The Atlantic and Southern Build, Part 1

[ACL1504]

As much as I try, I still get all the stuff all over the place.




The good news is that it is all coming together as planned.

[S&S RR]

Tom


You are moving right along once again. The layout is really looking good. I need to get down there and see it in person one of the winters.

[cuse]

Wow. Looks a lot more "complete". Very nice. I'll definitely connect with you when I get back from Alaska. Thumbs up.


John

[martin.ojaste]

Tom,


Have you ever tried to add colouring directly in the sparkling?


And/or mix the sand directly into the wet sparkle or sprinkle on top when it is still wet?


Marty

[deemery]

Wouldn't this make a great model magazine cover?


dave

[ACL1504]

Tom


You are moving right along once again. The layout is really looking good. I need to get down there and see it in person one of the winters.

John,

Thanks for stopping by. Yes, I've been very busy of late just trying to get a good start the scenery.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Wow. Looks a lot more "complete". Very nice. I'll definitely connect with you when I get back from Alaska. Thumbs up.


John

Butty John,

Thank you, much appreciated. I think it does look better in person than the photos show. Look forward to seeing you. Have a wonderful two weeks in Alaska.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Tom,


Have you ever tried to add colouring directly in the sparkling?


And/or mix the sand directly into the wet sparkle or sprinkle on top when it is still wet?


Marty

Marty,

Great questions.

1. No, I've never tried to add any color to the spackle. Color spackle has a "I'll give it a try down the road" feel.

2. Yes, I have tried to sprinkle some dirt directly on the wet spackle but didn't like the results at all. The dirt needed to be pressed into the spackle a little as it isn't wet enough to absorb the dirt. I've never thought of mixing the sand into the spackle but I doubt I could get the mix correct without wasting much of both.

Thanks for stopping by.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Wouldn't this make a great model magazine cover?


dave

Dave,

It possibly could but I still see the bare plywood. The area is now scenery covered but I'm with you. Send over the photographer.


Tom

[ACL1504]

Today I got much more completed on the layout but have no photo to show. I'm waiting for stuff to dry so it looks photogenic.

I've been using small Dixie cups to sprinkle some of the scenery material. I would half fill the cup with scenery stuff and use my fingers to sprinkle it around. I would then dump the cup contents back into the bottle and start over next time.

I discovered the Dixie cups will fit into the throat of the bottle. This has saved time from filling and dumping.





However, this only works with the Woodland Scenics bottles and NOT the Scenic Express bottles.

No need to ask how I know this.

[ACL1504]

The road is finally starting to dry. I added the 4X12's for the crossing boards. I also added some basic scenery material along and around the track and road.



Much more scenery and detail items will be added to the area around the Yard Office.



Fast forward and the dirt road is finally dry. I've added the water tank as this is the distance from the station where the steam engines stop.



Continued in a few.

[ACL1504]

I want to add a small structure to the left of the water tank between the two tracks. I didn't want to add yet another track crossing. The Judge suggested having the road run behind the water tank and very close to the track.

I agreed with the suggestion and drew the road outline on the basic scenery.



I then spread some white glue where the new added dirt road will be.





Continued in a few.

[ACL1504]

The first layer of playground sand was added to the top of the white glue and allowed to dry overnight.



I then wet it with "wet water" and added the matte medium as a glue for the dirt.



After the matte medium was added, I sprinkled on the Scenic Express Fine Dirt and let this dry over night.



More in a few. Diet Pepsi time.

[ACL1504]

Here is how the new dirt road looks.

[ACL1504]

The water tank is in place (temporarily) and a little more scenery was added. Much more still to go. It never seems to stop when you try to make it look like a real railroad.