The Carolina Sandhills Lines in HO Scale

[davefoxx]

It’s not perfect, but it’s a good first attempt.  If it bothers me, I can make another Coke machine front.  It scaled out really close at 4.5% of the photo’s original size to fit the machine. I was surprised that my printer was able to print this as clear as it is when shrunken down so much.



Oh, and I installed the glass windows and some a**hole already broke one of the panes.

DFF

[Bendtracker1]

At least they didn't spray graffiti anywhere!

[CRL]

The driveway is unsanded grout, and that needs much more work.  I have to learn how to build dirt roads.  I’ve never gotten this right.  Ever.

DFF

If you want to build very realistic dirt road, use very finely (powder like consistency) sifted Dirt of the type you’re looking to emulate. Put down diluted white glue then sift the dirt over the glue. Build up layers until it’s “too thick”, then leave it alone to dry completely. Now take fine Emory Cloth over the end of your finger & sand the surface of the dirt which should produce a dusty surface. Blow most of the dust away and you’ll have a dusty little dirt road left. Do Not reapply any diluted glue at this stage… you’ll ruin the effect. Leave it dusty. With practice, you can workin little ruts & potholes.

[davefoxx]

If you want to build very realistic dirt road, use very finely (powder like consistency) sifted Dirt of the type you’re looking to emulate. Put down diluted white glue then sift the dirt over the glue. Build up layers until it’s “too thick”, then leave it alone to dry completely. Now take fine Emory Cloth over the end of your finger & sand the surface of the dirt which should produce a dusty surface. Blow most of the dust away and you’ll have a dusty little dirt road left. Do Not reapply any diluted glue at this stage… you’ll ruin the effect. Leave it dusty. With practice, you can workin little ruts & potholes.

Awesome!  Thanks for the tips.  Makes perfect sense.  I’ll give this a try.

DFF

[packers#1]

Looks good DFF! Just like so many little shops all over the Carolinas. Now you just need 4-6 rusted cars and 3-5 active projects, plus some trees and kudzu out back, and it’ll look absolutely perfect

[davefoxx]

Looks good DFF! Just like so many little shops all over the Carolinas. Now you just need 4-6 rusted cars and 3-5 active projects, plus some trees and kudzu out back, and it’ll look absolutely perfect

Yes, sir!  Your description just about nails Aberdeen south of the station.  As @wm3798 noted a while back, too, this area could use a washing machine, a shopping cart, and other junk in the ditch along the right of way.  😜

DFF

[chuck geiger]

[Ed Kapuscinski]

C'mon Foxxy, I thought you were better than this type of anachronism.

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[davefoxx]

Hahahahahahaha!!!! I love it, guys!

DFF

[davefoxx]

C'mon Foxxy, I thought you were better than this type of anachronism.

Who knew that the single broken pane of glass symbolized Harambe's unnecessary death?  [sniff] 

DFF

[davefoxx]

I did the final grading around the garage with a little unsanded grout and ground foam.  I left the garage in place when I applied the diluted white glue, so it’s permanently installed now.  I also installed several SuperTrees that I built more than six months ago and had just been hanging out on my makeshift clothesline.  As always, I need to build more trees, but these few do a great job of separating the scene and making the layout feel larger.



This perspective, created by holding the phone way over my head, shows one of my favorite aspects of the track plan: the wye.  And, my scratchbuilt SAL station sits right there in the center, just like on the prototype.  I’m very pleased with how this section of the layout is turning out.



Here’s what this scene looked like about one year ago. 



DFF

[davefoxx]

Looking north along South Sycamore Street in Aberdeen, North Carolina.  For me, this picture would have been impossible until now without HeliconFocus, considering that the garage is only inches from the camera and the backdrop is more than ten feet away.  Too bad about that 1:1 water main in the shot, but . . . oh, well.



Oh, and I was able to scrub the graffiti off the garage.  No thanks to Chuck and Ed. 

DFF

[packers#1]

Ya know fellas, spray paint sticks better than chalk and you can get it cheap at Walmart 

[Philip H]

@davefoxx - thats a seriously Trackside Photos worthy shot bro.  Really well done.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Ya know fellas, spray paint sticks better than chalk and you can get it cheap at Walmart 

Noted.

Just wait till he sees what vandalism is next.