This is the area I call the shopping district. It contains a few of your typical chain stores that can be found throughout the country. This section is 20″ deep and the base is 2″ pink foam. The backdrop is the same process that I’ll use throughout the entire build. Trackside Scenery has a large enough library available that I won’t repeat the same scene at any point around the layout unless it’s just trees. I had several buildings in mind for this section before the final design was finished. I looked at the Walthers modern Dairy Queen, the hobby shop, and a small drive-up restaurant. Ultimately, I liked the O’Reilly’s (which is modified from the generic auto parts store) and Lowe’s Home Improvement store, which are Summit USA building kits. The gas station is the Walthers Modern Gas Station and the Marathon sign is from ScaleSigns.com.

A lot of the small details are 3D printed resin models that I picked up from vendors on eBay, etsy, Shapeways (when they were still in business) and other modelers that had the capability to make them. The propane tank storage racks are from ScaleSigns.com. The people are from a vendor that was recommendaed to me on eBay. He is based in Jakarta, Indonesia and does some of the best 1:87 scale figures I’ve seen outside of Miniature Wunderland. Lead time is 8-10 weeks and they are expensive, but these blow away anything from the bigger manufacturers and he is always adding new additions and styles. You can find him on here. Some are off the wall, like the John Wick and “The Mask” figures next to the gas station alley, but it adds a whimsical touch that keeps things entertaining and on the lighter side.