Cam finishes his layout – for now…

“Dear Al,

This is my final instalment on Lanarth.

Scale 1:76 00 scale
Track Peco Code 100 HO
Region – English, Southern, South West

The final parts of the layout were the scenics and backdrop.

There was a grassy foreground to the prototype that I wanted to capture on the layout. As a rough base for this I used old carpet underlay. The underlay is normally brown so I bleached it with some household bleach. To lay I smeared a liberal amount of pva on the layout and positioned clumps of the underlay. Following this I coloured it with some watered down acrylic paint. It looked good at this point but not 100%. To improve it I applied some static grass with spray adhesive.

The backdrop was more of a challenge. In keeping with the theme of this layout I decided to paint my own. One of he biggest challenges of a good backdrop is getting a realistic perspective. I wanted a station building in the foreground of the backdrop so the perspective needed to be spot on. I use CAD software at work so I put this to use for the backdrop. I modelled the background in 3D, generated perspectives at different angles then printed them out on paper. I could then test the prints against the rest of the model to pick the angle that looked best. The final backdrop is painted with acrylic paints.

The rest came together in the box and is working well. Being quite small I can keep it in our dining room on top of the side board. Visitors like to try their luck at the shunting puzzle. Hope you all enjoyed the progress and posts.

Bye for now.

Cameron”


And now on to Dangerous Dave, who has posted another video:

“Hi Al,

I did a fun video last night. It made a few smile and no sherry… maybe had a glass or two of Merlo. LOL …

Regards

Dave”



I’ve really enjoyed Cameron’s updates – and I think the finished product looks incredible. I just love those back drops. Stunning stuff indeed. If you want to remind yourself, his last post is here.

That’s all this time folks – don’t forget it’s nearly the last day to bag the savings on the new tunnels, which you can grab here:

A huge thanks to Dave and Cameron. If they’ve inspired you to get cracking on your layout, the Beginner’s Guide is here.

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here. Lots about at the mo.

37 Responses to Cam finishes his layout – for now…

  1. David Hannan says:

    Love the shunting puzzle! Can you do a video showing how it works please?
    Scenery is excellent.

  2. David Hannan says:

    Dave’s video – love the quick clips and music – very effective!

  3. Brian Templeton says:

    Very, very nice!

  4. Tom says:

    Re: Camerons puzzle

    What a masterpieece !

  5. Lloyd Andruschek says:

    I enjoy Dave’s video

  6. Jim Richards says:

    Dave……

    Great video, love the music, love the graphics, love the footage of your layout. HOWEVER, as i watched the video, at 0:36 into the video, WAS THAT a catastrophic accident as one of your cars derailed and HIT a building just before the bridge?????? Hope no one was seriously injured…… LOL!

    Jim

  7. AZMike says:

    Cameron’s layout is utterly amazing. It is so lifelike that I expect to see the clouds roll in or a flock of gulls fly by. One of top layouts I have seen.

  8. Franco says:

    I always enjoy seeing a Master Builder at work. This creation looks so real. A true artist. Congratulations on a job well done.

  9. Steve Roberts says:

    Brilliant job Cameron, very realistic. And Dave’s as entertaining as always.

  10. Glyn says:

    Very nice Cam – beautiful landscaping and professional finish. Love to see a video of it in action! And Dave it is always a pleasure watching your videos – so creative.
    Glyn

  11. David Schaffner says:

    Very Well Done…….Hope to have a layout upon retirement………

  12. Thomas Murphy says:

    So much talent from both of these guys! Thank you guys.

  13. Robert Belk says:

    Dave’s videos are always impressive and entertaining!

    What is the size of Dave’s layout?

  14. Ian Schoeman says:

    Very Very Nice

  15. Gerry says:

    Maybe Dave and I were the only ones that noticed what appears to be a train wreck at 36 seconds into the video as the last couple of cars came to the bridge on the upper deck. Was that in-fact an accident or just some video tomfoolery?

  16. Gerald says:

    Cameron’s backdrops really give the layout depth!

  17. John Reynolds says:

    Such great talent….
    I want to focus on Cameron’s layout for a bit… Both to answer a question or two and to offer appropriate and effusive praise.
    The trackplan is a basic Inglenook. Good information on the operation can be found on several sites. The trackplan is devilishly simple and deceptive. It is a very elegant design that requires only two sets of points (turnouts or switches).
    Operation is when the deception of the design becomes obvious and rapidly proves how much operation is possible in a very confined space and with very little track.
    Cameron’s layout is a masterpiece in many ways and a true example of the modelbuilder’s art. The backscene (backdrop) is amazingly effective and perhaps the best I have ever seen. What makes it special is the mist effect that is so well done that you do not notice that it does not extend into the three dimensional space where the structures and track are… (The grass in the foreground adds tremendously to the illusion as does the muted colors on the structures)… If there is a museum for model railroading; Cameron’s layout belongs in it…
    Al, I know you have a “Hall of Fame” for specific modelers… Have you thought of one for specific layouts… If you do, this little layout of Cameron’s should be the first inducted.

