Gerry Leone’s Spaces to Places rolls on! He’s back to build out yet another section of his Bona Vista HO scale model railroad. But first he shares quick insights on how he finished of a small portion of scenery just outside the city limits of Westcott. Then he’s ‘Back on Track’ for laying down the rails and roads for a part of the layout that combines a dramatic highway underpass and and sweeping mainline curve! Be sure to follow along with Gerry’s efforts in this and the next few videos to see how the site transforms from a simple space to an amazing places!
Want to see more of Gerry’s work on a classic, familiar format? Look for his Turning Spaces into Places Vol. 1: Rural Scenery DVD, available from the KalmbachHobbyStore.com!
Hi Gerry, Where did you get the “Magic Water” that you used. I did a search and could not find it . Do you know who makes it?
Hi, Rod — I believe I mentioned in the video that Magic Water is no longer produced because the owner passed away and seemingly no one has taken over the company. I got my supply at a hobby store two or three years ago and because I’d heard that it was stopping production, I bought something like 3 or 4 boxes of it because I like it so much. The owner once told me that the stuff has an unlimited shelf life, so if you happen to find it somewhere, buy it!
ANOTHER great How-To video Gerry. Thanks! By coincidence I happened to receive those same Martin Welberg products from Santa for a low-lying culvert area on the front of a new section of my layout.
I’m curious about you adding the water after the scenery was in place. I recall from your recent lake video series you cautioned to NOT to add weeds/reeds before pouring water effects because of the capillary action? How did that work out in this case?
Jeffrey — You’re 100% correct, and I should have clarified what I was doing a little better. I wanted that area to look like there was very shallow, standing water. Maybe it was dry at one time and the weeds and grasses started popping up, then it got flooded by rain. Plus, I wanted the undergrowth to look like it was growing up through the water. So the capillary action kind of added that effect to the static grass and ground foam. It just looks “wet” rather than lake-like, which is what I was going for. Good question!
Thanks for all the comments, everyone! I read every one and appreciate them all!
Not all railroad yards had a yard lead. When I worked for the CNW in Des Moines, the Hull Ave. Yard had no yard lead. On the BN, Greybull, Wyoming had no real yard lead. Casper also had no real yard lead. Same with Guernsey, Wyoming. Unless you are running a lot of trains, there is no real need for a yard lead. It’s nice to have one, but it wasn’t a must in all locations. BN’s Alliance yard (old yard) had a yard lead, however the South yard had no yard lead.
I love your scenery. You have done so very well!!!! Looking forward to the next video!!
Dave
really enjoyed the early and quick part for the small scene between Westcott and the new area. Almost like a “space between spaces between places”, nice and bite-sized while yielding an excellent result.
Gerry, See you in 3 months when the next episode is published! I do agree with you about Fast Tracks, they build into wonderful Turnouts. Like, you, all of my Turnouts are Fast Tracks # 6 Turnouts. That was a poke at you, about the three months between Episodes. I know that your episodes are much quicker and closer between than Model Railroader publishes them.
Looked like there were several inches of rail beyond each frog that could be cut back to get the turnouts closer for longer class tracks. Did you curve any turnouts for a smoother track flow? Glad to see your move to a drill track that avoids blocking the main. As a turnout note, I prefer an Eschelman crank to move the tiebar rather than the typical Tortoise (by Circuitron) hole and wire. Much easier to install, more flexible placement and closer control of tiebar movement. Build mine from brass tubing, a paperclip and a machine screw.
Love the Miniprints Sandhill cranes. Nice to see a Canadian product in use. ??
Looking forward to your underpass project as I’m just about there on finishing a small one on my layout. How are you considering scenicking your helix in future episodes – just a tunnel entrance or full mountain walls, etc?
Love the bog area. Working on a similar spot for the farm on my layout.
The road under the underpass must lead to Bugtussle because with all those clamps there, Jed Clampett’s cabin must be close by. I can just see that old truck loaded up with Granny in the rocker going under the bridge on their way to Beverly Hills.
BOOM!