Category Archives: Scenery & Structures

Tenement, Black Pavement, and more

Posted on by

There was no major progress this past week since we decided to operate on Sunday evening instead of work on my layout. It was nice to have a change of pace.

So, here’s the Stevenville side of the layout. Almost all of the white plaster and blue foam has been hidden under a coat of paint. This sure looks a whole lot better than it did before!

As you can see I managed to get some more work done on the tenement building. Platforms have been added at each door and a metal roof added over them. Some basic weathering has also been done. You’d think the owner would want to replace the broken siding. You can also see one of my other scratchbuilt cardstock buildings in the background – Picard Packers.

Front Street is now basic black. I need to tone it down some to get it to look more like aged asphalt, then add center lines, parking space lines, manhole covers, cracks, repairs, …. There’s still lots to do here!

Here are some shots of Dickie Clothing Company and GM Metals. More details will be added over time.

I may have mentioned the little diorama (64 sq. in.) that I did a year or two ago. Well, here are some close ups of it. I call it “Still Life”. Can you figure out why?

So, that’s it for this week. I think I’ll be spending the weekend making changes to the track arrangement in Chappellton to incorporate a rail barge/ferry. This is the result of a layout visit this past week – thanks Alan!!!!

Until next week,

Scott

Finally Up to Date – More or less – Jan. 29, 2007

Posted on by

Ok – I’m finally up to date with this thing. These really are the most recent pictures of the layout, well, of Stevenville at least. From this point on I will try to post a new update within a few days of taking the pics, as close to weekly as I can.

So, this is an overview of most of Stevenville as of last Monday (Jan. 29th). Things are really starting to take shape. I really like using the craft foam for roads. It sure is easier than trying to smooth out plaster. The foam even makes great sidewalks!

Here are a couple closer shot of the “city”. I really like the shot looking eastward (the second photo). I can see real promise in this area. I simulated expansion joints in the sidewalk by making a cut every 4 scale feet. It is noticable in the picture.

I still have to paint the roads and weather them up. One of these days I might even finish the large storefront section.

The building on the left is a new structure I’m working on. It will be a tenement with rickity platforms at each floor. If I get creative I might even string some clothes lines with wash on them.

I got the urge to cut up the Picard Packers building and make two structures out of it. You can see the top section of it behind the tenement. It will become Picard Packers Worl Headquarters and a new structure will replace it trackside. The bottom section of the building is to the right, out of the frame.

I have the platforms constructed and I’m working on putting the rafters under the roof section over the platforms. I hope to get it “finished” this weekend and start installing it in place on the layout.

I’ll have more progress shots next week.

Later!

Scott

Scenes Taking Shape – Jan. 21, 2007

Posted on by

There are a few scenes finally starting to take on some semblance of life. It’s amazing the difference a few hours can make, once you get beyond a certain point. Getting things ready for plaster and waiting for the plaster to dry take time and scenes don’t look a whole lot different afterward. But an hour or two with paint and ground foam really makes a BIG difference!

Brian started working on his section of the layout. He’s decided to construct a road crossing over the tracks by bridge into hilly country where there will be some rural type structures and lots of trees. There will be a small brook also crossing under the road bridge. The hill will continue over to the large river which will feature a two tiered waterfall (behind the tressel bridge).

I’ve been working on the river area playing with carving foam to simulate rocks. So far the results are promising.

Streets are starting to appear in Stevenville. I’ve been using black craft foam for the pavement. With some painting and weathering I think they’ll look pretty good. Banjo Bob’s is a structure from one of my UMG modules. It normally sits across the street from Keepemphartin Natural Gas. Hence the sign “Free Beans for Keepemphartin Employees” over the window.

These are some of the more complete scenes. GM Metals is really getting a junkie look to it. Still needs more junk and other details for the complete junkyard effect. Dickie Clothing is getting a little more presentable looking, and GMac Transfer has some colour around it at least.

So, now I’m only one post behind. Almost up to present day. Stay tuned!

Scott

A little bit of colour – Jan. 14, 2007

Posted on by

Almost a week has passed since the last pictures were taken.

Derwin and Greg got Stevenville’s industrial area pretty much all ballasted. Greg got a start on some details in the junk yard area. It’s appropriate that Greg work on this area since it is called “GM Metals”. So, the blue lagoon look is now gone and has been replaced by white fields! Sure will be nice to get rid of the bland colours!

Meanwhile, Clayton and I have been busy working on the city side of Stevenville. The plan for this area has changed a bit since the last update, and I’m sure it will change more than a few more times before it is complete.

Hopefully next week will see a bit more colour added to the layout. Stay tuned!

Scott

2 Days Later – Jan. 9, 2007

Posted on by

After I cleaned up a little from the onslaught of the scenery crew Sunday evening, this is what I managed to pull together. I made some quick and dirty foam block buildings to help give me an idea of what Stevenville might look like, someday. They certainly help.

Later!

Scott

Out of the Blues – January 7, 2007

Posted on by

Well, I am finally posting pictures in the same month they were taken! We’re almost caught up to the present!

As I mentioned last time, the guys were getting fed up with the “blue lagoon” look of the layout. So, before Christmas we decided to work on basic scenery for the Bayside and Tidewater in the new year instead of operating on Sunday evenings. January 7 was the first evening of work.

Clayton started working in the city of Stevenville, Derwin and Greg got the industrial area. Ken took off like a flash for the, as yet unnamed, river beside Kenville. I played with my new airbrush and got some track painted.

Clayton brought this neat little foam cutting tool powered by 2 “D” batteries. After 3 weekends of use the same batteries are still cutting foam

This is what things looked after they left. The aftermath of a Half Nuts tornado! We now have half an idea of how things are going to look in the city, the industrial area of Stevenville has a coat of plaster and the river area is starting to take shape. There’s still a lot of blue, though.

Later!

Scott