After the forced stop imposed by Novegro railway models fair we can finally resume work on the layout.
We have to replace a double slip crossing with a simple turnout, install decoders and servo point motors for some turnouts, in order to punctually test the automatic routing operation with TrainController software and complete the parade line landscape.
In the original station diagram, a double slip crossing was placed giving access to a siding on the left side of the station. The siding, too short to be realistic, must be eliminated by installing a simple turnout.
So we make a new turnout (Read how to make a turnout from scratch)); it fits easily, since the geometry is essentially identical; we finally test the operation.
It is time to install DCC accessory decoders starting with the turnouts. We provide decoders for servo and solenoid point motors. We install the servos in the main visible turnouts and connect the Roco solenoid point motors to their DCC board. We install 3 accessory decoders to drive 9 turnouts. Now we can test the Decoders with TrainController.
We will soon illustrate the topic in a dedicated article.
We then start with the parade line landscape construction . The gallery portal on the right layout side is forex made, while the vault is plaster coated and carved shaped polystyrene..
The escarpment steepness joining the station plan to the parade line layer force us to build retaining walls and niches using forex and Krea resin sheets. We join the portal and the retaining wall with a shaped and engraved polystyrene block.
We then move on to airbrushing using very light gray, sand and brown acrylic colors. The arched thrust frame bricks walls are “dry brush” painted. Joints are painted with very dilute dark brown acrylic.
The portal gallery is dark brown and black airbrushed. A slight weathering also applied to the lower part of it. The model also receive a light weathering with Tamyia products and pigments.
We set the model on the layout and shape the polystyrene escarpment. We mask the joints with straw paper and vinyl glue then we coat the surface with plaster.
We prepare the wood undergrowth. After painting the plaster with light brown, we glue the fiber grass and a substrate of real leaves made foliage, chopped, dried in the oven and sieved to obtain the different sizes needed. Then we apply brown painted Teloxis small bushes made on which we glue Busch turf and Noch foliage. For the substrate, crushed stone and fine sand of the embankment and the track ballast fixing we use a 40% water diluted Latex glue.
Real
We then make 10 trees with braided and welded copper wire.
We degrease the stems with nitro solvent and glue paper to the trunks and main branches.
We apply a Tamiya primer coat and airbrush the trees with gray and brown acrylic, then finish with dry brush painting.
Applichiamo il fogliame We apply Bush turf and Noch foliage with spray glue. The trees are ready to be planted.
And here is the partially completed forest harmoniously merged to landscape. To make everything homogeneous, since the first part of the parade line has been built years ago, we completely replace the ballast.
In the picture below the trees harmonize perfectly with the undergrowth. We also leave some trunks clearly visible to allow the viewer notice the barks detail.
Here and there a few dry bushes, together with a few laser-cut Noch ferns, Polak bushes and Model Scenes tussocks enrich the landscape.
The vegetation near the portal is bushy and descending. The construction technique has been already described. There are still oaks missing, while some broom bushes find their place in the undergrowth.
While waiting for the signals and the overhead line poles, we add some details. The concrete service cable raceways (violet and green cables) are made with Evergreen plastic strips, the plastic speed rank tables have numbers printed on paper. We also apply control pegs aside the outer rails.
As soon as we have finished the LS overhead line poles designing, we will complete the work and weld the catenary.
