Working up Hill (Street)

There is a gentlemen named Andy Kramer that posts on the Big Blue Trains forum regarding his progress of his 1950's Milwaukee Road Layout. (Click Here for Link) He is  a good modeler and does a good job detailing each scene, but what really impresses me is his approach to his modeling. He essentially completes one whole area before moving on. He will build benchwork, get his backdrop done, lay track and then start working on the scene. He will work from the back of the layout towards the front and from one side to another, not moving along until that section is completed. I have tried a number of times to get projects only to get them somewhere between started and almost finished, but never done. I have decided to try Andy's approach with my Hill Street module. The plan is to start from the back to front and I will be working from left to right. Since I have already started a number of these structures it will not be in the full Andy Method, but it will be better then just building more stuff to put in a box.

 Here is my first structure that I will be completing and it is a bit of a run down house on the edge. It will feature a garage that is falling apart being held together by the junk inside of it. The house will also be run down needing at least a coat of paint, probably also a new roof and of course a good cleaning of the yard. I have more pictures in the Projects In Progress page of the buildings.

Hill Street Crossing takes shape

I think I have figured out how the structures will lay including a grade crossing at Hill Street. Next will be to secure the cork and start cutting some styrene for the roads. I also need to start working on blending the backdrop into the foreground.

Getting the lay of the land

With everything in position I was able to glue some foam to the benchwork which gives me a flat surface to start figuring out where things are going to go. I have decided to model it after an area leading to Brooks Scanlon mill with some modelers license, although not the mainline I will have one track appear to be closer to a mainline while the other track appear to be more of siding. The structures will face the track with a road paralleling the track and also a grade crossing near the middle of the layout. This will give me a place to put a number of structure I have built and also clear out a back log of projects.I can also use the road to display some vehicles and add in the super detailing that I like to do.

A backdrop gets a foreground

With the main backdrop completed I have move on to the foreground, which will be a small double track display shelf. I may try to squeeze at least one switch on for added interest. The whole thing will only be 48" x 18" but it will give me a nice place to take pictures. I also plan on wiring it up so that it can also be used as a small test bed while programming. I have also attempted to design it so that I can salvage it and turn it into a Free-mo module in the future, or maybe extend the module.

For more information and to follow the progress you can see the work in the Projects in Progress page. Stay tuned, I plan on getting this done as quickly as I can as it will clear a number of older projects from the workbench and out of storage.

Backdrop sure makes the room look bigger

I have been trying to take some pictures of projects but every time I do I find myself irritated with the clutter in the background. I have had back drops previously but currently do not have anything. So I decided I was tired of this and went ahead and decided to paint a new one. This one is again based on the mountains around Bend Oregon. Although not perfect or complete it is going to be better then looking at the family car or the other random stuff in the garage.

More challenge progress

Just moving along with my challenge project. With the outside and base decals finished the next step is to get the trailer attached to the base and do some additional detailing and weathering. I should be able to wrap this up here soon.

A challenge to get creative

One thing I enjoy is participating in challenges from different online forums. Recently the Railroad Line Forum has a challenge centered around the passing of one of their active members. The project can be of anything and once it is ready for decals they will send you come from the home road of member who passed. I really was looking for something that would be a quick project, but that would be a good exercise in being creative. I recently picked up some old Athearn trailers to possibly use for my piggyback special but it appears I have a few spares. I decided to build maintenance shed that would fall into the theme of a lumber and mining company. For pictures of progress on this project check out my Projects in Progress page.