Morning all,

Cloudy and 44 F (7C) here headed to 58 F (14 C).  We did actually get rain yesterday. 

I worked on a couple of kits, watched history videos and played computer games yesterday.  Retirement is great. 

Will continue on the kits and order a couple of backdrops today.

Jeff

For a short while yesterday, I couldn't reach the site.  I can't remember what time that was.

Jeff

Morning all,

It's 48 degrees (9 C), headed to 62 (17 C) later.  We have a 100% chance of rain later, so it will probably miss us.  

I mowed yesterday.  Possibly the earliest I've ever mowed in a year.  

Started a couple of kit yesterday and already made two mistakes.     Maybe I'll start a thread later.  Need to figure out the backdrop situation and order a couple. 

Jeff

Morning all.

Already been to the dermatologist (no biopsies, yea!) and to Lowe's.  

Presently 54 degrees, headed to 75 late this afternoon.  Maybe a walk later, we'll see.

Found a couple of small kits to start on today.  

Jeff

Very nice backdrops, James.  I don't have your artistic talent.  The series of backdrops I'll use in this area don't have any clouds, so if I need to paint over the top of the bluff (versus cutting up a backdrop), I won't need to add clouds. 

Jeff

Dave, the Trackside people use the spray 3M adhesive in their video to attach the backdrop.  I'll certainly look into the Deluxe Materials adhesive as well.

The buildings (except the FSM kit on the left side) are still all removable, the streets/sidewalks are glued down, but I can still get up on this area if need be.  

Jeff

I think you're correct, John, that Tom used the Trackside Scenery ones.  I like that they match end to end as I have about 60 feet to cover along this section of the layout.  The trees/hills match the area of SW Wisconsin fairly well.  

I heard back from the Trackside Scenery owner and will probably order one to get the town area done and match paint, etc. and see if I can hang them myself.  If that works, we'll cover the rest  of the wall. 

Jeff

Thanks for looking in, Curt.  I have several molds I used with the foam stuff to make the rocks.  I plan to match these on the other side of the hill.  

This is the next area to be done.  The bridge goes over a creek.  the existing hill will be replicated and then sloped down to the creek.  It rises again, though only enough to hide the staging tracks (where the doodlebug is).  I have a piece of green foam which doesn't even need to be that high.  This will be mostly hill with some rock castings.  

Jeff

Hi, Rick.  The pics show the only two areas of  the layout with any scenery.  I need to get the backdrop question resolved before moving on to the rest of the layout.

Jeff

Dave, I might try the blue first to see how it looks.  I suspect the black top will work better. 

Jeff

Morning all,

Barely above freezing here, headed to 48 degrees (9 C). 

Need to find a kit to work on as I contemplate how to do the backdrops on the layout.  

Jeff

Another good thing about the Trackside Scenery backdrops is that they go up to 30 inches high.  My total backdrop is about 36 to 38 inches high.  I thought about painting the top a matching blue color, but then figured out, I could paint it black like the upper fascia.  

The town area would need either a cut piece of clouds on top to match, or perhaps, as they have a "blue sky" series, just some blue paint to match.  

There are bluffs along the Mississippi river at the area I'm modeling (SW Wisconsin), so originally my scenery would go to about eye level in most areas, but it's the other areas where I really need the backdrops.  

I've sent some questions to the Trackside Scenery site and probably will order a taller one or two to try out.  In the meantime, I'll find a building to build.  Or maybe finish one that isn't done.  

Jeff

Obviously, this leads to another issue.  What to do about the sky.  I could cut off the sky at the tree line.  This would look odd, I believe.  There was a layout at the convention where the owner had done this, and his wife then went back and painted all the tree tops and a bit of background clouds. In the second picture you can see the line where the backdrop ends, but from the aisle it wasn't noticeable and looked really great in person.  I don't have this kind of skill.  In fact, I'm sure all my past art teachers would say I have no art skill at all.  

Jeff

I've seen the Trackside Scenery backdrops on layouts and I think they look pretty good.  I ordered one to see it "up close" and it makes a world of difference in the scene.  

Jeff

My "Town of Ill Repute" which I've been working on forever, the area to the right looks even worse.  I could but a fence here and a few trees, but it still wouldn't look that good. 

Jeff