The Skally Line

[jpwisc]

I added another grade crossing. This one has a special set of crossbucks. An NP fan who lives in the area painted the posts Northern Pacific style. I decided to replicate it. I still have trees to add, but I got about 3 square feet more ground cover down. Any progress is good progress.
[ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[jpwisc]

After get a bunch done, I decided it was time to clean track and run trains. I ran for 45 minutes, went on a hike in Red Rock Canyon with my wife, ate lunch, and ran for another hour. It was a good day.
I started by pulling empty wheat cars from Ardent Mill.
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]
Checking the new crossing out as I switched the sand plant.
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]
I ran cars north to be interchanged with BNSF.
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]
Rock Creek has always been a fun railfanning spot (1:160 and real).
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

I still have to switch out the flour tracks (5 and 6) at the Ardent Mill. I will probably do that tomorrow.

[w neal]

Beautiful modeling sir. Your scenes are not too "crowded", which makes a huge difference.

I suggest you invest in a static grass applicator. It will take your modeling level even higher. I'll be glad to come over & demonstrate.

[jpwisc]

Beautiful modeling sir. Your scenes are not too "crowded", which makes a huge difference.

I suggest you invest in a static grass applicator. It will take your modeling level even higher. I'll be glad to come over & demonstrate.

Thanks! I have a static grass applicator already, and have used it in a couple of places already. I need to stock up on grass again. The ground cover I have works well as a base for the static grass. I guess it is time to place my order with Scenic Express. Feel free to come on over and check out my mayhem!

[milw12]

Stunning as always Karl. I really like the zebra crossbucks too 

-Lucas

[CSXfan]

Incredible layout Karl! I love the detail weathering and neatness of your work. I also look forward to all of your NSR articles. I hope there will be one in the future on this magnificent layout.
Jeff

[jpwisc]

Incredible layout Karl! I love the detail weathering and neatness of your work. I also look forward to all of your NSR articles. I hope there will be one in the future on this magnificent layout.
Jeff

Thanks Jeff! I am working on getting the layout to an article ready point. I’m hoping it will be close within the next 6 months or so.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Thanks! I have a static grass applicator already, and have used it in a couple of places already. I need to stock up on grass again. The ground cover I have works well as a base for the static grass. I guess it is time to place my order with Scenic Express. Feel free to come on over and check out my mayhem!

Don't go too hog wild though, I've found that in most of the places I'd THINK I want static grass, I actually am ok with fine groundfoam.

[jpwisc]

Don't go too hog wild though, I've found that in most of the places I'd THINK I want static grass, I actually am ok with fine groundfoam.

Ed, you are spot on. I have a couple grassy fields I’ll model, where the grass grew up on a swamp. Many places on the line are shrubbery heavy, and my ground foam mixture captures that look pretty well.

[jpwisc]

After a long stretch of work, I decided to finish some small, but very overdue projects. I knocked out my baker and planter.



Then I got back to work on the Creekside Cafe. I made interior and exterior progress. I ordered shingles and pool tables from RS Laser. That will be the next step. It already looks so much better than bare styrene.



I sanded the vent down so the building sits flatter. I’ve already finished adding grass and a picnic table out front. Signage will happen soon.

[Philip H]

Shapeways I presume?

[jpwisc]

The farm equipment was Shapeways (designed by Baldylox, Brett is a great designer and a good friend). The tables I got through MBK, they look like packaged Shapeways prints, but I can’t find them on Shapeways. They were sprued poorly. I had to soak them in Bestine still, separate and paint every piece off the sprue. Huge pain in the keester.

[jpwisc]

I finally painted my side boom crawler. So I recreated a scene that happened a few weeks back on the real Skally Line. One of the flour mill workers pushed some PD hoppers through a closed switch, dropping a couple on the ground. I need to get a second crawler to finish the fun.

[Smike]

Fantastic work on display here Karl. Also those BLMA trucks always derail 

[jpwisc]

Fantastic work on display here Karl. Also those BLMA trucks always derail 

Thanks! I haven’t had any problems, they are great runners for me.