Just One Little Sign

One nice thing about having the most completely-scenicked layout I've ever had is the much smaller scope of work needed. Without the need to complete huge swaths of scenery, I can focus on micro areas where I can add details that add much to the scene. Such was the case with this little sign added along the CN Hanley Spur, bracketed by Millard & Lumb and Sowards Coal, and visible upon entering the layout room. I've found that such visible signs already placed look good and also function as indications to show where partly-hidden track switches are located.  This is a Rapido Bits sign that I glued to a pewter diamond-shaped signpost I painted white with a black base.

While I was exploring the area with iPhone in hand, I snapped some views of the nearby street scene: Sowards coal unloading trestle and newly-relocated office/shop at centre, with the Brock Street fire hall, Kingston Milling and the Bajus Brewery all visible.

The Sowards sign is taken from an archival photo of the actual office.

I also took the opportunity to improve some scenery in the area: adding foliage tufts, painting some exposed plywood green or black, touching up the Sowards coal piles, installing a fence or two, and repositioning some of Sowards' coal-handling equipment:

A recent read of Lance MIndheim reinforced that random piles of gravel or dumped fill are an often-overlooked prototype feature. I've added a few by sculpting piles with modelling clay, then adding scenic material held down with white glue.