Route 66 Rally/Raid layout.

[Fast Co.]

I just noticed there are no door handles on your motel doors. Here's a suggestion - I used the brass pull chain from a ceiling fan and cut it into several segments of two balls each. Then I made a tiny horizontal slit about 40% the way up the side of the door where the handle should go and filed out the end of the slit a bit with a small rat tail. I slid the two-ball chain segment into the slit so that one ball was on either side of the door. Finally, I filled the exposed bit of slit at the end of the door. Very convincing. I'd post a pic but I'm having problems with my computer right now.

[bkrownd]

The gas station is wonderful, but the motel is really an eye-catching work of art. Egads, I hope one of those 4-wheelers doesn't launch off the elevated curve and put it out of business!

[downtowndeco]

Thanks guys, glad you like it. bkrownd, I was actually thinking of doing a scene where a car crashes through a billboard each lap. Another version was going to be a wild shortcut through a trailer court where one or two of the trailers get sawed in half. I think that will have to wait for the routed track version. : )

[dreinecke]

[downtowndeco]

The next structure. I found this is a pop & fold up Route 66 book. I had it photo copied, enlarged & then added details to make it a decent looking 1/32 Scale structure. This will have a small dinosaur (similar to the old Sinclair stations) on a trailer in front of it + a billboard. I still have some work to do on this but you get the idea. The billboard is just sorting of sitting there for now so you can see how it will look in the end.

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[dreinecke]

You just keep upping the ante...this is fantastic! I love it and have been to places that look exactly like it. The tile on the awnings is PERFECT. Awesome, awesome work!

[bkrownd]

I think I visited that place in northern New Mexico, about 1983.

[downtowndeco]

I built a two sided billboard using some vintage graphics. I have yet to scenic in this area but you get the idea. I'm going to make some cactus tonight out of playdoh.

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The other side of the billboard is seen from the highway here.

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The best investment you can make to keep you layout clean is a cheap plastic drop cloth. The cheaper & thinner the better, the cheaper ones are very light, which helps protect the scenery.

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[Fast Co.]

Awesome!

[downtowndeco]

I'm starting to paint the borders around the track. They are a combination of cork & homosote model railroad roadbed. The reason I have some of both was I ran out of one halfway through. I think it looks OK though because it breaks up the "perfect" toy like look of the track. The paint is water based craft paint. The color is "asphalt".

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[downtowndeco]

I've done a little more. I sceniced in a few more small areas, added some dry grass & a few cactus I made out of Playdoh.

I plan to redo the masonite border that I'm now using. For now it works well enough to keep the cars off the floor anyway.

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I want to add a lot of parking lot detail to this rock shop. You know, adobe pots, rocks, Indian blankets, knicknacks etc.

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See the area by the lap counter where the cars are parked? That will be the race staging area/pits. I am going to convert the carrera lap counter into one of those beginning of stage decorative things they drive though. It will be decked out in Dakar colors & logos except that it will say "US Stage Route 66" or something to that effect.

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Dry gulch.

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The next part of the layout will be mainstreet USA. Sort of a classic Americana street from one of the small town along the route.

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[vonsirius]

real cool!
A fantastic one, can´t wait to see it finished!!!

[downtowndeco]

I painted some of the track to resemble dirt. I disassembled the track, cleaned it (a rag dampened w/Windex), then, when dry, gave the sections 3 or 4 light coats of Camouflage "Sand" color spray paint. I reassembled the track, and then misted/speckled it with a very fine spray of acrylic burnt umber. It was 95% water. I then ran one of my cars through both lanes for a few laps so it didn't look quite so perfect & plain. I had to wipe the rails clean a few times & when I was done I cleaned all of the track & the pick ups on the car.

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The boarders were painted by hand w/a sand colored acrylic paint. They too got misted w/the burnt umber wash.

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Here is the start of my "pits" The cardboard square represent where team tents/awnings are going to go.

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Questions?

[TsgtRet]

Outstanding work, particularly love the "Rock Shop". In one of your posts you mentioned "Main Street USA".....a suggestion (which shouldn't be tough with your talent) how about the mural and statue from Winslow Az, ala Eagles? Just a thought; keep up the great work!

[dreinecke]

This is simply fantastic! Great work and please keep us updated. Makes me want to go back to Winslow Az...