N•RAIL Trains Running - August 2nd, 2018

Video of my rains actually running. A friend of mine wanted to see some train action. Not that my droning on about my layout plans is a bore.

Right? :::grin:::







VIDEO:

July 2018 Update: A whole lot of little things

Well, not a whole lot to report of late. My recent layoff gave me a lot more time to work on the layout, but I've been spending the time looking for a new job and worrying about finding a new job instead. :::grin:::  The funny thing is, if I worked on the layout more, I'd probably be less stressed about the job front. Go figure.

UPDATE VIDEO:






Today's music for the post:

My daughter wanted to run trains around the other day and I dropped everything and set it up for her. I had just cleaned the track a few days earlier, so it was a rather successful time for her. I was impressed by the care she was taking to keep the trains running at a slower speed. I've talked to them about it in the past, but she really remembered.



The other thing was to remember that the big take away I want for her is to have fun with it. I basically kept my mouth shut and enjoyed her enjoyment of seeing things go around. She also re-noticed that she, her sisters, and her brother all have spaces on the layout in the downtown section.
(( You can see her spy them in the video )) Pretty cute to see her light up and say, "Hey...there's my toy shop...and Sen's candy shop..."  :)

I've started working on the coverage project for this summer. I'd like to have all the bare spaces covered with scenery by the end of the summer. I think I can do it. I'm going to spend 30 to 45 minutes a day on it if I can. Just knock it out little by little. It's going to be good for my recharging as well.

So, for now I move forward, pace myself, and make sure I'm only working on the layout when the mood is right. That's another thing that's come up. There are times I'll be working on the layout, but I won't FEEL like working on it. That just causes frustration. As soon as that happens, I make sure I walk away. I want this to be fun, not work.

Some of the bare spots I was talking about in the shot above. I want to make sure no bare deck areas are showing by the end of summer! :)

I plan to add many, many more people soon!

The harbor area needs to be a bit more busy. 

Thanks for reading! 

Kiwamura Residential - Urban Renewal in Full Swing!

Just some photos of the streets and residential progress in Kiwamura.

Music for the post. :)


So, I had a lot of mess left over from my previous build, so i used the wood shingle method and just went over the top of the mess with foam core! :) Problem solved. And, I won't be using that glue to put things down anymore. My new method is the use of caulk to lock things down. It comes up MUCH easier than Elmer's style white glue.

It's fun when a train rolls by on the hill above the town.

The bare hills were making me crazy, so I got to work on adding Woodland Scenics goodness into the mix. Ah...lovely foliage.

I gave this cool product a shot as well. A rubber sheet that has a brick pattern on it. The sticky back made application very easy. It's not super easy to cut, but a sharp blade goes through it relatively easily.

And another thing ticked off my list - a roadway that dips down under tracks.

I'm going to end up using some dulling spray or the like on the road I think. It's a bit shiny, though that will change over time. If I want to up the level of this area later, I'll be able to just remove the current panels, then lay in new ones as needed. But, we'll see how things go once I'm done with the scenic elements and road markings. The intersection area is going to take some heavy reference searching.

I'm happy with the progress. I'm starting to get back to a level where I can get into adding people, cars, and all the little scene elements I really enjoy! And, having the new track setup is adding way more train enjoyment into the mix as well. Good stuff.

Thanks for reading!

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Sneaking some hobby time in in February

Another quicky update from the world of N•RAIL.


Firstly....a fuzzy video. :)

The mountain was a PAIN to reach, but I got phase one done.

I came up with a process to cut foam core into the odd spaces of my layout. Worked like a charm! First, I took copy paper and folded it into the space I was trying to fill. I taped the pages together once it was in place. 

Then I just used that as a template and cut and sprayed the foam core. Fit perfectly. 

I did the same process for this section as well.  I wanted to get rid of the Uniplates here because they were more work than I wanted to get them to work in the odd shaped space. A solid, foam core space is going to be much easier to deal with.

I did this before and was able to tunes things to make the space more interesting. 

I've also been working on a friend's layout. He had someone helping him, but the progress was not what he was hoping for. He wanted something more like my layout - realistic, but with a sense of play as well. He had a MAZINGER figure on the layout and wanted to keep it, so I built out this platform for it to stand on. :) 

 There's a LOT to do on his layout and it's difficult because it's off in his shop, so he gave me a key to the space and I try to get over there to work when I can. Another difficult thing is carrying all my materials over every time. However, it's working out for the most part.

