Here we go! Gotta start somewhere.

Well, I finally got some help to lay out the fencelines today. The posts are a little bigger than I would have liked but hey, you take what you can get. We used toothpicks for the main posts and needles for the in between stays. Yes, everything still looks a bit tall but that's 'cause I have to paint the tops of each post their appropriate colors before I push them down to a suitable fence height. Still a ways to go but this is where we're at right now.
The stock tank was just delivered and installed and it has not even been filled yet so still has that pretty, new, galvanized, steel look to it. The big posts in the driveway will be a glorified entryway to support a sign that will sport the name of the ranch/farm (undecided as of yet).
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Since the pond is still empty, my guys are taking advantage of this to build up this section of fence while they can still get to it.

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More of the same....

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Here, under the supervision of some curious cows, my foreman and his son are laying out the corner bracing and making sure that the gate has been installed correctly.

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Another shot of the same area...

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Sorry about the pictures, as some aren't totally in focus but at least you get the idea!
 
I keep telling the scratchbuilders that I could not do what they do 'cause it's too tedious stuff for me and then I go and do something like this. Go figure. Anyone who's ever built a fence, will recognize that telltale green with a white top T post instantly! Lord knows, I've pounded my fair share! Really! Does it look a little better now that all the posts are at the same level?

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Wow! That looks great! I love you driveway sign! The white tops really add to the fence post it looks spot on now that they are level. The water runoff is a nice touch, was just at a place that had that issue. I like how you made the dirt tracks for the car tires in the field.
 
wickman said:
...will you be ballasting the track? :wave:
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Absolutely. All in due time. I thought about just ballasting the double section of track in front of the farm for photographs sake for now.
Yes, I am really happy with how the T posts turned out. Today I ran 3 rows of rusty barbed wire along 85% of the fenceline and now only have to finish the cross bracing at the corners. It's looking pretty good. I'll update with more pictures when I get to that point.
jesso said:
Wow! That looks great! I love you driveway sign! The white tops really add to the fence post it looks spot on now that they are level. The water runoff is a nice touch, was just at a place that had that issue. I like how you made the dirt tracks for the car tires in the field.
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Thank you Jesso. I'm still debating as to how to do the sign over the driveway. Nice to see you noticed the ruts in the field. That actually took some patience and a little work to keep the grass from gluing itself where I did not want it to.
 
There is still a LOT to do on this scene but at least, it is all starting to come together.
Allright everybody... Some input if you would please. I know there is still a lot to do on this scene but what is it in particular that jumps out at you (good or bad)? ...besides the poor photography!
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I see the the guys are sitting on the porch admiring their work! How did you get your water blue? Did you paint the dark brown area of your pond blue? The fence looks spectacular! I love that you put in the extra corner supports. Is that a skylight on the roof of the house, or just a missing chimney? Other than that, the house's detail looks really good. Personally, I don't see "a lot to do" on this scene. It looks great to me.
 
jesso said:
...How did you get your water blue? Did you paint the dark brown area of your pond blue? The fence looks spectacular! I love that you put in the extra corner supports. Is that a skylight on the roof of the house, or just a missing chimney? Other than that, the house's detail looks really good. Personally, I don't see "a lot to do" on this scene. It looks great to me.
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Thank you Jesso,
For the water, I used WS water in a bottle. for the cow tank, I actually painted a little green on top of the aluminum color 'cause all old cow tanks start to grow a little moss and green stuff in there. For the pond, I did the usual stuff for the bottom (dirt and darker colors on the plaster to simulate deeper areas), and I added one drop of blue food coloring and one drop of brown paint to give it a little color. It has been my experience in the past that the blue will fade over time and not be so vibrant. I was going for a murkier brown but that did not happen and so I will add a little more when this dries and is ready for the next layer. That fence took a lot of work and remember that this is N scale. I was not initially going to add the corner supports due to laziness but it got the best of me and I finally put them in. I don't know if I should paint the supports a nice red or green color or just leave them as they are (and the gate). My parents always painted all of theirs to keep the cross bracing pipes from rusting and my dad always used whatever color was left over in the garage (usually red or green). Yes, the house is missing the chimney as it broke off years ago. Luckily I still have it and it is sitting on the porch behind the guys. I'll have them fix that right away for you! More?
 
jesso said:
Just a comment. Please make sure to add your pictures from the photo fun thread to your layout thread so after this week we will be able to see the great picts that you took of you farm and construction areas.

