Dear all,

Before embarking on scratchbuilding these using brass for the lamp post and 3d printed parts for the lamp fixtures, I am looking around for anything RTR/kit or at least a suitable base to kitbash.

The prototype i want to model (in HO scale) is a typical 1960's street light like the the ones seen on Colorado boulevard in Pasadena LA (also seen in various other places across the US).

Two questions;

#1 - I was wondering if anyone uses any type of clearcoat over any pan pastels used to weather trackwork? I am asking as I caught a online discussion about using graphite sticks on the rails and the most voiced concern was motor/electronics contamination by the graphite. I have used the pan pastels to weather track but afterwards I used a vacuum two or three times to remove anything left behind. Just wondering if an addition step in the process was needed.

I am installing the Walther's Oil Loading Platform, and would like to know what type of ground/soil/gravel do most prototypical operations use?  I'm inclined to guess it would be gravel so that spilled oil/fluids can be drained away and not be pooled up on the ground.

Does anyone have pictures of actual oil facilities?

Thanks......Grampy

With my new color of LEDs I am re-evaluating the sky color in my layout room,...best be done before I start lying track,...and I wanted to paint a few other items under my other deck (the metal beams, etc).

The number of my LEDs has increases so the decks will be a bit more brightly lit,...so I began to think of a 'brighter blue'. I have a couple picked out.

But I have a major question. What 'sheen' does one choose,....flat, semi-gloss, satin etc??