Planning the Biddle Yard backdrop

Not much has happened on the layout for the first half of this year.  Mainly due to me jumping feet first into operations and making a lot of small adjustments to JMRI.  As evidence from the last session on May 9th (the previous post), I think I've finally got a good handle on it as it seems to be working pretty much the way I've had it envisioned.  Cars are moving smoothly to all the industries in a fairly random pattern.  I'm also getting a pretty random amount and types of cars moving.  So I feel it's time to get back to the layout.

However I'm finding that I'm struggling trying to find the motivation to work on a few things.  I had planned to paint up four more locos in the Blue and & White scheme and/or start working on another scene on the layout between DuBach and El Dorado, but I just can't find the motivation to start on these projects.

The other night while staging the layout for another op session, I was looking at the yard and all I could see was the 16' long blue backdrop. Ugh!  I got to thinking this might be a fairly easy project to tackle, nothing real fancy just some paint and some backdrop buildings?

The more I thought about it the more I started leaning to picking up more of the 2d printed background buildings like I did from Trackside Flats.

Not 100% sure how I wanted to tackle this as it was going to cost a decent amount for these buildings.  I had a couple choices.  I could buy what I needed from them already printed and mounted on black foam core and mount them to the backdrop.  I could also buy all the buildings on two large sheets, cut them out and mount them myself to foam core or glue them directly to the backdrop?  Or I could buy several premade backdrops, cut out the sky and just glue them to my backdrop.

I had envisions of having buildings running from one end to the other or space them out with some painted trees.   But that would entitle 16' of printed buildings and that could ensure that I'd spend some coin to do this.  Plus not sure how to layout the buildings to make the backdrop look plausible?

Somewhere along the line, a little voice in my head spoke up and told me to go look at the actual location.  Hmmm?  So I jumped on Google Maps and looked up Little Rock, AR.  Snooped around until I found Biddle yard.  It's pretty much intact yet as UP is still using it but the engine facility is pretty much gone, but you can still see the old roundhouse and tracks.

Right away the first thing I noticed was the overall shape of the yard.  If you compare the aerial to a plan of my yard it almost fits perfectly.

Using the engine facility on my yard as an anchor point, I noticed that where I am standing when running the yard, I would be standing where all the trees are located just to the south of the actual yard.  On where the backdrop would be, I noticed another line of trees that separated the yard from the south edge of Little Rock.  I'm sure that back in 1979, those large buildings were not there yet and the tree line was probably thicker?

But this got me thinking and I started using my modelers license.  Instead of lining the entire 16' of backdrop with 2d buildings, why not just use trees, much like I have with the biggest share of the rest of the layout?  But I got to thinking: "Maybe that would not look good as then, no matter where you looked, you'd see a tree line all the way around the layout?"  It might be a bit too much?

Then that little voice spoke up again.

What if I painted a solid (or pretty much a solid) tree line along the backdrop, then add some taller buildings BEHIND the tree line?  The trees would hide a lot of the shorter buildings, but the taller ones could peek above the trees, using less buildings?

I went back to Google Maps and started taking a closer look.  I dropped the little guy onto the highway bridge overlooking the yard.  The first thing I noticed was that large building behind the trees.  Granted, I'm thinking this image was taken in very early Spring as the trees are just starting to leaf out.  But once the leaves totally fill in, it should hide the biggest share of anything to the north of the tree line?  

The first image is a view off the highway looking N/NE, the second image is from the east of the yard looking W/SW.  Those trees are pretty tall?

One can see the building back there in these views.  But once the leaves fill out, you may not be able much at all?  So I chewed on this for a while.

The next day at work, my mind started wandering.  Instead of buying a bunch of building flats, I wonder if Google Gemini could lend a hand?  When I got home I sat down and pulled up Gemini and asked it to render me a very large metal sided building about 2 stories tall.  Color it a two tone tan, with the darker color on the bottom half.  After a bit fiddling it gave me this:

Since I wanted trees in the foreground, I didn't want to use printed trees due to the fact that the blue sky  showing through (if any) would have to match the color on the backdrop.  And I didn't want to go through the images and cut out the areas, so I decided I would paint the trees, much like I have on the rest of the layout.

This beckons back to the old argument of do I use a printed backdrop or a painted backdrop.  Do I want my eyes drawn away from my layout and onto the backdrop, or do I want the backdrop to just be there but not the main focus?

Painting the trees would do two things, I feel it would keep my eyes being drawn to the backdrop and it would also keep the look matching the rest of the backdrop around the layout.  Painting it would be!

Using the image that Gemini gave me of the big building, I asked it to render a line of trees in the foreground, but only about 2/3rds as tall as the building.  Again after a few adjustments to the wording, it gave me this:

The little voice cheered!

Now I had a good visual representation of what I wanted to do, and the way I've painted the previous trees on my backdrop I had a good idea of what I could do.  However I got to thinking, these trees are going to be a little closer than any of the others which meant I was going to have to make them a bit more detailed and I would probably have to trunks to make it look close to the image.  I think I can do this?

