Looks great! Congrats on the completion. Many of us are right there with you. Blue collar a$$ bustin' hard working Americans who happen to like model Trains and the escape it offers. Love it!
Nice work. You inspired me to add a raised section on my layout also. It's taken most of the winter, but I'm pleased how it turned out. Mainly made it from foam board also. Thanks for the ideas!
The rock wall looks good. Reminds me of the western U.S. For the top of the hill,I'd add a camping scene or maybe youth group picnic. Maybe something to coincide with the church. I like the billboard where it's at. It greets people coming in the room. Too funny. As for the yard. I wouldn't add any more switches. You could do an engine facility,maintenance building,switch tower...anything yard related. Any space left over between the yard and the water scene just add vegetation like bushes or some other type of low scenery. That's my 2 pennies. Enjoy the channel and layout progress.
Well done Mr Zack and the wife for the lovely pumpkins and everything else she has contributed with. Remember it's a work-in-progress for the rest of your life forever changing those cows have legs they can move, you can add a new neighbor and you can burn down the other neighbor's house never ends that is the beauty of The Hobbit enjoy it it looks good 👍
Looks great, Zac! Your right, scenery work does take time and can get to be pretty expensive, but it really does add to the fun of running the trains! I love your rock walls. It does seem that we always have to make compromises, but despite that you did a wonderful job of pulling the scene together. You might try putting a few small cedar or pine trees along that lower ridge and atop the hill and/or perhaps a few bushes would work. I like the little automated UFO. I think everyone creating scenery has their own expectations/goals as to what they want to see, and the key is to do what makes you happy. It looks like you have achieved just that, and it is absolutely fabulous! Bill B.
To troubleshoot and finish my lower level, I dismantled my 12 2 track upper level, reversing a lot of build work. And I miss that upper level. This stuff takes way longer than I thought. Just starting to landscape the lower level do you have you main level done?
Looks awesome! I think leave the switch out and have a gravel parking lot for the train crews to park and get to the locomotives. I think that sometimes a little less track is more.
Great job. How about a woodland scenic split rail fenced in section with the rails knocked down on one section and a few more cows in the fenced area to suggest where the aliens got the cows that are stealing. 😀
Congratulations on completing a new phase of the layout, Zach. The level of realism you've achieved is very impressive. I really like it a lot. It's enough to attract our eyes and make us feel welcome. Just right. If you feel you need some more greenery on the outer part of the upper ridge, some low bushes or some small size rocks with moss might do well, and add perspective to the scene behind without interfering with the background. Maybe in the flat area, a repair facility might do the job, although you'd have to figure out how workers would get to and from the area. Helicopter? Just joking. I think if this appeals to you, you'll figure that out. Lots of ideas offered here. I'm sure you'll sort out what's best.
I have the Menards church. I love their layout pieces. that looks awesome! great work! I would put buildings in that space not an extra switch it would be really short.
The layout looks beautiful Zack, there is a idea on the hill , change out the bill board and maybe put a few deer, more brush, few more trees and maybe people there having a picnic and people doing train filming/ watching, just a idea, I really liked the farm & the UFO scenes👍,always enjoy seeing your layout Zack, giving me ideas how to do mine😉,take care 👋😎🛤🚂
Take it from experience but I would add the extra yard track. I didn’t at first then needed engine storage and had to do a lot of reworking to added two more tracks
It looks spectacular! To be honest with you, there’s only one thing I would change. I’d move the billboard down onto the flat portion of the layout. It seems kind of out of place where it is and it’s right in the sight line of the church. It kind of blocks it in the video. Keep up the good work!
Thanks Matt!! The billboard does look a little awkward at the moment. But am hoping once our “industrial” type of scene for the engine facilities/rail yard in front with big floodlights/buildings/coaling tower/etc goes up in front of it, will look a little better. Will have to see though. If not it can easily come down and be changed out in the future.
It looks great, have always enjoyed the layouts and the work you have put into them but you really need " Bobs ( Zac's ) Country Bunker" you know where they play both kinds of music, Country, and Western! You got the Black and White!
You did an excellent job! Keep up the good work. The farm scene reminds me of an alien movie. You should throw in a crop duster plane flying above. Other than that, love it!
Nice… As far as adding another spur I would stick a warehouse/building there for additional purpose to those 4 spurs You won’t gain much trackage to justify the cost of the turnout.
