In this ongoing mini-series, host Gerry Leone works on a fixer-upper-decker! In simpler terms, he’s looking to correct a mistake he made when initially constructing the top tier of his all-new Bona Vista HO scale model railroad. There’s no doubt–Gerry has amazing vision and power to re-route a wayward river into something more impressive than the original sliver of water portrayed on the shallow top tier. Follow along as he shares his scheme for quickly and dramatically reshaping a space into a much more appealing place!
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!
I love the “thinking it through” process you take us through. Makes us make fewer errors and maybe think farther ahead in layout a scenery design. Love your series.
Thank you very much, Andrew. The reason I include that in the videos is that I don’t want everyone to think that I have these “Divine Visions” and instantly know what to do. I put on my pants one leg at a time and muddle through this hobby just like everyone else!
Gerry, looks good. Sometimes we get bogged down and over think our layouts, but this looks to offer better flow for both the scenery and trackage. And! not that you want another bridge, but a road way at the back connecting both parts of Glenn Oaks could help hide the riverbend/end at the back drop. Can’t wait to see what you bring us next!
Thanks, Michael — As you’ll see in upcoming episodes, I think I hid the back of the river well. HOWEVER, that said, I do like your idea of an automobile bridge back at the backdrop. I’ll have to keep that in mind for when both sides of the river start getting scenery beyond what I do in this mini-series. Thanks for the suggestion!
Thanks, Gerry for your insights – both to admitting you “made a mistake” (i.e.,, “misplacement”) and to the extent of your design considerations you are going through to correct the misplacement.
I’m going through a similar design challenge, not as to the location of the bridge, as with yours, my location is predetermined by both the layout itself and the framing below the deck. My major concern is how to have the river disappear logically and in a way that is easily hidden by scenery.
Again your insights have really helped to point me in the direction I will probably end up going. ?????
Thanks, Bill. Glad to have helped in some small way! Jim Burns (in a comment below) had what I thought was a great solution with a dam and power plant.
Thanks for sharing your thought process for making this decision. I don’t feel so bad about the time I spend coming to a conclusion.
Thanks, John. The way I see it: I can spend a few hours now thinking things through, or I can rush to a decision and spend days and weeks and months wishing I’d have thought things through. Seems simple!
Make sure your DCC system is turned off before you start cutting! That’s what the buzzing noise was when you kept touching the track.
Scott — we may have had this discussion before. I can tell you for a fact that the the track power/DCC system was not turned on at any point in this video. If it was, the Touch Toggles in the fascia would be lit up. They’re not. The buzz is a grounding problem because I need to use a corded mic rather than a wireless.
In the first third of the video, the Touch Toggles in the background were lit up green and the structure/street lighting was on. During that time, there was a buzzing every time the rail were touched. From the start of the template section on, both were off.
Had a similar challenge with my mill town. The track entered the town on a trestle over a small river. But the only place for the river ran straight into the backdrop with no room to angle it to disappear behind a hill. The solution was to build a dam right where the river met the backdrop and added a power plant there. Which also gave me a place to drop off some of those coal hoppers that everyone mines on their layouts.
Wow, Jim — great great GREAT solution! I’ll have to steal that from you and hang on to it for other parts of my upper deck!
Another great episode Gerry! My vote would be for the location close to Glen Oaks (hope that is the correct spelling). Would be another eye catching scene, and as you indicated, would not detract from Westcott. No matter where the bridge ends up it will be a gutsy move pouring the river bed on the upper level with the scenery completed on the lower level 🙂
Cannot wait for decision time!
Thanks,
Artie
I ain’t spilling the beans, Artie! You’ll just have to wait! 🙂