Here's the latest additions: some new buildings, another tunnel, deer on the edge of a forest, workers, townspeople, lamp posts for the town, and roads.

Many Changes to the Layout

I added four cable hookups to the board. The two in the foreground are hidden under two small mounds and in the background they are hidden in two holes for easy access. A backdrop was added as a small mountain, as well as several buildings and new track design. The border around the track was painted, and other small changes made. The track loops back on itself, and so two DPDT switches were used for the track and for a separate independent track. Several of the grades were lowered and some curves increased in radius for less problems on turns.

November Update

I added some texture to various places, and after all that still had a few spots where the train track curve was too tight. I decided since I now have the cars and engine, and also power unit, that I'd pull all the track and bedding, and then lay the track again. This way, I can check each section as I put it down, rather than running the train afterward, and trying to makeshift corrections. Here are two photos before the track and bedding was pulled.

I've added a watertower with light, and a small home.

Changes made - pulled track and repainted

I decided to make some changes now, rather than wish I had later on. I pulled all the track and bedding, and repainted all the base so that it just would look better. Then before continuing I changed two of the bottom boards, sliding them out to give me a ten inch margin on each side to rest the power box, controls, tools, trains, etc. Then I nailed the 3 boards in place and started laying the bedding and track again. Now each section is being tested as I've hooked up the power box for the trains. I run the engine at the slowest and at the highest speeds, looking for any problems in track. At this point I've hook up the power at the middle on one side of long length, and then over on the other side. I also made one of the slopes more gradual of an incline. Using a grinder, one can slope sections of the bedding for special inclines.

I've changed the basic design, as you can see. There is a loose section of bedding on the center of the board, where I may decide to place part of the track.

Painting done

Here you'll see the painting is complete. It is far easier to paint the entire base before laying the track - hindsight comment.

Next I'll plan out the sections, and begin working one area at a time. I may also work on running several engines to see if any work needs to be done on the track.

Basic foundation paint almost done

Here you'll see I've painted most of the landscape, except for next to the track, which I'll do once the main coat is dry. In hindsight, I probably should have painted the whole landscape before laying the track.

Once I've finished this detail painting along the track, then I need to plan out each section - where am I going to put what? Once I've done that, then I can plan which section to work on first.

Painting the set

Back to the topic of railroading - I started painting the set with an earth color, and will finish it Saturday.

N Gauge - The start of a new hobby

It all started when I had some plywood sheets left over after putting sheets up in the attic. What to do with them? I had recently bought a pair of sawhorses, and the store had given out an extra pair as a special of theirs. What to do with the two saw horses?

I put the three 4 x 8 boards on top of each other, on the sawhorses, and from there I thought, why not do some model railroading - I'd always wanted to do that as a kid. I read a few things about it on the Internet, and settled on either HO or N gauge, for their small size. I finally settled on N gauge, because that would allow for a small track, and therefore more room for creating a countryside scene.

Then I put bought some insulation foam sheets, and glued them down on the board, and cut up parts of another to help make the landscape, or at least start the landscape. Next I bought trackbed and strips of train track. Shown here is a photo of where I've got, a week from starting. Tomorrow I'll finish up the basic track layout, and start on the scenery.

Comments and suggestions always welcomed!