Logan Valley
- Thread starter montanan
- Start date
ModelRailroadForums.com is a free Model Railroad Discussion Forum and photo gallery. We cover all scales and sizes of model railroads. Online since 2002, it's one of the oldest and largest model railroad forums on the web. Whether you're a master model railroader or just getting started, you'll find something of interest here.
What are you waiting for?!
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website (Learn More Here)
montanan
Whiskey Merchant
Got some work done today. First was trying to get the background tied into the layout. Sone bushed and a tree were put down along the backdrop.
Next a guard rail was put in along side the dropoff leading to a parking area by the boiler house for the roundhouse.
n
Next some work was started on the scrap yard. The forst picture is the before.
Next some hydrocal was put down to get the area leveled a bit better.
After the hydrocal dried, the surface was painted to get away from the dreaded white color.
The scrap piles were put into position where they could work and then ground cover was added, along with a road leading to the salvage yard.
A small shack will be built and put in behinf the front loader and a scale at the entrance the the yard. I have a numner of brass castings that till be painted and added to the junk pikes to hide the even edges of the piles. More weeds will be added and some sort of a fend I guess should be put in around the yard.
Enough for today. Going over to my daughters shortly for her birthday and visit the grand kids.
Nuff work for today.
Next a guard rail was put in along side the dropoff leading to a parking area by the boiler house for the roundhouse.
Next some work was started on the scrap yard. The forst picture is the before.
Next some hydrocal was put down to get the area leveled a bit better.
After the hydrocal dried, the surface was painted to get away from the dreaded white color.
The scrap piles were put into position where they could work and then ground cover was added, along with a road leading to the salvage yard.
A small shack will be built and put in behinf the front loader and a scale at the entrance the the yard. I have a numner of brass castings that till be painted and added to the junk pikes to hide the even edges of the piles. More weeds will be added and some sort of a fend I guess should be put in around the yard.
Enough for today. Going over to my daughters shortly for her birthday and visit the grand kids.
Nuff work for today.
Alan Curtis
Member
montanan
Whiskey Merchant
Over the holidays I finally found some time to get started on putting down the city streets in Logan. I sort of dreaded this as it was a new idea and didn't know if it would work.
With no hobbt shops in my area, I needed styrene sheets for the road surfaces so I went to the hardware store and got some cheap styrene "for sale " signs. There were painted a concrete color. Streets in the 40's and 50's were usually concrete. Once the signs were painted, the fun began. I already had the "city vlocks" painted and cut to size, so the centerline of the streets were found and transferred to the painted signs. What a pain in the a** that was.
The side streets in this town were asphalt, so a gray primer was used for this kind of surface. After a period of time, asphalt changes from black to gray. These pieces were painted and cut to fit. This was also a pain. The use of colorful words was also a factor. It took a bit of time, but worked out.
Next the seams in the concrete were added and the oily streaks you'll see down the center of driving lanes were added. I guess I should have used a dark gray chalk, but I really didn't want to make a 30+ mile round trip to town on snowy roads in sub zero temps, so I used black, what I had on hand.
The next thing that had to be done was cutting fitting and painting the sidewalks. This was also a bit of a pain. I managed to get some done around the freight station which along with being the Railway Express Agency, also house the offices of the Logan Valley. It was nice to get some ground cover down in front of the freight station and see plywood disappear. A couple of sage brush trees like the ones behind the station against the backdrop will be put in the lawn area. When the sidewalks are put in by the passenger station, a few trees will also be put in the "park" area.
Street lamps will also be added into the town at some point in the future as well as some lighting in the yard area.
At least a bit more progress has been made. Not many weekends left before the Daytona 500. We'll be headed south for that and NASCAR means that there will not be any work done on the layout on raceday.
With no hobbt shops in my area, I needed styrene sheets for the road surfaces so I went to the hardware store and got some cheap styrene "for sale " signs. There were painted a concrete color. Streets in the 40's and 50's were usually concrete. Once the signs were painted, the fun began. I already had the "city vlocks" painted and cut to size, so the centerline of the streets were found and transferred to the painted signs. What a pain in the a** that was.
