Small japanese themed layout for shows

[luis_lopes]

Hi mates.

As most of you have seen, I am having the help and comments from David K Smith and Dave Foxx on designing a new home layout.

However, in two months time, I will be attending to a show here in Portugal. It will be the first one I will attend to.

So, I made a challange to myself. I need to build from scratch a new layout, but a small japanese themed one. Some japanese trams are very small, so I can fit these models into a very small space.

I started with a small roofmate board with 100 x 60 cms. Simple and small oval of track, glued down with liquid nails glue. I am using PECO cod 80, N scale.



A first try with KATO UNITRACK. Too big...


The models I must assemble and paint.


The models partially assembled just for the mock up. Station building is already done.


The rest of the layout will be done used card, and foam-core card (is this correct??)




Hope I can do this in time. Show Will be happening in 15th and 16th June...

Cheers.

[luis_lopes]

Hi everyone.

Yesterday I have been working on my small layout. I have exactly two months to the show, so I msut work hard on this.

This was how the layout was at the beginning of this night's work session.


I don't have pictures of the process, but these were the two colors I used to paint the rails, using my airbrush.


Well, you all know this way to create hills, so....


This is how the layout is at this moment. This evening, I will lay a first layer of plaster bandages.


Cheers

[M.C. Fujiwara]

Are you going to detail the interior of the tunnel?
(should do that before anything else  )

I can't tell, but is the mountain removable, or do you have a hole cut out behind it so you can easily clean the track?
I didn't do that with my Mt. Coffin & Columbia River layout, thinking "Oh, the tunnel is so short!"
But it was a real pain and trains really stuttered over that little bit of track I had trouble cleaning.

Also, given the convoluted property laws, zoning codes (or lack of?), and hundreds of years of rebuilding after earthquakes and fires, villages and towns are rarely laid out in a straight line.
Once even travelled a major highway that had to made a sharp zig-zag around one small house because the owner didn't want to sell.
And then there's the house next to a store next to a house next to a rice paddy next to a factory next to a house next to a rice paddy next to a temple next to a factory....
Check out SleepyTako's photos of a rural Japanese railway: http://sleepytako.blogspot.jp/2013/04/matsuura-railway-nishi-kyushu-line.html
I like the houses on top of the tunnel, and, of course, all the sakura (cherry blossoms).

[luis_lopes]

Hi.

I am not going to put too much effort on those details, MC. Just going to put a little wall of stones inside the tunnel with a nice touch of weathering and that's it.

About the little villave you are right, but this is also my first shot at japanese trains, so I am getting my inspiration on an awsome layout I found on youtube. Search for the user youkikazeful ando you'll se a small rural town with the buildings in a straight line.

Thanks for the link. I'll study it to see what I can do.

Best wishes.

[luis_lopes]

This is what I have done today.






Cheers.

[VonRyan]

This is what I have done today.






Cheers.

I would have gone with a medium tan/brown color on that hill to better represent the topsoil. Once ground cover is applied it gives it quite the realistic look that better enhances the scenery.


-Cody F.

[luis_lopes]

Yes, you are right.

In fact, that is how I usually do. I usually use the ziptexture techinc to do the base sceney.

However, I like to try new ways to do scenery. So, I am getting inspiration on a japanese blog:

http://pds.exblog.jp/pds/1/200904/29/76/f0139576_23225462.jpg

You can see his work at:
http://tounosawa.exblog.jp/

Although it is all written in Japanese, the photos he has are very inspirational.

He paints all the base in green, because he uses clump foliage to make the tree tops and msll bushes.

As I said, I like to try new ways to do scenery, so... let's try this... But thanks for the tip.

[luis_lopes]

Hi all.

I have been working on this small layout, and I hope to post some pictures before going on vacations.

Cheers.

[luis_lopes]

Hi all.

This is the latest update on this small layout. Six weeks until the event, so I have to hurry up.

Started to paint the retaining wall and the tunel entrance, using an airbursh. This is a preshading with a darkish grey.


This is the wall and tunnel with the final colors, with some washes and some dry brushing.


Now the rocks at the "beach" placed. Rocks were made using Woodlans Scenics rock molds and plaster.


Craft paints used to paint the rocks: Yellow, Burnt Umber and Black.


Dots using yellow:


Dots using Burnt Umber:


First coat of heavy diluted black.


Stuff I used to the first layer of the layout


This is how it is. Rocks are painted and I used a less diluted black to paint the bottom parts of the rocks. The water isn't finished yet.


Preparing the layout for rice pads... This is Japan...


What a big Hole!!!


Using foam-core card, I made the bottom rice pads.


A bit more...


Painted...


And now some thin card to make the surface flat


I hope I can finish this on time!...

Cheers.

[luis_lopes]

New progress photos:




Best regards.

[luis_lopes]

Hi all

After laying down the ballast from Woodland Scenics, I weathered the track and ballast with  Tamiya's XF64 da Tamiya and some poweder paint Burnt Sienna from Vallejo.

This is how it turned out

Made a little dark spot with some black paint.


This is how the layout looks like.

Thre weeks to go until the show...

[VonRyan]

You said you used powered paint, is it actually paint in a powdered from that needs an oil or water to turn it into a liquid form, or is it pigments for making paint, or is it chalk powder?

I'm quite interested since in theory a powdered paint could be activated by something like dullcote sprayed from an airbrush and made to "run" by using a fine-sable artist's brush.


-Cody F.

[luis_lopes]

Hi Cody.

Powered paint, (I was missing the word) or pigments are used for getting many effects:


The are the one I used. Image source: http://planetarmor.com

Some examples:
If you apply them straight from the bottle you can get dust effects (like coal or sand)
If you apply them mixed with some gloss varnish, you can make mud effects
If you mix them with water and apply them, the will stick to the surface. When dry, you can blend the colors used to get, for instance, the random damages made from rust
If you apply them with mixed with alcohol you can give them textures...

For me it is one of the best weathering products available on the market

A quick video of mud effects.

[VonRyan]

Interesting.

I don't know how similar the pigments made by Mig are to the ones you're using, but I might just have to pick some up over the weekend and test some of your methods for myself.


-Cody F.

[luis_lopes]

Mig and Vallejo are very similar.

Both products do the same!