I took one of the 2D flats I purchased and decided to sacrifice it for the cause.  Figuring that the paint might soak into the image and ruin it, I sprayed it down with several light coats of a matte finish in a rattle can to hopefully seal it.

If I actually do this, I will NOT apply the images to black foam core, but will instead print the image on cardstock, then glue that to the actual backdrop.

Then I applied a thin coat of dark green that I've used on my "Distant Hills".

Next, I used some latex paint that was close to a tree trunk color and simply sketched in some trunks.

What I didn't take images of was the process of adding the stipple black blotches for shadow and applying the different shades of greens, starting with a darker green then working towards the lighter shades and ending up with an almost yellowish green to represent sunlit leaves.  But you can get a good idea with this image.

Here it's sitting in the yard against the backdrop.  I might have to adjust the height as it might be a little tall?

Now to see if I can bring this idea to fruition.

Op Session: May 9th, 2026

I had another great session tonight!  This one had a few firsts with it.

This was the first session held with a newer tweaked version of JMRI that Dave C. has been helping me with.  I was having a few minor issues, basically trying to balance the flow of cars.  I think we're another step closer.

A HUGE thanks out to you Dave!

This was the first session that included the all new track work in DuBach, happy to reply everything ran reliably.  

Another first was a few newcomers to join us this evening.  Dave, Jeff and Mike from Spring Creek Hobbies, Bruce H and Mark H.  This was also a first time in quite a while that Willie B was able to join us again.

This session was also informative as it confirmed to me several things about my layout and my Ops plan.

• I think 6 operators will be the optimal number per session, although I think I could squeeze in as many as 8 and it could still work.
• The trains all ran with no hiccups, my instructions seemed to be clear enough to all with not much explanation needed. 
• I didn't have many of the guys standing around waiting for something to do, with the exception of the Malvern jobs, they got done quickly and proficiently by Mike, but that also gave us a little time to sit and chew the fat while the other crews dropped off cars for Malvern and got out of the way.
• Proved for sure that both Winnfield locals could run at the same time.
• Proved that the second two through trains could traverse the layout while BOTH of the Winnfield locals were working on the layout.
• It seemed to work well having one crew do double duty: being the yard hostler and the crew for the ICG interchange.
• The overall time still stayed at about 2.5 to 3 hrs. 

All in all, a great session.  Sure feels good to get some of these unknowns answered.

Now on to some photos of the crews during the session.

First, lets meet the crew (L to R): Mark, Dave, Jeff, Willie, Mike and Bruce 

Jeff is working the Malvern AM

Mike is holding up with #34, the first SB through train at El Dorado waiting for Dave
to arrive with the #35 NB through train

Mark is working to get the NB Winnfield local ready to go while Bruce is in charge of the SB Winnfield local as he leaves the yard.

Mike is doing a roll by inspection while Dave brings the NB into El Dorado

Willie is trying to explain to Bruce that he is actually doing his work.
But I don't think Mark is buying it?

Both local crews are getting started
Mike and Dave are in Winnfield with the NB
Willie and Bruce are in Haskell with the SB

Finishing up their work in Winnfield

Wrapping up their work in Haskell

After Willie and Bruce move out of Haskell,
Jeff starts working the interchange at Haskell with the Malvern AM turn

Mike and Dave take a break as Mark brings the third through freight north through DuBach

The next three pics show a busy scene as both locals are trying to get their
work done in El Dorado

If you look closely, both locals are still in El Dorado as Mark is waiting just north of town for the tracks to clear up so he can bring the last SB through freight through El Dorado.

Mike is putting the finishing touches on his chores in El Dorado.
Soon he'll head north to his next stop: Fordyce.

Mike and Dave are working Ozark Irrigation in Fordyce, one more town before beans.

Putting the final cars in place in El Dorado

Mike and Dave have reached Little Rock.
Mark is waiting to receive their train on track 2,
while Willie and Bruce continue there journey south, working DuBach. 

 You guys all did a great job,  Ya'll come back now, ya hear!

New UP5 panels

I'm still learning and playing with the printer. Just a quick sidetrack from the locos and layout.

A friend told me that some of his Digitrax UP5 panels got paint on them when he painted his fascia on his modules, as did some of mine.

So I grabbed a panel, took some measurements, sat down with Tinker Cad and came up with a custom faceplate. Took me about three tries to get the holes correct.

I embedded the wording into the panel using Bambu Studio's text option.  Unfortunately, after I started the printing process it dawned on me that I should have added the R as well. So while the panels were printing, I used Tinker Cad to draw up some R's and when done, I glued them to the panel.

Signature locos

I know I said the next project would be ballasting in DuBach, but I just can't seem to find the ambition for that right now, so...

For the last week since getting the JMRI up and running again and the track work in DuBach done, I just haven't had the ambition to go down and get anything started again. I did get the layout staged for a possible shakedown session this weekend, and then I have one planned for May 9th.

