Alex's Layout thread.

alexbnfan

New Member
Hi everyone.

I thought, seeing as everyone else was doing this, i figured that i should make a thread about my layout.

Firstly, we have a BN SW1500 leaving the yard
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x261/alexbnfan/100_0870_edited.jpg
Its an Athearn Model.

Then we have a (dont laugh, i'm too lazy to repaint it) Tyco Durango GP20.
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x261/alexbnfan/100_0871_edited.jpg
Then we have the afore mentioned GP20 using the turntable.

Then we have the Small Shoe factory. Its a LifeLike "Mt Vernon manufacturing. I have a lot of Lifelike, Bachmann and Tyco stuff on the layout. Its cheap, and works for me.
In the background, you can see the Oil Dealership. Another LL kit. sign1
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x261/alexbnfan/100_0878_edited.jpg
This one is my Rockface
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x261/alexbnfan/100_0872_edited.jpg
This one is my Logging operation. Complete with you guessed it, Tyco logcar.
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x261/alexbnfan/100_0879_edited.jpg
This is my turntable. Its an Atlas model, i got it on special.
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x261/alexbnfan/100_0876_edited.jpg

Thats all for now. I'll be back later with modifications.

While this layout may seem amatuerish, please bear in mind, that its my first layout (sounds like a childrens toy advertisment.......) that i actually seriously put effort into. (note that constructive critisicim is always welcome.)

Another note, the lighting in the shed is, well, just plain bad. Its not even worth swearing about, its that bad..

Enjoy.
 
While this layout may seem amatuerish, please bear in mind, that its my first layout (sounds like a childrens toy advertisment.......) that i actually seriously put effort into. (note that constructive critisicim is always welcome.)

And is there something wrong with that? My railroad is not up to today's standards, but it is MY railroad.

Just enjoy and don't worry about what others think.
 

MadCoW1

Member
Hello Alex,

First I want to thank you for sharing your layout. I surely didn't mind any of the pictures that you posted of your accomplishments. While it wouldn't please the 'rivet counters' it does lend itself to the average modeler who may glean an idea from your work. To worry about comparisons while posting, is in my opinion, a waste of well, worry time. If you want or are looking for comparison, enter a contest. But I like the title of your thread and it is, after all, yours. Not all who read it will reply. But I will visit your progress.

BTW, you say it is in a shed? I have seen some pics of large spiders in your area. Ever encounter any of those beasts?

Have fun and keep going after your vision.

Johnny
 

alexbnfan

New Member
Thanks!!!!!

Hello Alex,

First I want to thank you for sharing your layout. I surely didn't mind any of the pictures that you posted of your accomplishments. While it wouldn't please the 'rivet counters' it does lend itself to the average modeler who may glean an idea from your work. To worry about comparisons while posting, is in my opinion, a waste of well, worry time. If you want or are looking for comparison, enter a contest. But I like the title of your thread and it is, after all, yours. Not all who read it will reply. But I will visit your progress.

BTW, you say it is in a shed? I have seen some pics of large spiders in your area. Ever encounter any of those beasts?

Have fun and keep going after your vision.

Johnny

Thanks guys for your support. Its really refreshing to know that there are nice guys still out there.

I'm satisfied with posting this, seeing as there are 2 people happy with it already, so i'll keep showing you my work.

As for the spiders, most of the big ones are not venomous to humans. So i dont mind them, also they get rid of other bugs.

Quote:
Originally Posted by alexbnfan
While this layout may seem amatuerish, please bear in mind, that its my first layout (sounds like a childrens toy advertisment.......) that i actually seriously put effort into. (note that constructive critisicim is always welcome.)

And is there something wrong with that? My railroad is not up to today's standards, but it is MY railroad.

Just enjoy and don't worry about what others think.

Yeah, i just wanted to personally say thanks for your comments, its really refreshing to know you dont mind that its not the greatest.

I mainly like to run trains. The scenery, while nice is not the main focus (although bad scenery makes the most detailed trains look bad in my eye.

So, in conclusion thanks for the good feedback!
 

Ralph

Remember...it's for fun!
Alex, glad you posted the photos. I think you're doing fine! One of the things I've found about posting photos is the way it gives me an objective look at myt layout and helps me find things to improve if I wish.

I agree with the comments above regarding enjoying your layout and keeping it fun! As time goes by if you see techniques or ideas on The Gauge that inspire you, give them a try. Experience and practice in a hobby inevitably lead us to refine our skills and enjoy it even more.