Have a couple thoughts on the bridge/s for the other side. Thinking mainly if building the majority of it with the same girder bridge material and adding a atlas bridge or equivalent on the long stretch in front… will be a while though… camera is just my IPhone with a cheap mic hooked up to it. Thank you!
Very, very nice work...I especially like the one on one conversational tone of the video. I'd like to join that facebook group you mention, what is it. I belong to a lionel and to an mth buy and sell group, but postings are few gary
Thank you! It’s been a long while, so can’t say I remember for sure. But think it was either “Lionel O gauge buy, sell and trade” or “Lionel collectors buy, sell and trade.
Thanks Glenn!! Eventually we’ll get to finishing that bridge! 😂🤣 the track work will do the same type of loop around in the other side of the layout. Just mainly being a bridge instead of an elevated section of the layout. 🍻
Love following the progression of your layout. Looks amazing. I'm getting to the point of my build where I'm thinking of a curves girder bridge. Did you build yours or have it made? Thanks and keep up the great work.
Thank you! I built it out of 1/2” MDF board and girder plates from scenic express. Was a little pricey to make, but is hard to find a pre-built curved bridge
How about for the hill you put a small hiking trail white the trees and some wood gard tells White some whild life and yes put one more switch right there it will look great
Hi country bunkers trains, what is the diameter of the elevated girder bridge. I am looking to get a curved girder bridge and can’t find one anywhere do you have any tips?
A turntable would be nice for sure! Unfortunately don’t think I have the room for one, or atleast one big enough for my engines, plus a shed next to it. Hoping to park the “big” articulated engines on the sidings instead of having to manually remove and store on the shelves. A engine shed for sure will be going up though!
Looking great! My son said its looking cool. Like the play vaule of buttons for visitor young & young at heart to push. Those push button accessories made Lionel. We have the Menards UFO trying to take the generals jeep. It has a button to make the tank and aliens fire at each other. Be sweet if you could find a button to make the cow moo. Some suggested moving the sign. I say don't. Driving in the mountains they often put signs on the side of a mountain or hill to get seen. To me it looks like we are on expressway looking down to a valley below. I would say put some dead trees in that area. No leaves you could see through them. Fire, blight... not uncommon to see areas of dead trees in the mountains. Maybe some vegitation sort of brushy like nature is trying to reclaim. If they did cut the side of a hill like that in real life the water table would likely be change and possibly kill the trees. Come to think of it were there is a cut like this water is often seeping out the side. Might make a nice little detail for the rock face. As for the space I don't think another spur get you much storage. I would say an engine shop or someplace loading. Boxcar loading, grain, dumping coal. Maybe the remnants of of a rock quarry to tie in to the rock face. Raising a highball to you. 🥃 Sláinte
Thanks Carl! I can access it from the window behind. The foam I installed back there is “press fit” and holds itself in place wedged in the window opening. Can remove it and reach in to grab cars/engines if needed. Luckily have only had to do it once months ago! Been smooth sailing since 🍻
Layouts can be done cheaply or really expensive. I will be honest though, the cost of my layout was a drop in the hat to how much I’ve had to use in restoring a railroad speeder
Been a while since checking up onbyou. Nice to see your skills increase but if we take nets on how long this stays up Im not betting. You and I seem to start over once finished, putely because the creative mind keeps running. Im outbof yhe game, terminal spinal column ndition onside the column so inoperable. Nice to see others still enjoying it and pidting becaise Im unable to. When it starts looking like a ,useum piece you have crossed yhe line of why this hobby started and may as well go into sculpting . They were Toy's...
No, no! You’ve got that mistaken. It’s the “Easter Tree”! 🤣😂🤣😂 we are slacking this year. Everything’s down but the tree. Hopefully in the next week or so!
It's not a timed event...it's a hobby your supposed to enjoy...... those guys in England do everything from cardboard..... insane things, buildings, stations.... always ho gauge, that makes Things a lot easier and cheaper.....on the other hand Thered people who totally operationally make their layouts run with computer positioning satellites so there's that crazy expense....... everyone has a different thing.....I think you need to pick something that is different that you like...... Personally I like mixing in moving cars and subways and automated scenes...... JUST ONE scene can take month's and months... but, it's not a RACE
Looks great! Congrats on the completion. Many of us are right there with you. Blue collar a$$ bustin' hard working Americans who happen to like model Trains and the escape it offers. Love it!
Looks good Zach.
Well done Ole son. A whisky salute from Utah my friend and congrats on the progress. Looks badass buddy.
