Yet another Woodland Scenics Scenic Ridge layout… ^_^;;

[qwertyaardvark]

I can’t take it anymore! I can no longer contain my jealousy for yall’s permanent layouts that my floor-laid Unitrack layouts simply cannot compare to…

 

Alas, I have literally zero experience with the model railroad tools of the trade and needing somewhere to start, I’ve had my eye on the Scenic Ridge kit for quite a while and I’ve decided to go ahead and bite the bullet sometime after new year’s. I figure if someone else pre-plans and pre-packages all the materials for a layout for me, I won’t dig myself too deep of a hole; this is mainly to keep me from modeling Tokyo Station for the first try. (I *heart* my shinkansens) :P Also, being a college student, I want/need to keep financial (and other) disasters to a minimum. On the other hand, I do intend on stepping off the beaten path and somewhat modifying the layout a bit.

 

As far as prototypical-ness goes, it will probably not match reality verbatim, but hopefully it won't be too terribly far, and a particular line/region won't be modeled. Since this is more like a practice layout, it will be planned with a kicks-and-giggles kind of mentality. It will set in a modern-day-ish small rural town. I will also pretend there is a rail fan trip on that given day, so there will be a C62 and “selectively compressed” shortened Tsubame car setup trailing behind it. (or to hell with it, I’ll go ahead and attach all 13 cars on there) ^_^ I may also run my EF65 and 24系25形 Blue Train cars through the region...

 

Other features/changes from original manual instructions:

-a given: all Japanese buildings and structures; station might be added

-simple DC system powered by Kato power pack

-code 80 Peco flex track with concrete ties

-removing the small stream and culvert

-adding rice paddies so I still have a chance to play with water-modeling products

-moving/minimizing sidings and turnouts; marking turning radii larger

-a cherry blossom park overlooking the city

-flattening the top of the mountain and placing a shrine with pagoda overlooking the park

-kits from several manufacturers (Greenmax, Kato, Tomix/Tomytec) so that I can get feel for different mfgs kits and see which one(s) I like more/hate less

-will experiment between the WS Road System versus spackle

-add catenary

-all buildings and cherry trees will be made removable for future layouts (these things are expensive! ;_; )

 

Pie in the sky:

-lighted buildings and trains

-signal system

-adding people/cars

 

Initial investments:

(any specific tools yall suggest? or ones yall think I can do without?)

-airbrush with compressor with tank

-paints, weathering powder

-set of small tools (rail snips, fine saw, file, xacto knife)

-set of small clamps to help assemble building kits

-glue for plastic models

-foam cutter

-low temp glue gun

 

Probably won’t start buying anything beyond the kit until after the holidays. I’m planning to start work on the buildings first to see where they can go on a initial mockup of the layout kit, finalize track/road/geographic jazz, and then work from there. Perhaps sometime during the my holiday break I’ll play with XtrkCAD and draw up what I have in mind.

 

Pardon the long post. ^^;; I intend on making this a place for my notes/thoughts, etc. All comments and questions gladly accepted. :)

[Mudkip Orange]

Scenic Ridge is a pretty legit starting point, the basic track plan (folded dogbone) is common to both US and Japanese models.

 

You might consider adding a second loop around the outside, like in the attached photo (need to be logged in to see).

 

That lets you run two trains at once, and provides a natural location for a railroad station.

[Bernard]

I really like the WS kits, they will teach you methods for building a layout with step-by-step photos. You can also use your Unitrack on this layout if you decide not to go with the Peco flex track. The kit measures 3'x6' and is lightweight because it's mostly styrofoam.

For this kit I don't think you will need a lot of tools. Here is what I think you will need:

Tpins to pin down the WS Risers & Inclines

Bread Knife to cut the foam boards used in the back-plates

wood sticks to spread the glue

Paint roller pan or basin to wet the hydrocal cloth.

If you use Peco flex track instead of Unitrack, you will need a soldering iron to join the rails and feeder wires.

 

But the best thing is that you want to get started on a layout, and I hope it all works out for you and I hope you post the progress of your layout here.  :icon_thumleft:

[qwertyaardvark]

I just bought the kit today, and i must say this thing is AMAZING! Truly fascinating to see what all goes into making just the geography of a layout. ^_^

 

@Mudkip: just looking at the layout plans online, it seemed like it'd be difficult to put that outer loop into an already small layout (I'm not liking those 9.75" curves it calls for x_x), but upon initial toying around with track, it seems very much possible, and am strongly considering adding that outer loop. thanks for the idea! :)

 

@Bernard: additional tools noted :)  For sure, I will post progress here as it comes!

