K&W HO Scale Model RR, Construction Update #42 - Track weathering/ballast work, & river rock added

[@bncsystemsshortline]

Layout is coming together man!!! I vote for whatever wins! Keep up the great work!

[@KandWRailroader]

@@bncsystemsshortline Thank you! We still have a full day of voting left but the Gorge is killing it so far so I'll throw you in that camp...how's that? LOL. Thank you!

[@bncsystemsshortline]

Haha sounds good @KandWRailroader

[@garykcs5532]

Covid head cold, I had it for 28 days and I felt just like you did no energy. Layout is looking good

[@KandWRailroader]

@@garykcs5532 Thank you! Glad we're over that!

[@randydobson1863]

Hello K & W Railroader & it's is Randy and i like yours video is Video is Cool & Thanks K & W Railroader & Friends Randy

[@KandWRailroader]

Thank you Randy!

[@DYLINGTONMODELRAILWAY]

An enjoyable tour of your layout, I think the river and the rocks area is coming along nicely. It will be an awesome scene when finished ... Cheers James 🙂👍

[@KandWRailroader]

@DYLINGTONMODELRAILWAY Thank you! My confidence continues to grow that I can make my vision for that scene become a reality.

[@DYLINGTONMODELRAILWAY]

@KandWRailroader we're looking forward to seeing your progress with it 🙂👍

[@jeffdahlgren9816]

I have also had the grud for the last couple of days. Maybe instead of working on the river, finish all the track work needed.

[@KandWRailroader]

Hope you are doing better! Vote recorded! Thank you!

[@markofthenorth8918]

Awesome channel great video keep them up make sure you like and subscribe thank you for your support I need all feedback on my train videos thank you

[@KandWRailroader]

@ Thank you!

[@Allnightexplor]

I really like the rock work and the how you did it video yesterday. I would vote for the Royal Gorge again so you can work on it feeling better.

[@KandWRailroader]

@@Allnightexplor First vote! Thank you for the vote of confidence too! I have you down for the Royal Gorge Route.

[@markofthenorth8918]

Awesome channel great video keep them up make sure you like and subscribe thank you for your support I need all feedback on my train videos thank you

[@georgiasunbelt]

I know theres a lot of rock loving scenic guys in the comments (me too) but, I like industrial stuff...I vote for Mears & adjoining industrial parks...

[@KandWRailroader]

@@georgiasunbelt Funny...LOL ...I have you down for the El Dorado Industrial Park. Thank you!

[@tas7997]

For the electrical panel, you can use magnets to hold backdrop in place! Love the layout! Coming along nicely!

[@KandWRailroader]

That's a good idea...I can also just tape the backdrop directly to the panel since it sits flush with the wall (almost), then cut the seams so it can be opened/removed. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@coryrychener8225]

I like your representation of I-135 over the yard. What about having another section of it over the entrance to the UP yard coming from El Dorado per prototype to help split the scene from BNSF coming from their side of the layout since I-135 crosses over the north/east end of the main yard and mini yard headed towards El Dorado?

[@KandWRailroader]

I like the idea but since my route on the layout to El Dorado is at the wrong end of the yard, I'm afraid that idea wouldn't really be prototypical either. At any rate, the bridge I have now is in about the only spot in the yard that won't severely complicate operations by obscuring turnout switch points and hampering railcar uncoupling. I appreciate the input though!

[@markofthenorth8918]

Awesome channel great video keep them up make sure you like and subscribe thank you for your support I need all feedback on my train videos thank you

[@anfieldroadlayoutintheloft5204]

Great update on layout thanks for sharing

[@KandWRailroader]

@@anfieldroadlayoutintheloft5204 Thanks Lee!

[@AthenaSchroedinger]

Just wanted to throw in my 2cents worth in, I REALLY like the rocks and the way you are doing the canyon. I believe the rocks are a suitable size and fit in nicely with the scale. Also think it is an excellent idea to catalog your collection.

[@KandWRailroader]

@@AthenaSchroedinger Thank you for sharing your two cents!

[@hotdogpilot6319]

I was absent from the last vote, so my double vote (Mr & Mrs Claus spot) is still unused. I'll go for the Gorge route if I may. For the supports, I would glue in place then some plaster blanket to look like concrete.

[@KandWRailroader]

Double vote recorded...thank you! And thanks for the tip on the bridge supports!

[@iamcarrot1]

The rock face and rock do not need to be the same color. I have white water rafted down Arkansas river. Have taken the train under the royal gorge bridge. The gondola over the gorge and walked and drove over the bridge. So that's my vote.

[@KandWRailroader]

@@iamcarrot1 I look forward to taking that train ride myself someday soon. Thank you for your vote!