Thank you!! Salute!! 🍻🥃
Awesome job Zach!
Keep having fun.
I think it looks fricking awesome!
Thanks Jeff!!
Your train layout looks very nice I would add an engine house to it. Where Your freight yard is and a couple of Trucks and Yard workers😊
Thanks Richard!! For sure will be installing an engine house. Need to find the right one to install still but have a couple ideas.
Looking AWESOME CountryBunker, and those clouds you constructed few years back are the BEST I ever seen on anyones layout,Thanks for sharing my Friend
Thank you! Salute! 🍻
Looks great.
Looks fantastic!
Looks great Zach.. 👍, came out really nice..
Nice work. You inspired me to add a raised section on my layout also. It's taken most of the winter, but I'm pleased how it turned out. Mainly made it from foam board also. Thanks for the ideas!
Zach, everything looks amazing, GREAT JOB!!! Ron
Great job Zac, go for the extra switch for the yard!
Looks great, Zach 🙂 Well done! 👍
Nice work on the layout
Looking great, keep up the good work.
The rock wall looks good. Reminds me of the western U.S. For the top of the hill,I'd add a camping scene or maybe youth group picnic. Maybe something to coincide with the church. I like the billboard where it's at. It greets people coming in the room. Too funny. As for the yard. I wouldn't add any more switches. You could do an engine facility,maintenance building,switch tower...anything yard related. Any space left over between the yard and the water scene just add vegetation like bushes or some other type of low scenery. That's my 2 pennies. Enjoy the channel and layout progress.
Thank you!
Very nice.well worth the wait
Looks great .
Everything looks awesome. Maybe add a engine shed in the yard or a maintenance building.
Nice job
Well done Mr Zack and the wife for the lovely pumpkins and everything else she has contributed with. Remember it's a work-in-progress for the rest of your life forever changing those cows have legs they can move, you can add a new neighbor and you can burn down the other neighbor's house never ends that is the beauty of The Hobbit enjoy it it looks good 👍
Your layout is looking extraordinary 👌 ✨️
Awesome update for the layout
I like the farm scens - nice cornfield
Great looking layout Zak. Never let perfection be the enemy if good. Layoit is great.
Looks great, Zac! Your right, scenery work does take time and can get to be pretty expensive, but it really does add to the fun of running the trains! I love your rock walls. It does seem that we always have to make compromises, but despite that you did a wonderful job of pulling the scene together. You might try putting a few small cedar or pine trees along that lower ridge and atop the hill and/or perhaps a few bushes would work. I like the little automated UFO. I think everyone creating scenery has their own expectations/goals as to what they want to see, and the key is to do what makes you happy. It looks like you have achieved just that, and it is absolutely fabulous! Bill B.
Thank you Bill!! Appreciate that!
Like it! Great job!
Nice work Zack..👍🇺🇸👍🍺
Great video. Thx
That's awesome man, congrats! I can't wait to complete my upper level
To troubleshoot and finish my lower level, I dismantled my 12 2 track upper level, reversing a lot of build work. And I miss that upper level. This stuff takes way longer than I thought. Just starting to landscape the lower level do you have you main level done?
Everything looks great, Zach. I only hope my layout rebuild looks a fraction as good.
Looking really good, great second level.
Thanks Steve!
Looks awesome! I think leave the switch out and have a gravel parking lot for the train crews to park and get to the locomotives. I think that sometimes a little less track is more.
My Wife And I are the Same Way don’t Feel bad Slow is Good. If your Happy All Good Hoping You took Pride In That Layout.
Great job. How about a woodland scenic split rail fenced in section with the rails knocked down on one section and a few more cows in the fenced area to suggest where the aliens got the cows that are stealing. 😀
I agree with Matt, move the billboard down. I would also show some rock wall climbers scaling the wall.
Other than that it looks fantastic.
Congratulations on completing a new phase of the layout, Zach. The level of realism you've achieved is very impressive. I really like it a lot. It's enough to attract our eyes and make us feel welcome. Just right. If you feel you need some more greenery on the outer part of the upper ridge, some low bushes or some small size rocks with moss might do well, and add perspective to the scene behind without interfering with the background. Maybe in the flat area, a repair facility might do the job, although you'd have to figure out how workers would get to and from the area. Helicopter? Just joking. I think if this appeals to you, you'll figure that out. Lots of ideas offered here. I'm sure you'll sort out what's best.
