Layout Progress as of 2/21/2010

The basic scenery has been completed at Emerson!



The video above and the photos below show all of the work that was completed as part of the Second Annual International Winter Layout Party on TrainBoard.

» Photos

A trio of six-axle units lead northbound autorack train Q210 through the turnout at the south end of the Emerson passing siding:



Here is an overhead view of the same autorack train at the same location from the previous photo. In the distance, a very short southbound local is holed up in the siding:



The two trains meet on the bridge over I-75. The local is led by a pair of GP15-1 locomotives, including an ex-Conrail unit still wearing the full colors of Big Blue:



Q210 winds its way around Emerson Curve. This area will be almost completely covered by kudzu once the vegetation scenery layer is added:



Continuing around Emerson curve, Q210 is passing the future location of the US 41 overpass. Old US 41 / current GA 293, officially part of the historical Dixie Highway, will run along the tracks in this area:



Q210 is stretched out through the town of Emerson:



Here is an overview of the current Emerson scene:



For comparison, photo showing the same area before scenery work began:



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Layout Progress as of 2/14/2010

I have now completed week eight of nine weeks of the Second Annual International Winter Layout Party on TrainBoard. Just one more week to go! Progress continues on the Emerson, GA scene of the layout as shown in the series of photos below. This week I completed the final terrain contours by applying a thin layer of Sculptamold (1/8" to 1/4" thick) over the hardened plaster cloth. I then began painting the final textured dirt color over the scenery base.

» Photos

This photo shows an area where Sculptamold is being applied over the dried plaster cloth hardshell. In the foreground, you can see the bare plaster cloth and how it visibly has sagged a bit into the gaps in the supporting cardboard web. Sculptamold has been applied in the distance, resulting in a more natural ground contour while still retaining a roughness that is ideal for the final terrain base:



In this photo, I have applied the base terrain color at South Emerson. Compare the beautiful red Georgia clay in the foreground to the stark white plaster scenery in the distance:



Finally, here is the newest addition to the Dixie Line locomotive roster, a hot-off-the-presses Kato SD70ACe wearing CSX YN3 colors and road number 4842. Aside from the yellowish lights (visible in the photo below), this unit is an excellent runner and yet another superb N-scale release from Kato:



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Layout Progress as of 2/7/2010

I have now completed week seven of nine weeks of the Second Annual International Winter Layout Party on TrainBoard. I just realized the WLP is nine weeks long this year instead of eight, which is excellent since I still have a good bit of work to get done in order to meet all of my stated goals. Progress continues on the Emerson, GA scene of the layout as shown in the series of photos below. This week I finished all of the hardshell terrain using plaster cloth and actually applied Sculptamold to about 1/3 of the entire scene.

» Photos

My daughter applies Sculptamold over the completed hardshell terrain at North Emerson:



The next three photos show the completed hardshell terrain at South Emerson, Emerson Curve and North Emerson. Sculptamold has been applied to the entire South Emerson area:







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