[Bernard]

Qwerty - Before you start, test those 9.75 radii with the trains on your roster just to make sure they can are make it. (You can do this by just making a small oval with 9.75 curves)

[qwertyaardvark]

layout-planning update:

 

-had thoughts about increasing the size of the layout to 4x8, but nixed the idea quickly because of the need to ensure it can moved between my rented house in atlanta, and my home in houston. 3x6 is just about the upper limit of what can fit in my "car" (SUV) comfortably.

 

-even with the outside loop, and after playing around with the design a bit, ive got it so that the minimum radius is a considerably more comfortable 12.4 inches (Kato curve R315), and will be adjusted to a still-comfortable 11.1 inches (Kato curve R282) if needed.

 

-had thoughts about perhaps just using Kato Unitrack, esp since designs were made using the Kato track template, but i felt like trying out something other than what im used to just to try out something new

 

-because of my greediness of wanting 7+ car + locomotive trains running on the layout, the station will be forgone, since, due to the cramped space limiting the length of the platform, it would limit the length of the train to just 3 cars and locomotive, or have a ridiculous looking layout where 8-car trains run in a 4-car station world. granted there are prototypes and car configurations i've found out there with 3 pieces of rolling stock or less, i guess im just baised to longer trains. that and the fact that i already have a 7-car basic set that i just hate to have to only run part of a set. (me and my "all or nothing" mentality)

 

-had thoughts about leaving access panel openings permanently open to connect to some sort of detachable yard module. continuing having said thoughts. now that i have two loops, its kinda bad that i only have one set (appropriate for this sized layout) to run, and barely enough financial prowess to get one more operational set. while i dont think i need a yard/staging area, will still keep this idea open and save as a future project.

 

-the one set i currently have to run is a EF65 attached to 7 24-series cars. the other set im hoping to acquire is a Kato C62 and the 7-car basic set for the Tsubame (combined, going on Yahoo auctions for a little over 200$+shipping (Japan to auction service to me))

 

-since im in houston for the holidays, no physical progress on the layout will done until i return to atlanta on Jan 10... almost a month :(  i still intend on purchasing important items (such as track and structures) during the holidays, but it will all be shipped to atlanta. upon returning, i expect a lot of weekly, maybe even daily, progress on the layout ^_^

 

-will post descriptions and pics about purchases as they are made, as well as keep some sort of Bill of Materials tab running to keep track of the damage :P

[Bernard]

qwerty - A while back I was looking at the WS kit and was wondering if it can be made to be modular and in the future add on to it? It seems that there is a small yard as part of the plan but maybe one of the track in the yard could be made for an extension.

Also if you plan to transport the 3'x6' layout will it be easy to transport that size, (not knowing what vehicle you have) or do you need to make the layout in 2 sections?

[Mudkip Orange]

-because of my greediness of wanting 7+ car + locomotive trains running on the layout, the station will be forgone, since, due to the cramped space limiting the length of the platform, it would limit the length of the train to just 3 cars and locomotive, or have a ridiculous looking layout where 8-car trains run in a 4-car station world. granted there are prototypes and car configurations i've found out there with 3 pieces of rolling stock or less, i guess im just baised to longer trains. that and the fact that i already have a 7-car basic set that i just hate to have to only run part of a set. (me and my "all or nothing" mentality)

 

Have you thought about a curved platform? A decent chunk of Japanese railway stations have curving platforms; Kato and Tomix's offerings are arrow-straight for ease of manufacture only.

[qwertyaardvark]

@Bernard: as mudkip suggested, i extended that yard line so that it became the outer loop to the layout. i have thought about placing some extra turnouts on this loop that are connected to a spur that simply runs off the edge of the layout for modular purposes, but im seeing, even right now, that this layout does not really fit into my grander scheme of things; it literally serves as practice for future layouts, but still has enough in it i can enjoy its roundy-rounder-ness of it. :) so, i'll save modularity for later down the line, though i probably will still add the spurs just to keep the option open.