Thanks for sharing your layout with us. It is great to watch your progress!
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Thank you for expressing interest Jesso. As per your request,

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great shots TrainNut,your layouts comin along great :thumb: .so,is that construction scene gone yet or did it sorta grow on you :mrgreen: .--josh
 
It did grow on me and it is still there but only because I have not finished the two buildings that will eventually occupy that site. Still, I like the scene and may recreate it elsewhere.
 
Possible expansion!

Wow! My wifes company is taking off and we are thinking of adding an office onto the side of the house for her. We would convert the window in the dining room into a door and that's a problem. See, my layout sits in front of that window. What to do? Well, it looks like I will be allowed to move my layout into her old office space (a corner of another room). The layout does not really fit in this space as is, BUT, if I split it again, (similar to before), and at the corner of the L, add a new 5'2x2'4 piece, I can convert the "L" into a "U". Let me show you. Here is the spaghetti mess as it is now... mostly...

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Here is what it would look like after the split and with the new section added in...

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This is what the layout looks like where the split will take place (the grey line)...

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And, finally, a closeup of the proposed new section...

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There are three different track colors. Light blue is my outer edge mainline. Red = northbound mainline and green equals southbound mainline. On the right side, the outer edge mainline is 1" lower than the rest of the track and on the far left hand side, those two lines will be crossing a long bridge (type unknown at this point) 3.5" above the rest of the layout. The thick black line running vertical and then curving 45 degrees east is a low backdrop. On the right side will be a city/industrial scene. The section to either side of all the switches needs some help. The curved bridge at the top left will be some sort of a curved colonade similar to this (if I can even find one)....

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The layout will be up against a wall on the bottom but will be viewable from all other sides (and all on wheels so I can still pull it out for maintenance). On the top and the left, at a lower level (6" maybe) will be a very simple future dogbone HO and HOn3 layout that curves underneath the N scale layout at both ends to complete the dogbone. I'm hoping that at the top left corner, I can merge the scenery of the n scale layout in with the scenery of the HO and HOn3 layout to pull them together.

On either side of the vertical switching area, I would like to have some more switching to serve industries. I really like things like these...

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...and especially this one...

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I just can't seem to figure out how to tie it all together, which industries to use and not make it look like an even bigger bowl of spaghetti. The only type of industry I have on my layout at this point is an old coal mine. Trucklover, I'm really looking for your feedback here as I am very impressed with your new bedroom design and am hoping you can come up with some similar ideas here. How 'bout it? Any ideas? Feedback? Also, remember - N scale please.
 
Well, the additional room will make this a very large N scale layout. Big is better.:thumb:
The U shape is very user friendly. I like that, you can stand in the middle of your n scale world! Neet--The curved bridge looks like a real challenge- might be a scratch build idem?
I don't have a clue :confused:as how to get your switching yards tied into your new section. Someone with better skills in planning will have to give up some ideas.
I have trouble makeing a straight line with out the aid of a stick or straight edge.
Hope someone will come to your aid.
We have lots of good modelers out there so I am sure help will be on its way.
BTW when do we blast out the window and make new room?
 
As I was going to someday ask you if you could help me make a nice trackplanwith lots of levels, I know that I have nothing to offer you. However, I just wanted you to know that if your layout is a "spaghetti mess," then I really like layouts that are a spaghetti mess. A question for you; will you still have access to the back of your layout and tunnels when it is converted to a U instead of an L?
 
jesso said:
As I was going to someday ask you if you could help me make a nice trackplanwith lots of levels, I know that I have nothing to offer you. However, I just wanted you to know that if your layout is a "spaghetti mess," then I really like layouts that are a spaghetti mess. A question for you; will you still have access to the back of your layout and tunnels when it is converted to a U instead of an L?
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Thank you Jesso for the compliments. I think that would be really neat to help you with a plan and see it come to life. I've learned so much from this one on things I like (and don't). In answer to your other q's...
TrainNut said:
The layout will be up against a wall on the bottom but will be viewable from all other sides (and all on wheels so I can still pull it out for maintenance).
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Woodone, we figure the new office will be around 15K and she really wants to have that in hand before we start the construction. That could take a few months. I'm hoping sometime in the next 2 to 3 months... in fact, I'm ready to move her out now so I can start on this new expansion!!!!!!!!!!
 
wow, hurry up and finish I want to see it done! really great work on the mountains, if you get it done, tell me, I would love to make a video of all your pictures combined in order by date to show how fast your progressed :thumb:

~Sfrr~
 
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