Adding Mountain Backdrop

A new addition to the layout is the Mountain Backdrop. The backdrop is made from actual photos I have taken in Pennsylvania. I then use the Costco Photo center website and have them printed on 20X30 inch Posters.  Take a look.

scratch built coal breaker

Scratch built coal breaker almost finished, still need to add some lights,windows and so finishing touches

CSX SD-40-2

MTH  CSX SD40-2 Crosses over the the Trestle .

Using foam to form rock layer

2 " Foam insulation board is cut into pieces and stacked in order to make this soon to be mountain. Tunnel portals wll  be going on next followed by a layer of  Hydrocal plaster and rock castings. 

The foam is kept in place using nails. Recently, I've began using Locktite all purpose adhesive between the foam layers This seems to  work the best out of glue type agents. 

The new scaletrax lower level with some Layout improvements.

The Scaletrax lower level is the portion of the layout that goes around the room. Here you could see the masonite board for the backdrop that will eventually go up.  Not installing this prior to construction of the benchwork was the biggest mistakes I made during layout construction. 

I had to customize this bridge to fit the 46 inch span crossing the doorway into the room.  It used a lionel truss bridge attached to a bracket for a garage door and then finished the girder with Atlas H.O scale bridges.

This Trestle was built using dowel rods and Balsa wood from Michaels Crafts.  A friend suggested building it so that it would open up the scenery a bit.

CSX 724 and 4843 pull a freight on the upper and middle levels