March Train Layout Update Video Action

A long video update for March 2019!

November Layout Update: Moving Forward Again!

OOPS!  I never published this post back in November! heheh .  Oh wells.....
~M~




Look at me getting motivated in November! :)

Video



So, I had a happy finding the other day. Two boxes that I had packed up when I was doing my layout revamp that had gone "missing" in plain sight. I found them and had masses of people, trucks, cars, and other details ready for me to add onto the layout. I was super happy.

I found the missing SOYOKAZE HARBOR box with tons of people, fish, and trucks. I added them directly to the layout and had a much more busy environment. Love it.

I also found my old monster I made out of clay and added that to the layout as well. The military figures were packed right there with it (good job, Malcolm!) so I made a little scene with them outside of Soyokaze.

Other little details followed, like deer!

It felt great to get back into the hobby again. After months of failed job searching and gloom, I managed to snap out of it long enough to get rolling again.

I'm done with all my trams. Modemo, Kato, Tomytec....they all let me down. They ran HORRIBLY and I just couldn't take it anymore. So...I came up with a new solution for now....

I dig how this normal train just pulls this passenger car. It's a good solution for now.


So, I hope to continue the progress being made at the moment. I hope that I get some good news on the job front shortly. Until then, I stay fired up on my three cities and make sure I get some fun in this holiday season.

Happy Hollidays, All!

M

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! 

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! 

Small update for October

Busy? YUP! 

I have way too many hobbies, North Bay fire smoke messing with my already cold addled brain, and a small case of analysis paralysis I'm trying to deal with on three fronts.  So....I'll keep this quick. :)


Firstly, I did manage to spend 30 minutes on the track to make sure my EVA500 could make it around without derailing...before my new doggie escaped from the back yard (....maybe via a motorcycle and complex action plan...) and phone calls and fence repairs started. :::grin:::

Track adjustments complete. Now my #eva500type #shinkansen rolls all the way round! #nscale #modelrailroad #train #evangelian

A post shared by Malcolm (@malcojojo) on Oct 16, 2017 at 6:00pm PDT

But, I really have not done much more than that. I've dabbled in getting things running. I've plotted out some things here and there. Cleaned the track a few times. But...yeah, not much more. I was supposed to be working on a gift for a friend, but I got to the point where I was trying to work on it at night and just couldn't manage to get past getting all the supplies out! hehehe

Many factors there. Moving on.

I have been planning out some items on the layout that seem like they are transferring from paper to layout well. One of the areas is the massive elevator that will take harbor shipments up to the railroad section - the area on the right side of the photo on the left.

However, I want to get my backgrounds designed before doing much more. I figure that if I can get the backgrounds up BEFORE plastering and the like, I'll have more table space to navigate to get the background up.





Another paralysis point - background production and printing. Whew. I found a great site with all the HOW TO stuff called out (  Sumida Crossing  http://www.sumidacrossing.org/LayoutConstruction/BackdropConstruction/MakingBackdrops/ ), which is a big help. I actually do motion graphics and design for a living, so I should be able to cobble something together. I just have to check printing costs.

I'm also playing around with the idea of another station on the layout. (photo on right)  It would make sense where it is. We'll see what shakes out from me sitting with it a while.

In Other News
I was recently shown the work of Shunichi Matsuba and I was blown away. Great stuff! He's a true artist. His details are amazing. He's definitely being added to my HOBBY HERO list! 
https://www.facebook.com/shunichi.matsuba

Some fantastic detail work!!!   Look at this comparison!

Ok...that's all I can muster at the moment. :)

Happy Modeling!

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