Yukari model train layout

SHIN-YUKARI 
https://shin-yukari.weebly.com/

Marc over at the Shin-Yukari blog is doing some fantastic work! The level of detail is amazing. So much layout in a relatively small footprint makes super-detailing this this more possible.




As far as goals for a future layout goes, Marc's layout ticks a LOT of buttons for me. The track work is a lot of fun here.




There is so much action to be had. It's really well thought out.

The details are stunning and I love his use of lighting and electrics - another goal for my layout when I get it up and going again.

Fantastic details.

Goals. So many goals met here. If I didn't know better, I would have thought the image below to be a real photo. Really grand work!

And to see items that I own taken up to grand levels like this is really exciting for me. I have this truck depot, but the lighting and internal detail additions really take it above and beyond.

Lastly, I would really like some complex switch areas like this on my layout. It's a fun section.

All in all, seeing work like this fills me with excitement. I hope to find a space where I can get my layout going again, but really plan and plot before starting in on building. I was going to start now, but without knowing how much space I'll have it seems like it wouldn't be a good use of time. For now, I'll continue these fact finding missions and see what ideas I can farm for the future.

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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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November Update: Crawling forward through the Fall

Still have a ton of stuff going on this week, so I'm going to keep this short and sweet!

Firstly, a video of the latest iteration:

I realized that I've been taking things really...REALLY slow (GOOD! Last time I rushed things and made some mistakes)   but now I'm going so slow that I'm actually stopped for the most part. I plan on fixing this in the coming weeks once things chill out a bit. I need to get things back to a point where I can start adding my buildings back into the mix. I miss them a lot! That's the part I really enjoyed - moving the buildings around and city planning. I want to get there before 2018 hits....which is like...what? Two days away now? hehehehe   The "HOLLOWDAZE". Always so crazy. Why do we do it? Anyway.....



I have a weathering plan for this guy....

90 to 95% done with my friend Tom Barbalet's gift. :::grin::: Hope to get it to him in December for the holidays. He does so much for the model rail community with MODEL RAIL RADIO that I just wanted to give a little back.

I moved the shipping area over to where I had a train house previously. The train house will go away to make room for some more interesting, double rail switching in the shipping arena. I'm not a big operations guy, so this will be just fine for me and my small aspirations towards switching. :)

Not sure WHAT the old shipping area will be at the moment. Another station? Another industry? The latter sounds more interesting.

I'm still sorting out where I'm going to put a tunnel in. I know I want one, but it's just a matter of where. I was thinking that it might run by Soyokaze Temple, but I'm exploring options.










Lastly, I've added another tram to the mix. A TOMYTEC offering I dug. I popped their engine system in and the whole procedure took less than eight minutes!

The Railway Collection Kumamoto City Transportation Bureau Type 5000 (Final Painting) A (#5015) (Model Train)

TM-TR03 N-Gauge Power Unit For Railway Collection, for Road Surface 2 Articulated Car (Model Train)

Thanks for reading!
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