I am working on the background behind the whole layout. This section is behind the sawmill insert from the last post
background behind sawmill
Will post the sawmill area with the insert back in place when I finish a few more details o the Sawmill
Working on various areas, after a time away.
Saw mill in progress
Sawmill almost completed, but still some details, as piping, a railroad logging car log dump, and more vegetation, and finally some hills and trees on the background.
Cattails at the mill pond
This more completed and other projects posted soon
My Control panels will use Berretthill.com touch toggles for all the switch controls, uncouplers, and even room lights.
I started by taking a number of phone shots looking straight down on the area for the panel
Phone shots from overhead
Next I realized I would need to change the actual proportions of the area to fit a useful sized panel for the controls, done in Photoshop.
Area of panel compressed in Photoshop
I then traced the compressed photo composite, and smoothed things out
Part of tracing paper taken from compressed photos
Then I photographed the tracing and put it in Photoshop to do vector final track layout the width needed for the controls etc.
Starting to put track diagram on a photoshop layer above the tracing
This completed diagram will be printed out to size for the panel, and the touch toggles (seen below) will be attached to the back of the paper and will show through indicating direction
group of touch toggles in my hand.
Here is how they would work showing through the completed paper for the panel.
Light shows which way the switch is thrown.
Below is completed panel, ready to be printed out to size.
panel just about ready for printing
In a future post, after I get all the touch controls in place, I will put up a fully glowing panel.
In the process of designing and constructing a larger city building, gluing up small sections and pilasters to form the building, and then adding the window frames.
Starting construction
Adding piece by piece and modifying some sections
Front wall taking shape
Starting to see structure come together with side walls
Building without first floor commercial facades, using machine tool hold down blocks for weight and right angles.
Next, airbrushing the structure and the windows their finish color.
Some of the airbrushed parts.
Then adding the first floor structure and trying fit in a location before putting all the finished roof, window detail, adding some interiors, and lighting.
Trying building in rough position.
Will put more on completing this and other buildings in future posts.
About to install a 51 foot length of blue rope leds, which is just about right to do a single trace around the whole layout in from the front of the aisle.
Starting to see how I will install lights
Will use the blue lights and perhaps a string of Warm white dimmable rope lights, so I can adjust the balance between the blue and white.
Town in blue night light only
Addition of the white Dimmable light should give a night effect, but still be better able to see.
Holiday display in the large gallery space on the second floor of the Museum
O scale yard at the museum
Plenty of details and lights
switch tower
lots of lights
Setting up a few scenarios to photograph for a new mailer.
Setup for a back cover, with a Covered Hopper
Will be doing some Steam Engine and other subjects for the mailer, but here is this first shot
Milwaukee covered hopper
Switching crew getting an early start on the days work
Switching crew passing the tower on the yard lead-in
Rapids not quite finished. but moving along, flowing off the front of the layout.
Moving on from two posts ago, working with the water
Adding more water layers
showing a detail of tree branch in the water
Tree branch caught in the rapids
Adding more layers including highlights and foam
Rapids with foam
Some Photos showing progress, and also trying arrangements of structures for the engine servicing facility, and how these would photograph in different light (time of day-or weather)
Working with laying track and stone wall at one yard lead
Track down and stone wall further along with concrete cap.
Trying position of servicing structures
Working it out.
Trying angles
Camera and lighting set up after placing structures and ballast, greenery etc.
Final early morning light Photo.
Early morning happening-Click to enlarge