Seaboard Central 2.0

[davefoxx]

Sawyer,

I haven't decided.  I don't really want to overdo the kudzu thing, and some variety might create more interest.  That being said, the highway bridge might make a great place to stop the kudzu.   I'm kinda making this up as I go along.

DFF

[C855B]

Sawyer,

... the highway bridge might make a great place to stop the kudzu.  ...

NOTHING stops kudzu. One of the concerns when I lived and railfanned in the Deep South was waiting too long for a train in one spot and having the kudzu "eat" my tripod and camera.   All kidding aside, in peak season it grows a foot a day. Kudzu, fire ants, chiggers, and in south Georgia, gnats. I don't miss it one bit. Anyway...

One suggestion I can make for modeling kudzu is while you have it climbing your trestle bents as it is wont to do, it would actually wrap pretty tight around the beams and not fill the space between.

[davefoxx]

Thanks to Rich S.'s tip, I ordered the N scale "modern brick" from the N Scale Architect last weekend.  It arrived today- perfect if I'm snowed in tomorrow.  I haven't thrown a scale ruler on it, but I really like the proportion and the size of the brick.  Pictures later.

DFF

[Rich_S]

Dave, You are welcome and you know what they say, "If you build the engine house, they will come" 

[davefoxx]

Boy did I get lucky today.  I ran out of adhesive to glue my kudzu, ballast, and other scenic materials, so I headed to the local arts and crafts store.  While perusing the aisles, I came across a cabinet that held discontinued Testors' rattle can paint.  I didn't find a "Grimy Black" can, but I did come across a stash of "Light Aircraft Gray," which I believe DKS uses as a base coat for concrete.  Win!  If I get a change today, I'll not only begin shooting color at my streets and sidewalks, but finally put a coat of something more than primer on my highway bridge.  Oh, and if you think that I'm telling you where this store is, you're wrong.   

DFF

[davefoxx]

More kudzu:


That is about the extent of how far on the layout that I want the kudzu to have taken over.  But, you never know when it comes to kudzu.  A coat of paint and ballast on the Seaboard System track, and this corner of the layout will actually be getting there.  I would have done that today, but you can see that the ditch under the trestle to the left of the lower track is still sopping wet.

Also, if you look close in the background in the picture above, you can just see the highway bridge, which received a coat of "Light Aircraft Gray" paint today.  As DKS suggested, it seems like a great place to start to model concrete.  Unfortunately, the crafts store was out of india ink, so weathering must wait for another day.

Another pic.  Here, two Seaboard System EMD units (one unit still in Seaboard Coast Line paint) are heading north on the S-Line, towards Aberdeen, North Carolina and points north:



DFF

[High Hood]

That kudzu is hawt, and I've been wondering are there any plans for staging beyond the bridge for the A&R?

[DKS]

That kudzu is hawt...

+1

I am a little concerned, however, that you're finishing scenery along track that has not yet been ballasted...

[davefoxx]

+1

I am a little concerned, however, that you're finishing scenery along track that has not yet been ballasted...

Thanks, guys!  Ballasting last doesn't bother me nearly as much as painting this area of track with the scenic forms (i.e., hills) in place.  With the loss of Testor's paint and their smaller cans, I now have to get in there with a huge rattle can of Rustoleum Dark Gray primer.  The scenery is not really finished right up to the track yet, so ballasting and then blending the weeds to the ballast shouldn't be too much of a problem.  I have always procrastinated on ballasting, so it tends to be towards the end of laying down my base scenery.

In fact, this is what I did on the A&R line on each side of the trestle.  Go back in the pictures, and you'll see that I ballasted that track after the kudzu was primarily in.

For example, BEFORE:


AFTER:


Life would probably be easier, if I did it in your order, but this has worked well for me.  Honestly, it's 'cause I hate ballasting.

DFF

[Greyryder]

Honestly, it's 'cause I hate ballasting.

DFF

I find it strangely relaxing.

[davefoxx]

As has been discussed elsewhere on TRW, ballasting and OCD don't mix well.   

DFF

[DKS]

I find it strangely relaxing.

Me too.

Honestly, it's 'cause I hate ballasting.

Hate it or not, it ain't going away, so why not get it over with up front, and save the "good stuff" for last?

So, based on the latest shots, I guess there aren't going to be any trees or shrubs around the pond?

[davefoxx]

Hate it or not, it ain't going away, so why not get it over with up front, and save the "good stuff" for last?

There's no denying that you are absolutely correct, and, I am actually motivated to paint and ballast that section of the SBD track for a more finished look.  The subroadbed was too wet yesterday, but, hopefully, I can lay some paint down tonight.

So, based on the latest shots, I guess there aren't going to be any trees or shrubs around the pond?

Oh, there absolutely will.  Probably not large trees on the slope, or else they're going to have to be gobbled up by kudzu, but I definitely want to add reeds or whatever (maybe small trees and shrubs) around the lake.  I'm going to have to break down and either buy or build a static flock applicator.  That's what is holding up the details around the lake and is why you still see the large sandy area around the perimeter.  I intend for most of that to be covered by foliage.

DFF

[conrail98]

The 4th post down on this page from "Harsco" shows how he does his track without any air brush or rattle cans and uses a mix of woodland scenic ballast and grout:

http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=40209&whichpage=7

I've seen his layout in person and it looks really good,

Phil

[davefoxx]

That kudzu is hawt, and I've been wondering are there any plans for staging beyond the bridge for the A&R?

High Hood,

The plan is to eventually add another HCD for staging for both roads and to extend the SBD's mainline.  That, of course, has been delayed with the availability of Atlas Code 55 track.  However, that has forced me to work on the scenery on this section, rather than finding something else to do on an expansion to avoid it.  Thanks for asking.

DFF