Rangachari Anand
@2sk22.bsky.social
Retired AI researcher: worked at IBM research and other places. Now plays with model trains and robots.
After a long gap, another layout update. Just finished the roads on the far end of the layout in the industrial area. Now to get on with adding textures #modeltrains
August 25, 2025 at 2:14 PM
After a long gap, another layout update. Just finished the roads on the far end of the layout in the industrial area. Now to get on with adding textures #modeltrains
The commercial area on my layout is coming together. I added an oil depot #modeltrains
July 17, 2025 at 6:47 PM
The commercial area on my layout is coming together. I added an oil depot #modeltrains
Got the shopping center and Dairy Queen in place on the layout. It’s clear I’ll need to add a lot of trees in this area #modeltrains
July 13, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Got the shopping center and Dairy Queen in place on the layout. It’s clear I’ll need to add a lot of trees in this area #modeltrains
Finished with base textures on the scene divider hill and added gravel to the roadway going up the hill. Tried out the wind turbine to see how it looks . I’m pleased with it overall #modeltrains
July 9, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Finished with base textures on the scene divider hill and added gravel to the roadway going up the hill. Tried out the wind turbine to see how it looks . I’m pleased with it overall #modeltrains
Some of the more expensive textures I use. Grass tufts by Martin Welberg (Netherlands) and foliage mats by Heki (Germany) . These absolutely look the best in my opinion. Walthers does offer some decent weed clumps too #modeltrains
July 8, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Some of the more expensive textures I use. Grass tufts by Martin Welberg (Netherlands) and foliage mats by Heki (Germany) . These absolutely look the best in my opinion. Walthers does offer some decent weed clumps too #modeltrains
A few more pics of the layout #modeltrains
July 8, 2025 at 11:33 AM
A few more pics of the layout #modeltrains
I’ve been busy adding texture to the layout. It really helps to have a wide palette of textures. I use ground foam, static grass, and foliage nets #modeltrains
July 7, 2025 at 10:37 PM
I’ve been busy adding texture to the layout. It really helps to have a wide palette of textures. I use ground foam, static grass, and foliage nets #modeltrains
We visited Sparta in Greece recently- Molon Labe 😀
July 5, 2025 at 6:21 PM
We visited Sparta in Greece recently- Molon Labe 😀
After ballasting half the tracks in the layout with actual rock from Arizona Rock & Mineral, I’ve switched back to good old Woodland Scenics #modeltrains WS ballast is much coarser and is less likely to get caught in turnout mechanisms.
July 2, 2025 at 12:23 PM
After ballasting half the tracks in the layout with actual rock from Arizona Rock & Mineral, I’ve switched back to good old Woodland Scenics #modeltrains WS ballast is much coarser and is less likely to get caught in turnout mechanisms.
Completed the basic ground cover on about 1/4th of the layout. Still need to add shrubs and trees and a lot of details including building lighting
June 20, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Completed the basic ground cover on about 1/4th of the layout. Still need to add shrubs and trees and a lot of details including building lighting
Scenery work is proceeding on the layout. One of my favorite components are these grass mats from Martin Welberg Scenic Stdios in the Netherlands. You just pull out clumps with tweezers and stick them on the layout #modeltrains
June 20, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Scenery work is proceeding on the layout. One of my favorite components are these grass mats from Martin Welberg Scenic Stdios in the Netherlands. You just pull out clumps with tweezers and stick them on the layout #modeltrains
It’s amazing how well it works!
June 17, 2025 at 9:55 PM
It’s amazing how well it works!