[@larryrogers5996]

my vote is track ballasting weathering.

[@KandWRailroader]

Vote recorded! Thank you!

[@Gavin1849]

Like how it looks, sorry I have not been commenting on your videos me and my grandparents have been Busy with life, and I have been working on my new layout, but great video.

[@KandWRailroader]

No expectations on my part man. Now maybe if I was the only one making these videos...LOL. There's thousands of just model train videos out there to watch, my channel is only one of millions of KZbin channels...and oh yeah, there's actual real life out there to contend with too! I appreciate you stopping by when you can, thank you for the comment and by all means...your own layout has to come first! Cheers!

[@Phoenixknight79]

the thing is if you leave the rock at the bottom, then putting the water in it might make it more real, but then again maybe just having the rock on the sides would be more real with a few rocks here and there in the middle

[@KandWRailroader]

A good point, thank you! I want to add some larger boulders in there too.

[@markofthenorth8918]

Awesome channel great video keep them up make sure you like and subscribe thank you for your support I need all feedback on my train videos thank you

[@JackOnTracks]

I totally know how you feel I been sick 3 times since the end of November and haven't been able to shoot much layout build videos . The Royal Gorge is coming along and looks great so far. I switched to dirt and once you start using it you will start using that as your base to build off of

[@KandWRailroader]

@@JackOnTracks Hopefully you're back on track now! 🙂 Thank you!

[@markofthenorth8918]

Awesome channel great video keep them up make sure you like and subscribe thank you for your support I need all feedback on my train videos thank you

[@TheodoreResch]

I like the river base look. I’ve never done a water scene but my question is if you were to color the water would it hide the rock? If you are like me, I like to work on a small area and then moving on to something else like structures and then coming back to the area and add a little more. I seem to burn out quicker if I try to stay focused in one area. That being said I like the Gorge area and what you have done and my vote this time would be some structures. Your choice. Glad you’re feeling better.

[@KandWRailroader]

Thank you for your comment and opinion! I think color would "wash-out" the appearance of the rock through the resin, but I think it would also depend on how much color was used. Plus, once you add in the textured wave effect and white water, that may obscure the rocks even further. I definitely need to do more research on this issue. In the mean time I guess, the rocks look better than painted plywood! LOL. When I first started building the layout to the point where I could work on several different scenes, I had a hard time focusing. I wanted to do a little work on each scene so that the entire layout progressed at the same pace roughly. Unfortunately, all this really yielded was very little actually getting completed. I'd have a little ballasted track in one scene, half a structure in another scene, etc. etc... That's mostly why I started doing the polls, both as a way to get my viewers involved in the construction process by sharing their preference, and as a way to help me focus, at least for two weeks. Once I started the polls, I could easily see major improvement to my focus and project completion. I have you down for structures. Thank you!

[@skogsshrimpandstuff7693]

Great progress, sorry you're under the weather. I vote MOW kits!

[@KandWRailroader]

I'm back to about 95% now so I'm doing alright but thank you for the well-wishes! I have you down for MOW kits. Thank you!

[@markofthenorth8918]

Awesome channel great video keep them up make sure you like and subscribe thank you for your support I need all feedback on my train videos thank you

[@Two_stick_]

I’ll vote for the royal gorge. I really like the rock work. It’s gonna look good once the resin is done

[@KandWRailroader]

Vote recorded! Thank you! I hope so!

[@derekalexander4030]

I vote Royal Gorge, my friend. I can’t wait to see what you’re going to do with the water.

[@KandWRailroader]

@@derekalexander4030 Vote recorded! Thank you! For the first time I am actually more excited about doing the river water than I am scared.

[@taurahelms3068]

Thanks!

[@KandWRailroader]

@@taurahelms3068 Thank you! I appreciate the donation! All proceeds go towards the layout.

[@KraigSickels]

My vote is for structures …. Still lookin good 👍!!

[@KandWRailroader]

Vote recorded! Thank you!

[@KandWRailroader]

Is there an aspect or scene of the Kansas & Western Model Railroad that you would like to see me focus my attention on for the next update video? If so, then leave your request in the comments below! Below is a list of locations and aspects of the layout to refresh your memory, listed in order following the main line from the bottom up, starting from the west helix: Locations: Royal Gorge Route Canon City Portland Cement Plant Evraz Steel Plant, Pueblo La Junta Yard King Arroyo Lamar Holly Holcomb Power Plant Garden City Charleston Elevator Wichita Industrial Park Wichita Yard Towanda El Dorado Oil Field El Dorado Industrial Park and Rail Yard El Dorado Refinery Union Tank Car Company Aspects of the layout that aren’t location specific that I can focus on: Maintenance-of-Way Equipment (kits to build) Track weathering and ballast Rolling stock weathering Railcar loads (for hoppers, flatcars, gondolas) Structure details and weathering Backdrops Scenery/Landscaping (ground cover, trees, grass, dirt) Scene details (fences, animals, people, misc.) Layout skirting Fascia/Valance Layout Electrical (Lighting/Signals/Etc.) The polls for this weekend will close at midnight Central U.S. time on Sunday, February 2nd. Votes will be tabulated Monday and a short video update will be posted Monday afternoon regarding the vote result and my plan to carry it out. Power to the viewers!! I look forward to hearing from you!

