Back at it...

[rogruth]

The third photo up where you had removed some buildings looks great as it is except for the bare light bulbs.
And it would not have taken much to fix that. I can see the surveyors and planners standing in the middle
planning the new stuff.
I recall that someone once commented that you had too many people and vehicles on your layout. IMHO that
would be more determined by the period depicted on your layout. I remember that week-ends were quite
busy in my home town and it was often needed to work ones way through the people on the street. It was
pretty much this way until the mines and the mills started closing and leaving the area. It seems to me
that you depict the period before this took place. I like it.

[chuck]

Even the renovation area has a "prototype", " urban prararie". I almost mistook the light bulbs for abandoned water heaters

The only time anyone has "too many people" is when figures a sprinkled around the layout with no thought or pattern as to why they are there. While no one is actually moving around you get the impression of a frozen moment in time.

Great point to model what you know/remember/can research. Historical snapshots are a great source for details. Another thing to consider when we are forced to condense space is to not through logic ou the window. If you don't have enough room for a two lane street, mark it as one way. No room for parking, no parking signs "explain" why.

Beautiful work, staggering attention to detail and great advice on the procurement process. Thanks!

[E7]

I have recently been getting it ready to receive guests this Summer, so I've been adjusting and adding a few details, as well as dusting every inch and every feature

Murph,

A late VERY good friend used to say he had twins: Dust and Lint. Looking at the density of "stuff" on your layout, it appears that keeping the twins under control might be a monumental pain in the arse. Since I doubt "Hoovering" the whole business is an option I was wondering if you might go into more detail about your cleaning techniques?

Rich

[MurphOnMillerAve]

.... I can see the surveyors and planners standing in the middle planning the new stuff.

I recall that someone once commented that you had too many people and vehicles on your layout. IMHO that
would be more determined by the period depicted on your layout. I remember that week-ends were quite
busy in my home town and it was often needed to work ones way through the people on the street. It was
pretty much this way until the mines and the mills started closing and leaving the area. It seems to me
that you depict the period before this took place. I like it.

Roger, Very good to hear from you.
Regarding planners standing...planning new stuff...here they are...(bottom photo)...

And regarding the number of cars and pedestrians, you are exactly right. Apparently, I have found myself (it wasn't planned; it just fell out of me as I played with making a layout) modeling the approximate time period with which I am most familiar - the period when I grew up...seen here...people and vehicles aplenty, it seems to me...

I have modeled a lightly populated place or two...
Thanks for the feedback.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

.... While no one is actually moving around you get the impression of a frozen moment in time.

Great point to model what you know/remember/can research. ... Thanks!

It is I who Thanks you, Chuck. The interaction and reassessment via comments made here on MTJ are totally enjoyable for me. I think you are right - I have been making scenes that show moments - times - frozen in time. I guess I am a sentimental guy.

To me, life's too short to spend time getting snotty or defensive, as sometimes happens on forums, but not for me. I value all of the social interaction, but that does not mean I only value when folks agree with my modeling efforts. In fact, some time ago, a popular voice on MTJ, now gone elsewhere, criticized that my spread of time periods for my vehicles was far too broad. He was right. As a result, I trimmed down the range of them, and I was careful whch vehicles , if any, I affixed to vignettes (my "Insta-Ramas") I crafted for sale at the TCA Meets @ York, Pa. That was helpful since a particular vehicle could be interpreted as cementing a scene into a time period. No vehicle = no particular time period. That worked out well for me. I sold every scene I ever made.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

I have recently been getting it ready to receive guests this Summer, so I've been adjusting and adding a few details, as well as dusting every inch and every feature

Murph,

A late VERY good friend used to say he had twins: Dust and Lint. Looking at the density of "stuff" on your layout, it appears that keeping the twins under control might be a monumental pain in the arse. Since I doubt "Hoovering" the whole business is an option I was wondering if you might go into more detail about your cleaning techniques? Rich

Very good question. There are a few aspects to my procedure. None of it is difficult for me.
First: I use a variety of my wife's discarded sable (very, very soft and gentle) make-up brushes, held in my hand, whisking back-n-forth to dust every tree, vehicle, roof, train, and figures,
Second: For objects farther than arm's reach from the viewing aisle, I use an extend-a-reach device to clamp onto the sable brush to whisk away dust.
Third, and this does not happen often, nowadays: I mount the layout. Technically, all elements of the layout's detailed features are crafted onto baseplates, which I can remove so I can walk around the layout to dust or make adjustments or changes.

Every square inch of each of these self-contained scenes is on its own single baseplate....making it entirely moveable...

[E7]

Every square inch of each of these self-contained scenes is on its own single baseplate....making it entirely moveable...

The joints at the edges of the plates where they abut are very well camouflaged!

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Third, and this does not happen often, nowadays: I mount the layout.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

Eh? Huh? Wha ?

[Arthur P. Bloom]

"Your, uh, your wife, does she go, eh, does she go, eh?"

[Tom Dempsey]

"Third, and this does not happen often, nowadays: I mount the layout."

Finally someone who understands that the layout must be taught who is boss!

[rogruth]

:?:
Eh? Huh? Wha ?

Another DITTO!
This to the mustachioed diaper kid.

[rogruth]

Murph,
My usual comments concerning what I consider your beautiful layout.
I regret that I will never get to see it live in your basement.
Now I don't mean that you need to invite me to see it,
I mean it is not physically possible for me to come and see it.
We have relatives and friends in various parts of the country
that we don't visit any more. Some understand, some don't.

[chuck]

I'm off on the left coast visiting the kids and I'm using the iPad for connectivity. Typing is problematic but the touch screen allows me to zoom in way better than the laptop does. Where/how did you get your signage! I also hadn't appreciated your window treatments before. Love the house under construction!

[Rufus T. Firefly]

:?:
Eh? Huh? Wha ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGrvQ1c5khU