Northern Pacific Rocky Valley Branch Switching Layout Build
- Thread starter Guilford Railman
- Start date
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I found out once that push pins just don’t work as good as you’d think!
I’ve never painted a backdrop before, and hardly ever painted anything to begin with haha.
Thank you again! Weathering is definitely not my strong suit when it comes to modeling but I’m getting there.
Definitely! I have a technique in mind for adding the clouds in but I’m still doing some research. I’m also going to add trees in the foreground.
Excellent job!
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Guilford Railman
Well-Known Member
Thank you very much!
Guilford Railman
Well-Known Member
Well, unfortunately the NP GP9 didn't work out. I received a message from the seller that they had made a mistake and that the locomotive was no longer in stock. They tried to sell me the same locomotive with a different road number but had no listing of it and wouldn't provide pictures. I asked for a refund, which they did do. Never had an interaction like this with a seller before but didn't seem quite right. I will have to look around for another suitable locomotive for the layout and upcoming train show.
Edit:
I found the exact locomotive I previously attempted to order. Managed to get it a few dollars cheaper too
Hopefully this order actually works out!
Edit:
I found the exact locomotive I previously attempted to order. Managed to get it a few dollars cheaper too
Hopefully this order actually works out!
Last edited:
Guilford Railman
Well-Known Member
Received my NCE powercab system and my Walthers Mainline EMD GP9 today
I put the system together for a quick test and everything works great! I’m excited to start doing some switching sessions using the new locomotive.
Here’s a link to a quick sound test of the locomotive:
I put the system together for a quick test and everything works great! I’m excited to start doing some switching sessions using the new locomotive.
Here’s a link to a quick sound test of the locomotive:
Guilford Railman
Well-Known Member
Quick little weekend update on Rocky Valley. I’ve started tackling a few other small projects that I had put aside.
The first of these was readjusting the positioning of the intake pipes for the oil distributor pump house. When I glued them on initially, they ended up a little crooked.
Next, I painted the base of my scratch built/kit-bashed oil pipeline to look like concrete.
As you can see, I’ve gone ahead and added a corrugated metal roof to the pump house. I like this a lot better than the tar shingle roof. With a little more weathering, this structure should be complete
I also took some time to weather the wooden fence adjacent to the oil distributor. I am thinking I may add some vines along the sides of it but I’m not sure yet.
The first of these was readjusting the positioning of the intake pipes for the oil distributor pump house. When I glued them on initially, they ended up a little crooked.
Next, I painted the base of my scratch built/kit-bashed oil pipeline to look like concrete.
As you can see, I’ve gone ahead and added a corrugated metal roof to the pump house. I like this a lot better than the tar shingle roof. With a little more weathering, this structure should be complete
I also took some time to weather the wooden fence adjacent to the oil distributor. I am thinking I may add some vines along the sides of it but I’m not sure yet.
Guilford Railman
Well-Known Member
Rocky Valley has been on a hiatus for the past few weeks due to moving into my new home and some traveling as well. I was finally able to get started on putting the layout back together
I will be able to continue with some layout projects this coming week!
On a different note, I’m sure some of you are aware that I’m exhibiting Rocky Valley next month. I originally planned to exhibit it without the backdrops and LED lighting so that I can stand behind the layout and run a train. However, I feel that since this layout was designed as a shadow box style layout, perhaps it’s best to display it that way at the show and stand alongside or in front to run the trains instead. Thoughts on this?
I will be able to continue with some layout projects this coming week!
On a different note, I’m sure some of you are aware that I’m exhibiting Rocky Valley next month. I originally planned to exhibit it without the backdrops and LED lighting so that I can stand behind the layout and run a train. However, I feel that since this layout was designed as a shadow box style layout, perhaps it’s best to display it that way at the show and stand alongside or in front to run the trains instead. Thoughts on this?
Guilford Railman
Well-Known Member
Great idea! I better reinforce the track bumpers a little more then.
