[harkins77]

With my wiring of the layout almost complete I am wanting to make a start on the scenic part of the layout.

The trouble is I have an idea in my head on how I want it to look but where do I start. Is there a rule that you follow when you are planning what your layout is going to look like scenic wise and how you go about making a start.

I mean I was wondering if there are any programs like the hornby hvr2 program where you can build scenery including adding scatter buildings and other things like signals so you can try first away from the layout until you are happy with what you want without going head first onto the layout and then having to rip it up and start again when it just doesn't look right.

 

[harkins77]

so with me already planning and laying the track on my layout is it all lost before I have even started doing the scenics then or is the way I have designed my layout with sidings in mind and a depot area built in to it still saved me a little bit?

 

[harkins77]

Ok here is the essential scenic areas I have based the layout with at the moment.

As you will see the backboard will have 2 opening 1 at either side of the layout for trains to come and go from the front scene to the fiddle/storage area.

 

[harkins77]

Ok so I've been messing around with the Windows paint program and I have drawn what the basic board and back scenes are going to look like. Of course the front backboard is missing so you can see inside of it but it gives you the idea. I'm just trying to work out now how to draw the buildings with perpective in mind so it looks right on the picture.

 

[harkins77]

Well I think it's about time for an update.

Things on the layout came to halt recently with work being so stressfull trying to get back upto speed so I can complete all of my duties as I did before my illness reared it's ugly head.

I had ideas of what I wanted to get done on the layout and I started back on the layout again tonight by getting the backscene boards cut for round where I stand tonight and I will making a concious effort to try and get them fitted to the layout tomorrow whilst the family is out for the day. So hopefully it will give me a good base to get the rest of the backboards sorted over my days off and start to make some more progress instead of just running trains on the layout with no scenery to add interest.

I will try and get some pictures online tomorrow once i get it sorted out and fitted up.

 

[harkins77]

Well I've got the boards in place to hide little old me from sight when they still need a little fettling and filling in certain areas due to my ability not to be able to cut boards straight as I need. Don't worry though filler in the corners will hide my mess ups. all I need to do now is to make the rest of the backboards that will hide the front part of the layout to the back and the wood is over my parents and will hopefully get cut tomorrow whilst i'm over there for dinner.

I've also ordered from North Eastern models some peco girder plate bridge sides to act like a tunnel entrance to the back of the layout.

The pics will show you how much I got done today and the 2nd pic will show the the view that the locos will see heading off the layout to the fiddle yard area at the back.

 

[harkins77]

Well since my last post earlier I have managed to get the side bits of wood cut and this evening I have fitted them in place and I'm really pleased with the results.

Have a look below and see what you think. Now to just do the side boards for the edges and I will be set. Apart from that I'm just about ready to start the scenics of the layout.

 

[harkins77]

Do you mean the square corners round where I stand if that's it then it is basically going round where i stand but the edges won't be a problem as I'm planning the scenics to hide the sharp edges to the joins of the wood. so if I get it right you won't notice them well on the side bits anyway on the bit that goes down the front of the layout I will try and smooth them out but it's basically following the line of the inside edge of the board where i stand.

 

[harkins77]

I was going to use some filler to make the edges a little smoother and then possibly go for the backing paper after my last attempt of trying to paint my backdrops always seemed to be a little dark. I'm going to try and find something modernish for the backdrop or even just a plain sky with clouds so that I can add the buildings. That is unless anyone else has any ideas.

 

[harkins77]

Ok alastairq I take on board what you are saying with regards to the foreground of the scenics but is the sky about right for what I want.

 

[harkins77]

Yeah I have alastair and I will try my best to do what you said.

Saying that I have already started with it by smoothing off the edges by using some filler to smooth out the joins and edges of the boards as well as sanding some parts of the mdf to give a smooth less pointy edge to it. Obviously I will once the filler has dried be going round it again with some more sanding to make the edges more smooth but at least it's a start.

 

[harkins77]

Seeing as it is my first night shift of the week and the family are out for the day at the in-laws I decided to get on with some bits on the layout.