Regards,
Ralph
 

alexbnfan

New Member

doctorwayne

Active Member
Don't be shy about posting your photos, Alex, We all like to see what others are doing. And Ralph is right: For some reason, when we look at our layouts, we don't always see what's right in front of us - our minds fill in the missing elements or gloss over the inaccuracies. Take a picture of the same thing and you'll see areas where you could change something to make the scene better, or even get ideas for changes that, for some reason, become more obvious in a photograph. We're all in the learning stage of this hobby: some farther along than others, but nevertheless, still learning. Seeing what others do is part of that process, so keep the pictures coming!

Wayne
 

green_elite_cab

Keep It Moving!
good work!

You already have alot of track, thats pretty cool. I'm all packed onto a 4x8, it looks like you have room to run.

if i may make a suggestion for the pictures, one excellent way to get nicer pictures is to first turn the flash off, and get a bright light. It makes everything look more natural. Next, you need to find the macro lense setting for things up close. Usually, it is marked by a flower shaped symbol on your camera somewhere.

If you do these to things, your pictures will come out nicer!
 

alexbnfan

New Member
Sorry about my absence, i've had no internet since friday our time.

We have a few seceret operations going on lateley.

we see a train going along with what looks like a old tank car. After this, some big boofy guys comes up and asks us to move. We dont really argue, as there is one of us and 2 of them.

As the train rolls by.
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x261/alexbnfan/100_0885_edited.jpg
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x261/alexbnfan/100_0886_edited.jpg
100_0883_edited.jpg - Image - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting


The rest of the story coming tommorow.

oh yes, by the way, i forgot to thank everyone for there positive comments.
 

alexbnfan

New Member
good work!

You already have alot of track, thats pretty cool. I'm all packed onto a 4x8, it looks like you have room to run.

if i may make a suggestion for the pictures, one excellent way to get nicer pictures is to first turn the flash off, and get a bright light. It makes everything look more natural. Next, you need to find the macro lense setting for things up close. Usually, it is marked by a flower shaped symbol on your camera somewhere.

If you do these to things, your pictures will come out nicer!

it looks wrong, its only 2 doors. ahhhh, the joy of renovations!!!!!
 

UP SD40-2

Senior Member
Alex:wav: , WOW!!!:eeki: the last pics you posted really came out GREAT!:thumb::thumb::thumb: VERY CLEAR:winki: , GOOD JOB!:thumb: your ATSF caboose, i noticed it has truss rods on the bottom, i have never seen one molded in plastic like that, may i ask who made it? THANKS!:mrgreen:
:deano: -Deano
 

alexbnfan

New Member
Another update on my trains
The corner of my layout near the caboose track, was one of my first attempts at scenery, so its not up to the standard of everything else. I have a saying when it comes to trains, (as opposed to school), if a job is worth doing, its worth doing properly. So what did i do? I went to my local Bunnings (big hardware shop in Australia), got some plaster, and proceeded to make a mountain in this corner. complete with tunnel. So what was my least exciting corner is now sort of a centerpiece. more so than i thought. And here it is.
100_0916_edited.jpg - Image - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
100_0913_edited.jpg - Image - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x261/alexbnfan/100_0912_edited.jpg
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x261/alexbnfan/100_0910_edited.jpg
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x261/alexbnfan/100_0920_edited.jpg
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x261/alexbnfan/100_0918_edited.jpg
100_0916_edited.jpg - Image - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Oh yeah, if you think the grass is different, it is. here is how i do it. At the local timber place, i get sawdust, glue it on, paint it green, in this case varying shades of green, and then repeat the process a few times. It gives a good texture, and i can do it cheap (under $10 AUD for the whole layout.) its not the greatest, but it does look ok, and i am happy with it.

Also, got some photos of the secret happenings, where that train was going to. It was carrying old tank cars that i converted into oil tanks.
100_0919_edited.jpg - Image - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
100_0918_edited.jpg - Image - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

EDIT: got on my bike, and went to the local wood shop and got some more sawdust, so grass production is happening again.
 

alexbnfan

New Member
As per my policy of changing my mind every 5 minutes, the Caboose track is now a track leading to the sawmill. So, after converting it to the sawmill track, i decided to show you my work.

as with all my photos, lighting is an issue

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x261/alexbnfan/100_0922_edited.jpg
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x261/alexbnfan/100_0925_edited.jpg
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x261/alexbnfan/100_0927_edited.jpg
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x261/alexbnfan/100_0932_edited.jpg

Alex
 

Ralph

Remember...it's for fun!
I don't know how many times I made changes on my layout as I went along...and the day ain't over yet! :) I see it as the process of eventuallycreating exactly what I want. I have that small shed on my layout too.

Ralph
 

MadHatter

Charging at full tilt.
alexbnfan- your at a great start, don't worry about skills- practice makes perfect!

The scary thing about changes is that just when you think that you've finished a section (You'll soon learn that a layout is never really finished) you might want to change it all over again.
 
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