Building the Pinnacle Creek Mining & Timber Co. RR

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Yes it does seem kinda empty here. I still have that one in the computer. I love several shots you have done. I am at 250 now. Still have a long way yet. And i am getting ideas like crazy. Thanks again, Dan
 
Keep on chugging you're only 2/3 the way through. As for that photo it only proves what I've thought since I got into model railroading. Bushwaa! Common sense usually wins out in the end. I realize that some trestles have barrels and they are quite useless. I'm blaming all this on that Allen guy! Jim :o
 


#2550, The scene looks like the salt river canyon area of Arizona. I don't have a shot of it but i like it. There are trees in southern Az too. In the Tucson area there arew a lot of Eucalyptus trees are all over the area and Mesquite trees too! That scene is a almost dead right on for teh salt river though.
 
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#2934, I like that shelf too. But i don't have any room for that kind of shelving. These rv's are just not designed for hanging pictures or a rack for my trains. I have one area i might be able to put some of my stuff on. Thanks for the ideas, Dan
 
Maybe using them for fall'in trees would look even greater. I have seen moss on them a lot over in this neck of the woods. Its post #2989
 
roadmonkeytj said:
I'm having trouble finding the type of flat cars they used with the track for the steam loader to move from car to car on so I already figure I'm building them ... I was planing on HO but the CFO rezoned the space allotted so now I'm reconfiguring for n ... Sorry for the double post I'm on the mobile before work lol.
Click to expand...

There was a guy that made that style of car. His name was Alan Curtis. He sold out and quit making them. I found them out and got severial kits. I gave the info to Mike and Robin at Fifer hobby. Hope that helps. This is the link to them scroll down to see the 25 foot spline cars. They come in 3 packs. Logs are not included. I have a bunch of them. Hope these are the ones you are looking for. i will have to kit bash or scratch build the crane. Dan

http://www.nscalekits.com/
 
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Jim, i think you are right. But at this time of the year folks are getting out and camping, traveling or working outside in there yards.Some are like you and i, We don't do anything outside. In my case you don't really need to do anything. Its Desert you know. The court takes care of the odd grass here, but nothing else here to do. When it gets over 100 degrees its inside kind of weather for sure. I would think there would be more here too. Maybe they are sick over that last tear down fellow. Anyway, I am looking forward to the next layout! later, Dan
 
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Dan, If you are addressing me the name is Jim.

Post 3023 WAS bare. After scribing the blue foam there would be no reason to use plaster cloth. I don't know if I mentioned how to make the desert walls and cliffs before? You have to build these things in small easily handled sections. To get the sand to stick you have to turn the 'cliff' on all orientations. Did I mention there was 40 pounds plus of Arizona Rock and Mineral sand on that layout? Jim:)
 


Sorry Jim. No i missed the sand amount. I am having a few issues here. Mind over matter. My wife is sick so i am not here all the way. Sorry. So you are saying that if you scribe the mountain cliffs you don't need plaster. I plan to use some on teh left side of my layout, but i used Durmans water putty to make the cracks and lines in the wall above the river. I took out the walls of the canyon but plan to try the plaster there. I am doing a forest area like you did in Alaska a couple of layouts ago. on the other site i showed the question and issue. I am thinking plaster for the bare foam. i also plan to use it on the valley areas too. I just can't put my finger on it but the mountain and waterfall area just don't...click. i need to make some kind of change there. Dan
 
Dan, As I look at your layout photos on NSO really the basic problem it the type of beading foam you are using. I'm not sure but unless you can get pink or blue foam this project may be tougher than you want it to be. That said, you must cover this type of foam with plaster cloth 100%. How tall will this layout be? Will it be a permanent fixture in the RV? Or, will you be able to 'hide' it from time to time? Jim :o
 
