Some progress on the inside....

More photos in the structures sections

Seeing the forest....and the trees

I have been trying to figure out what to do about the transition between backdrop and scenery. I was able to get the ground cover the way I liked it and then with some painting I move the forest up to the edge of the scenery. The next step was to start building trees...and trees and more trees. I still am working on my technique but I think I am getting there. I think my next step will to do some more tree trimming and adding the remainder of the trees.

Some more Scenery....

I was able to spend some more time working on the layout working on scenenry. I built a few trees to try out the ol furnace filter trees. They still need work but I think I am on the right track.

An Island....of scenery

Well here is my first actual scenery for the Redmond Shelf Layout. If you want to see more photos of the scenery island you can check out the Redmond Shelf

Tum-A-Lum Progress

Just a little more progress on my Tum-A-Lum Lumber company.

More photos in the Structures section

New Curve in Place...

I found some operational issues with the curve used as the runaround. Some equipment was having trouble navigating the curve and there was also a twist in the track causing some cars to lift then derail. I replaced he section with a ME 3' section of code 83 track. It is currently just nailed down as I continue to test the track and will secure it here this weekend once testing is done.

Freight Car

As I am in the testing phase of the layout I have been focusing on some other aspect of the shelf layout. One thing I have been working on is weathering cars. So in keeping with the theme here is an SP&S double door boxcar.

B&W a different perspective

I was playing around with some details on my Scenic Diorama and came up with this shot. I still have a lot of detailing to add but I think every little bit gets it one step closer to having the feeling of the real thing.

We have the power....

I completed wiring the track this week on the Redmond Shelf Layout!!!!

The Redmond switcher is setting a string of cars into the Pondersoa Moulding lead leaving the caboose on the mainline.

I was also able to bring a bunch of cars from out of their storage cases and place them on the layout for some operational testing. Goals for this week are to wire 3 toroise switch machines with dual DPDT switches, this should be fun...

Umm who forgot the wire??

As I add rail I have been dropping feeders every place I have a rail joiner. Being as this section in a Free-Mo piece I want to make sure It has good conductivity. It was going so well and things were going so smoothly right up until my 20 gauge wire ran out. I did get quite a bit done in the way of track and even got my crossovers all modified. I plan on getting some more wire Monday and should have it all running by next weekend. I will go ahead and hook up my buswire and may even hook up a tortoise or two.

More photos in Redmond Shelf page

Lets go Hiking...In the Mountains

 I spent the time and really studied the pictures I had of the Three Sisters and here is what I came up with....

Some Backdrop Progress....

I got a great book from Kalmbach on how to paint backdrops. Here is what I got done today. I still have all the forgoround to do but I think it is looking good.

More photos on the Redmond Shelf page...

Crossover...a good idea

Well, after I had compelted the cork I was looking at my drwaings and  figured out I could move my crossovers onto the module. So I tore up some of my cork and redid some of my CVMW ties strips. Although it was a pain to go backwards I think it was well worht it. I should have all the ties  done by next week. So here is what we have....

More photos in the Remond Shelf section

Benchwork ALL DONE

I completed all the becnhwork today and was evne able to get all the cork roadbed down. I have a little rasping to do and then I will give everything a coat of paint and try to get some CMVW tie strips glued down this week. If everything will goes well I should be able to have all the track in place in a couple of weeks. Wiring should be pretty easy as there is only one switch to wire and the rest is straight through. I have eliminated one switch in my plan due to space restraints and a slight change in the operations.

With REAL wood floors

I have been  working on the Tum-A-Lum lumber company and will be focusing on the interior of the structure. I added flooring today made from strip wood to really enhance the feeling of the building. I also worked on the ceiling but have not completely figured out what exactly I am going to do.

More photos on the Structures page

Inside and Out

Had a very productive week and was able to start tackeling theinterior of Tum-A-Lum lumber and I also got the rest of  the benchwork up for the Redmond shelf layout!!!

More photos on the Redmond Shelf page and the Structures page

Tum-A-Lum....Bless you....

So while waiting on some help with getting the benchwork up and some other projects I need to complete before I get back to construction I decided to play around with my next industry. I have chosen a small lumber dealer, specifically the Tum-A-Lum Lumber company. This is a real company with stores in Oregon and Washington. They are mainly lumber yards but they also have a hardware store section to be a full line store. Although the Tum-A-Lum in Redmond was not directly rail served I have moved them track side.
For more pictures please check out the Structures

Staging...

I was able to complete my staging yard today and verify that it is fully functional. With this completed I can then move on to the rest of benchwork and get the whole layout operational. I have also been working on some buildings and a little scenery. To see the rest of the pictures check REMOND SHELF page.

So...where do the buildings go??

I have been toying around with some structures that I had picked up over the last year. I won't get really serious until I have everyhting running but it is fun to dream. Here is the current mock up...

To see more CLICK HERE

DONE...

...well this part of the REMOND SHELF is done

I was able to get the last tortoise wired in today which completes the track and wiring for the first section of layout. I will be moving on to the staging yard and getting that completed in the following weeks. Staging will not be anything fancy just walthers switches and atlas flex track.

Setting the Scene

I took a little break from re-building switches and laying track to see what a train would look like on the layout. I dug my SP&S 301 and a handful of cars out and placed them on the layout. Nothing spectacular but it sure gives me motivation to get the rest of the track work and wiring done so I can start testing operations.

Historic SP&S MOW Picture

Okay not really but it looks cool right??
This is a couple pieces from my collection sitting on the new trackage from my REDMOND SHELF I should be able to move a train around soon!! Keep checking back for more progress!!

GN Train south of Bend

The Spokane Portland & Seattle 5th Subdivision

I have been throwing around the idea of modeling the SP&S 5th sub for about five years now. Being as I did not have the space for a permanent layout I have held off on construction of a layout waiting for a better opportunity to arise. About three years ago at a train show in Wichita I met up with the South Kansas Free-Mo group and was instantly sold on the Free-Mo concept. It allowed me the flexibility to design and build a variety of different scenes from the 5th sub but not require me to construct a permanent layout. So keep checking back and I will keep posting pictures of my progress.