All track laid and weathered

Finally, all track has been laid and weathered. Weathering included spraying with Vallejo German Black Brown (70.822) and dusting with AIM weathering powders, mostly Medium Earth but also some Light Rust in the occasional spot. I have started to avoid the AIM rust powders since they in my opinion gives a to stark red or orange tone. At least for track weathering.

Here are som photos.

Ballasting comes next.

Turnout weathering

I ran out of rail and had to order some more. While waiting for the rail to arrive I started some track and turnout weathering.

Track and Turnouts

Track laying has commenced. I'm using Micro Engineering code 70 rail and O-scale spikes from the Proto:87 Stores.

 Turnout construction is also ongoing. The turnouts are built in situ. I'm using On2 templates from Fast Tracks as a base but has adjusted the tie placement in order to better comply with the prototype. I also build switch handles based on prototype pictures.

 Here is what I'm aiming at 😏

Laying ties

 Progress has been embarrassingly slow, but finally I have glued down the ties.

Test track

Before launching this latest project I did some tests, laying down On2 track. The rail is Micro Engineering code 70 and the spikes are long O Scale spikes from the Proto:87 Stores. As you may have noticed in the real world photos in the previous post, this track does not make use of any tie plates. Wich makes life easier for the modeler. 😏

This is how the test turned out.

And with an O Scale man to give a sense of size.

Lime quarry and lime works rail line in On2 scale

I am starting a new project. Once again in American O scale (1:48) but this time based on a Swedish narrow gauge prototype, namely the old 600 mm gauge rail line at the Bläse lime quarry and lime works. Bläse is located on the Swedish island of Gotland, in the Baltic Sea. The lime stone operation is long since discontinued but the site still exists today, as a museum. The museum includes the restored rail line between the quarry and the lime works, and is run as a tourist line.

Here are some pictures:

My intention is not to model the whole setup or rail line. I am just doing a small part of it as a vignette or diorama. All the same, I would like to make the (future) rolling stock movable and self propelled.

As said, the track is 600 mm gauge, but since that is just 9 mm shy of 2 feet I will be doing the track in On2 scale (2 ft gauge track in 1:48 scale). Hopefully that will make it a little easier to find some ready to run or "kitbashable" rolling stock. And it makes track laying tools such as track gauges readily available.

So far I have cut a piece of foam and covered it with 2 mm cork. This will the be the combined dioarama base and subroad bed. I have also laid out a first version track plan using paper templates. The plan covers the area where the tourist train loads and unloads and where the engine house is located.

Dismantled

Due to an upcoming move this O scale shelf layout has been dismantled. 😢

Below, on its way to destruction...

Apart from the rolling stock, I saved two items. The old barn and the turnout that started it all.