The side streets in this town were asphalt, so a gray primer was used for this kind of surface. After a period of time, asphalt changes from black to gray. These pieces were painted and cut to fit. This was also a pain. The use of colorful words was also a factor. It took a bit of time, but worked out.
Next the seams in the concrete were added and the oily streaks you'll see down the center of driving lanes were added. I guess I should have used a dark gray chalk, but I really didn't want to make a 30+ mile round trip to town on snowy roads in sub zero temps, so I used black, what I had on hand.
The next thing that had to be done was cutting fitting and painting the sidewalks. This was also a bit of a pain. I managed to get some done around the freight station which along with being the Railway Express Agency, also house the offices of the Logan Valley. It was nice to get some ground cover down in front of the freight station and see plywood disappear. A couple of sage brush trees like the ones behind the station against the backdrop will be put in the lawn area. When the sidewalks are put in by the passenger station, a few trees will also be put in the "park" area.
Street lamps will also be added into the town at some point in the future as well as some lighting in the yard area.
At least a bit more progress has been made. Not many weekends left before the Daytona 500. We'll be headed south for that and NASCAR means that there will not be any work done on the layout on raceday.
Sirfoldalot
Days Gone Bye!
Just simply outstanding work, Chet!
The variety of vehicles and attention to detail is what I admire most about your work.
Maybe someday you will "detail" a few of the vehicles with a little road grime?
The variety of vehicles and attention to detail is what I admire most about your work.
Maybe someday you will "detail" a few of the vehicles with a little road grime?
Burlington Bob
Well-Known Member
Absolutely fantastic! I always like seeing pictures of your work, especially your trees. Very realistic!
logandsawman
Northern Pacific history enthusiast
I am going to assume you are referring to Chet's signature "sage brush" trees, and I agree that they are outstanding!
montanan
Whiskey Merchant
More progress
I have been busy down in the train room for the last few days trying to get more ground cover down and covering up plywood. It was a bit of a pain measuring and cutting the sidewalks but they finally got done. The ground cover has started going down for the houses on the edge of town. I managed to get the "park" area done yesterday.
A fence will be going in as soon as I find something to work behind the homes at the edge of the property against the tracks. Also, a couple of garages will have to be scratchbuilt at the end of the driveways of these two homes.
The last picture shows the difference.
I don't know if I will work on the other end of town first or get out some sagebrush and start making trees. A couple will be going in at the freight station and some in front of the passenger station and a few at the residences at the edge of town.
As soon as the glue dries for the gound cover it will be time to get out the shop vac and clean up the area.
I have been busy down in the train room for the last few days trying to get more ground cover down and covering up plywood. It was a bit of a pain measuring and cutting the sidewalks but they finally got done. The ground cover has started going down for the houses on the edge of town. I managed to get the "park" area done yesterday.
A fence will be going in as soon as I find something to work behind the homes at the edge of the property against the tracks. Also, a couple of garages will have to be scratchbuilt at the end of the driveways of these two homes.
The last picture shows the difference.
I don't know if I will work on the other end of town first or get out some sagebrush and start making trees. A couple will be going in at the freight station and some in front of the passenger station and a few at the residences at the edge of town.
As soon as the glue dries for the gound cover it will be time to get out the shop vac and clean up the area.
Burlington Bob
Well-Known Member
That's a phenomenal job! Can't wait to see the trees. Would you mind going a short step by step on how you make your trees? I'm sure there are plenty of others who would like to know, also.
Burlington Bob
Well-Known Member
What are you waiting for?!
logandsawman
Northern Pacific history enthusiast
That last shot showing the cars in the street and all the shops, etc. is extra cool--thanks for posting
Hawkesburytrain
Well-Known Member
This is unbelievable work and great inspiration for us beginners
Got a few questions for you
- In your latest town pictures, it seems that your layout in on a 4' wide bench, if so, how do you access the furthest areas?
