Enhancements

Sometimes I wished I had a micro layout, it would have been finished long ago and I could have gone fishing or something else. No I am stuck with the monster I created but even though I have been slogging away over the last three years I can finally see progress.
On the old HO layout I would do a scene so that it was passable to view but always with the intention that I would revisit a scene and do some fine detailing. That never happened. So when you wish for a monster layout beware they can be a time absorber. Many people with large layouts often have help from friends to help complete their dreams. I have always preferred to start and finish my layout but are happy to listen to comments and advice along the way to the end. I can never imagine Leonardo Da Vinci saying to a mate, "Can you paint the eyes for me while I concentrate on the legs"!
Like a colouring in drawing the more I visit the shed the more blank spaces get completed.

 

I made a revisit to the trestle area recently and although it is fairly complete there is always something more or better can be done. The trestle area has two areas that back onto the backscene. It was always my intention to fill them in one day with something suitable.
I went onto the internet and looked for suitable pictures that might work OK for a backscene, I just typed in 'images for gullies' or something like that and many choices were presented. It was just a matter of selecting one and printing it out. I think I got lucky with my choice. The original was smaller than I wanted so after stretching the image it was good to go. The sky also had to be removed as it would have clashed with my sky wall already painted. It would be ideal to have some clouds on the backdrop but I was not ready, willing or capable of doing so. I was prepared ahead for this backdrop photo to be placed as when I constructed the scenery up against the backdrop I made sure there was enough room to slide a picture into place. I was amazed that I could actually think that far ahead.

Before

When you look closely at the picture I think there is what appears to be a creek heading off in the distance and certainly would not be the feed for existing waterfall. Anyway this vista is meant to be viewed from a distance and the detail all blends in, hopefully the eye follows the train as it goes over the trestle.

After

Anyway I was happy with the end result, it gives the scene some depth. On the opposite side of the trestle there is a road that similarly heads into the 'blue wall' I had a photo left over from the HO days that I rescued and attacked with the scissors (again) and put it in position. It is not a perfect blend but for now it will do. I have only seen roads blended perfectly into the backscene a few times and one is on Alan Rockets On30 layout.

Road under the trestle heading off into the distance

Are they looking at the train or waterfall?

Another item that was completed (after much complaining from the bushwalkers) was to complete the bridge at the bottom of the waterfall. This now completes a circular path and it now possible for them to be able to fall off both sides onto the floor.

I will conclude with some other shots that were taken at Broadwater and Eden. Broadwater is nicely situated near the roller door and the afternoon sun can have some nice lighting effects.

Shay NO 12 at Broadwater

8A basking

8a arriving Broadwater

8A will come over soon and get the passenger car for the next train

A well worn path to the engine shed

The train ready to head off to Bega

Well it's getting late and I'm off to Maitland tomorrow on a steam train, more on that later, so I'll go and hit the sack!

Broadfield Forever

The first thing you will notice about this blog entry is that the subject is not On30. Today was the turn of our host Phil for what our group calls the "Train Day" We have been doing this over the last 50 odd years that is getting together to share our love of all things railway.
We have been adding jaunts to Victoria over the last few years and come this May we will be off again for a four day, men only trip. The main feature of this years event will be to travel by steam train up to Echuca from Bendigo and have lunch on a real steam powered paddle steamer. But that will be for a future update when we get back.
Arriving at Phils around 11.0am today the roller door was opened to reveal one magnificent HO layout. To the outsider the roller door looks like any ordinary garage door but this one is designed for trains and not cars.
The room is beautifully presented and sort of reminded me of a pedigree dog at a dog show. There was nothing out of place, a well lit room, walls a nice shade of sky blue (is there any other colour?) and photos and a few memorabilia on the wall surrounded by a few favourite photos. A slight deviation to the HO scale was noticed on a shelf where a small foray into G scale in the form of a few locos and carriages rested. They haven't progressed beyond the shelf.

Looking out

Looking in

I have featured Phils layout in previous blogs so a progress comparison can be made if you look back on the old posts. One thing that I said to Phil was that I reckon the layout is ripe for an article in the Australian Model Railway Magazine.
I will post some photos taken by phone so some are a little blurry but worth inclusion. I hope when James get there with his equipment he can take some proper photos.

WICKHAM BRANCH

Start of the Wickham Branch

 

HONEYSUCKLE BRANCH

 THE MINE

 

THE LOCO DEPOT

BROADFIELD STATION

OTHER LOCATIONS

Well I hope you enjoyed that selection of photos from Phils great layout, hopefully a full article will be in a magazine one day?

I'll get back to the right scale and prototype in the next blog update.