Rico
BN Modeller
You can also dial down the top speed to just under Mach III should the throttle max out.
I found out once that push pins just don’t work as good as you’d think!
Guilford Railman
Well-Known Member
I’m still new to my NCE power cab system so I’ll have to figure out how to do that but definitely a good idea!You can also dial down the top speed to just under Mach III should the throttle max out.
I found out once that push pins just don’t work as good as you’d think!
Guilford Railman
Well-Known Member
An update on Rocky Valley is finally here!
I’ve had several projects in the works. The first is I have decided to repaint the backdrop. I didn’t like the shade of blue I had previously so I used a lighter shade.
This is the before shot. As you can see, I also began sketching various mountain ranges on the backdrop. I have been sitting on the idea of painting it for many months and decided to give it a shot.
I have started with a very dark green paint to represent mountains in the distance and I’ll be layering another set or two of mountains in medium or light green.
The next project I did was install the NCE power cab panel to the layout.
I also continued with some weathering on the layout, focusing on the oil distribution center tanks and pump house.
These still need some work but they’re getting there!
I also finally completed the pipe load for the flatcar.
Lastly, I ordered another vehicle for the layout. The fuel Co. was missing something that wasn’t incorporated on the rest of the layout. I decided I needed a bulldozer to push coal around
I will definitely have some more project updates soon as the Vernon, CT train show is fast approaching and I need to get everything finished.
I’ve had several projects in the works. The first is I have decided to repaint the backdrop. I didn’t like the shade of blue I had previously so I used a lighter shade.
This is the before shot. As you can see, I also began sketching various mountain ranges on the backdrop. I have been sitting on the idea of painting it for many months and decided to give it a shot.
I have started with a very dark green paint to represent mountains in the distance and I’ll be layering another set or two of mountains in medium or light green.
The next project I did was install the NCE power cab panel to the layout.
I also continued with some weathering on the layout, focusing on the oil distribution center tanks and pump house.
These still need some work but they’re getting there!
I also finally completed the pipe load for the flatcar.
Lastly, I ordered another vehicle for the layout. The fuel Co. was missing something that wasn’t incorporated on the rest of the layout. I decided I needed a bulldozer to push coal around
I will definitely have some more project updates soon as the Vernon, CT train show is fast approaching and I need to get everything finished.
Guilford Railman
Well-Known Member
Thanks! I’m hoping it will
I’ve never painted a backdrop before, and hardly ever painted anything to begin with haha.
Thank you again! Weathering is definitely not my strong suit when it comes to modeling but I’m getting there.
This is the video I watched before my first backdrop attempt. It may give you some good ideas also.Thanks! I’m hoping it will
I’ve never painted a backdrop before, and hardly ever painted anything to begin with haha.
Thank you again! Weathering is definitely not my strong suit when it comes to modeling but I’m getting there.
Guilford Railman
Well-Known Member
Thanks! I’ll check it out.
Guilford Railman
Well-Known Member
migalyto
Well-Known Member
Guilford Railman
Well-Known Member
Thanks!
Definitely! I have a technique in mind for adding the clouds in but I’m still doing some research. I’m also going to add trees in the foreground.
Guilford Railman
Well-Known Member
Well, I tried my hand at painting clouds for the first time! Well, maybe the second time…I tried a few brush strokes with a different technique before doing this one
I think they came out alright! I going to touch up the clouds a little bit more tomorrow after they’ve had a chance to dry.
I got some paint along the top edges of the mountains so I’m going to need to touch that up as well but that shouldn’t be an issue.
After the touchups the next step is trees in the foreground.
I think they came out alright! I going to touch up the clouds a little bit more tomorrow after they’ve had a chance to dry.
I got some paint along the top edges of the mountains so I’m going to need to touch that up as well but that shouldn’t be an issue.
After the touchups the next step is trees in the foreground.
migalyto
Well-Known Member
You could almost leave the white on the tips of the mountains, looks like snow-caps.
Excellent job!
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