Great article in this month's issue on scrap gons and weathering. It has me scrambling for something I put away for a "rainy day" - an article on using a soldering iron to help "customize" cars to show the usual wear and tear they go through while in service. I'll try to find it; copy; paste; and pass it along. If I remember correctly, the only caution was the heat transfer time and "rust weathering" of affected areas that may have paint issues. It should help me in detailing the scrap yard which will be part of my layout.

Suggestions, please.  I have a rubber mold for additional plaster rocks to add to my nearly completed mountain. Problem - the "wetter water" solution they suggest to spray before filling the mold and letting it dry doesn't work very well. A) the mold doesn't completely dry in 2 days [even with the extreme heat we're having] and B) the mold doesn't release cleanly [parts of the cast break or crumble making them non-usable]. 

Finally got the hidden storage track under the small village at the backdrop started and in place. Access holes were cut and track laid and tested for clearances etc. 

OK, the backdrop is completed and the sub-roadbed of pink foam is down; lights from IKEA are on their way and will be installed shortly. NOW, what is the best way of laying out the track before purchasing it? Paper copies? Use a 3ft section and draw around it? Mark a centerline?

Backdrop (printed murals) is up with some final touches to be done as buildings and other scenery is completed. Next up is the lighting and then trackwork layout. In some of the scenes I cut out the portions I needed and laid them against a sky blue painted backdrop.

Got the pink foam board for the sub-roadbed for the Greater Nickel Plate. Is "Liquid Nails" the best way to adhere it to the wood benchwork and to itself for "sculpting" various levels? Also, what is the best way to support the Tortise switch machines for the 2 or 3 switches that cannot be installed as ground throws? 

 Have finally begun to make progress on my layout. Am using luan sheathing for the backdrop (see photos) and have managed to get 80% of the work done. Table is 52 inches in height and 30 inches in depth. I've tried make the best use of the space available given furnaces; doors; laundry  and even electrical outlets. Hence, the layout consists of a point-to-point design with a small port area at one end.

After calling around to every lumber yard and home improvement store within 50 miles, NONE carry homosote! Checking into the blue/pink foam material, I'd have to buy a truckload (not this week, anyway) to get some for my roadbed for the 4' x 20' layout.

 I am looking over my track plan with an eye to starting to purchase rail. Aside from asthetics, is there any real advantage to having Code 83 for the mainline and, say, Code 70 for the yards and sidings? Is there that much visual differnce once ballast, landscaping etc. is added? What about availability of various switches etc.? Cost? Transitioning?  Your thoughts would be appreciated as always.

 The benchwork on The Greater Nickel Plate is finished and we are awaiting next month's "allotment" for homosote and backdrop material - pictures to follow soon. In the meantime, I have been looking over the trackplan and have a question for those who have railroads up and running.