I took down all the structures and landscaping on my layout, which I do periodically, usually to sell off the models and make room for a new theme. This year I had an additional reason for the take down; I was having some electrical problems and I needed to get at the track and the wiring.
The problem solved, I'm looking at a bare layout. Repopulating the layout with structures will begin with an Ice House and Platform I will put here. More to follow.
The problem solved, I'm looking at a bare layout. Repopulating the layout with structures will begin with an Ice House and Platform I will put here. More to follow.
| Here I'm showing my final sketches before I begin. I will start with the floors for each house, which will be 28x36 and 36x56 HO scale feet respectively. This area of the layout is not the easiest to access, so I'm thinking of making the buildings first, then fitting the conveyors and platforms in place afterwards. |  |
 | Details like this are fairly easy. For the weathered, tar-paper roof, I use scribed balsa sheets. I spray them with gray auto primer and camo Khaki, then hit them with a little chalk effect of grays, yellows and browns. Finally, the wood roof gets a black wash of India ink and rubbing alcohol. I cover this with paper tape, (found in first-aid drug stores). and paint it black. Then I distress parts of the roof by tearing back the paper and chopping up the "boards" with a sprue cutter. Some edges, like along the eave, I highlight with chalk. The window opening is trimmed with basswood strips that are cut slightly long and pressed into the opening. No glue required. |