My shinkansen layout project

[ozman2009]

Amazing work Mardon, surely an inspiration to us all.

[cteno4]

Mardon,

 

Kudos as usual! Great work. The dock is really nice! What did you use for water?

 

Jeff

[macdon]

I went for a different route in making the water on this layout. Unlike my Byodo-In pond where resin was poured on the baseboard, this time I chose a less messy way. Also, one big consideration was to be able to remove the water instantly and make it usable in other places, other layouts, etc.

 

Everything was done on a single piece of sintra - painted it black, then paint your water colors (blue, green, etc.) , mod podge once a day for 10 days then finally brush on 3 - 4x of clear varnish. I got that idea from this tutorial online:

 

 

I did find the water in the video a bit distressed probably done by the mod podge. My mod podge is 'home made' - half water to 1 white glue as I want it calmer.

 

Mardon

[Martijn Meerts]

Another option for water is using ingrain wallpaper as the base, paint it in the colours you want, and add multiple layers of varnish. By varying the coarseness of the wallpaper you can get different types of water. I believe they use that technique at Miniworld in Rotterdam.

[cteno4]

Mardon,

 

Cool, I've wanted to try the white glue approach! Seen it used a lot in Japan.

 

The art stores do sell a gel gloss medium that you can build up quicker. Only problem is price, I've only seen it in full artist archival quality (read expensive) and no modge podge craft (read cheaper) version. But white glue is even cheaper and the results look great.

 

Only thing I was wondering if the white glue might crack with time drying out too much. But with the syntra below and the varnish above the pva should be well protected.

 

Great job!

 

Jeff

[Mudkip Orange]

I'm really impressed by this layout.

[macdon]

I saw this n scale structure in HS:  http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10284945

I was intrigue as I thought it was a shrine, but saw the word "castle" in the box ....... but when you click on the item it takes you to the "military" section of HS.

 

Manufacturer: Plum (?) 

 

Nonetheless, this is one of those ........... "I wanna get this even if I dont know where to put it" type of builds and the reason I posted this here is because Im hoping that I could find a place for it in my shinkansen layout :)

Box was huge but expected as the kit is composed of 2 structures joined together. Not bad for $30, eh?

Parts were molded in 4 colors and the plastic is thick - seems like slot assembly which minimizes glue. 

Overall, this was a blast to build - parts fit was excellent and detailed enough to rival more expensive kits in the market today!

 

In spite of the molded 4-color parts, I went a bit further and did some 'painting liberties'. I wanted it to look like old, faded wood where parts of the structure is loosing its paint/varnish. For me, this sounds such a big task as painting is my waterloo and mediocre at best...........but as they say, keep trying something that you're poor at. 

 

Part 1:  pics of the primary structure

 

 

 

[macdon]

The last 2 pics of my post above shows the base of the secondary structure. The bases are actually separated, so each structure has its own base. When both are completed, both bases interlock as one and there's a lock at the bottom of the base to lock both bases together if you wanna carry both around.

 

Part 2: Pics of Secondary structure

 

 

 

 

 

[macdon]

When joined together, footprint is approx 10" x 9".  It was a dream to make and a steal at its price :)

Now all I need is a place to park it :D

 

 

 

Mardon

 

  

[NJHA]

That one is a big structure indeed. 

I saw that one on HS but it looked to big, even being 1/150 so I didn't get it. I will get a temple for my mountain, but a rather small one :)

[cteno4]

Damn I was resisting this model, you had to go and show it off! Oh well I haven't ordered anything from hs in a long while!

 

Nice work!

 

Jeff

Edited October 27, 2014 by cteno4

[Philphil]

Okay, so it's been several years and now we're all wondering what's become of your layout?

[velotrain]

You're likely the only one wondering.

 

As with all MR forums, members (and layouts) will quickly appear and then suddenly disappear - usually with no explanation given.

 

 

[cteno4]

Folks come and go from the forum and web sites, life changes. 

 

Mardon has not been on the forum for quite quite a while.

 

Jeff

[tossedman]

Mardon’s still about, just not here lately. He built me a fibreglass body for my RC crawler this month. He’s been pretty busy with that kind of stuff. Means to get back on here someday, or so he keeps saying... 

[cteno4]

Wow that's great Todd!

 

mardon has a great fiberglass shop! His Star Wars stuff looks fantastic.

 

i thought it funny when he did his first model train hill side and did it in fiberglass. We all reacted like it was using a nuke for a firecracker! But then he let us in on he fact that he runs a full custom fiberglass shop, so for him it was easier than plaster cloth for the rest of us!

 

hope he stops back by, super nice chap.

 

cheers

 

jeff

[macdon]

Hello everyone! 

Its been a few years I know and just this week dismantled my 3/4 finished layout. Been deliberating on it for months, but finally decided on a change. It took just 3 days up in the "sauna room" (attic), but its done. Blank table top, stuff in plastic containers and in boxes and threw a lot of stuff (mostly diy stuff) as well. For weeks, I resigned to merely just building 2' x 4' simplistic layouts..........but darn, I love my shinkansens and they need to run! 

 

Mardon

[cteno4]

Martin,

 

great to hear from you, we have missed you! 

 

Sad to see the layout is torn down, but they do cycle like that. It’s always tradeoffs in building layouts, love the Long runs for shinkansens, but they require a lot of space, especially if you want them to have the space to really run and not chase their tails, but that takes space, time (both to get the space, plan and build), and money.

 

small layouts can get you a lot done in a small amount of time and money and be easily stored. Let’s you build a lot of different scenery and scenes in smaller bits, but then it’s small trains and not the grand views! 

 

Have you thought of sectional/modular to maybe split the difference? Maybe around the outside of the room? Smaller modules might let you work in a cooler space for building and you could do them a bit at a time. Also let’s you take it out someplace sometime to show off and excite others about model railroading.

 

i know the pain, I continually go around on this myself!

 

stop by when you get a chance and show off the new little layouts. Your work was an inspiration to many here!

 

cheers

 

jeff

[Philphil]

It'll be cool to see what you come up with next! Maybe an even BIGGER custom shinkansen station?

[macdon]

I really cant stand knowing a blank 4'x10' table is just sitting there in its lonesome .............. so took the kato V16 track set and placed it temporarily on the table to promote some trains running. Waiting for lightning to strike!

 

Mardon

[cteno4]

Ha! That’s the spirit Mardon! Go over and look at gavin’s Shinkansen tunnel, I know it will get those gears cranking like mad.

 

Jeff

[macdon]

Maybe something...........or a whole lot of nothing............ but had to re-start somewhere 😛

 

 

[JR 500系]

Cool Mardon!

 

Are those 2 different layouts? Looks amazing! Cant wait for its completion!  🙂

[cteno4]

Ha that itch got too great! Glad to see you playing with trains again! Only great things can happen...

 

jeff

[gavino200]

16 hours ago, macdon said:

Maybe something...........or a whole lot of nothing............ but had to re-start somewhere 😛

 

 

 

 

 

Very nice! Is that going to be a big river crossing the layout? What technique are you planning to use to make "water"?