A bit of progress report on the layout.

Things began rolling along will installing the bridge piers and get that all situated.  I first painted the abutments with a wash of Woodland Scenic slate paint, and then used some styrene pieces to raise the bridge up to the benchwork top.

And then I noticed something….not good.  Even though the bridge was even with the benchwork on both sides, it wasn’t level. Something was wrong.. really wrong.

It appears I have what looks like a slight bulge in my benchwork. On the Elmwood side you can see it (how I missed it so far I have no idea), but it’s not that big a deal.  It actually adds a little natural looking hill in the benchwork.   But on the river side, the river is cut right almost at the apex of the bulge, so I ended up with river banks at two different levels.  How much of difference?

It looks worse that it really is though.  A little extra cork, a Woodland Scenic riser and then all will be well.  Just a little added work, though I guess I’m just more annoyed that I didn’t see this a long time ago.

So anyway…. I wasn’t going to let this stop progress.  Today I began securing in the first sections of the track.

I began at the bridge and worked westward, installing the switch and junction line.  I’m using Latex Caulk w/Silicone for securing the track in place.

Shaun Scenery, Track

Finished up the track for the double track truss bridge.  Since the track is going to be permanent inside the bridge once installed on the layout, I went ahead and did some weathering on the track now.

After assembling the track with guard rails and side rails, I spray painted the whole thing Rail Brown.  After that dried, I went back over the ties with a Floquil Rail Tie Brown pen and then finished up by cleaning the top of the rail with a brightboy. Turned out pretty well.  Using the paint pens made painting the ties a breeze.

Shaun Track

Painted using Valspar 4007-10A “Skyscape”.

Shaun Scenery

Just a peak at the concrete tie flex track as I’m shaping it out to the curves.  This is where the Micro Engineering track shines.

The markings next to the roadbed are guides for masking tape that’ll be used to super-elevate the track.

Shaun Track