The last picture above is the "other" side module, which is isolated from the main area (better view of the whole attached). I'm still undecided what to do there, but I'm absolutely ignoring it for now...I DO have the backdrop in hand and should probably mount it just to get it off the floor before a dog or grandkid messes with it  ...I expect that I'll be leaning for something more rural and 'backwoodsy' than the way the front two modules have leaned...maybe just a steep hill behind the sole building and then just a ton of trees and maybe a good sized rockface.

Little more progress...I've just roughed in an upper deck of HOn30 track - just for scenic complexity & to display some of my awesome but unreliable HOn30 rolling stock. I've also roughed in some foreground landform on the far right. I'm using an old N scale Rix highway bridge to help visualize the idea, so I've ordered the HO size version. I'm also waiting for an additional stone retaining wall to place under the brewery building on the far right before I can finish and secure that area. I guess the next thing I should do is pull out all of the loose foreground stuff and ballast any more track that will be tough to reach later and then really begin to do the upper deck scenery work - meaning "ground goop" and cover, vines all over the bad wall joints, permanent tree positioning, road paving and HOn30 tracklaying (starting on the bridge).

Really nice work (as always), Mark

John

Morning all, 

back from our little anniversary getaway to Tampa. We enjoyed some great meals, saw the Banksy exhibit, and strolled Ybor City...now, I find myself with huge blisters on my feet (from bad shoes) and, suddenly, what looks like a torn bicep/shoulder tie-in(?)...I woke up and found a painless but massive bruising on my right bicep - that's generally indicative of a significant tear under there somewhere. My HMO says I have to go to the family doc, who will undoubtedly send me to the ortho and/or imaging in between...Bummer of a nuisance, but could be a lot worse of course. ...should make for a productive model train weekend as I can't do all of the fitness stuff I'd normally tie myself up with...NNGC in a few weeks and then we've got a 20-day Malta/Italy trip in October, so any surgical thoughts will, hopefully, be held off as I'm not feeling any pain or even limitations yet...I did a pull up just to see, but I won't be pushing my luck.

Hope you're all healthy & productive today...go on ahead, I'll catch up in a bit 

I may have mentioned this in various daily threads but we are now within a month...who's going to Minnesota this September?

I know I am...John Mancuso

Looks good, I'm enjoying the play by play...can't find that juicy 2" foam in Florida. Those Woodland Scenics track supports really look like a good way to support tracks with multiple levels on a modest-sized layout. 

John

I'm a fan of the operational ability of that N scale Kato unitrack...but a quick shot of brown/red primer makes a world of difference...I see some is ballasted, maybe some is just in process.

Thanks Jaime...will I see you in Minnesota?

John 

Nice job, Jeff...I think I have that one somewhere. Good looking build.

John

Thanks guys...I'm trying to do it right and avoid too many do-overs this time, so...

-Scenery secured from rear to front...to make it easier to reach 'hidden' areas and detail whatever can be seen
-utilize as many of the amazing built-ups I already have without cramming them in in a ridiculous manner
-SLOOOOOOW down and enjoy the ride...it's a small layout, no reason to rush or cut corners
...none of these suit my nature 

The National Narrow Gauge Convention is coming up in early September, so I always tend to make some progress in the interest of juicing up my interest and also helping to generate something of a shopping wish list...those are really the BEST shows out there and often the only place to find such a great inventory of narrow gauge equipment.

Let me know if I should be looking for any of you...if it's a possibility, make it happen, there are some great layouts to visit and it's a very friendly city. I've been to a prior NNGC there a while back and I also lived there for 3 weeks while attending DQU...that's Dairy Queen University. My business partners and I purchased a DQ a while back in a misguided attempt to do something "peaceful" outside of our busy medical practice...turned out to be a lot of work and a lot of tolerance for a workforce of knucklehead kids...but, good memories and I enjoyed my extended stay which allowed me to explore the city a bit.

We decided to scurry back to bossing around medical professionals - they're easier to manage.

Continuing to move structures around and adjust landforms. I plan to add a single HOn30 siding along the upper level from the bridge to the right to "service" those industries and give me an excuse to display my finicky brass Shay and some cars and not feel like I'm abandoning my HOn30 roots...as I've mentioned, the lower level trackage is HOn3 and the locos are exclusively a couple of Blackstone C-19s - there is absolutely no prototypical basis for this, but man they look and run great  . I'm liking the feeling of progress again and, once I get the landforms finalized and secured, I guess I'll be moving into actual scenery - my favorite aspect of the hobby...I actually ballasted some hard to reach track in a rare display of foresight too.

congrats Raymo...I'm just a few months ahead of you and getting the hang of it.

Jaime, good to 'see you'...hope you'll be at the NNGC in Minnesota in a few weeks

I'm actually doing train stuff for a change...will share some pics soon.

Hope you're all having a great day!

John

Best wishes...it's hard to keep a good man down and we know you're tough as nails. See you soon.

*I really hope you've been good to Pam...she's got you now   

We're all thinking of you and looking forward to the next SBG meet.

John

Not really "layout work" but I'm boxing up a bunch of unbuilt kits I'm selling...I will promptly spend the proceeds at the Narrow Gauge Convention in September. 

...paying it forward 

Looking good Curt. I love those SWSM kits...nothing like them. They always rule the NNGC convention contest rooms (when it's not scratch).