Time for an update

Howdy folks...

It has been a long time since my last post.  Jim has been prompting me to do this following Tom's comments on the Model Rail Radio Podcast.

Winter did not agree with me and I got pneumonia again so progress in the last six months has been rather slow...

However I have been sleeping somewhat ordinary and spend a few earl;y morning in the basement. This has resulted in a few things happening and I have include some photos below.

Sandgate

Turntable

I thought I would use my 130'  but when we put the mounting plan on it just did not work!  The turntable took up just too much room. so we had to revert to my 90' version in an attempt to keep things within the bounds of reality.

The problem was my 'tired ole back' and the access - only one solution - remove a section of the backdrop to make things easy.

Well that now works and the track trial fitting has commenced.  I want to put a small coaling station, fuel oil and diesel facilities in as part of the total scene.   Directly in front of the "to be re-installed backdrop" will be an icing platform with a low relief "ice house" on he backdrop.  Anyway that is my intention right now - lets see how it all works....

Scenery

The last time I did something here the 'cupboard was bare" so to speak...

So it went from this...

To this...

Chris and I were surveying the progress when Jim and Chris came to my first round robin in six months...

The Bridge

At the end of the island I filled in and starting the basic scenery.  A feature between the island and teh area of the helix is the bridge.  I combined three Wathers bridge kits into one and the results are below.

Please excuse the flex track which I have 'stored' on the bridge!

Buildings

During winter whilst sick and not venturing outside to the basement I built a few things are shown below.

Carbondale

Here is a picture of Carbondale north just before the mine which is to the right of the picture.  A few buildings are in place below the mainline bridge.  The mine is shown in the second pic.

What's next

I will work slowly on completing the track work around the roundhouse at Sandgate and build the coaling station - I have a Suncoast Models "Fairbanks Morse Automatic Coaling Station" as used by Santa Fe that will positioned on the turntable lead track


I'll leave you with this...

No no no

The boys having fun....

Last one for November

The Linoleum back drop.

Western Wall Lower deck

Tree trunks and branches arrive after the foliage

BJ had painted some stony outcrops and  is now in the process of bringing the trees to life.

The trees are getting trunks and limbs.

The foliage is really making the bare hills look as if they are coming alive.

Southwestern Corner

BJ has blended the backdrop here very well,
Just to the left of the Peco point motor is a tunnel which is on a narrow shelf along side the stairs,
( not a lot of clearance ) you would not know that now by the look of it.

The Bridges

Here we have small wood blocks that support the truss bridges, I hope I can get a visual effect by using foam as a pier in the deep blue yonder.

The centre beam that would normally carry the rails is used on the side of the timber support so I can relay the point motor wires running on the deck. ( if they were underneath they might get SNAGGED )
as the whole thing is a duck under.

See guys! hear what I'm saying, I got the clearance.

Western Wall of Island

The desired effect
I mentioned to BJ about painting the truss bridges in silver paint as I had seen some in silver and some in a real weathered state ( rust ) when I went to the USA a couple of years ago to ride trains,so then BJ brings his Classic Trains mag to show me this shot of D&RGW  FT's  in this valley with silver bridge in the background,I loved the colour of the hills.

Discussions on what, how and why with BJ being coy, ( Jim's at it again with the camera )
What do you reckon BJ !  paint the backdrop like the colour in the magazine.

BJ has made several passes of colour on the backdrop.

The tone of the hills that BJ is putting in is bringing it closer to what we are after.

Some light colour now to bring out some sort of rocky formation.

Looking good.

BJ reviewing his work,  some pastel's maybe ?


BJ adding pastel details.

The end result

I think I might put some sort of quarry here !

We put some rolling stock that was just outside of the tunnel on the outer top loop by the site to see what it would look like. ( just what the Dr ordered )

Colouring the plaster

BJ thought why stop here, lets match the plaster to the back drop, while Chris has a break.

The end result speaks for itself.

Well done BJ  and to our camera man Jim,
Thanks guys for your help.

This is how BJ painted the plaster

Ros's Mate Jamie

After BJ had done all the work we had pizza.
Jamie  looking on, where is MY pizza !

Just watch the performance in this video clip.....

Mid November

More backdrop stuff and bridge construction commenced

Bottom Level

The linoleum was cleaned and is holding up well.

I gave the linoleum backdrop two coats of white paint.

Western Wall

Now for some clouds ! 

BJ has slap'd on some sky blue paint over the white to give the effect of clouds,

The clouds are making progress.

BJ is now painting in the first outline of some hills.

Now that the first outline of the hills are painted in, ( what colour next )

Here BJ is playing catch up with more hill colour while the sky blue dries a bit.

BJ is applying another coat of brown to blend in to the hillside.

A bit more brown splashed in, that should do it.

BJ has put some touches of trees over the brown, which has brought the hillside to life,

Trees,hills and sky are looking good.

Looking good, not a bush fire anywhere !

Where are the sheep ?

Someone said the sheep are grazing,

OK, I spot them, well done BJ.

Southwestern Corner

The sky is done, and the crease is gone,I said the painter will fix it.

The sky has made it around to the southern corner,now its time for the hillside.

BJ has finished the browns on the hillside and has painted the trees.

I hope to have some small backdrop structures in the future to hide the corner.

Southern Wall Adjacent SW Corner

The sky is on and BJ has made a rough outline of where the hills will go.

A clip of how BJ does it.

The shades of brown and trees are on and BJ is blending the cut alongside the tunnel to match what is behind the stairs.

The end result, well done BJ.

The Bridge

The HEAD BANGER, well this had to be fixed with something solid,
I had to protect my brass steamers & diesels from falling off, if it got a bump,coz I would kill or cry,
not sure what would come first, anyway I got three walthers cornerstone truss bridges,built two as per
instructions then shorten the third and then gutted the beams which would normally hold the rails so it would fit over the timber that carries rails and wires to the points coming from the helix, this had to be done so I can go fishing into tunnels, which are at either ends  if something comes off.
                      ( Murphys Law )    know him well.

Thanks BJ,Jim & Chris.
That's  it till next time.
Ros.