Got some work done over the weekend, also did a section of landscaping between the 2 lines. Will add more to it as time goes on, just wanted to get an idea  of what the grass between the tracks would look like. Started on the refinery, need to set it on the layout to se what i can do with the extra pipe kit? I need a bigger layout, this one is too small. lolol

Lucky to have them as a customer, i get a birds eye view of a real refinery.

A few more.

Getting going on the refinery kit...

You beat me to it Len. lol I have that Jig and magnet kit, plus i bought 6 heavy machinist blocks. they are a handy tool.

Sid, AKA Wounded Bear taught me how to ballast. There is no easy way, and it is time consuming. I bought a ballast spreader that slides along the rails, and  also use a plastic spoon.After i was done shaping the sides etc, getting the ballast how i wanted it, i would do a 6" section at a time, spray liberally with 90% alcohol, then use a pipette with a water glue mix 50/50 and soak that section. then move on to the next 6" section. You have to be very very careful around your turnouts, a drop at a time to make sure you don't glue them shut.

Terry One of my biggest customers at work is the local refinery. I have taken so many pictures out there, to help me. I am lucky, i have a birds eye view of a real refinery. There are lots of little sub stations around here as well, so i hopped in the car and went for a drive, and took lots of pictures as well.

I am going to use spandex thread for power lines throughout the entire layout

Here is the one i did.

Anything to do with wood, i use yellow Elmers construction glue.

The Tamiya glue is what i use 99% of the time. The regular glue is perfect for plastic structures. The thin stuff runs into cracks as soon as you touch the surface. And the Mercury glue and kicker is for things that need more strength and set quickly. I used the Mercury glue to attach the bras etched parts to the plastic on the kit i am currently building. Its a super glue that gives you a couple seconds to get it right. The kicker spray makes it stick instantly. The Revlon nail boards are a must for this hobby. Two grits, one fine one course. I sand all my mating surfaces before gluing. makes for a better bond.

SMD ??

Thank you Jonathan.

So i was driving by the local refinery last night, and it looked really sharp all lit up. I would like to incorporate small lights in my refinery as i build it, may be easier to adapt them in place before it is all assembled?

I also want to add lights to the inside of all my buildings, that will be easy i have made provisions, added a second floor divider in my houses etc.

Where can i find specialty small lights for the refinery?  What has everyone been using in general for lighting.  I am not really looking for a plug and play system, i want something i can build and solder. I have 6 toggle switches and a large dc power supply already in place on my panel board.

Primed and painted all the parts last night, sometimes you get lucky and happy accidents happen. I placed all the pieced upside down, to paint the bottoms first. i let that dry, when i flipped everything over, i was amazed that only the railings had been completely painted, and the deck floors were still primer grey.  . I am now deciding to leave them that way i think to give it some contrast. . This is a couple shots of my refinery area, the tank car loading area.