Hi All,

Well decided to do some more backdrop over the last couple of days.  This section incorporated a few challenging sections, namely some fairly tight corners and track work penetrations through the actual backdrop.

Once again I have been using the 6mm flexiboard plaster/drywall for the curved sections.  This board makes forming the radius extremely easy and the result are very good.  These sections I have used 3mm plywood behind the 6mm plaster/drywall so that when butted up against the normal 10mm they will both be fairly flush.

This is my version of one segment of the "Patch" district in Los Angeles. There are a couple of sources of inspiration for my version. The first came from stumbling across Bob Smaus' website and pictures there of the "brick canyon" alley between 7th Street and Industrial Street running from Alameda to Mateo. Bob talked about Keith Jordan's modeled version of the patch and Keith kindly provided some reference materials for me to use. I wanted something as close as possible to the actual track configuration but as always space is the deciding factor.

Has anyone had any ideas about how to create HO scale lamp shades for 1.4 mm OD, 1.5 V bulbs?  I have tried casting with hot glue with some success.  I also tried punched/formed aluminum with no success.  I have been eyeing up some plastic pen caps thinking that I may be able to cut off the tips and drill to receive light bulbs.  I have also bought some shades but would get more satisfaction from making y own.  Any help would be appreciated.

Charlie Comstock's article in Jan-Feb 2010 MRH is about interiors of commercial buildings. In it Charlie uses photos of wood shipping crates. My question is when did cardboard packaging come into wide use? I am building an HO layout with 1936 as the year of operation. (Parents bought a new Chevy in '36).

So is cardboard boxes right for 1930's shipping or is wood crates the norm? Certainly large heavy machinery etc. is in wood crates.