I went down and walked around the layout, trying to find something that would peak my interest. It's not for the lack of anything to do, but more so of the amount of things that I could do. I was mainly looking for some scenery that I could quickly start on, but most will take a decent amount of preparations first.

So I shut the lights off and walked back upstairs.

Chatting with a friend last night about finding the next project and then thinking about it more today while out delivering, I think I'm going back to the bench for some more loco building? I've been wanting to get after a trio of these ever since I settled on modeling the Little Rock line. They're kind of a signature loco for this section of the Rock and kind of the mainstay of power towards the end. The fourth one I'm going to do because I'll have the airbrush out and dirty, plus I forgot to do it when I did the other 5 U33B's.

I'm not feeling fully pumped yet, but I'll try to force myself to get started on them with the details...

Track painting in DuBach

This weekend I was able to get the raw ceiling tile painted after trimming the cork.   Once dried I got after getting the track painted.

The first thing that I always do before applying paint is to protect the turnouts and points from getting covered in paint.  A lot of folks will lay a strip of tape over them, but I go at it via a different route.

I took a small piece of napkin, rolled it between my fingers until it was just big enough that I could pack it in between the point rail and the stock rail. This should keep the paint off both surfaces. This also held the opposite side tightly closed so that no paint could get on their surfaces either.

I also took a small drop of oil and placed it in the joints of the switch points where they hinge on the PECO turnouts, my thought was this would keep the paint from insulating the switch points which has worked very well in the past. Please forgive me, by the time I got the picture snapped the oil had puddled. You only need a small drop.

Once the prep work was done it was time to paint.  This time though, instead of using Krylon Camo Brown and two other Rattle cans of light colors that I had used before, I chose to give some acrylic paints a chance to shine this time.  The last time that I painted the tracks between Ruston and Winnfield, the fumes did get a little strong and I had no way to vent them outside.  It wasn't a fog, but the fumes were kind of strong, that was in Feb I do believe.

Now this time it was April and a bit warmer, but the look on the wife's face from the last painting episode I decided to invest in a new airbrush and give acrylics a try, and to save a marriage, although I must say that she is pretty supportive of me and my endeavors.

I chose to use Tamiya paints this time around as they seemed to work pretty good when I sprayed the Ouachita River a while back.  I chose three colors of brown for this.

XF-10 Flat Brown, XF-68 NATO Brown and Boomer's favorite color: XF-52 Flat Earth!

The XF-10 Flat Brown was a little too red when I first applied so I added some black, but it moved a little too much, so I added more of the flat brown to bring the brown back out a bit.  I also thinned it roughly 50/50 with 70% alcohol, this worked out good.

Then I got the mainline, passing siding and one of the spurs painted.  The other four spurs will get painted once I get the buildings built and see how they'll fit, at that point I can adjust the spurs to fit and they'll get painted.

Next I switched to the XF-68, thinned it then shot the tracks by sweeping the airbrush back and forth across the tracks, randomly painting only part of the ties.

For the final color I switched to the XF-52.  I was afraid it would be too light?  But it turned out quite well so I continued onward.  With this color I sprayed the tracks the same as I did with the intermediate color but did not spray as many ties, hoping to get a very random effect.  Now on the one spur for Cajun Hydraulics, I did cover that spur with more XF-52 to simulate a more dirty and unkept appearance, which is what I'll do when I paint the other spurs.

To be honest, while it looks OK now, by the time the ballast gets applied and I get it weathered with Pan Pastels and apply some burnt umber pigment, most of this will probably just blend into one basic track color.  If this was a larger scale, I'm sure it would stand out a bit more.

But hey, at least I didn't just leave it as a nasty-ass, factory plastic with bright shiny rails...  

Next up, everyone's favorite:  Ballasting!

DuBach track work complete.

All of the tracks are laid in DuBach, the only thing left to do is to drop the feeders and connect them to the bus.

The spur tracks are just tacked in place for now, this way I can easily adjust them as the industries get built and installed in case I need to move them to fit.  This will also allow me to work on the operations to make sure that things will work the way I'd like them to.  If not I can easily make adjustments.

North DuBach

South DuBach

 

Progress in DuBach

It's been a few weeks but I finally got around to the track work in DuBach.

While there isn't much difference on the location of the tracks, I did move them away from the backdrop to allow for the new industry: Cajun Hydraulics.  This created a subtle sway in the tracks just enough to  reduce the long tangent I had before.

As before, the main track will be closest to the backdrop, this allows for a larger radius track and it also keeps one from reaching over the train while uncoupling. 

Starting at South DuBach, the mains sway away from the backdrop enough to allow space for Cajun Hydraulics.  The spur in front with only cork will be for A&A Cement.

The tracks are not too far from where they were before.  The radius has been reduced down from 28" to 24" on the main line.

Still working on the North end.  Where the new turnouts are is where Piggly Wiggly will still be, but moved just a tad, the spurs in front will be for ARKLA Plastics and the new Bayou GenTech track with a transfer crane.