Dan’s been back in touch again – this time with some Model train backdrop scenery:

“I was working up a brief topic for a US web site I have been posting on for years. Parts of backdrops came up. As your bloggers know I do the South West and I live in the Mid-West in Indiana. I am often asked about the thunderstorm I have on my coved corner. Here is the explanation.

The bank space awaiting the finishing touches. I actually waited about 6 years before attempting the storm. I was not sure how to to do it. I learned to paint trees with sponges first.

An example of a developing anvil topped thunderstorm I took this Monday. In the Mid West, basically east of the Mississippi River we do not get to see these clouds. Out West the thunderstorms are what we call high based storms. The reasons are interesting. Basically, it is because the dew point for condensation is at a high altitude. Here in the area I live in, our storms are low based and often wrapped in rain. Yesterday was a rather rare chance to see them with the tops exposed.

I used pieces of sponge to paint the cloud. I just dabbed on the paint adding a little grey to the white as I went.

Dan”

A big thanks to Hall of Fame, Dan for sharing his model train backdrop scenery.

You can see Dan’s last post – and more of the thunderstorm pics, at the bottom of this post: Model railroad test track.

There’s quite a few backdrop posts on the blog now – here are a few more:

Paint model train backdrop

Model train backdrops

Model railroad backdrop

Painting model railroad backdrops

N scale backdrop

Paint clouds on a model railroad backdrop

Above is just a few of them, I really need sit down and create a ‘map’ of the site one day.

Next, on to another Hall of Famer, Brian:

“Hi Alastair.

I have completed the track work on the lower level of my HOn3 layout running from the harbour round to the next section. Two out of the three sections are now connected and running as well as completing the buildings in these areas.

I used my Blackstone K-27 – a 2-8-2 locomotive as a test running on the new sections.

This coming week I will do some shunting of rolling stock to the various industries as a further test to see if the track placement works out the way that I required.

Once that is all okay then I can start with the ground cover and the rest of the scenery on these sections.

Below is a video of the test run of the locomotive and track work.

All the best and we all appreciate what you are doing for all the modelling fraternity around the world.

Brian – the HOn3 guy from Knysna RSA”

A big thanks to Brian, you can see his previous post here: Model railroad test track.

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if today is the day you take that first step and join in the fun, the Beginner’s Guide is here.

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

PPS More HO scale train layouts here if that’s your thing.

Got a model train question?