Proposed HO/HOn3 Layout. Colorado Midland/D&RG/C&S

[Hawghead]

Dennis,

The work scene looks great.  As to the shed, I'd leave it off the loading dock, but I would build some kind of lean to or shelter over the area where the work on the boilers is being done.

Scott

[Summit]

Dennis-  It has been a while since I last looked at your progress and I like what you have done, but I will add some feedback.

Painted Background - Wow, for a first attempt I'm very impressed. I believe you can pull off a painted background that will look fantastic.  What I believe are excellent references for background art is the old postcards from the 1900s of the mining towns of Colorado. They are not photographs but very nice art renditions for example - Hell Gate, Woods Lake, Leadville & Mt. Massive. You can find them on ebay often for just a few dollars each and I believe you could really imitate very similar background mountains.

Loading dock - myself I would not use the shed and I feel you need ramps at each end of it.  Even after the introduction of automobiles lots of freight in the Colorado mining districts still utilized wagons for hauling ore and materials. Ramps on each end would be used so they would not have to back the wagons down with a team of onery mules. 

To echo some of the other comments - the boiler works look awsome.  I look forward to your updates, keep them coming.

[dcarrell8]

Thank you very much for the kind words and taking the time to comment.  I do greatly appreciate the input!

Dennis,

The work scene looks great.  As to the shed, I'd leave it off the loading dock, but I would build some kind of lean to or shelter over the area where the work on the boilers is being done.

Scott

I considered a shed over the work area but decided against it because it would block the view of the loading dock.

Dennis-  It has been a while since I last looked at your progress and I like what you have done, but I will add some feedback.

Painted Background - Wow, for a first attempt I'm very impressed. I believe you can pull off a painted background that will look fantastic.  What I believe are excellent references for background art is the old postcards from the 1900s of the mining towns of Colorado. They are not photographs but very nice art renditions for example - Hell Gate, Woods Lake, Leadville & Mt. Massive. You can find them on ebay often for just a few dollars each and I believe you could really imitate very similar background mountains.

Loading dock - myself I would not use the shed and I feel you need ramps at each end of it.  Even after the introduction of automobiles lots of freight in the Colorado mining districts still utilized wagons for hauling ore and materials. Ramps on each end would be used so they would not have to back the wagons down with a team of onery mules. 

To echo some of the other comments - the boiler works look awsome.  I look forward to your updates, keep them coming.

Excellent point, I had planned on building stairs in two locations to access the dock. I hadn't considered vehicle traffic to the industry, an obvious over site on my part during the planning process. I will have to look a little closer and see if I can make sense of how a truck/wagon might get to the area.   I had imagined the industry as rail served only, so I purchased a pillar logging crane that I plan on adding to the scene.  I figure the boilers are heavy and they would be hoisted off and on to the flat beds.
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Thanks again
~ Dennis

[dcarrell8]

Things have been busy this summer so the layout is moving slowly.  I have completed a LED Welding sketch with an Arduino, it's almost identical to what Tom from Trains and things has done on his layout.  I plan on using block detection to light up "Brad the Welder."  The real test will be transferring my working bench tests to a working scene.  All of the LED's are in place and I did a fair job of hiding them however the wires themselves are about the size of a human hair, so a real challenge to deal with upside down under the bench work.
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I finally poured the river, I still have some more work to do on it but all in all I can live with the results. The top waterfall will be pulled off and worked over again.
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Another project I've been messing with is bringing this Key Imports 2-8-0 Consolidated back to life with paint, DCC & Sound.  Like so many other things this will be my first attempt.
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[dcarrell8]

This is the result of my first attempt at white water and a moving river.  I used Envirotex-lite for the main body and a combination of Woodland Scenics materials. Water Effects, Water
Waves, and Vallejo's Water Texture.  I found that Water Waves gave me the best results. While wet, it's easy to get large ripples that aren't quite waves, after it gets a little tacky you can stipple it to get tiny ripples that can eaisaly dry brushed with white paint.
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I'm still undecided if I should apply coat of gloss medium over my "white caps" or leave them with a matte finish.
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I'm not happy at all with the top waterfall, it was the first one I tried.  I plan on peeling off the Water Effects and giving it another go before I call the scene finished.
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~ Dennis

[Hawghead]

Dennis,

It's all looking really good.  Please be sure to document the DCC install.  I have a couple to do and I'd like to see someone do a brass steam engine.  All I've ever found online is either diesels or steam engines that were DCC ready.

