What I Did Today

It was easy! One straight-ticket major party box to mark, and believe me, it wasn't the Republican one! I will have difficulty understanding how anyone I know could do otherwise.

Train Layout

Some of you know that I've been building an electric train layout in the larger garage at the lake. For those who care, maybe mostly my grandkids and some of my children, here is where it stands after work this summer. Mostly, I've worked on scenery, although I have made some changes to the electronics, have added a cover over the base to dress it up, and have added some operating features. Still lots to do, but that is going to have to wait until next summer. Working around the layout from right to left...

This area will eventually be mostly a logging and lumber mill scene. I'll add some hills and trees, and there will be a base camp for the workers. Operating features include a sawmill and two amusing scenes of workers caught in an old outhouse or scrubbing away in a tub. You can get an idea of the paneling I added on the base in this photo too.

Next will be a residential area. I have lots to do here too, but I did get some operating crossing gates in place, have added a couple buildings, and have ideas about adding a street, trees, people at play, and other things.

Along the back wall, I've added some painted backdrops. They are a bit cartoonish and amateurish, since I did them myself instead of relying on more professional painters (like Paula, for example), but Kathie thinks the grandkids will find them colorful and fun. In this corner, I have maybe the most completed part so far--a city scene with several building fronts, some streetlights, a lighted Choo Choo Hotel sign, vehicles, trees, etc.

Continuing on around, I have painted a farming area and a field where a hot air balloon gathering is underway. Balloons include one that looks like a character from the Angry Birds game and another with the requisite U of Iowa tiger hawk logo.

In the next corner will be a camping and woodland area, but there is lots yet to do here. One panel has yet to be painted, but it will incorporate a Hobbiton village.

I'm also working on a neater and well-organized area for most of the controlling electronics.

Next there is a rail yard, with lots of sidings and areas for train and engine management. Lots to do here too.

Finally, there is a mountain area with two levels of track, a Hogwarts Castle scene, tunnels, and several water features, including a couple of lakes, a waterfall, a trestle, and a bridge. Lots more plastering to do here, as well as shaping, painting, and the addition of trees, scrub brush, etc.

The last thing I'll share is this very cute little cabin that Kathie wanted to contribute to the layout. She made it from scratch using materials she pulled from outdoors. I plan to add it to either the woodland scene or the mountain scene, maybe as a home for a little troll-like figure I found. Kathie did a really nice job on this, and we have talked about other fun details we might eventually add.