MRVP tours Kent's CPR layout

Sorry I’ve been absent since May, but I’ve been a bit busy. After hosting NMRA regional visitors this spring, I’ve been eager to make some more progress. Not long after I completed the narrow canyon scene, I started the construction of a highway bridge modeled after the Park Bridge spanning the Kicking Horse River near Golden, B.C. I also started to build out a grain export terminal in the turnback curves near downtown Vancouver, B.C. I even built a car float and float bridge structure to install along the Vancouver waterfront. But rather than tell you about these additions let me direct you to a video overview capturing some of my various “homework” projects. The guys at MR VideoPlus were kind enough to capture (in HD!) my current layout construction efforts forboth MRVP and CTT readers to see. Thanks, David and Ben!

While great summer weather has brought construction to an absolute standstill, that doesn’t mean I’m not thinking about my next big effort this fall – Stay tuned! 

Candid Camera

At a recent train show in York, PA, a fellow hi-rail modeler asked me what I thought was the most essential tool in my toolbox. Without hesitation I responded, “A point-and-shoot camera.”

When I’m out and about, regardless if I’m actually railfanning, I rely on my p&S (or iPad camera) to capture quick images of real (1:1 scale) trains and interesting places/people I want to model on my layout. These resulting images are rarely publication-quality, but they’re regularly the most valuable photos I shoot. Valuable? Yep, valuable!

Take for instance the simple image of a Canadian Pacific target signal I shot from a back alley in downtown (Gastown) Vancouver, B.C. Won’t find a single choo-choo in the frame, but the wealth of detail in this one image has fueled my recent efforts to revamp and enhance portions of my completed Waterfront Yard – starting with the signal featuring trimmed targets.

It turns out the real signal was modified to permit West Coast Express bi-level commuter trains to pass without issue. By studying the photo, I saw the MTH no. 30-11025 1-over-1 signal had a very similar appearance, even without altering the targets. Next, I saw the chain link fence resembled O scale fencing sold by Scenic Express or kits produced by Brennan’s Model Railroading Products. Barricades and concrete jersey barriers reminded me of items from Model Tech Studios or Saint Charles Model Works. The more I studied the pix, the more items I found and installed -- as I demonstrated for a forthcoming article in the pages of Classic Toy Trains magazine.

Without my essential tool, it would have taken me countless trips (as of today, a R/T tix between MKE and YVR costs more than $700) to recall a fraction of the details contained in a one free, yet priceless, photo!

Nearly completed Canyon

With the temperature promising to dip into the sub-zero range next week, I figure it's time to retreat into a warm basement and finish up a few loose ends on my Canyon scene. While space is narrow along this section, there was still plenty of room to add detailed rock faces and foreground scenery. For details how I assembled the components in this area, be sure to check out the feature I wrote for the March 2013 issue of Classic Toy Trains magazine.

Dog days of summer

Summer has all but passed me by, and I've hardly got anything new to show on my basement layout. though I could use the excuse that my outdoor Large-scale railway is receiving my attention during this extended dry spell of 2012, I've just been into other family activities lately. That said, I was motivated enough to craft and complete one new mountain scene (based on sights in/around Banff, ALB) on my O gauge pike this summer -- here's a quick clip to prove trains still DO run in my basement!

Dark Canyon action

Even in the midst of scenery construction, CN and CP trains slowly make their way (video captured on my iPad -- thanks Santa!) through my latest effort to build out the Dark Canyon area of my layout. Think I'll be tired of seeing pink insulation board by the time I'm done with this! Gotta say that I'm sure glad the good folks at Woodland Scenics in Linn Creek, Mo., are safe and sound. Also good to know that their Foam Putty and Profile Boards are still in production -- I've gone through 10 or more small tubs of the putty thus far!

Canyon re-creation

When my friend and noted Model Railroader contributor (see the December 2011 issue) Mike Danneman sent me a railroad photo he captured along the Thompson River in British Columbia, I immediately knew it was something I wanted to model on my layout. Trouble was, I had no idea how to build the craggy rock formation.

Foam has long been my friend when it comes to building other massive rock wall formations, but the defined vertical orientation didn’t seem to fit my typical technique of laminating 2-inch-thick insulation board in a vertical arrangement.

After putting some thought to the matter, I stumbled upon the idea of working with Woodland Scenics no. ST1419 foam profile boards. These tongue and groove boards are intend to be situated horizontally, but when turned on end they sure seem to match the rock strata I wanted. To achieve the appearance of depth in a shallow space against the hardboard backdrop, I used carpenter’s wood glue to assemble varying layers of profile boards with ½–inch and 2-inch foam board. After roughing in the formations, I applied Woodland Scenics no. ST1447 foam putty in copious amounts!

I won’t complete all of my canyon scenery using this method, but here the pre-fab grooves sure saved me a ton of time.