[Brad Korando]

Awesome start sig! You're building some terrific scenery, and I'd like to go on record commending you for the best use of a plant holder that I've ever seen! Like everyone else, I look forward to seeing more photos and more of the development of your wood track.

Thanks for sharing.
Brad

 

[Brad Korando]

Figures really do make a big difference on a layout. I find that when they start talking back to me it's time for me turn out the lights and go up to bed!

The wet look could be a neat look. I don't think that I'd do anything to the vertical faces of the cliffs as much of the water would have already run off of it by the following day. The vertical face probably dries before everything else. If you're still interested; you might try using a matte or satin finish on the vertical surfaces and the gloss finish on the paved or hard horizontal surfaces.

Brad

 

[Brad Korando]

sig,

Go with the Iron Bridge detailing! Mr. Telford's work is certainly inspiring, and I think that it's important to build some of ourselves into these fictional layouts.

Why not come up with a storyline that supports what you build. It's possible that a bridge of similar detailing could have been designed by an apprentice of Telford. Perhaps this apprentice was of Spanish decent and happened to be the son of an iron smith. The father wanted more for his son, so he sent him off to England to apprentice for Telford. The son becomes a sucessful engineer in England and returns to his home years later to build such a bridge at the entry to his village as a monument to his father. Just and idea, but I do think that liberties can be taken to suit our own tastes.

As for the tree, it's perfect: it would be a crime not to use it! I think you could make some very realistic foliage for it by replacing the needles with Woodland Scenics Fine Leaf Foliage. There are plenty of on-line hobby shops that sell it, so I don't think that it would be too difficult for you to get.

Nice work, keep the updates coming!

Brad

 

[Brad Korando]

Hi sig,

The trees look great, perfect for the look you're going for.

As for the bridge rivets: If you don't have an issue making all of the holes, you might want to look into using the heads from sewing pins. They come in different sizes. I think you'd be looking for the smallest available. Use wire cutters to cut the pins just shy of the heads; leaving enough of the shaft to index into the hole. Super glue would keep them in place. The heads of the pins will have to be roughed up with sand paper to get rid of the chrome finish. I think you can weather the roughed up pinheads with a light acid mixture. That should make them rust. You can always paint the heads if you'd rather not mess around with acid.

It sounds like you might already have an airbrush, what are you using?

 

[Brad Korando]

Good idea sig. That's the technique used on small scale train, plane and ship models. It'll look great, and will save you a bunch of time. As for the MDF, I've never had any luck with it when it comes to detail work for the same reason you point out. I don't think that the age of the material has much to do with it: it's just the nature of the material.

Brad

 

[Brad Korando]

Very nice work on the church sig! A rotary tool might work for cutting in the opening without causing much damage to the brittle paste. Any plans to model the balustrade? And for my own curiosity, where are you building this track? Glimpses of the space surrounding the track, the trusses above it and some of the photographic angles have me thinking that you are in a very large and interesting building. I'd love to see interior and exterior photographs of it, if you don't mind.

Thanks for the update.
Brad

 

[Brad Korando]

Excellent work sig. The materials are the perfect texture and scale. Love the puddles!

Brad

 

[Brad Korando]

Fantastic work sig - the cobblestone is brilliant! I would suspect that the plaster will hold up rather well considering the MDF substraight. And if it eventually shows signs of ware, that's even better. 1:1 cobblestone shows signs of ware and even becomes depressed from tyres on well traveled roads. Any chips can be washed again with the black gloss.

I can't believe how quickly you are progressing with this - keep up the good work!
Brad

 

[Brad Korando]

Terrific progress sig! It's amazing to me just how quickly you are moving along with such fantastic results.

