HO 80s/90s CSX, NS, & Conrail layout resurrection.

[minitnkr]

Thank you gentlemen. Concrete road/driveways, rubber crossing completed. Working sidewalks, still thinking about tunnel/mountain.




C&Cs encouraged. PaulE

[Mini Me]

Hi Paul.....the industry all looks good and the paved area and concrete work are really nice. I am assuming that the proverbial Mt. would go behind the mine, with the tunnel portal on the outside track of the inner loop...........or am I confused? Rick H.

[scottie3158]

Paul,
Love what you have done so far mate.

[Tim Marlow]

This is building up nicely isn’t it. Lots to look at. Just out of interest, are you going to paint the rail sides? Looks like you might have already done so on the industrial sidings.

[minitnkr]

Thanks guys.
Rick, there will be a double track portal on both sides of the complex which is cut into the proposed masif (mountain or mountains).
Tim, I've used brass track for industrial sidings so they look old & nickel/silver for the runs for reliability. Some of the reclaimed n/s flextrack from previous layouts are painted when I experimented w/AB. There is so much track I probably won't paint it except where it calls out to me. PaulE

[JR]

Gets more exciting with each posting Paul. Love it.

[minitnkr]

Well I couldn't put it off any longer, so took the leap & started the mountain at the mine entrance while waiting for ballast to dry.

C&Cs welcomed. PaulE

[Mini Me]

It will be tight but I think you can handle that Paul.......should provide a nice back drop to the mine area. Rick H.

[minitnkr]

I've built mountains out of chicken wire & wallpaper paste soaked newspaper, plywood profiles & window screen covered in plaster, and now styrofoam. I don't think this is going to work out. It makes a horrible mess, is not very strong & comes in several sizes of cell, the larger of which doesn't model well. I'll probably use a couple methods as I'll need access to the curve in case of derailments. PaulE

[Mini Me]

Can you access it from the back side or does that have to be closed off for viewing? Also, will the mountain block your view of any rail activity in the back ground?.....I'm sure you have considered your options I'm just trying to "visualize" your concept. You are right about styrofoam......the only way to work it without mess is to "hot knife" sculpt it. Rick H.

[minitnkr]

I plan to have two access panels on the back side like you said as my plan was to have like a saddle between two massifs just high enough to contain the tunnel.
The original plan had the control panel between the elevator/industrial area & the MOW/commercial area so the mountain wasn't in the way of any view, but I couldn't reach the back industrial siding then, so moved it to the current location where the mountain will be in the way of viewing the south staging switch in the cut, and the elevator & run-around switches on the ridge. My solution is to find a walk-around controller for the yard work & use the existing controller for the continuous run as I can view the two staging areas from there. I did not foresee using this much styrofoam so didn't invest in a hot knife:smiling:. PaulE

[Mini Me]

Hi Paul, sounds to me like you have a pretty good handle on it.......I'm standing by to see how this develops........moggle on. Rick H. :thumb2:

[minitnkr]

Blocking out possible mountain(s) & portal positions. C&Cs encouraged. PaulE

[Strenko J]

Good God Paul this is just looking fantastic… Really brings back some good memories for me. Keep up the great work and keep it coming

[minitnkr]

Some progress. PaulE