Running Bear's Coffee Shop LIX

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D&J RailRoad said:
Great looking backdrops. My railroad region is the southwest United States. The backdrop will be desert and distant mountains. I've looked at the commercial backdrops but they will cost about $3K to do the whole basement. I recall an article in Model Railroad magazine of a couple years ago on doing your own backdrop. I would have to make a trip down to Arizona to shoot my stills then apply them and have them printed by a local print shop. The one thing I'm having trouble with is the top edge of the backdrop. Getting the sky the same color as the painted wall will be difficult.
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Simple solution , cut the sky out of all the backdrops with a Exacto knife. Paint the sky in then mount the bacdrops.
 
Good Sunday Morning Everybody. 55° and overcast this morning. Getting into the high 60's for the next few days then it's heating season.
I'm glad that everyone could enjoy the model railroading rules that I posted the other day. As I said, I can't take credit for originating them, all I did was edit and correct spelling!
Speaking of Jeffery Wimberly, aka Running Bear; was anyone else here a member of his forum, "Rails of the World"? I was but can no longer log-in for some reason. Log-in and registration have been disabled. It was still functional about a year ago. Probably quit paying the bill.
Out in the train shed yesterday, I painted windows on another structure; ssssh, don't anyone tell Sherrel! It's a simple "Smalltown" structure that I can't remember the name of. Destined to go into the small town urban scene that I have been posting pictures of.

Karl - Great backdrops. I hope that one day to be that close, right now everything is just blue paint.
Ken in Md - Your backdrops look very good as well. Reminds me of the ones on Tom Johnson's layout. He is known as "INRAIL" over on the MRH forum.
Garry - Not to forget you either. I have started experimenting with adding pictures to backdrops. Those that "Tomkat" posted here a few years back are where I am starting.
Ken (D&J) - I don't envy you on your backdrops. Like someone posted yesterday, that would be like painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel! Good luck as I know that you will do a good job.

Well, gotta go. Everybody have a great day.

Willie
 
D&J RailRoad said:
Great looking backdrops. My railroad region is the southwest United States. The backdrop will be desert and distant mountains. I've looked at the commercial backdrops but they will cost about $3K to do the whole basement. I recall an article in Model Railroad magazine of a couple years ago on doing your own backdrop. I would have to make a trip down to Arizona to shoot my stills then apply them and have them printed by a local print shop. The one thing I'm having trouble with is the top edge of the backdrop. Getting the sky the same color as the painted wall will be difficult.
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I have a friend, who lives in Tuscon, that is a photographer and magazine publisher, and he likes to go out and take scenic photos. I can ask him if he has anything like what I think you'd be looking for, and how much he'd charge for copies of the photos. It would certainly be cheaper than driving or flying to Arizona just to take pictures.
 
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Hello gents,
I'm back in the hospital again. Came to er Fri night after blood came out my belly stoma hole. Meedless to say i am here and not happy -about anything.
I'm still alive snd that is about it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
Things are busy here in 'Running Bears' shop this morning. Winter has arrived in sunny SoCal. It's a brisk 43 this morning with a high of 57 forecast and mostly cloudy and windy. Had a very nice rain yesterday afternoon and evening - upwards of 1/2 to 1 inch with the possibility of another shower today.

ERIC - Sure sorry to hear of your continuing problems. I am still holding out for some good news. Hang in there .. We are all praying for you!

It's great to see the different backdrops that you guys have completed. They sure add to a layouts visual impact. Ken in VA ... wish I had known you were needing SW photos - I could have sent you a bunch from our two trips back to Albuquerque. I made a few, but it would have been so easy to do some panoramic shots. I have been trying to figure out a way for you to construct your bridge. Solid brass still is not going to be easy to solder unless you actually braise the heavier stuff - then it will hold together to solder the smaller pieces. I have that MR issue on backdrops - do you need it?
 
Good morning Everybody!

Busy morning here, playing accountant, than Santa, (Santa likes online shopping!) Got some bread dough ready to bake. Took my Mom shopping and made some scrambled eggs with smoked sausage. I used rendered turkey fat to make the eggs instead of butter and everybody loved them! I don't waste anything, my kids do enough of that.

E I am sorry to hear you are still having troubles, hang tough buddy.

Have a great day Everybody!
 
Good morning. We have cloudy skies up here with 35 degrees to start off the day.

Eric - Sorry to hear that you are having more problems. Hoping that you are able to put up with all of the problems you have been having. Any idea of how much longer the chemo will last. Pulling for you.

Ken D&J - I can understand the expense of a commercial backdrop. I know I couldn't afford one when I started my layout. I can remember the huge improvement that Dave made to his layout in Wisconsin with the one he installed. Too bad he hade to tear out his layout, but a new job did require a move. Have you thought about trying to find someone local to pain the backdrop for your layout. Perhaps you could stop by a couple of art supply shops and put out the word about what you need in the way of a backdrop. Artists usually like to show their creativity. Just a thought.

Louis - Sound like you're on a mission today. Sounds like some great food.

I want to thank modelbob for turning Tap Talk back on. My computer is usually off at home and it is so much easier to keep up with the forums with it turned on.

Later.
 
