Cypress Creek Railroad

[Opa George]

Steve,
I'm a bit behind in catching up with your layout thread, but glad I did now.  Looks fantastic.  Great use of a color palette to bring it all together.

--Opa George

[SteveCuster]

Thanks everyone! I'm glad you're following along even if my updates are inconsistent.

I finished work on one of the key structures to this area of the layout Morton's Foundry.
Link to the thread is here http://modelersforum.com/index.php?topic=5560.0

I took a few pictures of the area as it's starting to flesh out. I really have no plan so I'm just laying things out until they feel natural to me.


I placed Morton's in its home temporarily and I got a feel for the road and how I can complete the scene behind it. I had a partially complete garage from FSM Roadside Delights sitting on my shelf and I liked how it looked in this area. You can see the diner from the same kit next to it also.

The area to the left of Mortons will be a small trestle leading over a some water. That's next on my agenda.


I marked the area I thought the roadway should go and once I add the trestle the track can get set in it's place. I'm thinking I can add lots of automotive related details around the garage with a fence separating the edge of the scene behind it. The square with city hall, Getz gas and the diner is a removal pop-out to get the the track behind it.


The water will connect to the water coming under Cartwrights.

I'll post another update once I get the little bridge completed and start really working on the scenery. Once the ground cover, roads and water are in place I don't think I'll need to add many more structures to this area for it to feel complete.

Thanks for following along.

[Keep It Rusty]

Something about your layout really speaks to me. I mean, I can give you several reasons, but it has that x-factor at the same time. I think it's because our taste in design and weathering is very similar.

Excellent work Steve.

[Mark Dalrymple]

Looking really nice, Steve.

Its a very deep scene you are creating.  The view across Cartwrights is lovely.

Cheers, Mark.

[PRR Modeler]

The scenery and structures are top notch and look as good as I've ever seen.

[Jerry]

Steve just really like what your doing with the layout.


You seem to layout everything to fit perfectly.
Guess that why I like this RR and your updates.


Great work.


Jerry

[SteveCuster]

Thanks everyone! I'm glad you guys like what I'm doing here.

[SteveCuster]

Hello Everyone,

I spent some time over the last few days working on the layout. Here's a small update on my progress.


I started finishing the area directly behind Scotia Supply. First step was filling in the foam hills with some plaster. I use plaster of paris for this.


I painted the hill with whatever brown color I had nearby in a craft paint. It doesn't really matter just needs to be brown. While the paint is still wet I start sprinkling on the dirt base.


This is the first layer of ground cover. The dirt I use is from outside. I bake it then I put it through a cheap coffee grinder to get it ground up fine. Some of it I sift really fine for roads. The ground foam is from Woodland Scenics. I prefer Earth and Burnt Grass as a base. Everything is still wet in this picture.


I glued down this structure from Fos Scale Models. Before I started putting down the scenic base I marked off the structures footprint. I didn't put the scenery directly up to the structure yet. I wanted to wait till everything dried. I have a tendency to put a hand or finger in my wet scenery if I try to do too much while everything is wet.


I added some ground cover around the structure and while everything was wet I started planting some of the details. These details are all from my castings box. I don't think any of them came with the kit.


This is the other side of the structure. I created a little dirt road going down towards Fox Run Milling. Some of this ground cover doesn't belong. I still need to tidy it up a bit.


I thought the top of the hill needed a fence so I started this rustic wooden post fence. I like this type of fence because its very easy to do and it helps frame a scene or area without obscuring the view of the area behind it. I cut scale 4x4s 5 scale feet long and use a toothpick to make a little hole to sink them. This fence the posts are a scale 8 ft apart.


All the posts are added. I also added a bush in the corner of the furniture store lot.


I added all the rails to the fence with scale 2x4s. I made sure my posts were spaced pretty evenly so I could just use my chopper to cut 24 boards 8 ft long. This type of fence only takes me about 10 minutes to make and it helps add some noise to the scene. I also added the small section of fence at the end of the road. It's plastic from Central Valley. I sprayed it Earth and weathered it with A&I and chalks then I added a few signs.


The last thing I did to the fence was a final wash of A&I. I wanted it to be darker but more importantly I needed to color the board ends for both the posts and rails.


I placed Scotia Supply in it's home to get a feel for the vegetation behind it. I still need to add some trees, bushes, sticks etc.. to the hill before its finished.




Another view of the area with Scotia Supply in place.

I already completed a small wooden trestle that will connect the track coming off Scotia Supply. Next step is completing the installation of Bonney Wrenches and the gas station from Roadside Delights then I can start adding the bridges and the water that will run between Scotia Supply and Morton's Foundry.

Thanks for following along. More updates coming.

[Keep It Rusty]

Great work, Steve. Very natural, well detailed. Your presentation makes the hobby look effortless in its effectiveness.

[PRR Modeler]

Everything looks fantastic.

[deemery]

I have one of those stone arch bridges somewhere.  It had a great place on my previous layout.


dave

[Jerry]

Steve what a wonderful scene you have created.  Everything fits together so perfectly.


Excellent work!


Jerry

[John B]

 Wow; what an outstanding layout. Just for kicks; how do you reach anything along the walls.  Joan bought me this "Topside Creeper" and it is really a God-send.  Here is a picture of it with my fat arse laying on it.  I am by no means a salesman for these...it's just a good investment.  Only drawback is that it is big and takes up a lot of space; but it can be collapsed and roll under your layout (Ha-ha; like anyone has any room under their layout.)

[SteveCuster]

Thanks everyone!

John, the town hall/Getz gas/FSM diner pops out for access to the rear area. It's not ideal but it'll work if I really need to get back there. I've used those creepers in the past but for working on bigger trucks as an auto mechanic. I've spent a long time laying on one rebuilding the top of an engine and you really don't get fatigue except your arms. They work great and I'll probably buy one once it gets difficult to reach the rear areas.

[NKP768]

As always Steve just awesome work.....

Doug