Scott

[dcarrell8]

Dennis,

It's all looking really good.  Please be sure to document the DCC install.  I have a couple to do and I'd like to see someone do a brass steam engine.  All I've ever found online is either diesels or steam engines that were DCC ready.

Scott

Will do Scott, 

If you haven't stumbled on to the Youtube channel "Solo Contracting" you might check out his videos.  They are fairly long and unedited, but I seem to recall one or two that involved non DCC ready Brass.
Another good resource is "The Loco Builder"  He is across the pond and builds LNER kits (if I have the manufacturer correct)  I stumbled on to his channel while looking for tips on how to repair/solder brass.  He has a video that explains nicely how you can pick up both rails on the locomotive by using PC Board and wire for wheel scrapers.  I'm still waiting on an order from NWSL to even get my little 2-8-0 running!  That project is tertiary to the Time Saver layout, so be patient!! LOL

Thanks for the kind words
~ Dennis

[pjm20]

(Attachment Link)

Just noticed this, who makes the crane?

[dcarrell8]

Just noticed this, who makes the crane?

http://modeltechstudios.com/
#DO450

[dcarrell8]

I finally got around to doing some scenery.  Nothing spectacular for sure, but it certainly helps get rid of that "Plywood Pacific" look to the rest of the module. 
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I've got the basic blue on the backdrop complete,  I have been digesting as many painting videos I can stand.  I also have a couple of canvases I plan on practicing my "Almighty Mountains" & "Happy Little Trees"  a few times before I go big.

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I've spent the last three weeks or so slowly working on Banta Modelworks "Oakboro Hay & Grain"  This is probably my third quality kit I've ever put together, my second HO kit ever.  Most every thing I have ever messed with is plastic.  I most certainly prefer wood kits, I think they have more character.  I still need to weather it up, and put on the repair shop doors.  I know it will be moved around a lot before it gets a permanent resting place, so I will hold off putting on the fragile doors.

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I'm also hoping Santa might bring me a quality printer this year.  I'd like to customize the signs so I won't have an Oakboro Hay & Grain, but rather something a little more personalized. 
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I've also recently acquired a MMI #461 K-27,  I had DCC/Sound installed and I'm really happy with the Tsunami-2 1100 decoder.  It sounds and runs great.

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~ Dennis

[Hawghead]

Really looking great Dennis.

Scott

[dcarrell8]

Really looking great Dennis.

Scott

Thanks Scott, I'm making pretty good progress on Inter-Action Enterprises "Stu's Tobacco Shop."  If I'm lucky It will be on the layout by this Sunday.

How are things going on your layout?  I've been waiting on an update!! 

~ Dennis 

[Hawghead]

Thanks Scott, I'm making pretty good progress on Inter-Action Enterprises "Stu's Tobacco Shop."  If I'm lucky It will be on the layout by this Sunday.

How are things going on your layout?  I've been waiting on an update!! 

~ Dennis

Mine's kind of at a stand still for the moment.  We got completely bent over by the IRS this year.  Mostly our fault as we didn't do a good enough estimate of the taxes when we cashed out our 401k, so when we filed...Ka Wham!!!!  Put a big dent in the modeling budget.  Additionally I got cut off the East pool and had to go back to the extra board. (Well didn't have to, could of held several other pools but the extra board is where the money is).  So the money has actually been better but time to work on the layout has been scarce.  I have been doing some 1:1 modeling so to speak.




Scott

[dcarrell8]

Mine's kind of at a stand still for the moment.  We got completely bent over by the IRS this year.  Mostly our fault as we didn't do a good enough estimate of the taxes when we cashed out our 401k, so when we filed...Ka Wham!!!!  Put a big dent in the modeling budget.  Additionally I got cut off the East pool and had to go back to the extra board. (Well didn't have to, could of held several other pools but the extra board is where the money is).  So the money has actually been better but time to work on the layout has been scarce.  I have been doing some 1:1 modeling so to speak.




Scott

Now that's some nice looking work Scott, was that a kit or did you scratch build it! 

I certainly understand having scarce time, I did virtually nothing June or July.  Work has been one frustrating surprise after another primarily "due to coVID."  That is a phrase I'd love to have disappear forever.

~ Dennis   

[dcarrell8]

Took a little video of my newest Locomotive