Winter 2022 Layout Construction Update

This January I was back in the layout room and had the opportunity to make progress on a few different fronts inlcuding fascia, terrain forming, lighting, and scenery. 

The largest project I tackled was completing the fascia. Like painting backdrops, installing and painting fascia dramatically improves the visual appearance of a railroad and the room itself. Fascia defines the edges of the model world, completes the backdrop, and, in the case of a multi-deck layout like mine, frames the scene.  The room not had a vastly more finished look and the individual scenic vignettes across the layout are framed and ready for further stages of construction. 

Above: New fascia and carboard lattice terrain on mid and upper levels; ballasting underway in Oakridge.

In addition to fascia, my good friend, Cam N., joined me again for a few days (see upcoming post on Train Camp and the Operating Session) to work on a few projects. During his visit we completed the cardboard lattive terrain on the "middle" deck (Fields) and began terrain forming onto the upper deck. He also constructed a few tunnel liners and developed a very simple method using pink foam insulation. Much better than my cardboard and cardstock creations! I will adopt this method in the future. 

Above: Fascia complete around the helix; cardboard lattice terrain complete in Fields (mid-level on the left).

Above: Fascia complete at the layout entrance; from bottom to top: Eugene staging lead, "the slide" between Wicopee and Fields, and Cascade Summit and Odell Lake.

I also made a big push to exhaust my stock of scenery supplies. There is something satisfying about using up a material or product that has sat under layout for months or years. This push resulted in new vegetation around the south portal of Tunnel 22 and further dirt layers in Oakridge yard. After a few evenings I ran out of ballast and a few colors of my favorite bushes by Martin Welberg but didn't come close to exhausting my supply of static grass. I completed this effort by making and installing a dozen or so pine trees above Tunnel 22. 

Above: New scenery (vegetation and trees) around the south portal of Tunnel 22.

My efforts in the yard at Oakridge focused on improving the dirt and ballast layers and starting to adgrassd . I found the most succes with ballasting and dirt by applying mutiple successive layers. I mainly used Scenic Express and Arizona Rock and Mineral products in varing colors and grain size to achieve varied color and texture. I plan to return once all the ballast is complete to weather the rails, ties, and ballast to tie everything together. I added static grass and weeds once sections of dirt and ballast had dried. I used Silflor static grass in varying colors and lengths as well as Martin Welberg weeds and tufts. Both brands and their respective products are available from Scenic Express. 

Above: Dirt, ballast, and grasses in Oakridge yard.

Above: Overview of scenery in Oakridge yard, new fascia, and new terrain on the middle deck after the January work session. 

I hope to be back at the layout a few times this summer and again in January 2023 to continue progress.