waiting for when I get several hours of free time.

[jmarley76]

So I started an L-shaped expansion during the summer, it measures 46x72 inches and is 18 inches wide. Work is proceeding a little slower on this part. I've divided it into sections with a backdrop, the front 12" is a paper mill, while the back 6" is staging. I was able to get a box of Atlas True-Track at a great price, so I'm using that for the paper mill. I was able to solder a a piece of the True-Trak to a small piece of Unitrack, so it is connected to the rest of the layout.

[jmarley76]

Reminds me of Galax, Virginia...  Big furniture plant, and lots of bars...

I'm trying to decide if that means you think it looks fun or if I need to put the beer down before I work on the layout... 

[jmarley76]

More work on the paper mill this weekend. Here's where I'm at:

[jmarley76]

More papermill work. Scratch built a shallow structure to receive the other end of the enclosed convey/pipes from the main processor. I used a garage door and window I salvaged from the Walthers mill kit. I'll place it up against the back drop and hide the edge of the main mill building:
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Also cut up some foam board to use as foundations under the mill. Gave it a coat of gray paint and also painted that pink foam brown:

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[jmarley76]

Got the track ballasted on the expansion over the weekend, plus some minimal scenery. Looks like I'm going work on the back drop nextso I can then get the paper mill buildings in place:

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[conrail1973]

Jeff,

I really like the progress on your layout! I was wondering how you made your roads and what width you made them at?

Thanks,
Adam

[basementcalling]

I like how you were smart with the aisle side buildings and made sure they don't block turnout access or uncoupling locations.

[jmarley76]

I was wondering how you made your roads and what width you made them at?

Thanks Adam!

My roads are usually mat board or foam core painted with acrylics, then hit with the weathering chalks. I add stripes with an all surface colored pencil and tar lines with a sharpie. I usually keep my roads around 20-25 scale feet wide...

[jmarley76]

I like how you were smart with the aisle side buildings and made sure they don't block turnout access or uncoupling locations.

That was a well learned lesson on my previous layout... 

[conrail1973]

Thanks for sharing that Jeff!  What thickness did you use on the foam core?  I have some foam core sheets in the basement that I ordered that are currently sitting in storage.  I was planning on using a can of rust-oleum to paint the sheets, but I was wondering what you liked about acrylics? 

Thanks,
Adam

[jmarley76]

I usually get 1/8 or 1/4, and if it is thicker, I can slice it to make it thinner.

I like Acrylic paint since it can be thinned with water and is ease to mix. For roads I use black, white, french ultramarine, and burnt umber. Yes, blue and brown, as the make a richer blend (good for more realistic shadows in paintings, too). I start lighter and then add black to make it darker, replicating the appearance of older or newer pavement.

[jmarley76]

Moving along nice with the scenery around the paper mill, got the track ballasted and the scenic divider covered. Next will be installing the bridge, road, and any retaining walls.



Also go the paper mill mocked up to see how it fits. may be some more work on the buildings before I put everything in its final place.



Got the utility poles installed, still need to add the insulators, but not going to do any wire.

[jmarley76]

Some more progress on the corner just pas the paper mill...