I kept that copy of MR magazine for reference, but bottom line, it's just a matter of blending layers of background. I have the computer horsepower to do it. I have it around here somewhere, just can't put my hands on it right now.
I'm heading out now to ride over to a friends man cave to watch some football and smoke cigars. Maybe I'll run trains tonight when I get home.
 
Good afternoon all. Taking the day off from working on the layout.

Talking about backdrops, when I started my layout, I knew what I wanted for my backdrop, I wanted all 4 seasons and they had to blend together. I spend so many hours on the net looking for high resolution panoramic pictures, but never found what I was exactly looking for.

I decided to take my own pictures since I thought I was good with Photoshop, but it became so time consuming that I dropped that idea. Since I need about 170' of backdrop, I looked up those that sell them and found out that it would cost an arm an a leg for what I wanted.

I finally found someone who was willing to take the time to match everything to what I needed and that I would only buy the paper print, no glue or self adhesive. The final cost for 170' would be equivalent to 4 locomotives, but all worth it, because I'm no artist, save on paint, work and probably having to redo stuff.

All I had to do is send him a picture of what I needed.

View attachment 59490

I should be getting my first 210" this week

Ken, I built a valance which solves the problem of not having to match the backdrop to the blue wall.

View attachment 59491
Now I'm going to watch some real football, the CFL Grey Cup........lol
Later all.
 


Afternoon All,

Spent a couple of hours in the train room today. I ended up replacing 2 of the 3 street lights (luckily I had extras) so they all work now. I also soldered the 3 LED's for my next signal head and mounted the bottom one that is the real pain. I left it to dry overnight and tomorrow I will mount the other two LED assemblies.

There has been a great discussion about back drops. I started out with the pre-made ones but decided I didn't like them, probably I didn't have enough space to give them perspective. I removed them and made my own version of hills. It was tedious and messy but cheap.

Chet- Great looking locos, and outstanding on the 300 game. I think the best I have ever done was 246 or 250, but that was many years ago when MOH and I were in military base leagues.

Terry- I could imagine the rivet counters heads imploding while watching that video.:rolleyes:

Karl- Very nice layout pictures.

Garry- Great job on back drops. One of the prototype modeling events I have attended had a presenter showing the construction of his layout (on the lines of D&J RR). He had a photo backdrop made that cost him thousands. MOH is pretty supportive, but....

Ken- Great layout pics.

D&J- Would it be easier to change the wall color above the layout?

Eric- I am so sorry to hear you are back in the hospital. Hang tough buddy (I know you will).

I hope everyone has a good night.
 
Good afternoon fellers. I reckon I'll put my two cents in here. I don't run backdrops. I'm not against them and I'm sure I would have them if I was building a bigger layout. Funny thing here is my wife knows there is going to be another build in the future. I'm not going big until I have planted my roots in a home that i call my own. Eric. I am sorry you are back in the hospital. I do hope you get better soon.

Sent from my LGLS675 using Tapatalk
 
Eric, sorry things are rough now but hang in there........it will get better.

Chet, congratulations on another perfect game........quite an accomplishment.

WV Ken, nice crane. Is it a Grove or Leibherr?

Ken in Maryland, love the picture of the Cat loader and Terex haul truck.......very realistic.

Willie, love the rules for MRR..........very true.

Great backdrops by everyone.

I know I didn't get everyone and that some of this is old........but so am I. Getting ready to pack my things and head back up north. About a two hour and forty five minute drive. I was there for ten months about two and a half years ago when we were building the units. It got down to -31° that winter. I hope I never see temperatures like that again! This was supposed to be two or three weeks of 40's. Started off at 60 hours a week quite a while ago. Not complaining, just getting a little tired. This has been another good year. Now, if I can just get a couple more too ones before I retire!
View attachment 59493
Be careful everyone and have a good week!
 
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Back home from the man cave. Watched the Baltimore game. Cold ride back home, about 30 miles in upper 40s.
Lots of avenues for doing the backdrops. My ceiling is 9 1/2', so a valence would be extensive.
 
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A valence that extended to the ceiling would have too heavy a look to it and create a very confining atmosphere in the layout room. As it has been shown it covers lighting and helps keep dust at bay on the layout. Disadvantage, the dust settles on top.
 


Good evening!

E I kept you in my thoughts all afternoon, I hope you are doing better.

I capped off my busy day with some work that I could bill for. A productive first Sunday of Advent for me. I better take it easy tomorrow. One day on one day off is better than everyday off. I enjoyed my busy self today.

E I bet it will be sooner rather than later that you get back to your epic busy days. I know first hand it's hard sitting on the sidelines, but try to stay positive and keep yourself distracted. Charm the nurses or something like that I know you are good at.

Sherrel must be busy with Christmas decorations.

Speaking of Christmas decorations; I saw a guy putting lights all over the walls of his little townhouse on a small side street in the Federal Hill area of south Baltimore, western side of the Baltimore Harbor near where George W. Bush's daughter use to live, high dollar neighborhood. He reminded me of Chevy Chase in Christmas Vacation. He had enough lights for a house 10 times bigger. They won't need street lights on his block. I bet some of his high class neighbors won't be pleased. Kind of like Todd and Margo.

Good night Everybody!
 
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