 

fortunately (or unfortunately) i was passed down a Ford Expedition that could hold a theoretical (WxLxH) 4x6x3ft container with some extra space to its side, so the 3x6x2ft layout should easily be transportable in my vehicle.

 

@mudkip: i did consider curved stations while desperately trying to fit an 7-car-and-loco station. having a curved island station comes out a bit too short, and having platforms flank the rails causes one side to have a perfectly sized station, and then the other side to be considerably shorter than the train. it was a losing battle... ;_; even if i could get a curved island station in, i dont think i have the modeling confidence to make a proper, believable curved platform. (if there are commercial kits out there for curved platforms... then perhaps...)

[CaptOblivious]

qwerty,

 

I would put the station in. My layout only has a 3-car platform, but I run 8-car trains as often as I run 1-car mules. Even if it looks a little funny, it is nice to have a station so I can play at passenger operations (that is, practicing starting smoothly and stopping at just the right spot!). I say throw the station in, and to heck if the longer trains don't quite look right. Take it as an excuse to find a shorter train that you enjoy to run on occasion too.

[qwertyaardvark]

@Capt: *chuckle* i guess i would also be guilty of running trains longer than my available stations before on my floor layouts, so perhaps it wont be so bad. i still feel torn, but i still plan to purchase the rural platform kit and i'll give this idea some more thought :)

[Mudkip Orange]

@Capt: *chuckle* i guess i would also be guilty of running trains longer than my available stations before on my floor layouts, so perhaps it wont be so bad. i still feel torn, but i still plan to purchase the rural platform kit and i'll give this idea some more thought :)

 

On the Izukyu line, some of the local stations can only accomodate 4- or 7-car trains, but the track is used by the Odoriko (8 cars) and the Super View Odoriko (10 cars).

 

The same sort of arrangement exists on other private railways, although it's much less common on the JR system.

 

Closer to home, the Pennsylvania Railroad ran multiple trains of 10, 12, or 13 cars in length over tracks with commuter platforms designed for 6-car EMUs. A lot of these services are still operated by Amtrak, but the trains are shorter now.

[qwertyaardvark]

While waiting for christmas and birthday funds to kick in, lots of kit/material purchase research has been going on, and the following is what i've come up with. The final buying list will probably be a whittled-down version of this and most purchases will be after new year's, while more important purchases will be sought after soon. Table contains source of kit/matl, title/qty, price, and s&h. Note: s&h are only (Ebay) upper bound limits, most likely combined shipping will be taken advantage of. :)

 

[table]

Hit-Japan| Kato Traditional Eaves Restaurant 450B| 18.79| 8.50

Hit-Japan| Tomytec 5-story Pagoda| 34.67| 7.50

Hit-Japan| Tomytec Cherry Tree (x2)| 5.79| 4.50

Hit-Japan| Tomytec Bamboo Tree (several)| 5.24| 4.00

Hit-Japan| Greenmax Tunnel Entrance 14-2| 6.39| 6.50

Hit-Japan| Greenmax Tunnel Entrance 14-1| 6.49| 6.50

Hobby Search| Tomytec Belfry/Gate| 24.86| uknwn

Hobby Search| Tomytec Temple Main Building| 24.86| uknwn

Hobby Search| Tomytec Farmhouse| 8.95| uknwn

Ace of Bicycle| Kato Single Catenary| 4.59| 4.80

Ace of Bicycle| Kato Double Catenary| 4.59| 4.80

Ace of Bicycle| Kato Girder Bridge| 7.39| 4.80

Plaza Japan| Greenmax Shops 47-1| 18.80| 8.80

Plaza Japan| Greenmax Shops 47-2| 18.80| 8.80

Plaza Japan| Greenmax Shops 47-3| 16.70| 8.80

Plaza Japan| Greenmax Shops 47-6| 16.80| 8.80

Plaza Japan| Tomytec Grade Crossing (x2)| 6.80| 4.80

Plaza Japan| Tomytec Farmhouse D2| 10.50| 6.80

Plaza Japan| Tomytec Public Bath| 10.80| 6.80

Plaza Japan| Tomytec Ryokan| 10.80| 6.80

Plaza Japan| Kato Traditional Eaves Shop 450A| 18.50| 6.80

Plaza Japan| Kato Traditional Eaves Restaurant 451B| 18.50| 6.80

Don6233| Kato Rural Station| 44.95| 9.95

Don6233| Kato Rural Platform| 59.95| 9.95

Don6233| Kato Rural Platform Extension| 17.95| 9.95

My_Atomic| Peco RH Electrofrog #8 (several)| 17.89| 4.25

My_Atomic| Peco LH Electrofrog #8 (several)| 17.89| 4.25

Lin's Junction| Peco Flextrack Code 80 w/ concrete ties 25 pack| 103.50| incl

Model Train Stuff | Midwest N Scale Cork Roadbed (several)| 14.99| 9.02

[/table]