[@Dreadedlock]

Great update! My vote Royal Gorge

[@KandWRailroader]

@@Dreadedlock Vote recorded! Thank you!

[@tas7997]

Very nice layout! I used the Peco numbers and they are nice. But, I switched them out for the Tomar numbers. 👍

[@tas7997]

Bumbers

[@KandWRailroader]

@tas7997 Thank you! The Tomar bumpers are nice, but I don't like that you have to use insulated joiners, although I suppose you could just leave a gap in the track. I used a couple in the Wichita yard and hid the plastic joiners with ballast which works fine, but I didn't want to do that everywhere.

[@tas7997]

Yes, i didn't use plastic joiners. I super glued a thin piece of strene between the tracks and trimmed it. I see your point.

[@KandWRailroader]

@@tas7997 Well, when you offer that kind of suggestion, that makes my complaint kinda whiny...LOL. I may have to consider that option again. I know I don't really like the Walthers bumpers because they seem to fall apart at the drop of a single grain of ballast...FINE GRAIN ballast...LOL.

[@matthewjones1119]

Trust me when I say it’s best to start getting all the car info in the computer now. It has taken me almost 2 years to get all 5,000 rolling stock and 1,000 locomotives cataloged. I vote river. As far as the electric box when you glue it on the door just cut along the door so it can still open with the backdrop on it.

[@KandWRailroader]

I totally agree with you! I don't ever plan to have more rolling stock than my layout can support which should be somewhere in the neighborhood of 50 locomotives and about 500 railcars. At that point I will just start to sell my cheaper stuff and upgrade. But after working on this for a few weeks, I'm glad I finally got started. Unfortunately, I can't figure out how to get the JMRI software to work, so I'm going to have to spend time working on that too. I've got you down for more work on the Gorge. My issue with covering the breaker box is if anyone needs to access it besides me. It's bad enough that I have to talk them through how to lift out the bridge so they don't damage anything. I'll figure something out when it's time to add the backdrop for the surrounding scenes. Thank you for your comment and vote!

[@darylhitchcock7680]

At 7:45 you show the catchment area with the rails, Try tap filter material (screen) , make a wire catchment fence... Just a thought... Amazing progression...

[@KandWRailroader]

I had considered that, I might do that up against the rock face in places as containment fences exist on the prototype in places. What I'm more curious about is how should embed the rails themselves so that they stand vertical, and can actually hold back some of the larger rock material without tipping over. At this point, I think I'm going to try joint compound, reinforced with the sticky drywall tape in narrow strips so they are easy to hide with the drywall mud, but still strong enough to reinforce the mud once it dries. I suppose I could also just drill holes for the rails in the plywood subroadbed, and glue them in place too. I could still use joint compound so the rails look like they are embedded in the ground, but the joint compound won't be responsible on its own for providing strength for the rails. Thanks for letting me game that out in black and white for the first time, instead of just in my head...LOL.

[@darylhitchcock7680]

@@KandWRailroader Use wire cable crossmembers attached to the stantions, to hold the fencing.

[@KandWRailroader]

@@darylhitchcock7680 Good tip! Thank you! Do you think thread is sufficient, or actual steel wire?

[@darylhitchcock7680]

@@KandWRailroader I use a 22 or 24 gauge solid copper wire painted- telephone wire or ethernet cables stripped.

[@KandWRailroader]

@darylhitchcock7680 Thank you for the materials tip!

[@koontsa]

For the dirt texture, try using sanded grout but apply it without mixing it with water. I spread a thin layer of diluted white glue or matte medium on the foam, then sift the sanded grout onto the glue. Once it's all in place, I go back over it with a small sprayer of a 2:1 water to matte medium. From there, I airbrush different shades of brown/grey for more variation before putting down grasses. I'm pretty sure it's a Lance Mindheim technique.

[@KandWRailroader]

Thank you for the tips! I went to Lowes for sanded grout because I had learned that I wanted sanded grout for this application, but they told me they stopped selling it because it was "going out of style". Taking that as the final word, I settled for "Polymerized grout" which does have some very fine grit in it, but I would have liked more. I will try a couple different stores to see what they offer. I think Lowes did have some sanded grout, but I didn't need a 40 lb. contractor bag.

