That came out really well.
Yes it turned out very well!
Al the constructing buildings (the part I am comfortable with) is done, so I have to plunge into starting with the diorama and scenery - the part I am not so comfortable with …
When I built the base for my layout, I chose two layers of one inch foam insulation. The idea was that I could build my structures on one inch foamboard, and then, when ready to include on the layout, cut a corresponding hole in the upper foamboard to insert the diorama. So this is my first implementation of that.
Diorama base cut according to instructions (with slight adaptation to the location).
The gap in the upper layer of the foam base to accommodate the diorama.
It worked fairly well to pry the upper layer out. The nice thing is I can just insert and remove the diorama as I work along. Obviously, along the side of the layout, this will work better than in the central parts.
Diorama base on the workbench, with ties weathered and laid and toothpicks inserted for the various locations as per instructions. I decided to use tie strips. The now visible “web” will disappear in the dirt and covered by the rails. Ready for first layer of scenery.
Dirt layer is down and has dried. There are a couple of small gaps between building and base that need to be filled but otherwise I am pleased. Building is not yet glued down. I still need to cut the hole in the base for all my wiring.
Great idea about the 2 layer base. It sure seems to make it easier to add diorama to your layout.
Beautiful dio and really nice integration into your layout.
Thanks for the feedback, Ken and Curt.
Been on a road trip with my wife the last couple of days. Somewhere along the way, we visited the Sothern Forest Heritage Museum in Long Leaf, LA (close to the Texas Border). The outdoor complex includes sawmill, roundhouse, planer mill, machine shop, etc. full of modeling inspiration. Well worth a visit if you are in the area.
I will keep on topic with my next update.
Looks interesting.
Ok, before attaching the main building to the base, I decided to finish the light connections to the main building (see also posts during the build). I decided for a total of 6 lights:
- Addition interior (flicker simulating fire in the stove)
- Loading dock
- Under addition
- 2 Yard Lamps
- A welder flicker in the weld shop
The one I am tying in now are the first three lights, which are all located in the main building.
In process.
All three tied into one micro connector, that I can plug into the light bus. The little chip that is visible in the photo is the circuit for the flicker in the addition.
Under layout connection to the light “bus” (yellow and blue).
The diorama so far with the lighting for the main building turned on.
Above my pay grade! Lighting just adds so much to an already wonderfully executed build.
Now those are some serious trusses in that shop…geesh!
Great job with the lighting.
Thanks. I do not think there is anything that is above your pay grade, Ken. It took me a while to understand LEDs and the resistor business, but once I comprehended, it is pretty straight forward. There is all kinds of support in the form of calculators available online to facilitate the task. I blew out a few LEDs in the process though …
Thought I was going to do a quick update. It’s about applying a lot of small details at this point. Before glueing everything down, I always want to make sure I have considered the planned lighting. Therefore, for the lighting in the weld shop I constructed a conduit. It is painted black and will be right behind the little dock, so won’t be visible, but will let me route the cable through the foam once ready.
Following pictures reflect the current status. Note the tank and the drive through are only propped in place. I think the gravel I added is too gray, although every time I am looking at it I get more used to it (or am I just settling for it?). Any critical input is welcome.
Mighty fine thus far! Gravel roads are a tough one. They are certainly prototypical but tend to stick out for just the reason you mentioned. If you want the classic gravel road look then I would create a center ridge of gravel as you have and then two tire strips that are more dirt colored and then more gravel on either side. You could tone down the gravel with pigments or dirt and you already have some grass here and there…similar to the attached image. Just my take of course but something that defined you would have to deal with the rail crossing. However, the picture is a well traveled road and your “road” is much less traveled and could be much more subtile like you have there. All said and done, I think your issue with it being “too gray” looks fine to me. Some oil drip areas down the center, a little dusting with dirt or pigments, etc…would tone it down.
swissrail the buildings, coloring and dock look outstanding to me. I also like the color of the gravel. I think Ken has some good suggestions that I will take to heart as I struggle with dirt and gravel roads. Using ballast for a gravel road is genius. I have never thought of that.
The color looks appropriate. Someone brought in a load of stones to stabilize the driveway. The amount of traffic (i.e. rutting) is another question. Indeed, the stones were placed to minimize rutting. Overall, things are looking really good!
Thanks for the feedback and the input re: gravel roads, much appreciated. I think I will create the tire strips as Ken suggests and then add a bit more gravel on the outside. I have some limestone colored dirt coming in, and may use that to tome things down a bit.
Now back to the work bench got to start with all those resin castings.
Everything looks very nice! I agree that places that have had traffic, whether vehicle traffic or foot traffic would show more ware and be smoother. I regularly run my finger over areas that have seen traffic to smooth them out.
Head to the nearest garden center and get yourself a 25lb bag of decomposed granite base material that goes under paving stones. Then head to the dollar store and get a selection of spaghetti strainer’s or sieves with different size holes and separate all of the different size rock. You’ll end up with very very fine…very fine…kinda fine…not so fine…and decent sized stone. The really small stuff makes a great road as is different colors…and the next size up works great as ballast.
Making some progress. To be frank (and not wanting to stir up a controversy, I know everyone has a different approach here), I am a customer of one of the hobby suppliers who sells bagged dirt. Yes, relatively expensive, but nicely sorted and graded, and those small baggies will last me a lifetime.
I think I figured out the dirt/gravel driveway, and added traces of a lighter shade of dirt for the tire tracks, and smoothed them a bit.
I finished the first scene by the tank.
Details ready to go:
A couple of views of the area. Note the lamp is only inserted provisionally. Once I am finishing up the diorama, I will remove the lamp, insert the LED’s and then add the electrical connections.
The photos look very good swissrail.