 

note to self: Hobby search, Lin's Junction, and Model Train Stuff are non-ebay outlets

 

Also, as far as tools go, recommended-by-hobby-shop-person (Hobby Town USA = my atlanta LHS) compressors w/o tank seem to run anywhere from $100-160 and airbrushes starting from $20 (extremely basic).

[qwertyaardvark]

@Mudkip: thanks for the info! something i would not have expected; i was under the impression the railroads in general only ran trains that could fit all the stations of a line. i guess that's not the case! i feel much better now knowing the prototypes do this, and now i can sleep at night with my short-platformed layout design  *goes redraws stations into layout drawing*

[Mudkip Orange]

IIRC the old South Ferry Loop terminal on New York's IRT subway (the 1 and 9 trains) only accommodated five cars. If you were in one of the trailing three you got sent back up Broadway.

[Bernard]

Really good price on the Peco track & switches. I compared them to MB Kleins and the place you're ordering from is slightly less. Since you are going to use flex track I recommend you get cork roadbed. I like Midwest products:http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/product_p/mid-3019.htm

Are you going to use switch machines on your turnouts or go manuel?

I don't know if WS supplied their brand of roadbed but I've used it and it's a light foam which I don't like because it isn't easy to work with on radii. Also you will need a good soldering iron for rail joins and feeder wires to the track.

Here is another place to look at for airbrushes and supplies, Dixie Art Supplies: http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/product_p/mid-3019.htm

[qwertyaardvark]

@Mudkip: interesting... my imaginary railroading world, where all stations are long enough to accommodate the trains that run through them, continues to crumble a la 2012 the movie...  ^^;;

 

@Bernard: For turnouts, i plan to just go the manual route, using some caboose industries ground throws. As far as roadbed material goes, WS does indeed sell their brand of roadbed, but I did not like the foam roadbed that came with the kit as I also found it hard to curve, so I will most likely toss it and stick with the traditional cork. And thanks for the link! I think i just found my new supplier of cork roadbed   Poor LHS... (LHS: 1. Internet: too many times to count) Looks like the only things i'll be buying from them are WS kits/materials and airbrush hardware/paints, if only for sheer convenience...

[Bernard]

If you are going the manual route with the turnouts, wait on the caboose industry ground throws. The Peco switches are great but they have a spring in them that gives a tight fit to the outside rail plus there isn't a rod for the ground throw to connect into.

If you still want to experiment with a ground throw you're probably going to have to remove the spring.

[qwertyaardvark]

If you are going the manual route with the turnouts, wait on the caboose industry ground throws.

 

note taken! out of curiosity, would it be too much trouble if i did want to go the ground throw route? this spring-removing, rod-adding stuff sounds like there might be more to this story to this Peco track than i thought, especially since ive never touched anything other than Unitrack. 

[Bernard]

The Atlas switch has a side rod that attaches to their side switch machine. Caboose Industries made a ground throw (a very nice one too) that you can attach to that side rod that has a hole in it. The Peco switch (which in my opinion is superior to the Atlas) uses an switch machine that attaches underneath and there is smaller side rod with no hole but I don't think it will work with the Caboose ground throw.

Here is a link to the Caboose ground throw and in the photo you can see the pin that fits into the hole on the Atlas switch rod:

http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/product_p/cab-206s.htm

[qwertyaardvark]

This post will be Bill of Materials for this project and will be updated as purchases are made; this is intended for me as a reference of what future layouts may cost. Tools and other products purchased that can be used from layout to layout will be listed, and included in the grand total. Listed are date of purchase, places of purchase, product purchased, and tax/shipping costs of product.

 

Use of "^" will point to tax/shipping cost for bundle-bought items.

