Construction Update #10 - Scenery Base on the Upper Level

Painters Paper Scenery Base

Over the last month or so, I have been looking at alternatives to traditional methods of creating scenery.  I needed something to protect the lower level, that was lightweight, quick and easy, and relatively inexpensive.  On the Sn3 layout a solid pink foam base covered by a layer of plaster cloth worked great.  But, the cost associated with using all that pink foam was something I really needed to avoid this time around.  One of the "you tubers" (railfan220), as my grandson Adam calls those of us who spend way to much time looking at video/s, came up with the idea of using painter's paper over cardboard webbing to create a scenery base.  As it turned out, I used one sheet of 1" pink foam, 5 or 6 cardboard boxes, and one roll of painters paper to cover the entire second level.  Total cost, less than $50.00 including the glue.  Eventually, I will probably cover the painters paper with a layer of plaster cloth and a layer of earth colored latex house paint before adding ground cover, vegetation, trees, and other details.
 
Here is what it looks like when its done.  Not bad, huh?

The process starts with drawing a ridge line on the backdrop with a black felt pin.  Then pink foam  profile supports, spaced about 6-8" apart are glued in place using hot glue.  Next, cardboard strips are glued in place along the ridge line.  These were cut, across the corrugations, using a flat bed paper cutter.

The cardboard strips are then bent down, roughly following the contour of foam profile boards, and glued to the edge of the roadbed.  The lower level is done the same way; first gluing to the side of the roadbed and then to the side of the lower roadbed. 

The webbing is next.  Since this picture was taken, several months ago, I have found that gluing a cardboard strip along the top of the webbing, next to the backdrop, is a good idea.  It helps to have a smooth service on the upper edge when applying the painters paper.

Painters paper is available in most hardware stores.  I bought this roll at my local Ace Hardware.  It comes in various sizes and it was marked "for latex paints".  This roll cost about $7.00.

Unlike the webbing, I found that it was easier to start at the bottom.  I wadded up the painters paper and then folded over the lower side by about a 1/4".  A bead of carpenters glue was put down along the edge of the roadbed and the painters paper was pressed into the glue.

I normally let the glue set up for two or three hours before trimming off the top, running a bead of glue down the sides of the painters paper and along the top of the webbing.  The painters paper is then stretched out and pressed into place.

The summit at Crockett, before:

After:

It's surprising how sturdy the end result is and now I don't have to worry about anything dropping through the bench work and damaging something on the lower level.  I spread the work over a week or so but the entire upper level could probably have done in a couple of weekends.

Note:  Since I started this process, I have run across a couple of other examples of this type of scenery base.  Several skipped the pink foam profile boards in favor of just using the cardboard webbing.  Unless you plan to use multiple layers of plaster cloth, over the painters paper, I don't recommend omitting the pink foam profile boards.  I tried it and the end result was easily deformed and not nearly as strong.

On the work desk

 

I am slowly back dating the layout into the mid to late 1980's.  As a result, I picked up a couple of  Chessie units off ebay.   Both are my preferred Atlas "Master Series" locomotives, a GP40-2 and a B30-7.  The GP40-2 was a real bargain but the previous owner had really butchered the cab by trying to attach the sun shades and wind deflectors with ACC.  By the time I got all the ACC cleaned off the cab, It needed a repaint.  It also had a 21 pin adapter for a sound deoder which was all fine and dandy until I discovered there was no easy way to install a "current keeper" along with the new 21 pin Tsunami2 decoder.  As it turns out, the "current keeper" can be soldered onto the Atlas motherboard or the Tsunami2 (Soundtraxx technical support) but the work requires a tiny soldering iron and some serious magnification.  I've ordered the soldering iron from Nngineering so I guess I will give it a try.  Since the GP40-2's were the last locomotives purchased by Chessie, before the CSX merger, it has been lightly weathered.

The B30-7 is a simpler project.  It arrived in perfect condition so all it really needed was some moderate weathering and the installation of  the sound system.  I usually sacrifice the rear lighting in order to install the largest speaker and enclosure possible and preserve the weight.  It will get a PNP Tsunami2, a TCS KA1 or KA2 current keeper, and scale #58 couplers.  Both locomotives should be ready for service in the next couple of weeks.

 

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Construction Update #9 - Preston Miller (Bowling Green) Yard & Rolling Stock

Preston Miller Yard

 

The last two weeks have been spent working on Preston Miller Yard in Bowling Green.  All the track and electrical is in on the east end of the yard and the engine facility.  The west end will have to wait for additional materials due to arrive next week.

 Looking west.   

Looking east.  The Southern Kentucky Feed & Grain elevator (red structure) is new.

As each section of the layout come online, I like to run a train.  Not only does running a train insure the newly laid track is bug free and functional, it's fun.  And, the satisfaction of seeing something move inspires me to keep building.  Noticing that the yard was pretty full, I decided a eastbound BGC-1 was in order.

BGC-1 is a eastbound Bowling Green to Chattanooga general merchandise freight.  A quick survey of the engine facility revealed that plenty of power was available

Two recently shopped U30-C's and a CSX B23-7 are the power. The "Bigs", as the U30's are refferred to by MBG&C crews, will be required for the 2.25% ruling grades between Westmoreland and the summit at Crockett.  Coupled on to the first half of their train, the units are about to double over to the adjoining track and pick up their remaining cars.

Ex Chessie System bay window caboose brings up bottom of the train as BGC-1 departs Preston Miller Yard in Bowling Green for Chattanooga.

Rolling Stock

 

In the last update, I included several pictures of my rolling stock.  Those cars, for the most part, were higher end rather delicate models from Intermountain, Athearn Genesis and Atlas.  For an operating layout, where rolling stock is likely to get handled, I like many of the more entry level cars with cast on details.  Walthers Mainline. Accurail, Stewart/Bowser, Atlas Trainman and some Athearn/Roundhouse cars fall into this category.

Norfolk Southern 17734 is a old Roundhouse car.  The stirrup steps have been replaced and it has been weathered with Bragdon Enterprises powdered pigments and some light airbrushing.  Kadee #58 couplers and metal wheel sets have also been added.

Southern 557 is a Walthers Mainline car "right out of the box" RTR car with replacement Kadee #58 couplers and metal wheelsets.  It was lightly weathered using Bragdon pigments and a airbrush.

Here is the Accurail version of the same car.  I had never seen a picture of the prototype with green doors so I fired off a email to Accurail asking about the doors.  It turns out, the prototype doors were originally unpainted aluminum which appeared green in the photograph Accurail used as a reference to paint the doors.  To their credit, Accurail painted up some replacement doors and sent them to me.  I kind of liked the green doors so I decided to leave them on the three cars I had already built.  I have several more of these kits so any future builds will have the correct color doors,  Again, the original wheel sets and couplers were replaced.

Penn Central #888248 is another Accurail car.  Again, all that been done is to change out the couplers and wheel sets and add a little weathering.

And finally, here is a Athearn Genesis car that was weathered by a young friend of mine, David Howland.  Its really nice to see young modelers this talented.  Fortunately, David has the support of both his parents when it comes to pursuing the hobby.  Dave and his father Roy prefer more modern equipment so you probably won't see one of these rolling around on the new layout they are building in their basement.