Best Of Modutrak Updates

[Sokramiketes]

The collective Modutrak group has been making a lot of updates to the modular layout, but we haven't been good about sharing progress here.  I think it's time to change that.

As background, Modutrak is an N scale modular layout that was inspired by the double track mainline and cohesive scenery of the HO Scale Midwest Mod-U-Trak layout in 2004.  20 years in, we've learned some things and also find ourselves having to rebuild some early scenes due to effects of travel on the layout.  We've consistently set up 3-4 times a year in that span. 

The ~40x60 ft footprint looks kinda like this when it all comes on the road:

[Sokramiketes]

In 2010, in preparation for NMRA 2010 in Milwaukee, we set out to improve our corner modules.  With the 5x5' sheets of Baltic Birch ply used to construct our modules, it seemed like 5 foot corner modules could be a thing.

And to loop a layout, you need 4 of them.

We looked for scenes.  One became a large curve on a fill outside of Wisconsin Dells at Newport.  One became the TMER&L overpass and cemetary at Howard Ave outside of Milwaukee.  One, to get it to look like something quick, became a "demo module" showcasing the construction of the layout with a portion of exposed spline roadbed all the way to scenery base being scenic'd. 

The fourth and final module was just "typical midwest scenery" and Jamie Vondruska built a wooden overpass and scenic'd it with some static grass in a week. 

For 14 year's its been in the layout, but non-descipt and just stuck in this "luscious green fields of Ireland" look. 

Well, at least until it was sitting in the garage and got hit by a gust of inspiration:  What if it became an homage to the HO layout that inspired the N scale layout?  The HO layout of Bob Kosic and company had one of those wooden bridges.  And it then curved around to the town of Oquawka. 
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Maybe take the module and carve in a road...

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[Sokramiketes]

A little styrene for the concrete road surface, a little hacking on the front side to carve in the riverfront and retaining walls. 
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[Sokramiketes]

Rix grain bins have been the go-to in the past, but this time I wanted to try the Iowa Scaled 3D printed bins to add a little variety to the layout. 

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I added a door and roof hatch from styrene, but otherwise the kits are as-received.

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A landing zone was created with Smartmud 2.0 diorama paste.  You can also see some pencil marks... as I was laying out this part of the scene I decided the gravel road was too wide.  So let's grass that back a bit. 
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Static grass that was applied with modpodge is indestructable.  Like not even 80 grit sandpaper removes it.  So I'm also appling the mud paste to areas I want to convert to farm field. 
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[C855B]

... With the 5x5' sheets of Baltic Birch ply used to construct our modules, it seemed like 5 foot corner modules could be a thing. ...

It never dawned on me to ask you guys this at the STL RPM - if 5'x5' is your basis, how are you transporting? Trailer? Box truck?

Our N-Trak group had use of my 14' box truck for a decade. Since it died in 2017, it seems the club has been mostly T-Trak. Coincidence?

[Sokramiketes]

It never dawned on me to ask you guys this at the STL RPM - if 5'x5' is your basis, how are you transporting? Trailer? Box truck?

Our N-Trak group had use of my 14' box truck for a decade. Since it died in 2017, it seems the club has been mostly T-Trak. Coincidence?

Trailer.  We've been using a 16ft car hauler for many years. 

5 ft corners will fit an SUV, like my Highlander, but it's tight.  And they don't stack well in a vehicle.

The standard 5ft x 18" modules fit great in just about everything.  It's amazing how much easier to transport than 6ft N-trak modules. 

Speaking of St Louis RPM, that's our next show.  And they gave us a huge footprint, so we'll have all the new stuff.  Will we see you there??

[C855B]

... Will we see you there??

I'm making it a point this time. Last two years it coincided with other travel. Especially need to chat with the ScaleTrains crew about whether how soon they're going to port the GP30 to N.

[skytop35]

This served well for many years. We'll start using a bigger one this summer as the layout has exceeded capacity on the old trailer !

[Sokramiketes]

After sanding the smartmud, I laid down beads of Elmer's and sprinkled on a mix of Woodland Scenics course foam and Scenic Express super leaves.  I wanted a bit more sparkle in the fields to simulate well irrigated crops.  [ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ]  

[Sokramiketes]

The rocks outcoppings seemed to be a good chance to try the Cripplebush rubber rocks that @DKS and @Chris333 are always talking about.  I liked being able to trim them in place, and save some weight over plaster molds. 

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[Sokramiketes]

Back when we built these modules, gluing track with adhesive caulk was all the rage.  Well, it seems to have remained greasy over time, and we've had some issues with track shifting, as at this joint.

Time to cut it out, glue it all down with standard yellow carpenters wood glue, and get back in business. 

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[Sokramiketes]

The hillsides were still pretty well manucured, so they needed some overgrowth.  Stretched polyfill, painted brown and overcoated with groundfoam gets the job done quick. 

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And with track repairs, you can either try to match the paint and blend it in, or just go to the fresh creosote look and let it stand out like a track repair.  Some Tamiya spray, inding black, brown, and dark blue, gives it that oily look. 
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[Philip H]

This needs a Best of flag.  SO much goodness.  @Ed Kapuscinski @tom mann can you get on that?

[shark_jj]

Very impressive Mike, you may have explained this somewhere else and I missed it, but what exactly is Smartmud, and what change makes it 2.0.  It looks good.  I have a field to build and you are giving me great ideas.

[Sokramiketes]

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It’s made by VMS. I think whatever happened between formula one and two was making it better “imprintable”. The armor modelers use this on dioramas so they can drop a model into the mud, remove and let dry, and have all their tires/tracks/soldier foot prints in the base. Martin at Night Shift uses it a lot.

To me it feels like a lightweight putty with some sand and brown paint?  Anyway, I pulled it out so I could sink in the silos. The farm fields were a nice secondary use.