Use of parenthesis indicate products' price not at all related to the layout but bought along with material/tools that will be used on the layout; this is done to recognize bundling of layout related purchases with layout non-related purchases. Prices surrounded by parenthesis will not included in the grand total, but shipping prices will be left as is, and reader should take shipping bundling in mind while reading the shipping column.

 

[table]

2009-12-07 | Hobbytown USA| Scenic Ridge| 219.99| 13.19

2009-12-14 | Papa Ben's Train Place| Kato Track Planning Template| 24.98| 2.06

2009-12-20 | Papa Ben's Train Place| WS Plaster Cloth 10 sq. ft| 8.99| 5.01

2009-12-20 | Papa Ben's Train Place| WS Realistic Water| 19.99| ^

2009-12-20 | Papa Ben's Train Place| WS Field Grass Medium Green| 3.79| ^

2009-12-20 | Papa Ben's Train Place| WS Incline set, 4% grade| 13.99| ^

2009-12-20 | Papa Ben's Train Place| WS Incline set, 4% grade| 13.99| ^

2009-12-20 | Fry's Electronics| Tech Tron Heat Shrink Tubing 1/16"| 1.09| 0.27

2009-12-20 | Fry's Electronics| Tech Tron Heat Shrink Tubing 1/16"| 1.09| ^

2009-12-20 | Fry's Electronics| Tech Tron Heat Shrink Tubing 1/16"| 1.09| ^

2009-12-23 | takehiko0291 (Ebay)| Tomix 8835 526 Type Add-on car| (21.70)| (11.28)

2009-12-23 | ace_of_bicycle (Ebay)| Kato Catenary (Single) Qty. 2| 9.39| 30.00

2009-12-23 | ace_of_bicycle (Ebay)| Kato Catenary (Double) Qty. 2| 9.39| ^

2009-12-23 | ace_of_bicycle (Ebay)| Kato 186mm Single Girder Bridge| 12.19| ^

2009-12-23 | ace_of_bicycle (Ebay)| Tomix 8835 526 Type Add-on Car| (41.99)| ^

2009-12-23 | ace_of_bicycle (Ebay)| Tomix 8835 526 Type Add-on Car| (41.99)| ^

2009-12-26 | Hobby Lobby| Model Master Sublime Green spray paint| 5.49| 1.32

2009-12-26 | Hobby Lobby| Testors All purpose Dullcote spray paint| 4.49| ^

2009-12-26 | Hobby Lobby| Createx Airbrush Colors Dark Brown| 3.99| ^

2009-12-26 | Hobby Lobby| Testors Paint Brushes 8706| 1.99| ^

2010-01-03 | don6233 (Ebay)| Kato Rural Station| 54.90| 14.95

2010-01-03 | don6233 (Ebay)| Kato Rural Platform| 72.90| ^

2010-01-03 | don6233 (Ebay)| Kato Rural Platform Extension| 27.90| ^

2010-01-03 | Lin's Junction| 25-Piece Peco Code 80 Flex Track, Concrete Ties| 94.50| 9.00

2010-01-03 | Model Train Stuff| 25-Piece Midwest N-scale Cork Roadbed| 14.99| 8.97

2009-12-27 | Shopping Mall Japan| Tomix 2862 315 Type Add-on| n/a| (n/a)

2009-12-28 | Shopping Mall Japan| Tomix 8511 OHANE 25-1000 Add-on| (n/a)| ^

2009-12-29 | Shopping Mall Japan| Greenmax Concerete Wall C, Qty. 6| n/a| ^

2010-01-03 | Shopping Mall Japan| Tomix 8509 OHANEFU 25-100 Add-on| (n/a)| ^

2010-01-03 | Shopping Mall Japan| Tomix 2863 326-500 Type Add-on w/ Motor| (n/a)| ^

