The Los Pinos and Toltec Smelter

[Santa Fe Guy]

Dave you should try this Tamiya Panel Line Paint stuff it is really good.
I use it in lots of places that need a touch of weathering. Around doors, bonetts and boot lids on autos etc.
Your Goose has turned out really nice Peter.
Rod.

[GaryHinshaw]

This is such a gorgeous layout.  I don't have any insightful comment to add - it just seemed like a mere +1 was insufficient.

[Peter S]

Thank-you to everyone who posts such kind comments. They are very much appreciated and will encourage me to start another new (and complicated) section of scenery. To anyone that uses the Panel line Paints by Tamiya don't forget to have a box of Cotton tips handy to wipe away excess flow. It really does flow! At present I am working on my second Goose (slowly), and have spent a lot of time deciding whether I need to replace a Tortoise motor after exhausting all alternatives. Luckily after several hours of less than patient testing I don't ....thank goodness for those second set of contacts that I always wire up for emergencies.

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[Peter S]

Short. That's the dreaded word on any layout. What was the last thing you were doing? Think! "Well I turned around from my computer to the layout."
For the last three or four weeks I have been finding my short. Except of course, I fixed it but in the process never found what it actually was. In the process I cut the yard in two. Installed another circuit breaker and patiently (like in one hour session per day) went through every turnout and every connection, gapping with my Dremel where I had to.
It may have been a fine wire I vacummed up (always the first) but then again it may have been a gap where insanely a gap wasn't needed.
But I thought I'd share how I kept my sanity.
You see I designed fold down panels These act as a sort of shelf, all the wires from all the turnouts and track go to terminal strips. I never have to go under the layout (well rarely) and although it ws a battle with 10 year of plastic and metal screws It was relatively easy to undo all the wires and work back.
So there you have it. This is my primitive wiring (But I get my hands in and out), this is the lungs of the layout, the electrical work and wiring. Except you never see it (just this once), you are always looking at the scenery!
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[Peter S]

And this is the best shot with the panel closed. I have designed the controls as a walk around so the toggle switches are (theoretically) aligned with the turnouts [ Guests cannot view attachments ] )

[CRL]

That fold down panel is a great feature, but I’m pretty sure some of the electrical OCD types are screaming 😱 at the screen about now.

[Peter S]

I'm sure people might be a little sad. But I never went to trade school, I've taught myself, had some great friends give electrical advice. In fact in shop at school  my shop teacher told me to "Go out and play downball so I would have an excuse to not murder another piece of wood!"
But I hope that this picture encourgaes others to try, it doesn't have to be good. Just work!

[Peter S]

It has been too long. I have not been working on the layout but building another small room onto the complex to house a lot of the "stuff" that s under the layout. I have also finalised my plans to expand the layout into the workroom. This is a favorite bridge photo. The bridge is based on the bridge at Chama and is custom made

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[Summit]

Peter - I am sure your old shop teache would be way inpressed witht the skills you have applied into this layout.  Everytime I check back Im amazed at the detail and the relastic look.

[Peter S]

He would probably be turning in his grade. I was the only guy in the class whose coathanger turned out straight!
Thank you for your kind words!

[Dave V]

It has been too long. I have not been working on the layout but building another small room onto the complex to house a lot of the "stuff" that s under the layout. I have also finalised my plans to expand the layout into the workroom. This is a favorite bridge photo. The bridge is based on the bridge at Chama and is custom made

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Seeing this I'm reminded of where the RGS joined the D&RGW at Durango (D&RGW bridge 451-A).  A silver-painted truss bridge of nearly identical design, it was actually used by both the RGS and the D&RGW (the D&RGW served a smelter and a flour mill on the west side of the Animas) and represented the only steel bridge on the RGS (not counting the steel center span added to the Lightner Creek Trestle--160-A--in 1951 just in time for scrapping).  This photo really captures it in every way.

Bravo, sir.  Bravo.

[Peter S]

I guess most of us have "down time", I'm planning for some warme weather for some more plaster scenery. And I am still cleaning up the layout room now I have a store room added to the complex. Here is a photo of a back corner of the layout. That's a scratchbuilt version of that old '70's Malcolm Furlow "Saratoga Mine", it fitted back there ok.

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[Peter S]

Sometimes you need to have a break. I have been working but not taking photos and I was reminded in the Covid time zone it has been a while since I posted. I am working on a reasonably short area trying to make it look longer, so un-prototypically I have divided the scene up into viewing blocks separated by large mountains. Most of the moulds are my own and the trees are hand made. The backdrop is a commercially issued one of ancient origin.

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[Peter S]

I love tank cars, this is a train entering the imaginary town of Porter. I like dividing my layout up into scenic sections so you can appreciate the train as it runs through that section. A friend once descrobed my layout as having "rooms" distinct viewing areas as the train passes through them. At present I am working on a new mine area that is taking much longer than I thought. Numerousd rock molds and colouring and ballast and weathering. I hope to have some photos soon.
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[Santa Fe Guy]

Nice shot Peter.
So long since we have been down to enjoy the Los Pinos and Toltec RR.
Rod.