- How long have you been working on the layout?
Thanks, I'll continue watching
Got a few questions for you
- In your latest town pictures, it seems that your layout in on a 4' wide bench, if so, how do you access the furthest areas?
- How long have you been working on the layout?
Thanks, I'll continue watching
montanan
Whiskey Merchant
As to your first question, this town is on the widest part of the layout for reach. It is 41 inches deep. I built a bench a long time ago to work on hard to reach areas, but when the track was going down, extra care was taken to make sure that derailments were kept to a minimum. Trains were backed through all of the sidings multiple times to see if there were any possible track problems. Backing a train will be the easiest way to find any trouble. 20 plus car long trains had no problems at all. For uncoupling I do use Kadee magnets and couplers. I am anal about keeping all the couplers properly maintained and all set to the proper height and have no problem with them at all. Turnouts are controlled manually using controls from Hump Yard Purveyence. No reaching is necessary to operate trains in the yard area.
(I still have my bench)
This layout was started over 25 years ago. I was disenchanted in my large N scale layout because the locomotives in the 70's for the most part were garbage, not like they are now. I started the layout hand laying code 70 rail, which is a lot smaller than the average code 100. I worked on the plan and stayed with it over the years. I am more interested in switching than running trains around the room, but with the use of hidden staging tracks can run trains continuously. I hit a glitch around the mid to late 80's. I have absolutely no hobby shops in my area at all. There weren't any internet retailers at the time so when we were on a road trip I kept a list with me and would stock up on what I could find and did with what I had. Thankfully in recent years, many on line retailers have really helped me move on with the layout. I did finish the layout with Shinohara code 70 turnouts and flex track.
Also, forums like this have been a help. I have seen a lot of different techniques and projects that I hadn't thought of to move forward.
We were all beginners at one time or another. Don't hesitate to ask any questions on the forum either. There are a lot of experienced modelers here (that were once beginners) that can help you. The only stupid question is the one that isn't asked.
Glad to have you on the forum.
(I still have my bench)
This layout was started over 25 years ago. I was disenchanted in my large N scale layout because the locomotives in the 70's for the most part were garbage, not like they are now. I started the layout hand laying code 70 rail, which is a lot smaller than the average code 100. I worked on the plan and stayed with it over the years. I am more interested in switching than running trains around the room, but with the use of hidden staging tracks can run trains continuously. I hit a glitch around the mid to late 80's. I have absolutely no hobby shops in my area at all. There weren't any internet retailers at the time so when we were on a road trip I kept a list with me and would stock up on what I could find and did with what I had. Thankfully in recent years, many on line retailers have really helped me move on with the layout. I did finish the layout with Shinohara code 70 turnouts and flex track.
Also, forums like this have been a help. I have seen a lot of different techniques and projects that I hadn't thought of to move forward.
We were all beginners at one time or another. Don't hesitate to ask any questions on the forum either. There are a lot of experienced modelers here (that were once beginners) that can help you. The only stupid question is the one that isn't asked.
Glad to have you on the forum.
Last edited by a moderator:
montanan
Whiskey Merchant
Some more progress has been made in the town of Logan. Pavement has been put down between the Sinclair station and the Potato warehouse and a small parking lot has been added at the end of the building behind the gas stations for workers at the warehouse have a place to park. A pad for the fuel loading area has also been installed.
Some more grass, weeds and ground cover will be added to this area.
I finally got some sagebrush trees made (in another post) and installed in front of the freight station and the passenger station.
The work continues. Things will probably slow down for a bit when I head to Daytona Beach for the 500 shortly.
Some more grass, weeds and ground cover will be added to this area.
I finally got some sagebrush trees made (in another post) and installed in front of the freight station and the passenger station.
The work continues. Things will probably slow down for a bit when I head to Daytona Beach for the 500 shortly.
Burlington Bob
Well-Known Member
A chance to rest on your laurels.........well deserved, I might add!
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website (Learn More Here)