The Atlantic and Southern Build, Part 1

[Raymo]

The Babe and I went to Lowe's and got more layout material. On the way back we passed Danny Raymond (Raymo) taking a load of Comfort Coal to town of Tahope.



About that time a Seaboard freight train came by and stopped. I think they were surprised to see trees and grass on the plywood prairie. The Babe and I got out to way our greeting to the Engineer. I think it was the Judge in the cab of #4031.



We were just about ready to get back in the car when Raymo turned up again.

Tom, your layout really helps the appearance of my vehicles.

[Twist67]

Hi Tom, you made fantastic progress on that fine scenery work. All is coming together very nice.
Love that scene.

Regards,Chris

[PennsyJ1]

 I had a great visit with ACL Tom yesterday morning. He sure has been moving along with the layout rebuild, lots going on. I know one thing for sure, the saying about pictures do not give a subject justice is very true in this case. The river and bridge area really looks great, and he is not even completed this area!
Get that plywood cut Tom, before the afternoon rains show up.

Bill

[ACL1504]

Tom,

Awesome work my friend. I had to go back a couple of times to see what you added. It is really blending nicely. At this rate you should be done by Christmas. Ho-Ho, I didn't say which Christmas. All kidding aside, this is looking marvelous. Keep up the great work.

I do see the seam in the last picture. How about a nice weeping willow to cover it. A pine would also work great. And I like your "Woodie" . Wagon, that is!

Frank / Erieman

Frank,

Thanks, very much appreciated. I certainly would like to be done by Christmas, we'll see. This Christmas anyway!

I didn't have a weeping willow but I did add another few trees to the area and one to cover the seem.

Hope you are having a wonderful time in New York.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Fantastic. You make it look so easy.  I'm amazed at how the trees on the backdrop look 3D in the pictures from above.


Jeff

Jeff,

Thank you, I appreciate your kind words. Actually, it is easy. The backdrop makes all the difference and the foreground trees really make it look 3D. Having Joey Ricard, www.tracksidescenery.com, do the photo backdrop has made all the difference in the look of the layout. Best scenery decision I've ever made.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Raymo,

Thank you for the kind words on the layout. I think you got it all wrong though, your vehicles make my layout look much better.

Thank you sir.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Hi Tom, you made fantastic progress on that fine scenery work. All is coming together very nice.
Love that scene.

Regards,Chris

Chris,

I really appreciate you stopping by for a look see. Your kind words will keep me going on more, hopefully, fine scenery.

The scene is great. Raymo's vehicles make it look great.

Tom

[ACL1504]

I had a great visit with ACL Tom yesterday morning. He sure has been moving along with the layout rebuild, lots going on. I know one thing for sure, the saying about pictures do not give a subject justice is very true in this case. The river and bridge area really looks great, and he is not even completed this area!
Get that plywood cut Tom, before the afternoon rains show up.

Bill

Bill,

Thank you Butty! I had a lot of fun yesterday and I'm happy to have you see the layout and all the changes going on. I'm getting renewed interest in scenery now that I see some progress on my part. It's been almost four years since I've done any scenery.

Also, thank you very much for the help in getting the plywood. I did get it all cut prior to the monsoon.

Tom

[ACL1504]

The Judge was over this morning and we tested five diesels with new WOW sound installed.

While he was here, I had him look at the new tree line and give me second pair of eyes. I added three new trees to the area left of the double bridge.

BEFORE:



AFTER:



It looks much better with the added trees.

[jbvb]

I agree; that area will be popular with your LP railfans.

[KCS Trains]

Tom, you are making me a believer in Joey's backdrops.  I'm seriously looking at these and I like the way you added trees to the foreground to better blend the backdrop in.  Keep up the good work.  Phil

[ACL1504]

I agree; that area will be popular with your LP railfans.

James,

Thank you, I do feel that the LP railfans will be pleased.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Tom, you are making me a believer in Joey's backdrops.  I'm seriously looking at these and I like the way you added trees to the foreground to better blend the backdrop in.  Keep up the good work.  Phil

Phil,

Thank you. The backdrops from Joey have really helped the layout look more realistic. As I said, best decision I've made concerning the layout and scenery.

Joey is easy to work with and the backdrops are easy to install.

Tom

[ACL1504]

The next area to get a scenery make over is the area to the right of the double bridge. In this area I plan to have two maybe three little Florida cracker house in a wooded area off a dirt road. The Florida cracker houses will need to be scratch built but that will be relatively simple.

The area on the layout is know as Eaton's Curve. As in Judge Eaton. The elevation is a little over two inches above the track. In Florida we call this a sand hill.



As you can hopefully see, I've already cut in the dirt road, ditches and the approach to the houses.

The track on Eaton's Curve hasn't been ballasted as yet. I used blue painters tape to cover the track.

I don't want any "Oops, or Ut Ohs" during the scenery addition.



Continued in a few.

[ACL1504]

I'm using DAP brand Vinyl Spackling to cover the blue foam. According to the DAP people this stuff is Heavy Duty, Resists Cracking and is Easy to Sand.  Well, I'll report back to ya'll on that. Notice it  "Resists Crackikng". I can hear the little spackles telling each other during the drying process to "Resist cracking"! It doesn't say it won't crack but it resists cracking.

Yep, I fell off the truck yesterday.

Anyway, here is the proof.



More in a few.