Over the past year or so, I have added some fascia to the layout, particularly in places where the basic land forms are in place up at the west end of Onondaga Yard and out along the M&E. I chose 1/8" thick Masonite for the backdrop, the installation of which you can see in the Archives.
After a number of operating sessions with no major electrical issues in the track and signals, I decided it was time to put a coat of finishing paint on the parts of the layout that were closest to completion.
I had primed much of the fascia on the M&E, but decided that it was a step I could avoid on most of the fascia - the surface didn't seem to be improved by the primer, and after testing a small area on the bare Masonite with the final paint, the primer didn't seem to promote better adhesion, either.
So, I selected a medium gray color, and the 'eggshell' finish which appears flat but can easily be wiped down as needed. I loosened the screws on all the UTP-plug plates, Local Control Boards, and drink holders so that I could paint behind each of those items, and then got started - I used a 2-1/2" brush for cutting in around the details, and a little 6" mini-roller for the broad surfaces.
Susie came down to visit, and was very excited to see painting going on. She asked to help and joined right in! She's 3-1/2 today, which is hard to believe - looking back at this blog over that time is a neat exercise in time-lapse memory. In some ways it feels like a few weeks ago, and in other ways, it is hard now to imagine life before children. What a crazy, intense, and exciting experience!
After a few hours, the results were more apparent, and I'll admit I didn't expect this big of a change in appearance. I didn't mind the speckled brown of the Masonite but a coat of paint really makes the railroad 'pop' on first impression. With a little bit of skirting hanging from the ceiling, and more of the same mounted below the fascia hanging down towards the floor, this view will be virtually complete.
Happy New Year! Painting the fascia on the first part of the railroad was a big visual improvement and a great start for 2016!
~RGDave
Fascia looks great, amazing what that coat of paint does. Not to mention non-modeler visitors will be blown away since it will relate to them being "professional".
ReplyDeleteHave to agree completely about the kids and life before them. My son is just north of three and I can remember my post leading up to when he was born, and all of them since. Someone recently asked how I have a layout with a young family, and it got me thinking of a blog post about just that topic. Later this week I be posting my 13 tips for model railroading with a young family, which you can relate directly to your experiences.
GM
Forget to mention my infant daughter as well... Got my own little operating crew for the future.
ReplyDeleteVery nice! Why did you choose grey, out of curiosity?
ReplyDeleteGreg, looking forward to that post!
ReplyDeleteBrian, I chose grey as it is a neutral color that was used throughout Conrail as a color for car interiors, some locomotive interiors, structures, and hardware. I think it helps set the mood for a more modern operation compared to olive or dark green, which seem to me to be more historic colors.