[@derekalexander4030]

I believe they sell the sand separately in a small box so you can buy un sanded grout and add as much as you want.

[@KandWRailroader]

@@derekalexander4030 Last night I found that Home Depot sells the sanded grout in small quantities, and in several different earth tones so I'm going to grab a couple different colors and have another go at it using the method @koontsa recommended.

[@lancastrian123]

My vote is for track weathering and ballasting.

[@KandWRailroader]

Vote recorded! Thank you!

[@cjbeyer8340]

Royal Gorge has my vote so you can get it finished!

[@KandWRailroader]

@@cjbeyer8340 Vote recorded! Thank you!

[@DuCo_Loco]

I approve. Keep up the good work. I’m still jealous. You have a way bigger layout than I have. Even though I don’t think I could ever finish the layout your size. I can barely make up my mind what I want to do on my 24 foot dog bone layout

[@KandWRailroader]

Thank you! I should say that I am happy with my space, and I certainly am fortunate to have it...I just wish I had some longer straightaway runs between locations, but I would have to take over the whole basement to make that happen...and that ain't happenin'....LOL. (so says the wife...:P)

[@DuCo_Loco]

@@KandWRailroader you just have to put your foot down. Lol Here in east North Carolina a basement is almost unheard of. Around here most basements tend to fill up with water.

[@KandWRailroader]

@@DuCo_Loco Yeah, it's the same way south of us in Oklahoma and Texas...you know, where all the tornadoes are...LOL. I wouldn't want to give up my "engineer's lounge"...I like movies too much!

[@derekalexander4030]

They didn’t make the Wizard of Oz in Oklahoma or Texas, they put it in Kansas because that’s where the tornados are, lol😂

[@KandWRailroader]

@@derekalexander4030 LOL

[@billbarnes8192]

Have you looked into wall paper with landscape scene .?

[@KandWRailroader]

I typically buy commercially printed backdrops by railjunkies.com so the scale of the image makes sense with the scene in the foreground.

[@leckystone7348]

I vote the Faller refinery kit!

[@KandWRailroader]

@@leckystone7348 Vote recorded! Thank you!

[@AllenCNW441]

Is it “Are-can-saw” River or “Are-kansas” River? Depends where you live!

[@KandWRailroader]

I usually change the pronunciation at the state line...LOL. My wife sticks with Are-KANsas 100%...heh heh. Kansans are crazy...LOL.

[@fentoncentral-model-railway]

Holly gets my vote. 👍

[@KandWRailroader]

Vote recorded! Thank you!

[@cjbeyer8340]

Love the update and the rock looks great! I have one question, I thought you were having a road on edge, so how can you put the rock to the edge of the layout?

[@KandWRailroader]

@@cjbeyer8340 Thank you! The road will be placed on top of the foam right along the edge of the layout. It will curve out of view toward the aisle at both ends.

[@edwardmenees5462]

How big is your train room

[@KandWRailroader]

It is L-shaped with one leg being 26'x15' and the other 14'x5'.

[@admiralseabass8993]

I vote for Pueblo

[@KandWRailroader]

Vote recorded! Thank you!

[@AirwolfCrazy]

I'd votr for the Royal Gorge this time so you can at least have the banks done.

[@KandWRailroader]

Vote recorded! Thank you!

[@BeykoEngineering]

very nice gorge

[@KandWRailroader]

Thank you! It's maybe starting to look like something.

[@stevechilders2425]

More Royal Gorge please

[@KandWRailroader]

@@stevechilders2425 Vote recorded! Thank you!

[@markofthenorth8918]

Awesome channel great video keep them up make sure you like and subscribe thank you for your support I need all feedback on my train videos thank you

[@CroMagnonCustoms]

Try putting the grout down dry and gluing it down

[@KandWRailroader]

Thank you for the tip! I will try that!

[@robertwillis4701]

As the river moves away from the cliff perhaps you wouldn’t find so much rock approaching the edge of your layout river edge.

[@KandWRailroader]

That's a good point...I was thinking of adding a marshy area in that bend where maybe some tall grasses stick out of the water...at the very least, maybe a sand bar. Thank you!

[@Paul--88]

Canon city has prison right outside of town and a white water rafting shop on every block.

[@KandWRailroader]

@@Paul--88 It's a pretty cool little town...then there's the scenery!

[@ronaldrondeau7870]

go for Royal gorge

[@KandWRailroader]

@@ronaldrondeau7870 Vote recorded! Thank you!