This is how it looked

Actually this was before laying any tracks, so for a couple of years i just had a mainline (at an angle) here on cork roadbed and plywood pacific all around.

Next step, rip out tracks, install new roadbed, ballast and add grout.

Moving along, the sequence was: grout (around the tracks), ballast, and then grout onto the ballast... This particular piece of track is in front of the Cucamonga fruit packing (or winery) scene) at #8.

After adding grout onto the ballast and enamel weathering (actually the color is not that white...so apologies for my photography):

And a closeup of the trackwork.

Moving along to painting...

So a horizon and some trees started to pop up.

And a few commercial trees (not to be used in the actual layout) placed quickly to test perspectives

And moving along, more trees and buildings being added as we proceed east along the mainline.

And a road! But the road will be reworked with respect to color and details when the actual road on the layout will be finished. I just had to have something there instead of an empty spot up until i finish the on-layout roads.

And a "bigger" picture

Onto actual trees in the next post...

Actual trees (as in not on the backdrop)

Most are Heki kits modified, using a variety of foliage. As all these are background trees 4'+ away from the viewer, i reserve by handmade super-trees for foreground spots. Heki tufts and Noch static grass added as well as Heki low-height bushes etc.

And a better viewing angle... typically seen from this angle, the perspective sort of works. Buildings and other scenic forms will block other less flattering angles.

A small forest, and a test car to check tracks.

And some buildings loosely placed to check scene composition in one of the (four) modules in front of the backdrop. Remember this is an auxiliary "background" row that will have a 3' deep downtown scene in front of it.

The mainline

Thank you very much for stopping by!

Yannis

@Yannis

Very nice!  You are certainly capturing the feel of Southern California.  Well done!  Looking forward to more photos as you make more progress.

Al Carter, Mount Vernon, WA

I love a California layout!

and this is a beauty! Way to go Yannis. I'm keeping an eye on you.........I'd keep both eyes on you but with all the smoke here I can only open one eye at a time

Al and Rick many thanks!

Much appreciated feedback and kind words. I am past a rather "boring" part on my layout so i hope for more frequent progress updates. One more boring part to go though, ie adding backdrops to the bookcase shelves.

I'm with Al & Rick

Definitely my sort of layout! Love it!

Thank you Lyndon!

Same here with respect to your layout! Great work.