And I'll end with some shots of where things are currently. It's slowly getting back. Between work, freelance items and standard home goings on....like my dog getting bitten yesterday :(   it's been a slow process. I just get a little done when and where I can and try to remember that THIS is supposed to be the FUN and RELAXING part....not the stress inducing part. :)  

Cheers!

Plaster - a messy necessity

Well, after swearing off plaster the last time I used it, I dove back in after thinking it through. I had SO MUCH space to cover that using the bag of plaster and towels seemed like the best way to go.


VIDEO

The cap of the hill over the tunnel comes off to allow track access 

I slathered a bunch of brown base paint down to get rid of the white. It really helped to give me a sense of completion.

After that was locked down and drying, I snagged a module off my back area of the layout and took it outside for a little photo session. The gray skies give a great photo light.

Soyokaze Farm

Loving my little yard area now, too. It provides some fun little puzzles.

Thanks for reading! 

Next up:   Photos of the new, unpacked layout space! YES! I have buildings back on my layout now! WHOO HOO! 

December Revamp Project - Fixer Upper

Funny - I was going to dive in on the layout, but I've been rolling all day on Family and dog items and now I'm just too tired. heheheh  So...those who can't do....blog.

SPACE...the final frustration.

I was starting to get really concerned about space recently. My office/layout space is a mess and I wasn't sure where I was going to store items and display items. It was a nightmare. Then it hit me. "Oh wait....I have all the stuff that came off my layout in boxes and once I get the track done - IT WILL HAPPEN THIS HOLIDAY BREAK! - I'll be able to pull things from boxes and get my under-layout storage back." A wave of calm drifted over me. :)


My own little home improvement style show!

I have a good friend who owns a toy shop. We've known each other for about five years now and we have a great friendship on both customer and friend levels.

He got a bunch of train items in house and was inspired to get a layout going in his front window. He saw what I had done and thought that he'd love having something like it himself. He had a guy work on it and the basic layout got in place, but after looking at it, he could tell it was not hitting the marks that mine was hitting. Quote, "I want it to look...more real. You know?"  And, I did know. When he asked me to help out, I jumped at the chance. I had seen the layout in the state it was in and longed to help out, but I didn't want to overstep my boundaries. But, once he asked, I jumped on the chance to dive in.

My layout is still...being rebuilt. And, the thing I really love is the details. So, it was really a win win. We struck up a great payment plan and I dove in.

Here are the "BEFORE" shots:

So, there are three types of track being used, toys on the layout, and buildings tossed in for good measure. This was a cool process for me to get down because he wanted it looking better before Christmas, wanted it to look more realistic, and I needed to maintain all the usual stuff I do for my Family and work. I love a challenge.

He got me a key which was a big help. I was able to give him a heads up to when I was going to be there, then just go. The place is only something like 15 minutes away, so it's a quick ride.

I got all the toys off, but left MAZINGER (the black, silver and blue guy with the red on his chest)  on the layout. Why? It's a toy shop, for one. For two, I wanted to build a base for him to stand on like he was coming out of the water. SEE: A Sense Of Play! :)

I took all the buildings off, then placed them according to industry.

I painted in some roads. This helped A LOT!

I rebuilt the raised rail section in the front - making it a hill instead of a suspended area. (Pink foam area on the right) I then went over it with plaster gauze and added scenery.

I also got a little yard going so he could display all the cars he had.

I repainted the water and built the MAZINGER base.

I want to keep working on this base adding lights and people and the like. 

I brought in two pink foam sections from my old layout that were not going to work with my new design and popped them into place on George's layout. They provided and amusements area and housing area.

So...not bad for about....eight hours of work or so.

I have more scenic work I want to do and I want to find someone to repair George's engines so he has more to run. They had some accidents while building the layout and a lot of dropped locos. ::::cry::::: So there are many repairs that need to be done that are not in my wheelhouse.

NEXT:
• MAZINGER base work
• more scenics
• building repainting
• MALCO SPECIAL building interiors work
• track paining, weathering, etc
• more cars / trucks
• people added!


I hit my deadline for PHASE ONE and was super happy that I could help George out. Especially around this time of year. He seems really happy with the update!

Happy Holidays, All! I hope 2018 is kind to you all and brings in many Hobby-opportunities for you all! 

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