Baton Rouge Southern 3.0 - a Design discussion

[Philip H]

Could you rip a Tuba-Four to add the extra 2 inches to the edge of the doors? the frame of a HCD should accept screws easily enough.

I could . . . and that would be cheaper then a whole door, even from our local Habitat ReStore . . .

[Specter3]

It will accept them, it just might not keep them…

[Philip H]

Some months ago a mystery box showed up from @DKS - inside was the completed and assembled Phil’s Bayou Another bar. Naturally I wanted to put this unique gift front and center, so I have begun installation in place of a concrete slab (also from the DKS Collection) that had been set to be weathered as a not really fenced in abandoned building site. So here it is prior to earthwork:



After excavating the 1 inch foam that serves as my scenery base, it almost fits:



Then it was off to the workbench to start getting the lighting and ani aged fans back up and running:



There’s a 3v DC circuit board, some single pole switches and some styrene involved so far. All connected by small plugs from an R/C website. Still have to mount this all but I am hopeful to have it ready for scenery by the end of the weekend.

It’s the second structure of DKS I have on the layout - more on the other one later.

[peteski]

Ah, another DKS gem!  An externally unassuming structure with a wonderfully detailed interior (not well visible through the widows).
DKS posted a video of the interior in https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=50509.0

[Philip H]

To give myself a good butt kick, I joined the Trainboard Winter Layout Challenge and commence work to finish Wizard in The Woods Locomotive Rebuilders:

[wm3798]

Good to see these in their new home.

[Philip H]

Wizard in the Woods now has complete track work.

[Philip H]

With the Kids home two more days _ took today off to et a bunch of stuff done. After coffee, I vacuumed the area around Wizard in the woods, roughed the styrofoam surface with some 100 grit sand paper, and vacuumed everything:



Then I moved the building off its base and moved all the scenic material and other flotsam away from the area to the right of the building, because its time for the first coast of paint.  I mix these two colors in a 10:2 ratio to match the soil color from the NRCS (formerly Soils Conservation Service) Web Soil Survey https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/resources/data-and-reports/web-soil-survey site for my part of East Baton Rouge Parish.  This is a geeky but very accurate way to get topsoil color and characteristics correct.



Once mixed I thin the whole thing with water at a 10 parts paint 3 parts water ratio to make a thick wash.  This flows into the nooks and crannies ad grabs the rough surface but is not completely opaque.  Once its dry, I do a second coat mixed with glue so I can sift on some unsanded grout for earth texture.



Time for more coffee!

[Philip H]

After paint, comes matte Modge Podge mixed with water and more paint, all to bind down the grout:





Next up - ground foam and static grass, along with gravel on the side of the building and a ton of detailing.  And trees.  Can't have a place called "Wizard in the Woods" with no trees.

[Philip H]

Last week things slowed down - my wife was traveling for work, and it was a short work week, so I had a few extra things on my plate.  Ground cover is slowly expanding for the Wizard in the Woods scene - this is Woodland Scenics Blended fine turf which will form the base layer for everything else.

 

That "seam" down the middle is an open area between two glue applications.  It will get filled is, as will the foreground.  The sandy part next to the track and building base is the gravel pad that will get detailed with parts, storage racks etc.

I also pulled out a Christmas present from the in-laws:



Four really bendy arms, clips with rubber cover pads, and a base that weighs about 3 pounds.  What's not to love?

[Scott1984]

Nice work Phillip!! Man I need one of those bendy arm things! That would be helpful.

[Philip H]

Here ya go:

https://www.amazon.com/Helping-Soldering-Workshop-Non-slip-Weighted/dp/B07MDKXNPC?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1

[Scott1984]

Thanks!! I will check it out.

[Philip H]

Underbrush for the wooded sections is largely done.  Now to start adding a few details and then TREES!

[Philip H]

More then a few trees a night folks.  Lots more.