2010-01-04 | Shopping Mall Japan| Tomix 8509 OHANEFU 25-100 Add-on| n/a| ^

2010-01-08 | Shopping Mall Japan| Greenmax Stone Wall A| n/a| ^

2010-01-09 | Shopping Mall Japan| Greenmax Stone Wall A| n/a| ^

2010-01-11 | Shopping Mall Japan| Tomix 8510 OHANE 25-100 Add-on, Qty. 2| n/a| ^

2010-01-16 | Shopping Mall Japan| Tomix 8510 OHANE 25-100 Add-on| n/a| ^

2010-01-08 | My Atomic Hobby Shop| Atlas Terminal Joiners, Qty. 5| 11.90| 0.00

2010-01-08 | My Atomic Hobby Shop| Atlas Insulated Joiners, Qty. 24| 1.11| ^

2010-01-08 | My Atomic Hobby Shop| Atlas Rail Joiners, Qty. 48| 2.49| ^

2010-01-08 | My Atomic Hobby Shop| Atlas Rerailer, Qty. 3| 2.49| ^

2010-01-08 | My Atomic Hobby Shop| Peco Code 80/55 Concrete Track Ties (24)| 1.49| ^

2010-01-08 | My Atomic Hobby Shop| Xuron Railroader's Tool Kit| 37.89| ^

2010-01-12 | Home Depot| Furniture No-slip Rubber Feet, Qty. 8| 5.38| 1.86

2010-01-12 | Home Depot| DIY Shims, Pack of 8| 1.35| ^

2010-01-12 | Home Depot| 3/4" Plywood| 16.58| ^

2010-01-15 | Marathon Gas Station| D size Batteries, Pack of 2| 3.99| .32

2010-01-15 | Sam Flax| Heavy Black Card Stock 15"x20"| 1.66| 1.03

2010-01-15 | Sam Flax| Packing Tape| 1.39| ^

2010-01-15 | Sam Flax| Xacto Knife #1| 2.58| ^

2010-01-15 | Sam Flax| Retractable Hobby Knife w/ Snap-off Blades| 5.22| ^

2010-01-15 | Sam Flax| Xacto Blade #11, Pack of 5| 2.02| ^

2010-01-15 | Walmart| Multi-temp Hot Glue Gun| 10.97| 2.23

2010-01-15 | Walmart| Full-size 4" glue Sticks, Pack of 50| 5.17| ^

2010-01-15 | Walmart| Toothpicks, Pack of 250| 0.52| ^

2010-01-15 | Walmart| 15' Extension Cord| 2.97| ^

2010-01-15 | Walmart| Lasagna Pan| 1.97| ^

2010-01-16 | Hobbytown USA| Tamiya Acrylic Flat Dark Grey| 2.30| 4.68

2010-01-16 | Hobbytown USA| Tamiya Acrylic Flat Red| 2.30| ^

2010-01-16 | Hobbytown USA| Kato Rerailer, Qty. 2| 2.98| ^

2010-01-16 | Hobbytown USA| Tamiya Acrylic Paint Thinner| 8.00| ^

2010-01-16 | Hobbytown USA| Kato R249-45, Pack of 4| 8.50| ^

2010-01-16 | Hobbytown USA| N/HO DC Extension Cord| 6.98| ^

2010-01-16 | Hobbytown USA| WS Field Grass - Medium Green| 3.79| ^

2010-01-16 | Hobbytown USA| Badger Model 250 Basic Spray Gun Set| 30.99| ^

2010-01-16 | Hobbytown USA| KAto R282-45, Pack of 4| 8.99| ^

2010-01-16 | Hobbytown USA| Model Masters Pipettes| 4.79| ^

2010-01-17 | Hobbytown USA| WS Dark Gray Ballast w/ shaker, 32 oz.| 10.99| .84

2010-01-17 | Hobbytown USA| Model Masters Deck Green, 0.5 oz.| 2.99| ^

2010-01-23 | Hobbytown USA| Taklon Ultra Mini Brush #5| 2.49| 1.00

2010-01-23 | Hobbytown USA| Bright Boy Track Eraser| 6.98| ^

2010-01-23 | Hobbytown USA| Black Poster Paint Bottle, 8 oz.| 1.49| ^

2010-01-23 | Hobbytown USA| Testors Plastic Cement, 1 oz. | 3.29| ^

2010-01-23 | Hobbytown USA| Large 1" wide Brush| 2.39| ^

2010-01-23 | Marathon Gas Station| Bottle of 70% Isopropyl Alcohol, 16 oz. | 1.59| 0.12

