Canton, Highlandtown and Fells Point - Compact layout

[DeltaBravo]

I agree with Chris.

And it also makes me realize "oh god, what have I signed up for" with York...

My own personal hangups aside, Lee, this is great to see coming together.

When's the first ops session?

Ed, you have a different scenic  style than Lee. Your scene is winter and for you less is more. More or less.

[OldEastRR]

I really like how Lee's layout looks in the Memorial Train thread. Let's face it, except for a handful of super-experts here on TRW, most people have layouts that look like Lee's: Bare cork, re-used switches with old ballast still in them, shiny kit buildings, some horrendous vehicles from 1970's N scale, cardboard roads, etc, etc, etc .... there are great little spots among all the improvisation but his layout looks like almost all the layouts that will never ever get a spread in Model Railroader.  I wish the average guy could get some recognition, too. We all started out like that.

[Chris333]

Lee's layout is not finished. His last layout was just getting there and he had to tear it down. Give him some time.

[Dave V]

Yeah, that compliment didn't come off the way I think you wanted it too.  I operated in Lee's old Western Maryland and every detail was finished.  Much of what you see here are refugees from that layout I have no doubt Lee will be able to seamlessly tie into this new layout.  Lee has what I'd consider an unrivaled eye for Mid-Atlantic architecture and virtually all of his structures represent kitbashes to that end.

[wm3798]

Thanks for all the kind words.  I take no offense to Old East 's  comments.  This is very much a work in progress,  and I was happy to get as far along as I did when Mike's train arrived.   Stay tuned. I will be parsing down every square inch over time.

[wm3798]

I agree with Chris.

And it also makes me realize "oh god, what have I signed up for" with York...

My own personal hangups aside, Lee, this is great to see coming together.

When's the first ops session?

As soon as clear my fiddle Yard of all these 85' coaches!

[Ed Kapuscinski]

As soon as clear my fiddle Yard of all these 85' coaches!

One tie at a time, with the block truck standing by!

[OldEastRR]

I've seen Lee's old layout (in photos) so I know he's not some slop-it-together guy. The point is when the mags run articles about layouts, it would be a more-rounded picture if they included some "in-progress" shots of how it looked before it turned into a master craftsman level job. I think the Layout Construction thread here is a great way of showing that slow evolution of a layout.
My point originally was it was nice to have some "I'm still working on this" layout photos in the Mcgratton thread. Makes it feel like everybody of every skill level was welcome to host the train.

[glakedylan]

that cobblestone in the street looks great!
the whole layout is coming together so well.
great work...
sincerely
Gary

[jpec]

I agree with Chris.

And it also makes me realize "oh god, what have I signed up for" with York...

My own personal hangups aside, Lee, this is great to see coming together.

When's the first ops session?

Funny...after leaving your house the last time we were over I remarked to Christian how I thought the NCR was the near -perfect size for a home layout - not too large, easy to maintain and could be completed in a reasonable time frame.

Lee, I'm digging your work - it reminds me of one from an old Atlas book from the 70's called The Junior Pretzel that always had the cool Thad Stepek concept art except yours takes the concept and knocks it out of the park.

[seusscaboose]

you know that Stepak layout still exists (in parts)... I know where it is

next time you come over...  we will arrange a visit to see it

[jpec]

You mean Armstrong's?  I meant one from an old Atlas book that I still have around here.

[seusscaboose]

No
I mean stepak

His personal layout

Not the Atlas pretzel

[John]

My point originally was it was nice to have some "I'm still working on this" layout photos in the Mcgratton thread. Makes it feel like everybody of every skill level was welcome to host the train.

All of my pictures were taken on "still working on this" layout sections ..  I doubt that very few of us have "finished" layouts .. I know what you were trying to say ..

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Funny...after leaving your house the last time we were over I remarked to Christian how I thought the NCR was the near -perfect size for a home layout - not too large, easy to maintain and could be completed in a reasonable time frame.

Well... shucks!  (Is there a blushing emoji?)