Hi, I would like to add a small addition to my layout that would feature a port scene with shifting/shunting opportunities. Size would be about 6 x 1.5 ft.
I'd like to see some examples/ideas and would appreciate your advise, thanks!
Brgds, Rene
Add. Timeframe would be late 70's - early 80's.
Hello Rene,
Did a lot of mock-ups before settling on this carfloat/barge
harbor scene which excluding the corner structures is 6' x 2'.
Have fun and regards, Peter
If you have access to MR back issues, the Jerome & Southwestern project layout from the 80s has a nice port theme section that is about 6x2.
jim
Those are some nice-looking scenes, Peter!
Wayne
Peter, that is truly beautiful and a great inspiration!! I love the scenery and particularly the detail. The water looks so good, how did you get the waves/chop so consisyend over the largr area? Lot's of question, really impressive! Thanks for sharing that. Brgds, Rene
Thanks Jim, I'll have a look :-)
Thanks Rene and Wayne for the kind words.
Rene, The choppy "water" is a TerranScapes, https---www.youtube.com-watch?v=vol7P8oHAk4 technique using gloss gel medium, but applied with a smaller stick than shown and keeping the ripples closer together. The method is time consuming and repetitious, but I actually found it relaxing. Does take some practice to get the method down and avoid too much consistency. I also used a sheet of 1/4" plexiglass painted on the backside for my "water" surface.
Thanks again and regards, Peter
Peter, thanks again, your information is much appreciated!
Best regards, Rene
PS I better get training!
You didn't mention the era you wan to model. There have been BIG changes in port facilities from the late depression 'til now.
One way to use the space you mentioned, accurate up to about 1960, would put pilings along the fascia, two tracks (with a crossover) between the rails of a traveling dock crane, a narrow warehouse with lots of doors just clear of the moving crane and a single track on the other side of the warehouse. A removable box for waybills would represent the 'ship' (which is virtual, in the aisleway.) The only detail that would say 'water' would be the darker (wet) look of the pilings below the band of barnacles at the approximate water line.
The dock crane isn't really necessary. The ships of that era could load/unload using their own cranes - those goalpost-looking things between cargo hatches.
The facility I described would handle ships 350 - 450 feet long (including Liberty ships and Victory ships) but would be horribly inadequate for present-day ocean carriers.
Chuck (Ex Merchant Marine cadet modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Not really a port but the tugboat "Zippy" implies there's one nearby. Ocean photo backdrop coming soon, and plywood curves to be tall steel viaducts. I don't have the width for a harbor or port, using height/perspective and imagination.
Terry
MR did a project railroad called Rice Harbor. It was set in the southeastern US. The intro article was in the Jan 2014 issue of MR. It is larger than the space you have specified, but ideas can be had from it.
Here are several design ideas with port scenes in the layouts:
The Layout Room of John in N Scale
Sandea & Burton County Railway in HO
Binnenhafen am Kanal (Z scale)
See more similar ideas of riverside layout designs and coastal model railroad projects and scenes - most of these are featuring some ports in the track plan.
Mixy
SCARM - free and easy to use model train layout editor with 3D preview
Free track plans and railroad layout designs >> O gauge - HO scale - N scale
Rene,
Take a look around this website. Lots of pictures for reference.
http://www.shipspotting.com
Hi all, many thanks for the examles and ideas, lots to work with!
Dave, thanks for the link, as an ex merchant navy engineer much appreciated.
Here's a plan of the Bronx Terminal:
There have been at least two HO versions of it, so far. It's 5 x 6 1/2 if built to scale. That, incidentally is ALL the trackage. The rail connection is via the barge dock at the lower right.
Not everyone's kuppa tea, but.......
Ed
Here is Locust Point in Baltimore.
http://www.trbimg.com/img-581383bf/turbine/bs-ae-retro-baltimore-neighborhoods-locust-poi-001/900/900x506
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
The Locust Point photo emphasizes my point about the size of oceangoing cargo ships. Compare the line of cars at the right to the ship beyond them...
That's why I suggested making the horizontal water (and the ship floating in it) virtual on the operator side of the fascia.
As for the CNJ Bronx Terminal, the FasTracks guru made it a magnum opus for his tracklaying skills. A quick search will probably turn up his video, including boxcab diesel #1000 in operation.
Chuck (Long ago engine cadet modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
I've built a small port scene, also based on a railroad car float. I my case, I designed the terminal so that the car float is removeable and sits on a fold-down piece of benchwork for support.
This is the port area itself. I extended the carfloat apron bulkhead with styrene strips, and built a post-and-rope fence at the edge.
In this shot, the car float is "not in port" so the layout ends at the apron,
Here, the car float is attached to the apron:
Here's a side view of the car float itself:
The car float and apron are Walthers kits. I use Envirotex for my water. This is a very thin pour over a dark painted surface, making in look deep.
I used Proto 87 street-running track and cobble streets to lay track down to the car float. This photo was taken before I'd quite glued the cobbles in place, hence the gap.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.