One of the most challenging elements of an urban layout, and one that’s important to get right, is the pavement. You’re dealing with a lot of subtle color patterns and feathered edges. The street behind the track is probably the most difficult model to build on the extension module. The sidewalks curve to the side […]
On my laundry list of projects for the early sixties version of the LAJ layout is to add to my rolling stock roster, especially what I call “plain janes”, unpretentious cars that look like they belong. Looking at prototype photos, there were more fifty-footers than forty-footers. The old Walthers Proto cars are really nice models […]
Along with half the country, I’m homebound due to the massive snow/sleet/ice storm. It’s a good excuse to get some modeling in. It’s been an interesting behavior mod. challenge for me of late, going from a lifetime of “mission mode” model railroad construction to learning to slow down and enjoy the ride. I have to […]
When I first clipped the extension module in place, I was a little surprised that I got reliable power simply through the rail joiners connecting the module to the main layout. I left things that way for a while, but I wouldn’t call it a best practice standard. As with all turnouts, the frog is […]
Overall view of the 54-inch-long extension with mockups in place. Sometimes you need to thrash around for a while to find a path forward that motivates you. For me, answers come from “doing” and testing in 3D. Spending months (or years) drawing sketches isn’t particularly productive. Two-dimensional drawings tell you very little. Testing in 3D […]