Welcome to Modern Times....

So work's begun on my present day layout, some track is down; ballast too. I'm able to run my CSX MP15AC switcher around a bit. I started working in my first industry, a small scrap metal yard. I pretty much borrowed the idea from Lance Mindhiem's East Rail layout. It seemed like a quick, easy industry to model and it's placement fills an area between the track and the edge of the layout. I thought I had gathered enough scrap parts to make a decent pile, but clearly I probably need about 6 times what I have. I'll just keep adding more until it looks right.

Modeling the present seems, to me anyway, much more difficult then modeling the past. I suppose it because it's a language I have been working in. For instance, every time I begin to plan a building I'm thinking clapboard, beat up wooden fence, lots of details, etc...instead I need to be thinking sparse, metal siding, concrete block, some details...when I look at an empty space on my layout I can quickly visualize some ram shackle building crammed into whatever available shape I can. Fortunately all I need to do is leave the basement and go drive around and look at modern buildings and details for reference. I can't wing it like I would with the character driven, detailed buildings I'm used to. It's an interesting challenge for sure. There are times when I think this whole endeavor might be to boring, plain - but when I see examples like East Rail, I feel otherwise. More than anything I like the idea of doing something different in model railroading.

And when I get stuck, I'll get a jump on my 1950's layout just a few feet away. I'm looking forward to switching gears between each layout.

P.S. If you haven't checked out the new Craftsman Structure Show kit, visit www.css08.com.

And if you haven't seen our new video features on our site, check out http://www.foslimited.com/VIDEOS_ALL.htm It's new for us so bear with us with the shakey camera work...(we're getting a better tripod)....the quality will improve, hopefully.

Layout Changes...Again

I've gone and done it again, I ripped up whatever semblance of a layout I had; for several reasons...firstly I was not happy with either the track plan or the peninsula configuration. Mainly the fact that the peninsula had no back ground. Since it wasn't populated with tall buildings or scenery, it failed to convey any sense of distance.

Another reason is that in the last six months I've changed my mind about certain things regarding scenes and selective compression. It seems selective compression doesn't work for me, especially when modeling in a small space of 17'x11'. I think I'm better off modeling a scene that is the same town or idustry for 8' to 12'. I've been looking at the work of Lance Mindhiem and Pelle Soeborg. Both of these modelers have done so much in such small space, and the results are much more believeable.

Another quandry I've been facing for the last six months is the fact that I want to model present day equipment, especially since our trip out west....so what to do....well, tear up your layout, around 3:00 am , that was my choice. It all came apart in about an hour. All of the bench work was saved and doing so revealed the solution to my problem. The original plan looked like an "E" more or less, so I pulled the center peninsula away leaving a "U" shape...

The U shape will become a modern day layout(CSX/Amtrak) and the 12 'peninsula will become a 1950's waterfront layout. This makes much more sense for me...The 1950's layout will feature more detailed structures and craftsman kits, smaller...it will take less time to complete and be more of a diorama. The modern day layout will be sparse, but larger and more operational.

I can't tell you enough how much of an influence Lance Mindhiem's CSX shelf layout http://www.lancemindheim.com/ and Pelle Soeborg's Danville and Donner Pass layout have become. http://www.soeeborg.dk/railroading.html Take a look at these, even if you don't model present day, look at the use of roads, how wide and expansive they are, they continue, on Pelle's layout, for ten feet or more. On Lance's layout look at the four foot long warehouse. The sparseness of it adds more realism without super detailing, which for me seems much more atainable as far as getting a layout(s) going.

Other than that we have a new kit out, the Mud Flap Cafe & Truck stop...this was fun to build, we hope you'll enjoy it too. The picture above is found on the internet, in case some of you want to get inspired and modfiy your truck stop kit.