Where is your first layout, Shamus? You must have a photo about?
I sure wish I had a picture of my first layout. I've told my story before, but I was on an island, in Rensselaer, IN, and had no contact with any modelers. I got to a hobby shop maybe twice a year, and about once a year I got to see my cousin in IA (now the only MMR in Iowa). He would give me a couple of ideas, some old stuff he didn't need and an old magazine or two. And I thought I was one B-B-B-B-Bad modeler. On second thought, it might be a good thing I don't have a picture. We were also poor during those years. Parents were teachers and that job didn't pay inthe 70's, so I was on my own for funding. I do still have all of the buildings, about 20 in all. The first building I built I don't have a photo handy, but the 2nd and third I do:
The ground foam came later in my modeling career. When I first started it was green sawdust, all one color. All the flat land had perfect green grass!
BTW: I'm selling these two, if you would like them, they are 6.99 ea. on e-bay, but I'll drop the price for my good friends here. e-mail or PM me and I'll cancel the auction.