I'm going to start modeling some utility poles, I picked up some 3/16 wooden dowels that now need paint. I was looking for some advice/suggestions on what color of paint I should use also what type? Oil, acrylic, etc.... The look The type I want to model are the dark brown looking poles that usually look like they've been soaked in creosote? At least I think they're soaked in creosote. With that being said, I figured oil paints would probably be the way to go but not sure.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.  Thank you

Pat 

I’m in the process of ballasting and would like other modelers opinions on a scenery approach. 

See the photo below. I’m thinking of not including ballast on the slope of the roadbed for the initial ballasting so that I can vary the scenery material and color at a later time. 

Do you think this is a good approach, or should I include ballast on the slope with the initial go-around? (Note: I plan to include ballast between the runaround tracks before the initial ballasting.) Thanks.

PROGRESS! A few more buildings are in - my brewery (Calhoun's - when you're having more than one) and my wife's radio station in the Midland Utilities headquarters building (KPEG) along with the Midland maintenance building.

Hi!

A video tutorial on how to model a forest hill without making actual trees. Quick and easy for background scenery.

The DOMTAR Pulp and Paper Mill is a freelanced modern industry inspired by a mill that operated near my hometown up until the early 2000s. It represents my third attempt at a personal switching layout, preceded by two unfinished versions. My improved understanding of operations, layout design, and various construction and modeling skills prompted the change. To save money and time I'm recycling most of my previous bench-work, control hardware, and structures. 

One of my recent Morning Sun acquisitions, Dereco in Color by Arthur J. Erdman, has slightly altered my Penn Lake 8 history.

OK guys, an introduction to my new layout. There were a couple of things that I was missing on my old Everman Layout.  I thought all I wanted to do was switch cars, that has changed because of my Grandkids, Grandpa lets run some trains. I could not just let them loose in the room because of the way the old layout was designed. Also the FWWR has acquired many SD class locomotives, I wanted to include these somehow into the layout. No staging, I found out I wanted this.

https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLb_MG9S35Q-CIunyV84GmfVySGdH1x1Wi

Hello!

The Closet Branch

18”x36” and 6”x36”yard.
Used be a center backdrop in the middle. Originally planed to have two separate scenes but now it resides one corner of a small closet without the backdrop.
Buildings are made of $ 0.99 formcore boards with junks and one Pikestuff engine house kit on the yard.
Painted AC Moore $ 0.75 craft paints.