I have the Menards church. I love their layout pieces. that looks awesome! great work! I would put buildings in that space not an extra switch it would be really short.
The layout looks beautiful Zack, there is a idea on the hill , change out the bill board and maybe put a few deer, more brush, few more trees and maybe people there having a picnic and people doing train filming/ watching, just a idea, I really liked the farm & the UFO scenes👍,always enjoy seeing your layout Zack, giving me ideas how to do mine😉,take care 👋😎🛤🚂
Take it from experience but I would add the extra yard track. I didn’t at first then needed engine storage and had to do a lot of reworking to added two more tracks
Looks real good mabey adding billboards or water tower
It looks spectacular! To be honest with you, there’s only one thing I would change. I’d move the billboard down onto the flat portion of the layout. It seems kind of out of place where it is and it’s right in the sight line of the church. It kind of blocks it in the video. Keep up the good work!
Thanks Matt!! The billboard does look a little awkward at the moment. But am hoping once our “industrial” type of scene for the engine facilities/rail yard in front with big floodlights/buildings/coaling tower/etc goes up in front of it, will look a little better. Will have to see though. If not it can easily come down and be changed out in the future.
It’s already been a year? Wow! You are right about costs to do this stuff!
Put a yard switch house there. That would be awesome!
It looks great, have always enjoyed the layouts and the work you have put into them but you really need " Bobs ( Zac's ) Country Bunker" you know where they play both kinds of music, Country, and Western! You got the Black and White!
That Does Look Good Zac.
A family camping by the billboard would look good
You did an excellent job! Keep up the good work. The farm scene reminds me of an alien movie. You should throw in a crop duster plane flying above. Other than that, love it!
Thanks Louis!! I have thought about including a plane/crop duster above. Might have to do it before we place the scenery in front of the hill
Put some ROCK CLIMBERS ON THE HILL TOP
Nice…
As far as adding another spur
I would stick a warehouse/building there for additional purpose to those 4 spurs
You won’t gain much trackage to justify the cost of the turnout.
Have you got ideas for doing the other side of the bridge, also what kind of camera do you use for putting videos on TH-cam
Have a couple thoughts on the bridge/s for the other side. Thinking mainly if building the majority of it with the same girder bridge material and adding a atlas bridge or equivalent on the long stretch in front… will be a while though… camera is just my IPhone with a cheap mic hooked up to it. Thank you!
Amazing!!
How about putting an engine house or a small industry building there?
It looks awesome
You could put rock face climbers on the face
On the empty space by the yard I would put maintenance building(s) to serve the locomotives. Makeing it a purpose for the yard
That could be a very nice addition for sure!
It looks great. I like stall of everything. Where did you get the wall backing at.
Thank you Bryan! The backdrop came from trainjunkies.com
Looks good!
For the hill, maybe a hobo camp with lighted fire. Lionel made it for a Few years. Sometimes found on ebay.
Zack it looks good
Thank you Dominic!!
I suggest, that hill could use a small herd of goats.
Very, very nice work...I especially like the one on one conversational tone of the video. I'd like to join that facebook group you mention, what is it. I belong to a lionel and to an mth buy and sell group, but postings are few gary
Thank you! It’s been a long while, so can’t say I remember for sure. But think it was either “Lionel O gauge buy, sell and trade” or “Lionel collectors buy, sell and trade.
Not bad not bad I like it
Nice video Zach! How are you going to finish the bridge to the small space out? Coming soon? Looking forward to seeing it.
Thanks Glenn!! Eventually we’ll get to finishing that bridge! 😂🤣 the track work will do the same type of loop around in the other side of the layout. Just mainly being a bridge instead of an elevated section of the layout. 🍻
@@CountryBunkersTrains looking forward to seeing it.
Absolutely gorgeous . What is the dimensions?
Look good I'm going to build a layout on a bar in my basement so I can get off the floor and right now I'm running 4 different trains
Love following the progression of your layout. Looks amazing. I'm getting to the point of my build where I'm thinking of a curves girder bridge. Did you build yours or have it made? Thanks and keep up the great work.
Thank you! I built it out of 1/2” MDF board and girder plates from scenic express. Was a little pricey to make, but is hard to find a pre-built curved bridge
@CountryBunker’s Trains sweet thank you so much. It turned out great. Ty for resounding
How about for the hill you put a small hiking trail white the trees and some wood gard tells
White some whild life and yes put one more switch right there it will look great
Nice Job. What did you use for the red girder/bridge. I have a MTH subway set and that looks like something I could use. Thanks
Hi country bunkers trains, what is the diameter of the elevated girder bridge. I am looking to get a curved girder bridge and can’t find one anywhere do you have any tips?
