The Little Rock Line

[Bendtracker1]

That's a good question.

If you have something close, I'd go with that. It doesn't have to be a perfect match, but close would probably look better.

So Ed,
I should have asked this in the  last post but forgot.
What is the purpose of brushing on a layer of unsanded grout?
Once it's brushed on, should I spray it with water to lock it in?
Can you explain your thoughts a bit more?  Curious...

[Bendtracker1]

Nice scenery work Allen, everything is melding together into a very realistic look.

Thanks Scott.  So far I'm pretty happy with the results.
I think I just about have things ready to the point where I can place the buildings again. Then I can start on the trees and some of the finer details now that most of the grass is in, as well as some touch ups.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

So Ed,
I should have asked this in the  last post but forgot.
What is the purpose of brushing on a layer of unsanded grout?
Once it's brushed on, should I spray it with water to lock it in?
Can you explain your thoughts a bit more?  Curious...

Sure. So, the unsanded stuff has a much finer texture, which does a really good job of looking like N scale dirt.

By adding it on top of sanded stuff, it'll make it look even more "dirty" than "gravely", if that makes sense.

I'm not saying it's necessary, but it is a neat effect.

[basementcalling]

Ed, have you seen the custom colorable grout in Lowes? Buy a bag and the correct mixes, and lots of "dirty" type colors are possible.

Been considering it, but one bag probably produces way more material than I would need for even a large medium sized layout.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

No! I have not. I need to go check that out. Sounds like an awesome development.

[Bendtracker1]

Sure. So, the unsanded stuff has a much finer texture, which does a really good job of looking like N scale dirt.

By adding it on top of sanded stuff, it'll make it look even more "dirty" than "gravely", if that makes sense.

I'm not saying it's necessary, but it is a neat effect.

OK, I can see where this is going.  It would help fill in some of the rough surface that I got when I sifted more over the wet grout that was already down.  It would at least give a more leveled look to it.
If I had a darker color like an earth color, I could work it around the edges near the grass to help force the look of dirt.
Thanks for the tip, I'll give it a try.

[Bendtracker1]

Wow it's been awhile since I've posted anything about the layout, but there's a reason for that.  After getting the static grass down in Malvern back in May, I put the layout on hold as I planned to get started on my Kitchen remodel and have it done by the end of summer.

About the same time I was asked to help a customer out in his shop as he got behind with a huge work load and he lost his helper.  I agreed to help and the next thing I know it was November!  The work load just kept ramping up due to not getting the proper info on several cabinet jobs from the customers, everything got backed up.  But the we finally got things pretty well under control and back to a manageable  pace.  So I decided it was time to tackle the kitchen cabinets.

While this is not train related, it's the reason why nothing has been done to the layout since May.
At the beginning of December after getting the plans finalized I got started on the cabinets and thought I'd post the process on my blog.  If you like woodworking, I thought you might enjoy this.

A New Kitchen

[Bendtracker1]

I took a break from my kitchen remodel and actually got some layout time and ran a train the other night. 

A buddy came over to install some chips and I seized the moment to get some junk cleared off the layout and clean the tracks in Malvern. I'm hoping to gear up for another Op session in April.

This is the first time I had the S-2 in action as well as some of the newly acquired Bluford Woodchip hoppers. The hoppers worked great but the S-2 may need a little more break-in time as well as gauging the wheels.
As you can see, it was having a hard time pulling 5 cars.

But no matter, it was good to scratch the itch!

A bit more on the Blog

[Ed Kapuscinski]

That building looks great. Looks like you cleaned out the Rix shelf and... what else?

[Philip H]

Allen,
Are those Deluxe's in front of the Blufords?

[Cajonpassfan]

Allen, that S2 shouldn't have any trouble with five cars, mine handles twenty forty footers on a flat surface and does so smoothly. It does require clean track, but so do virtually all our locos. I swear by 91% isopropyl alcohol on a piece of old white cotton T shirt wrapped around a small wooden block.... Keep cleaning until the white cotton stays white and see if it makes a difference.
Otto K.

[davefoxx]

Allen, that S2 shouldn't have any trouble with five cars, mine handles twenty forty footers on a flat surface and does so smoothly. It does require clean track, but so do virtually all our locos. I swear by 91% isopropyl alcohol on a piece of old white cotton T shirt wrapped around a small wooden block.... Keep cleaning until the white cotton stays white and see if it makes a difference.
Otto K.

I use 70% isopropyl alcohol.  Wouldn't you have to worry about the 91% removing paint from the track, or at least softening the paint?

DFF

[Cajonpassfan]

91% works fine for me. I wrap a piece of cotton tight over a small wood block and just rub the top of the rail; no liquid gets on the sides. But to each his own 
Otto K.

[MVW]

I do pretty much the same as Otto. What works great is cutting a circular strip from the top of a white athletic sock and looping it around a wooden shim. When the cloth at the points gets dirty, just "advance" the sock around the shim. I also use 91% alcohol, and haven't had any problems with removing paint on the ties or track.

Jim

[basementcalling]

That building looks great. Looks like you cleaned out the Rix shelf and... what else?

Ed, I believe that is one of Allen's wood core buildings, with styrene glued over wood shapes.