  18. Donald W Stanley says:

    Cameron has done an excellent job. If only I had such talent!

  19. John Reynolds says:

    Such great talent….
    I want to focus on Cameron’s layout for a bit… Both to answer a question or two and to offer appropriate and effusive praise.
    The trackplan is a basic Inglenook. Good information on the operation can be found on several sites. The trackplan is devilishly simple and deceptive. It is a very elegant design that requires only two sets of points (turnouts or switches).
    Operation is when the deception of the design becomes obvious and rapidly proves how much operation is possible in a very confined space and with very little track.
    Cameron’s layout is a masterpiece in many ways and a true example of the modelbuilder’s art. The backscene (backdrop) is amazingly effective and perhaps the best I have ever seen. What makes it special is the mist effect that is so well done that you do not notice that it does not extend into the three dimensional space where the structures and track are… (The grass in the foreground adds tremendously to the illusion as does the muted colors on the structures)… If there is a museum for model railroading; Cameron’s layout belongs in it…
    Al, I know you have a “Hall of Fame” for specific modelers… Have you thought of one for specific layouts… If you do, this little layout of Cameron’s should be the first inducted.
    John from California

  20. Jan Boen says:

    Wow Cameron,

    Your not just a modelrailroader but you’re an artist.
    Which I had those scenery and painting skills.

    Cheers,

    Jan
    from Belgium

  21. paul Otway says:

    looks good so far

  22. Terry Miller says:

    I like Dave’s latest video—unfortunately he spelled “There”. It should read: “Railroads at THEIR best”. but in the long run–does anyone really care?

  23. Don Hubbard says:

    Love Dave’s latest dramatic quickie. Though he did misspell the word snow on one of his title pages. Or I didn’t realize the Brits spelled snow with an i in it. LOL Certainly didn’t let that distract me though, always love his videos. Keep them coming.

  24. Linda says:

    Wonderful layout Cameron, very realistic! Especially like the grass in the foreground.
    And Dave, you continue to overwhelm and entertain.

  25. Tracy says:

    Cameron’s is a true work of Art

  26. Terry says:

    Love it all. Dave actually had several spelling mistakes. Sure that was only a glass or two of merlot Dave? Cheers from Oz.

  27. Gene Fricks says:

    The idea of using the carpet for this application is really quite clever.

  28. Paul Schwartz says:

    Great video. Went back and caught the derailment on the second showing. It reminded me of an article in today’s Chicago Tribune where a CTA train went off the elevated train tracks and fell to the streets below Feb 7, 1977. 11 people killed and 160 injured.
    Only critical comment: Title should be “Railways at THEIR best”, not “there”. Unless that’s British spelling preference. Anyway I enjoyed the video

  29. James Yuille says:

    Cameron!

    What a brilliant Inglenook interpretation. Love the way the scenery takes your eyes up to the track and the idea of presenting it a picture frame is superb.

    Well done.

  30. Ian Mc Donald says:

    very nicely done Cameron. great video Dave

  31. Jerry Birkbeck says:

    Excellent Cameron the best layout and setting that I have seen on any of Al’s offerings. The backdrops are often the hardest to unertake. The key is if course simplicity. Very well done

  32. David Oyler says:

    Cameron – outstanding craftmanship on all levels! Extremely well done, sir.

  33. Clay Short says:

    Dave, that video is just amazing. Thanks for sharing.

  34. Clay Short says:

    Cameron, nice work on your layout. Agghh, you guys inspire me
    to do more on my layout.

  35. Jim Jerele says:

    Hey Dave, comment on your wreck. Curious on what happened and the extent of the damage.

  36. Bob says:

    I wish Dave would include a diagram of his switching layout. His photos were grea, and the video, as always, out of this world. I’m past the age of active modeling, my hands are not steady enough to put any car smaller than O or perhaps 1 gauge on the tracks.

  37. Ross Johnston says:

    Thanks to both for your contributions. However as a teacher I must say Dave that it is “THEIR” not “THERE when used in the context you were using it. Other typos can occur BUT overall I loved the content and the background music. CHeers

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