Christmas came a couple days early at my house today. The UPS guy showed up with my package of scenery materials. I tore in and went right to work adding some cypress trees in the distance, some smaller trees, bushes, cat tails, and my first attempt with static grass. I'm going to let the glue dry overnight and plan to pour the water tomorrow.

I sure wish I had a hobby shop close by. Scenery items don't always look the same in person as they did online or in the catalog. I need to make a road trip to a well stocked hobby shop soon!!!!

Track plans

When I first started the blog, I posted my track plans for the layout. Those plans got lost with my blog photos got deleted. I'm posting them  again so that you can see the areas I'm working in. The pics are small on the blog but if you download them you should be able to zoom way in to see the track plan better.


This first one is the lower deck where the two main yards are. It models the ex-GM&O line from West Point to Meridian.

Next is the Port of Greenville which is on the West end of the Columbus and Greenville line. This is a middle deck that is above the stairwell and along the wall to the left of the stairs.

The upper deck models the original IC line that ran from West Point and on through Ackerman then the ex-GM&O line that crossed at Ackerman and ran to Louisville.

Life comes to the Aberdeen Sub

I jumped head first into scenery today and have the first layers applied to my Southern/ICG crossing area. I'm still waiting on some more materials to come in the mail. Hopefully they will make it tomorrow. I really want to add some more trees to the backdrop area but it's very shallow. Where the lead loco is only has about 4" to the backdrop. As you go further to the left, the tracks get closer to the backdrop until they go through. So, not sure how I'm going to add in more trees to form a dense vegetative wall as you see along the rural right-of-ways down South.

Overview of crawford

Here's an overall view of the corner of the layout where Crawford Grain is located. When you step back from it, the complex looks small and compact.

Crawford Grain

Work continues in Crawford. I've got most of the major structures in place. Time to add the details!

Here's a look at the prototype. I'm going to get close but it won't be exact.

As I work around the layout with my scenery base, I come to Crawford Grain. Since I can't do the scenery without the structures in place, I decided that it was time to get to building on a grain elevator. I've gotten a good start on the complex at the workbench. The large grain bin is scratch built, the rest of the bins are Walthers kits. Also, the car loading platform is scratch built. I've also got to scratch build some more loading platforms, and some grain chutes for loading cars.

Second attempt at ballast

My second attempt at laying ballast went much better. This time I used Arizona Rock & Mineral's ballast. It went down much easier and held it's color. I've applied some Bragdon Weathering power to give a weathered look. Still got work to do but it's getting there. I will say that I'm not a fan of laying ballast yet.