Right now its down to 7 inches. its a 3X5 foot 15 sq. footage. It will be permanent but if we get a different home it can be taken out as one piece.Know where to hide it Not to many Hiding places in a 5th wheel. I will be building up some on teh back of the mountains to give it a 2-3 d effect. That along with the background should look good. I am working on a shoestring budget so i can't afford to get the blue or pink foam and here you would have to order it if you can from someplace like Home Depot. Lowes don't sale it here.I kinda ran into that same thing you did. The white was given to me so i can use all i want. I am thinking of using that scuptermold stuff and see how the mountains come out with it. I never used plaster and scuptermold before. Always something new. Anyway i hope it works out. With luck i will do it right and you and the rest will like it. Dan
 
Yes, I can't get pink or blue foam here either. If I was building your layout I would not use any foam at all. Traditional building methods would be fine and frankly preferred. Plaster cloth over folded up newspaper is all you need. Here's a photo of a layout I build for a fellow in Iowa. Only 6 inches high and smaller than you 3x5. Woodland Scenics foam risers for the track is all you need. Jim:)

IMG_4859_zpsaibugoyc.jpg
 
You make it look so easy. Maybe i am complicating the work, Not sure. It really looks great. So you are saying to pull everything i have and then plaster? I can do that but want to make sure thats what i need to do first. I did foam to keep weight down. I can pick this one up and move it if i need to . Its right above the wheels. What you figure, 2 or 3 rolls of plaster. I have the news paper for it. I want the sculpturemold too. Say a 5 pound bag. Not that much mountains But those cliffs sure can use it. I can also use to smooth the mountains if i need to. I am trying Jim but not as advanced as you are. Just hard for me. Never did this before. My other layouts were never in the scenery stage, Dan
 
Dan, I would never say this stuff to you over on the other site. Everyone there would rather kiss ass and pat you on the back leading you down the wrong path before pointing out some possible flaw that will ultimately come back to haunt you. Here, since it seems it is just you an me, I hope you will realize I only have your best interests at the forefront in anything I may say.

To answer your question, yes, you are making this much more complicated than it is. You have a great size for a layout and much can be done with it, but you've failed, in my opinion, to do your homework and jumped into building too soon. If I was you, I would keep your track plan if you like it. The rest track locos and such, put aside for later. Next I would throw all the rest in the garbage. It works for me. I know there are others that are going to learn something here with your problems and we are in between layouts in my room so this might be fun. So, while I charge others $35 per hour for this advice I'm willing, for the good of the cause, to give you and the lookers help for free. This photo below shows the CORRECT way to begin a layout your size. Pictured is Woodland Scenic risers glue onto your track plan drawn on the board. Jim:)

IMG_4849_zps1yjownxh.png
 
I wish i could have the funds to do it that way. I don't. I think after the plaster is done it won't be too bad. Or i hope so. If it is crap then i will regroup somehow. Just don't know how i can do that. Stuff is not cheap. Just have to strain teh bucks out of the wallet. Sorry Jim. i know that isn't what you wanted to hear but free is free. The foam that is. I have the mountain somewhat close to what i want so the plaster and sculpturemold should do the rest for me.Then go from there.
 
Dan, No need to apologize. Trust me I know what lack of funds is all about. I'm lucky that my wife is still working. Here's a photo for others showing how simple folded newspaper works. When covered with plaster, one layer is okay for those on a budget, you get a nice covered layout. Notice how the risers are covered with one layer of plaster cloth providing a base for track bed then track. Jim:)

IMG_4855_zpsnuqse2fb.jpg
 
Thats cool Jim. Darn, wish i could do it that way. I would chuck teh foam in a minute! I will try and get it close. If i cover the foam all teh way will it come out somewhat like that? I hope. I want to add some peaks to the mountains and paper with plaster would do it it looks like. I plan to cover the whole layout with plaster. If i have too, i can take some of the pieces like those bridges out to get it right. That should take care of the little bb's and the paint has smoothed the foam out for some reason. Don't know why. anyway i am making slow progress on it. I am looking forward to teh plaster to see how the board and mountains will look then. Later Jim and thanks for the help. Dan
 


Dan and others, Now refer to the photo at the top of page 317 to see what the plaster cloth covered look looks like. When all plastered add your rocks or Sculptamold like this:

IMG_4879_zps7iogogu9.jpg


Easy peasy, Jim:)
 
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