The Carolina Sandhills Lines in HO Scale

[davefoxx]

This Seaboard System, yes Seaboard System, B30-7 joined the fleet this week.  Okay, it has CSX Transportation on the side, but this scheme was applied to a few locomotives prior to the CSX merger.  So, it IS a SBD locomotive (look for the "SBD" under the road number on the cab), and it fits into my era, 1983 to 1986, which stops one day prior to the merger.  I like the variety that this GE loco adds to the fleet.

This Atlas locomotive is an old model, manufactured in 2007!  So, it's QSI sound is not impressive, but I got this locomotive for only $124.99 on eBay.  I pulled the QSI guts and installed an ESU Loksound decoder.  Much better sound and throttle control.  I have already set this locomotive up to run on the ProtoThrottle, and I'm breaking it in as I type this post.  The Sergent Engineering couplers are already assembled and ready for installation, but I still need to go in and solder a bridge in the decoder to bypass the resistor on the decoder since the locomotive's front headlights have a resistor wired in.  That's making the LEDs on the front of the locomotive dimmer than desired.  I also need to order a train line hose from Atlas, because the hose on the front is missing.  A minor problem, and it'll wait until I can amass a decent size order.



DFF

[davefoxx]

Scrolled through a few pages, any chance we can get an overall shot as it stands today?

Thanks!

Here you go.  Not much to see, although I did add some "green" this morning as a base for the planned static grass application.





Really, the next step should be to get the fascia on, but getting large sheets of Masonite home are always a problem.

DFF

[davefoxx]

A closer, quick pic solely for demonstrating the steps later.  This is just an application of ground foam that I like to use underneath the static grass.  It's really weird how just a little "green" can change the perception.  I ran a train through here, and it felt like the scenery popped just enough to make the train somewhat less imposing in the scene, i.e., the scenery feels a tad bit bigger and the train seems a tad bit smaller- a good thing on a small layout!



DFF

[Chris333]

I have Lowes or HD slice my Masonite into 1x8' strips for the trip home.

[davefoxx]

I was even thinking about how cutting them down to 2' wide strips would help.  I just need to stop being lazy.  Both of Aly's and my layouts need fascia.

DFF

[Chris333]

Usually take an old brush with me and dust of the boards before I put them in my car.

[wm3798]

I'm a man, so I have a truck.

Ya bunch of numpties.

Rock Stonebreaker

[Steveruger45]

I was even thinking about how cutting them down to 2' wide strips would help.  I just need to stop being lazy.  Both of Aly's and my layouts need fascia.

DFF

It seems whenever I go to either of the big box home improvement centers their darn saw is broken. 🙁

I don’t have a pickup truck anymore. Got rid of it after my doctor said my testosterone levels were Already at the high end of the normal range. 😁

[wm3798]

Their pre-cut 2x4 panels can fit in mosts back seats, and actually get you pretty far down the road, depending on how long the runs need to be on your fascia.  But even if you need to join a couple pieces, a little drywall mud takes car of smoothing it out.

Lee

[Steveruger45]

Their pre-cut 2x4 panels can fit in mosts back seats, and actually get you pretty far down the road, depending on how long the runs need to be on your fascia.  But even if you need to join a couple pieces, a little drywall mud takes car of smoothing it out.

Lee

Yep.  I used those  2 x 4ft x 5mm thick flooring underpayment plywood at HD to solve the “sorry our saw has be broken for months” problem and the fact I don’t have a pickup anymore.

[Chris333]

The problem with 2x4 panels is that they aren't 8' long 

Less joints.

[Steveruger45]

The problem with 2x4 panels is that they aren't 8' long 

Less joints.

Absolutely. 😁  But had to do what I had to do all because HD can’t ever keep their darned saw working.  😀
 But seriously you can make the joints disappear.  I just feathered the joint edges first and glued a piece behind each join and when set then filled with plastic wood. When sanded and painted joints become invisible. Hardboard  or Masonite is easier to bend than the plywood around curves though and having 8ft lengths is more ideal.

[LIRR]

looks good......

[davefoxx]

It’s been a few years, so I experimented with some static grass this evening.  Clearly, I’m no Dave Vollmer when it comes to scenery, but here is the first attempt:



This is all still sopping wet, so as it dries, I’ll continue to take the vacuum to it, to pull out loose fibers and to coax the fibers to stand up better.  It’s a little sparse for my tastes (especially when viewed from above), so I’ll probably go at it with a second application after it dries.

DFF

[wm3798]

Meh.  It's August.  Looks like it's dried out and waiting for the next rainfall.
I like it!

Lee