I started by making the supports that will hold up the girder bridge sides and also join the road base to the girder sidings ready for when the supports are dried and ready to accept them.

as you can see there is a piece of wood with the wood glue bottle on top to give it some weight to make sure it dries as it should. I know I haven't painted the girder sides as yet as I was thinking of doing it once the sides are connected to the road base support and the glue has dried.

I've also sprayed some of the backboards with a little white spray paint as well to make the background stand out but I still have a lot to do with it by smoothing the edges possibly by using tubes cut at angles so that the edges are smooth and uniform.

 

[harkins77]

QUOTE (zmil @ 31 Aug 2008, 06:35) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Hi Kain
That shelf , in the top right hand corner of the second picture , looks a bit over loaded with railway stuff!

Regards Zmil

Nah Zmil it's ok you wanna see the other end of it. lol.

I have very little storage area that I can just reach to in the shed and with the walls not being that even with it being one of the old coal houses with a wall bricked up and a door inserted it's a real pain. I could really do with a properly built garage that Ican put my car/layout in but at 20,000+ price tag I don't think I'll be doing it soon.

 

[harkins77]

I've been in the shed this evening and finished the other bridge section to go over my lines as well as adding an extension to my scrap line to do under one of the bridges to where the backscene is going to go.

The pictures will make it more explainable.

I've also added some plaster of paris to the layout for the depot area to give the effect I used on the old layout.
I have made sure this time the concreted area is at the right height all over if not a little overheight so I can sand it flat once it's dry.

As you can see from the picture below I have already put the building in place and started ballasting as well for the 3 lines in the depot area.

Yes I know it looks rough at the moment but after I've done some fettling to it then it will be ok.

 

[harkins77]

I've been wondering with regards to the front of the layout and whether or not to put a high backboard to the layout or even a half size backboard or even none at all.

What do you think?

What would be the pros and cons to each idea?

 

[harkins77]

I've been back in the shed this evening and did a bit of work back on the depot side of things and I've also started with some black scatter to be a carpark next to the depot building. I've taken out one of the lines that leads to the sidings next to the depot so that I could extend the shed without encroaching to the siding line that ran to the side of the depot building. And after removing the extra line I've extended the concrete area as well to match the existing shed.

I know it looks a little rough and the picture isn't exactly clear. The building also needs a little fiddling with as well to get the windows right as you can see they aren't exctly straight.

I've also taken the point that was next to the depot and added the siding to the fiddle yard so that I can store more stock in the fiddle area. And I've also added some more power feeds as to power the line but I also have the added bonus of being able to create the programming track that richard has mentioned on another thread.

I tested all lines with Union and it's support coach and after a little track cleaning seeing as nothing has really been ran on it for a while since I did the last bit of work and it flew round and looked fantastic.

 

[harkins77]

After the busy day yesterday fiddling with the layout I decided with swmbo and the kids being out at the in-laws it was a day of working in the shed.

I went to a local hardware store and managed to get hold of some insulating sheet like you use for insulating your lofts out but in rigid form. I bought 3 boards of it coming to about 13.00 which isn't really bad considering it's 25mm thick so it can be cut down in half if needed. When I got home i started with the banking and tunnel area to the left of the layout and also the banking that will house the roadway and when I get round to it some low relief shop fronts as well.

It's very easy to cut but I did have to remove the silver backing to it that it came with.

I also removed the grout from inside of the tracks for inside of the depot area and the trains run albeit after a little fettling to get it running correctly. And I've also prayed the rest of the concrete area as well.

The biggest news is that the brickwork that once adorned the edges of the board have been covered and will be painted once the plaster has dried to reflect the sky as best I can do it. I know It's not exactly brilliant but hey I'm a police controller not a plasterer and without any help I gave it a bash and I'm happy with it so far.I know it will need a littl sanding down once dry to get it smooth and uniform but it's not bad for a first go.lol.

 

[harkins77]

Hi Brian thanks for the comments but I've moved the progress of the layout now to http://www.modelrailforum.com/forums/index...?showtopic=6225

This one has the correct title now.

Thanks

Kain.