2010-01-30 | Hobbytown USA| Tamiya Acrylic Flat Red| 2.30| .69

2010-01-30 | Hobbytown USA| Kato 186mm Single Girder Bridge| 9.25| ^

2010-01-31 | Home Depot| 1/2" 4x8' Insulation Foam Board| 9.93| .79

2010-01-31 | Wal-Mart| Electrical Tape| 1.47| 0.20

2010-01-31 | Wal-Mart| Masking Tape| 0.97| ^

2010-02-05 | Hobbytown USA| Atlas Terminal Joiner| 3.50| 0.30

2010-02-05 | Hobbytown USA| Black Poster Paint Bottle, 8 oz.| 1.49| ^

2010-02-07 | Hobbytown USA| Rix Products N-scale 50' Modern Highway Overpass w/ Pier| 13.95| 1.68

2010-02-07 | Hobbytown USA| Rix Products N-scale 50' Modern Overpass| 7.99| ^

2010-02-07 | Hobbytown USA| Rix Products N-scale Highway Pier| 5.99| ^

| | | |

[/table]

 

Grand running total: 892.47 USD

[Mudkip Orange]

Hey qwerty, if you're in the 713 check out Spring Crossing Model Trains on FM2920 (Spring-Cypress Road) just east of 45.

 

He only takes cash but his prices are as low/lower than most of the "discount" online hobby shops. On Kato track alone you're looking at about 30% off MSRP. Then again Spring Crossing doesn't have the awesome Chinese buffet next door like Papa Ben's does.

[qwertyaardvark]

So, I got bored of just staring/wanting/drooling at trains on the internet, so i went out to the hobby shop to buy some things to play with, namely some WS plaster cloth, field grass, realistic water, and heat shrink tubing to play around with until i can get to working on my actual layout when i return to it in January. Now what might i be doing with said materials? I thought i might as well practice this rice paddy thingy, since i'll be placing quite a few of these things on my layout.

 

Now, I did read the WS version of how to put blades of grass, and frankly i dont trust it. I don't feel like holding little bundles of grass until the scenic cement dries. Bump that. So, i decided to come up with a process that will allow me to make rice-plant "modules" that i can place into holes i make in my layout. At roughly a little over a minute to make just one, and the estimated hundreds i'll need to make, i figure i can save this tedious task for breaks between classes, etc. and put them all into a little bag for me to place on a layout later.

 

So far, the process goes along this:

1) take field grass

2) fold it in half

3) insert into a 1/2 inch piece of heat shrink tubing

4) shrink the tubing with heat

5) trim the heat shrink tubing to about 1/4 inch, trim the grass to 1/2 inch past the tubing

6) smash the grass on table top so the individual stems of grass go outward a bit --> first pic is the end result up to this step

7) make a hole where you want to place the blade of grass

8) place rice plant module into hole --> right side of second pic

9) pour realistic water around the rice plant making sure that the scenic water only touches the base of the module

10) Done! ... or so i thought --> left side second pic of the end result

 

Unfortunately, this realistic water (which runs awfully fast like real water; putting this on uneven surfaces must be a pain), also seems to have the capillary action and hydrogen bonding of water and undoes the spreading i worked to achieve. Any thoughts/comments are welcome as I plan to keep working on this. First, solving the problem of keeping the stems apart, and then finding ways to paint the grass a bright lush green b/c the current color offerings by WS are few and unsatisfactory for my purpose. Definitely looking for an alternate material to use, but haven't found/can't think of anything else to use. There were some "farm field" sheets made in japan, but they weren't quite what i was hoping for. For now, i'll stick with the field grass. After solving the problems, I'll find way to mass produce these little suckers. yay my inner mechanical engineer wanting to mechanize everything~~

[qwertyaardvark]

Hey qwerty, if you're in the 713 check out Spring Crossing Model Trains on FM2920 (Spring-Cypress Road) just east of 45.

 

He only takes cash but his prices are as low/lower than most of the "discount" online hobby shops. On Kato track alone you're looking at about 30% off MSRP. Then again Spring Crossing doesn't have the awesome Chinese buffet next door like Papa Ben's does.

 

o0o0o0o... I will have to check this place out. Despite the fact i live in the southwest suburbs and the trip taking an hour one way, I definitely think it'd be worth it! anything for model trains! thanks for the tip! ^_^ Do you live in the Houston area?

[Mudkip Orange]

University of Screwston baby, Cullen Boulevard is where we ride 26s and sip that purple stuff.