A Railroad Still Life
Last Updated 21 July 2026
This project came about owing to a need to scratch a very old, very persistent itch. You see, I thought I'd quit the hobby for good in December 2022 due to a perfect storm of catastrophes. But then came the Toms River Railroad, and a couple more Nanodreams, and now a new diorama.
The idea popped in my head when I came across a two-foot-square piece of one-inch rigid foam board, left over from the Toms River Railroad. Immediately I thought, what can I do with this? Given its size, a layout was out of the question. But a diorama... yes.
I decided this project was going to have some rules, specifically:
- 100% scratchbuilt. No kits, RTRs, nothing purchased.
- Make the most of whatever materials I had on hand, spending money only when absolutely necessary.
- Try new things; for example, make my own wireframe trees, something I've not done.
- See how few tools I actually need.
The Demons
I must be insane for attempting this, because my already crappy physical condition is quickly degrading. Owing to a collapsed disc in my neck, four of my ten fingers are numb. That's on top of shaking and occasional spasms. It all creates a general mood of defeat and depression, which is compounded by constant brain fog. But I've found that yielding to all of these negative pressures only makes the overall situation that much worse; the best way to combat the demons is to just try and try and keep trying. Because even when I fail at doing something specific, I can still win because I stop and learn a new way to do it.
Layout Summary
Setting: |
Central New Jersey/Eastern Pennsylvania, 1980-1990-ish |
Scale: |
N |
Size: |
12 by 24 inches |
Track: |
Handlaid Code 40 |
Base: |
Rigid foam board |
Scenery: |
Patching compound and sanded grout on craft foam sheets and cardstock |
Inception: |
14 July 2026 |
Status: |
Maybe 10% |
Chapters
- Getting Started
- Gathering Stuff
- Redefining the Project
- That Which Is Hidden
- Been a Long Time Since I've Laid Track
- Placeholder