The residential area is coming along nicely. I used the static grass applicator and it worked really well with Noch 2mm static grass. #modeltrains
June 17, 2025 at 7:22 PM
The residential area is coming along nicely. I used the static grass applicator and it worked really well with Noch 2mm static grass. #modeltrains
Here’s a feeder wire soldered to a rail. I drilled a 1/16 inch hole through the roadbed and used a 24 gauge wire
June 16, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Here’s a feeder wire soldered to a rail. I drilled a 1/16 inch hole through the roadbed and used a 24 gauge wire
In contrast to my current N-scale project, I used Atlas flex track and turnouts on my HO scale switching layout. Ballasting that track, especially the turnouts was a lot more challenging but fun #modeltrains
June 15, 2025 at 8:38 PM
In contrast to my current N-scale project, I used Atlas flex track and turnouts on my HO scale switching layout. Ballasting that track, especially the turnouts was a lot more challenging but fun #modeltrains
It’s just amazing how much of an improvement you get by just painting the rails. I use this rust colored paint from Micromark applied with a fine brush #modeltrains
June 15, 2025 at 4:28 PM
It’s just amazing how much of an improvement you get by just painting the rails. I use this rust colored paint from Micromark applied with a fine brush #modeltrains
Soldering all non-insulated track joiners before painting the track. Long experience has taught me that this is essential. You just can’t depend on the conductivity of track joiners. #modeltrains
June 15, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Soldering all non-insulated track joiners before painting the track. Long experience has taught me that this is essential. You just can’t depend on the conductivity of track joiners. #modeltrains
Starting to add textures to the scenery. This is the first time I’m using actual stone ballast. Needs another pass of ballasting to shape the shoulder #modeltrains (That’s Kato Unitrack incidentally)
June 15, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Starting to add textures to the scenery. This is the first time I’m using actual stone ballast. Needs another pass of ballasting to shape the shoulder #modeltrains (That’s Kato Unitrack incidentally)
Having a wide range of ground cover - colors and textures really helps when working on scenery
June 11, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Having a wide range of ground cover - colors and textures really helps when working on scenery
Started to add texture and color to one corner of the layout #modeltrains
June 11, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Started to add texture and color to one corner of the layout #modeltrains
Finished painting the base coat on the layout. I don’t quite like this shade of brown (a little too red) but I had a lot of it on hand from previous projects. But it’s ok. Also spray painted the road a light grey. #modeltrains
June 11, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Finished painting the base coat on the layout. I don’t quite like this shade of brown (a little too red) but I had a lot of it on hand from previous projects. But it’s ok. Also spray painted the road a light grey. #modeltrains
I have the Microsoft Copilot app in my phone. I just got this mind bogglingly crazy popup. Does Copilot do therapy now?😬
June 5, 2025 at 1:23 PM
I have the Microsoft Copilot app in my phone. I just got this mind bogglingly crazy popup. Does Copilot do therapy now?😬
This is what the underside of the layout looks like. I’m using ESP32 microcontrollers to send track occupancy data to the controller via MQTT. Turnouts are controlled via Digitrax stationary decoders. Every bit of track has occupancy detection since this is a fully automated layout #modeltrains
June 4, 2025 at 12:44 PM
This is what the underside of the layout looks like. I’m using ESP32 microcontrollers to send track occupancy data to the controller via MQTT. Turnouts are controlled via Digitrax stationary decoders. Every bit of track has occupancy detection since this is a fully automated layout #modeltrains
I mocked up the scenery before I started gluing things down. There will be a district residential, commercial and industrial areas. Roadways are made from styrene sheets #modeltrains
June 4, 2025 at 12:40 PM
I mocked up the scenery before I started gluing things down. There will be a district residential, commercial and industrial areas. Roadways are made from styrene sheets #modeltrains
My N-scale layout is intended to be semi-portable so I’m using carved foam for the basic landscape form. The main tools for this are a hot wire foam cutter and a Stanley Surform scraper. I use a thin layer of Sculptamold to clean up the surfaces #modeltrains
June 4, 2025 at 12:28 PM
My N-scale layout is intended to be semi-portable so I’m using carved foam for the basic landscape form. The main tools for this are a hot wire foam cutter and a Stanley Surform scraper. I use a thin layer of Sculptamold to clean up the surfaces #modeltrains