I began planning a new narrow gauge layout (HOn3) sometime in 2017, with construction begun the next year. I don't plan blog-style updates, but I have begun occasional updates for family and friends, especially as visits are limited in the crazy year 2020. You can find these here:

https://basrr.blogspot.com/p/narrow.html

Blog posts below and pages on the blue menu bar above are from my now-defunct HO standard gauge RR.

The Best Laid Plans...

...don't always work out so well.  I had intended the area shown here to contain the locomotive servicing facilities, but the brewery complex is a better fit.  So the next project is beer!

 

TOFCEE - Complete

TOFC - for "Trailer On Flat Car" - was the forerunner of today's container trains.  B&O began this service in 1954, and labeled it "TOFCEE" service, probably to force correct pronunciation, or maybe just to differentiate it from its competitors.

Weathering Dirt

With the track ballasted, the terrain covered in grass, weeds and soil, and the buildings completed and set in place, it's time to make the dirt roads more... dirty.  These roads see a lot of heavy truck traffic, and typically (at least in the 1950's), dust was kept down by oiling the hard-packed dirt, adding to the oil the trucks themselves would leave behind.

Trucks and Stuff

Been working on some trucks and accessories for the area under construction.  Above are some completed trucks, and the buildings and loading ramps are now painted and weathered.

The thin leg takes shape

My TOFC (Trailer on Flat Car) facility is taking shape.  This is the thin leg of the railroad at the entry door to the basement, and is above the previously completed hidden staging - you can see that since the fascia board has been temporarily removed.  The trackwork, roadway base (white foam board), and foam terrain contours are glued in place, and the as yet unpainted yard office and scale house are in place for a fit check.

Viaduct and River Area - Complete!

The second scenery area is now completed, the viaduct and river, along with some small industries.  A tough area to build (see my post "Tricky Terrain" from February of this year), with the complexities of the terrain.  I'm very happy with the results, and hope you enjoy viewing the photos.

Making a (small) Scene

The scene above is a little service station along the road just beyond the grade crossing.  The basic terrain, ground cover and asphalt road were already in place.  Here's how I build up the additional detail to complete the scene.

More Tree Planting

Once we've got our trees done, it's time to plant.  Besides the trees, here's what I use: some bagged lichen and leftover materials from the supertrees, white glue, and Alene's Tacky glue.

SuperTrees - Start to Finish

If you look back at my September 3, 2012 post "Trees", you'll see my first go-round building Scenic Express SuperTrees.  They turned out great, but took so long to build, I was dreading this next batch.  Learning from what I did last time, and doing some more online research, I've changed my process a good bit.  They look the same, if not better, and take a lot less time to complete.