Shorten the whisker tracks and put in a turntable with a 3 engine shed
A turntable would be nice for sure! Unfortunately don’t think I have the room for one, or atleast one big enough for my engines, plus a shed next to it. Hoping to park the “big” articulated engines on the sidings instead of having to manually remove and store on the shelves. A engine shed for sure will be going up though!
Looking great! My son said its looking cool. Like the play vaule of buttons for visitor young & young at heart to push. Those push button accessories made Lionel. We have the Menards UFO trying to take the generals jeep. It has a button to make the tank and aliens fire at each other. Be sweet if you could find a button to make the cow moo.
Some suggested moving the sign. I say don't. Driving in the mountains they often put signs on the side of a mountain or hill to get seen. To me it looks like we are on expressway looking down to a valley below.
I would say put some dead trees in that area. No leaves you could see through them. Fire, blight... not uncommon to see areas of dead trees in the mountains. Maybe some vegitation sort of brushy like nature is trying to reclaim. If they did cut the side of a hill like that in real life the water table would likely be change and possibly kill the trees. Come to think of it were there is a cut like this water is often seeping out the side. Might make a nice little detail for the rock face.
As for the space I don't think another spur get you much storage. I would say an engine shop or someplace loading. Boxcar loading, grain, dumping coal. Maybe the remnants of of a rock quarry to tie in to the rock face.
Raising a highball to you. 🥃 Sláinte
Thank you John!! The burned out/dead trees is an interesting idea! Might have to think of that!
Nice job Zack but how do you remove a train if it derails under where the church scene is otherwise GREAT JOB LOVE IT
Thanks Carl! I can access it from the window behind. The foam I installed back there is “press fit” and holds itself in place wedged in the window opening. Can remove it and reach in to grab cars/engines if needed. Luckily have only had to do it once months ago! Been smooth sailing since 🍻
Layouts can be done cheaply or really expensive. I will be honest though, the cost of my layout was a drop in the hat to how much I’ve had to use in restoring a railroad speeder
my nephew works on wind turbines, and they don’t go as fast as you think they go. What’s the time they’re going at the speed you have a at work great
Railfans on the hill
I like "whimsical" and "toy"
Hey CB how about a group of sheep with a dog
Install a Feed Mill there Please!
Add another switch with coaling tower and a diesel fuel pumps. Just my thoughts
either some animals or a picnic
Been a while since checking up onbyou. Nice to see your skills increase but if we take nets on how long this stays up Im not betting. You and I seem to start over once finished, putely because the creative mind keeps running. Im outbof yhe game, terminal spinal column ndition onside the column so inoperable. Nice to see others still enjoying it and pidting becaise Im unable to. When it starts looking like a ,useum piece you have crossed yhe line of why this hobby started and may as well go into sculpting . They were Toy's...
A tall red and white lattice communication tower with flashing red lights placed in the open area. Trump 2024 flag on it😁😁
Zach, I see your Christmas Tree! Are you decorating early for Christmas 2023?
No, no! You’ve got that mistaken. It’s the “Easter Tree”! 🤣😂🤣😂 we are slacking this year. Everything’s down but the tree. Hopefully in the next week or so!
Zack, I love it! And you're magnificent steam engines and stunning passenger trains make for exciting mini rail fanning!
I would add one more switch if this were my layout.
Would definitely help out with more “storage” along with adding to the scene
Had to interrupt your video!!!! YOU MUST ORDER "Clemenza's Bakery" Car from Roundhouse South!!!!!
It's not a timed event...it's a hobby your supposed to enjoy...... those guys in England do everything from cardboard..... insane things, buildings, stations.... always ho gauge, that makes Things a lot easier and cheaper.....on the other hand Thered people who totally operationally make their layouts run with computer positioning satellites so there's that crazy expense....... everyone has a different thing.....I think you need to pick something that is different that you like......
Personally I like mixing in moving cars and subways and automated scenes...... JUST ONE scene can take month's and months... but, it's not a RACE
I’d put in another switch
Put a Feed Mill There Don’t Think you have One On your Line.
Hey Zak, it’s time to think about expanding (Just like Mr. Muffin had to). It’s getting bigger and better everyday!
It would be nice for sure!! But let’s get this layout built first! 🤣😂