QUOTE has anyone ever put fotos of real windows behind the perspex Yes, I think Graham Lane did this on some of the buildings on this layout. You will find photos somewhere in his Castello Slot Racing thread. His track build is a great source of information. Also, I think he faced some of the same concerns you have regarding the gap between the church and the bar. The only thing that I've modelled that is similar to the gap is the Paddock tunnel under the track at Prairie Ridge. I made a fake perspective on a flat board in an attempt to make the tunnel look as if it continues on under the track when in reality it is only about 5cm deep. Your situation is certainly more difficult, but I have faith in your abilities - I'm sure that you'll pull it off brilliantly

Thanks for the update.
Brad

 

[Brad Korando]

Wow sig awesome video - I love it! The track looks like a lot of fun to drive. The scenery looks fantastic too. Can't wait for more.

Brad

 

[Brad Korando]

Interesting video sig. I think Rob (Taxi) had an elevated car park on the track before his current track that he routed a donut into, but it wasn't concentric like yours. Luf has a couple of tracks on his site that remind me of your donut prototype. Again, they are not exactly like yours, but they do have similarities. Here's a look at his Bullring track. And a look at his Autocross track. He's posted videos of these tracks that are interesting to watch, just follow the links on his site.

Brad

 

[Brad Korando]

Wow sig, the bridge looks great! I can't wait to see it after you have it dialed in. The garge door is really nice too. Keep up the great work.

Brad

 

[Brad Korando]

WOW sig!!! This is absolutely fantastic: modeling at it's finest. The level of detail is perfect The dirt, weathering of the stucco and wearing of the wood on the lockup are first rate! Amazing work in a very short amount of time.

What era tow truck are you looking for? I'm planing on building one by startin with a die cast 1956 Ford pickup like the one I already have on my layout. 50's era tow trucks were very simple. Just a 3/4 or one ton truck with a pipe frame, winch and pulley for the hoist. A later model tow truck would certainly be more of a challenge. But from we've all seen here, you're up to the task.

How are you able to post reduced size photos that can be enlarged? I'd love to do this. The large photos are so much better than what I've been posting. Please enlighten me!

Brad

 

[Brad Korando]

QUOTE the camera is set at 1024 x 768 and i just up load them at full (its an old camera) and photobucket does the rest!
Well, I'm going to have to give this a try. If there are any mods reading this...is this okay. I'd really like to make larger images available, and would rather not have to make two sets of images if it is not necessary.

An old tow truck would compliment your layout nicely. Here in the midwest US, dedicated towing services use new equipment. Mechanic's garages that still tow usually have old equipment with lots of battle scars. It'd be great to see an old tow truck with the signs "painted" on the doors that match the sign to the left of the garage roll up door. There are usually quite a few pickups available on US eBay. The ones on my layout are by NewRay and are 1:34 scale. First Gear also makes some in this scale. PM me if you don't have any luck finding what you are looking for.

Again, awesome work sig.

 

[Brad Korando]

What an excellent transformation. The sign looks good too. The left over plow tyres have got to make an apperance on the layout somewhere. Fantastic work sig!

Brad

 

[Brad Korando]

Really wonderful landscape work sig. I think the rustic/rural look and colors you've chosen is the perfect contrast to the village. While they are certainly different, they still compliment one another. It looks to be a very realistic transition from rural/urban to rural/rural (can you tell I made that up?

). Very nice!

Brad

 

[Brad Korando]

Great vignette sig: fantastic story and excellent work on mangling Supra. I can't wait for an introduction to jordi snr!

Brad

 

[Brad Korando]

QUOTE Rumour has it he is dealing in some very shady substances over in mexico...aparantly he bought an old airfield and some wrecked old planes.with their mothers inheritance......no one really knows why as he cant fly a plane .
Very impressive tie-in there sig. Brilliant, just brilliant.

Brad

 

[Brad Korando]

The lights look great sig. They fit in nicely with the scenery and add to the realistic look of the layout. It looks like you got a bunch of them for 80 euros!

Brad

 

[Brad Korando]

Very nice iron work sig. Those prices seem very reasonable. Do you have to take into account the width of the laser cut when designing these pieces? How wide of a path does it cut? Very interesting use of technology!

Brad