The greenbrier logging and coal co

[OleSmokey]

I didn't like the shape of that big mountain so i went to cutting and shaping it more to my liking. I need to build up the mountain or big hill, whatever you want to call it on the right of the photos . I want two mountains between the logging camp. Logging camp to be in a valley. Well, Thats the plan. I will get to that this evening. I have a doctors appointment this afternoon so i won't start it up till after dinner. Shots below, Laters

 

[OleSmokey]

I am running out of supplys here so i will have to wait till i can work on the mountains. I foamed as much as i can so i wil wait for a couple of days for it to dry. In the time being i will work on the yard so i can run a train around the mains to make sure i don't have any issues. a couple of shots of that foam below. I will take a few of the yard. i still has half the yard tore apart. Fun..yeah that! Laters

 

[OleSmokey]

Well, Things are going south today. I had some of the little short Kato track pieces break so i had to order more. Now i am waiting for plaster cloth, Glue sticks and now track pieces. The list keeps getting bigger for some reason.... Only other thing i can do is clean track so i can try out the main line.

 

[OleSmokey]

Well now, Glue sticks came in..finally! Still nothing on the track and plaster. Maybe tomorrow. I think track pieces will be last. I got the front part of the layout ready for plaster. I have more work on the back side to do yet. Can do that this evening. Its getting there, slow but sure. maybe by the end of the month i will have plaster..maybe... Shots below, Laters

 

[OleSmokey]

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I am running into issues with the track. The connections for turnouts and some of the track is lifting up and causing cars jumping track or Just stopping on the track. The yard is a mess. Its really bad. Gonna do some soldering in the yard and a couple of other places to try and keep it smooth. I got the low temp solder and couldn't (so far) find flux for it. That way i don't deform the connectors when i solder them together. Most of the stuff i got came in so i can start plaster cloth but i want to get that track soldered first. I am getting there slowly. Laters

 

[OleSmokey]

Halt!! I got the yard done but for 3-4 pieces and when they get here i can put the rest of the yard together. The main issue here is this... All the track is perfect and now soldered down and flat. When i got to this side ran into a issue i haven't had before. The turnout on the bottom of the photos is the baddie. The upper turnout and track is right on. So.. How do i find a stretch track tool !!!?? Its off by 3/16" on that bigger gap and around 3/32' maybe or could be 1/16" but whatever.. what happened. I went back and tried to find another spot that was off, but everything is dead on perfect! These are two turnouts put together. Pics below, help!

 

[logandsawman]

That is an easy fix in HO, maybe a little tougher in N

Cut a little piece of wood, or use scale 2 x 6 or whatever fits and fit it in the gap. I did a similar thing on mine and surprised how well it worked!

make it about the same width as your track. I read the trick on this forum, I think it was Ken DJ that suggested it and I thought he was joking!

For bigger spaces in flex track, I cut the piece shorter and put a new filler piece in there.

 

[OleSmokey]

Not sure if that would work with Kato or not. I did finally find the issue away up from where i had trouble. I need to get more short pieces of that kato track. They make them in 3/4" and up to 11/2". along with a couple of other sizes that are small for fillers. They have 4 sizes below 2 inch. They are somewhere in mail land hiding. I have so much happening here that i haven't had much time for trains. My main issue is that i have used these pieces on three other layouts and then pulled up again. I have 14 turnouts that are i guess are getting ugly and reused shorter stuff and they break pretty easy. Flex them more till they fall apart. I got about 6 pieces that did just that. I got 10 pieces coming. Waiting for pony express..

 

[OleSmokey]

My Nephew took a fall and ended up in the hospital so haven't got a lot done. He should be back home today if the doctors can agree. Between being with him and sleeping, I got a bit done but not done yet. I did get the pieces of kato track and with a bit of luck, it came together perfect. At most there maybe a crack less than a 32" inch so i like it. I need to finish soldering the track yet so i have it pinned in place. After that i can glue down in place. Shots below.

 

[OleSmokey]

I switched directions. I decided that i wanted to do some work on the mountain. I went through one roll already. Have maybe 1/4 to 1/3 done. I think i am going to be needing more plaster... Shots of some of the fun. Those mountains in the front are not finished yet. More plaster. maybe tomorrow. See how i feel. Shots below

 

[OleSmokey]

I got a lot more done today! All the front part is finished but for the rock faces and outcrops. The back side will be next but i want the front to dry for awhile before i do it. Shots below

 

[OleSmokey]

I got one little spot to fix but its done. I like it. Came out pretty much the way i wanted. Paint will be next. Yep. Then i can clean off all the track and run a train around the layout. Shots of the finished mountains below

 

[logandsawman]

I got one little spot to fix but its done. I like it. Came out pretty much the way i wanted. Paint will be next. Yep. Then i can clean off all the track and run a train around the layout. Shots of the finished mountains below

Nice! didn't realize the mine was going in there, guess I am not a very good reader, makes perfect sense.

 

[OleSmokey]

Mine? It is supposed to be a logging camp. I gave up on the coal mine. Not enough room for it. That said, I can't change the name of the thread so it is still listing both. Sorry about that!

 

[OleSmokey]

Snow gone, Mud left Got to get more paints. I ran out of grey. Low on paint so to the store i go. Its starting to look like a mountain. Shots below

 

[logandsawman]

Mine? It is supposed to be a logging camp. I gave up on the coal mine. Not enough room for it. That said, I can't change the name of the thread so it is still listing both. Sorry about that!

I was looking at the pic and thought it was a mine, one of those smaller kits that fits in small places. Not only am I a poor reader, I am also sometimes a poor seer.

 

[OleSmokey]

hehehe. Me too sometimes. I wanted to have a coal mine and have the plans to build it but thats pretty much gone. I would need a even larger layout to get the mine into this layout.Maybe some other time...
I got a couple of more shots showing the rock formations. Lots more to go. Having fun so thats what counts.

 

[OleSmokey]

Got more. I sprayed the grey on and it needs another coat i think. Its coming along the way i want. All that will be left is trees and grasses and moss. Still need to finish the rock molds yet. But its close right now. I am starting to get the spray gun to work the way i need. Shots below

 

[OleSmokey]

Started making molds today but found out i am missing a tool to make the deep cuts. Will try it again tomorrow. I got a couple of shots of this fun. One other thing is the drywall mud is not drying fast. Its 83 degrees and 41% humidity. Been four hours and some of the pink is still there.

 

[OleSmokey]

I found the tool so i went back to try it again. Shots below.