Cypress Creek Railroad

[ReadingBob]

Very nice Steve.  I love the way you're blending the structures into the scenery.  Looks exactly like it should and as if they've been there all along.   

[SteveCuster]

Thanks Doug and Bob

[SteveCuster]

Hello everyone,

Been working fairly steadily on the layout over the last week or so. I'm starting to really flesh out the area shown in the previous posts.


I added the culvert and 2 retaining walls between the 2 pieces of foam. You may recognize them from FSM Cartwrights. I know this will be the starting point for the little river/stream but I haven't really got a grip on how it will flow towards the front just yet.


I started to add the road. I use Plaster of Paris for this. I try to get it as smooth as possible using a large spackle blade followed by a wet sponge to smooth it out.


I placed the 2 buildings that will go in this area in their spots and marked it off so I can plan the expansion joints in the concrete.


I marked where I wanted the joints in the concrete with a thin pencil.


I colored the concrete with gray chalk craft paint followed by George's technique of using powder from a sanded charcoal briquet.


I added this little trestle. Its not glued down, it's just set in place so I can start to figure out the surrounding scenery.


Before I could glue down Bonney Wrenches I needed to finish the scenery behind it. It's still wet in this picture.


I spent an evening or 2 painting some castings to fill the area. I still have about 100 primed I need to paint before I add them to the gas station.


Added some castings behind the building.


Structure is glued in place. I still need to many details to fill in around the front.


The area behind the structure. It's not real easy to see from the front of the layout but if you lean a little its visible so I filled it with junk.


Added some scenery to the edge of the concrete. I took my concrete further than I planned on having it. It's easier to cover it will dirt and weeds than it is to add more concrete.


I added this fence behind the gas station. It's from Tichy. I sprayed it with Earth and weathered it with some chalks and A&I.


Before I installed the fence I epoxied some spikes to the corners to make it easier to secure. I just cut the head off of some T pins for this. I also use cut-off T pins to secure chimneys on pitched roofs. Same basic idea, cut the head off, drill out the bottom and spike it on the roof with some glue.


This gives an idea of how it will look with the station in place. Of course my next step is adding the missing roof and finishing up the pumps etc.. I plan on having lots of automotive junk all along the fence.

That's all I have so far. I have a few things I need to build before I can really finish out the scene. I want to finish the area behind Morton's Foundry before I plant it so that's my focus right now.
The water will run right next to Morton's so I really can't work the bank past the bridge till I get it installed.

[Mark Dalrymple]

Looking really good, Steve.

Enjoying watching this come together.

Cheers, Mark.

[deemery]

I've read complaints that track sitting directly on styrofoam can be noisy.  Is that your experience?

If you want a less weathered look on styrene, try priming with a light yellow.  I use Badger Stynylrez Neutral Yellow (https://usaairbrushsupply.com/products/stynylrez-primer-neutral-yellow), and I've gotten great results by priming and then applying HunterLine (or the new BESTTrains Vetero) wood stains.

dave

[SteveCuster]

Thanks Mark, Thanks Dave

Dave, I'll check that out for the paint. As far as noise goes I haven't really noticed the styrofoam being extra noisy but I only have track directly on styrofoam in a few areas and only on sidings. The rest of the layout is traditional homasote over 1/2" plywood. All my engines have sound so that may help to mask any noisy track.

[Rail and Tie]

Love watching this exceptional work coming together.  Nice box of castings! I bet they don't go as far as you think as all the details sift into the layout!

[PRR Modeler]

Steve this is gorgeous build. Everything looks like it belongs together.

[Janbouli]

Such great scenes Steve, love all the detailing you're doing.

[SteveCuster]

Thanks Darryl, Curt and Jan.

Darryl, they never do. I try to keep a big box of painted castings ready to go so I can keep moving if I'm putting together a scene. It's definitely the most time consuming part of the hobby for me, painting and weathering castings.

[Keep It Rusty]

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.

One of my favorite threads.

[SteveCuster]

Thanks Craig, glad you're following along.

[nycjeff]

Hello Steve, I'll second what Craig said, what a wonderful job you are doing. I'm enjoying it very much.   Jeff

[deemery]

The wood load is a Owl Mountain styrene kit, primed with the neutral yellow and then HunterLine driftwood.
dave

[SteveCuster]

Thanks Jeff

Dave, I use the Hunterline Driftwood on stripwood to simulate newer boards. It's not very strong but it just knocks the brightness off. Sounds like you're doing the same thing. I haven't tried it over painted styrene though. I will give it a try. Thanks