simon1966 wrote: When do the modules go out for their first public showing?
It was out last weekend at an NMRA show near Birmingham (England)
http://www.ardenrail.co.uk/
Jon
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Jon,
Thanks for keeping us updated. If I may be so bold, the "park" area could be overgrown more - even during the great depression the homeless tried to stay out of sight to avoid the constabulary and general bullying. We have similar unbuilt areas near the railyard here and in the thickets and weeds are the leanto's and campfires. Especially in the windy city you would see some scrap lumber shelters hidden among the trees so the "down and outs" wouldn't freeze during the sub zero snowy 40mph windy times. Your work looks fantastic. J. R.
The second area used to be a grade crossing but has now been transformed into a park area where the down-and-outs hang out. There will be a soup kitchen arriving soon.
The BKO Taxi Co was also moved to accommodate the new scenery.
The only thing that remains now is to take some before-and-after photos to show the differences made.
Finally drawing to a close with the scenic upgrade on Sweethome.
Here are the last 2 areas that got a recent makeover - the fuel and oil company and a park area, that will accommodate some down-and-outs - and a soup kitchen.
First up, the Fuel and Oil Co
Moving forward in the scene (I'm a man on a mission), I planted the fence for the Fuel and Oil Co and added some bushes - this is what I worried about damaging if I had started at the front and worked backover.
Finally a couple of shots showing how the new scene is taking shape
NB - the track exiting the scene through the backscene will be heavily disguised - more on that later.
Continuing to the right, I made a start on the last board, which as it happens, needs the most work doing to it. I started working at the back so as not to damage any recently fitted scenery.
The building that had been at the back had to be altered to fit the smaller space caused by the additional track cutting right through the old site.
I started by modifying the part of the building that stands on the board to the right of the one I am working on - hencethe flat white edge at the baseboard joint.
The rest of the modified factory then butted up to the joint.
I was never happy with the colour of the mortar, being too light for a sooty trackside location, so I took the opportunity to repaint it to look more grimy. (Note to self - it is far easier to repaint buildings before gluing and ballasting them in place - Durr!)
I've been beavering away on the scenic parts of the layout to get at least the basic scenery patched up for the NMRA show next Saturday, and have ben working from left to right.
First up is the freight agent (as yet unnamed) and a revamp of the REA building.
Note the new position of the 'not-so-portaloo'.
jon grant wrote: teen steam fan wrote: maybe you should add a model of Scarface ( Al Capone ) or gang activity depending on the era.Check out the black Horsch in the last post. Some of his gang are in there. I think Capone was still in prison during the period I model.Jon
teen steam fan wrote: maybe you should add a model of Scarface ( Al Capone ) or gang activity depending on the era.
maybe you should add a model of Scarface ( Al Capone ) or gang activity depending on the era.
Check out the black Horsch in the last post. Some of his gang are in there. I think Capone was still in prison during the period I model.
Or in florida. He was actually convicted of a minor charge and sent to prision.
If you can read this... thank a teacher. If you are reading this in english... thank a veteran
When in doubt. grab a hammer.
If it moves and isn't supposed to, get a hammer
If it doesn't move and is supposed to, get a hammer
If it's broken, get a hammer
If it can't be fixed with a hammer... DUCK TAPE!
'This week, I have been mostly working on' the grade crossing.
I have finally made a start on the scenery on the next board along from the scrap yard and 'Wicked Wandas'. I even managed to find a use for a couple of freight car kit boxes along the way.
First up, I glued card to raise the level of the road to just under rail height. The road itself is made from a plasticard sheet of 4mm-ft bricks, to give the appearance of cobblestones (or whatever they are called in the US)
The sheets were embedded with Das modelling clay, painted and grass tufts added to hide the edges. I also cut away a few bricks to simulate wear and tear.
It is hoped to get the wig-wags operational.
Now for the team track
I have been busy adding the basic scenery, which for me is the best part of modelling a scene, where a model starts to take on its own identity and I get an idea of what the finished scene will look like.
First was the rustic fencing and the culvert (the WS, N gauge masonary culvert was just right)
next job was to add some trees and some shrubbery (Ni!)
Before adding the smaller details I need to get the other three boards to the same level of scenery, starting with the road in the last photo, which is on the next board along to 'Wicked Wandas'
I have been working on extending one of the industries to accommodate at least 2 freight cars, and building up the scenery at the front. The old building at the front is a Bar Mills kit.
Now for some trees and bushes
The team track is almost complete having had the fence re-erected and a new crane ready for installation
While everything was progressing nicely, I thought I'd do one last piece of demolition work and reduced the size of the power station so I could increase the white warehouse to accommodate 2 freight cars at once.
So, to finish up, here are a couple of overall views showing the progress so far.
I've started repairing the scenery that was ripped up in the track realignment and am progressing slowly(for me). I'll be doing some before-and-after photos when the work in done, so be patient.
First up is the area near the scrap yard. It now includes a Bar Mills house and a rainwater run-off and the area will be heavily overgrown.
Next up is the area that had been a grade crossing, with the taxicab garage. The crossing has gone and the area is due to be a car salvage/repair lot.
I intended to build trestles for the tank car track but time was against me, so I plumped for industrial arches to carry the track.
The tanks themselves have all been repainted black and will be repositioned once the arches have been repainted.
More to come....................
jon grant wrote: GMTRacing wrote: Jon, Do you do anything special to ensure the screws are all at the same height or do you just check visually before soldering the rail to the screws ?JR, I made a simple jig to check that the height of the screws was correct for the underside of the rail.It is nothing more than a 4inch length of track with 4 sleepers/ties missing from the centre. I rub it over the screws with the ties resting firmly on the roadbed to see if any screw heads catch on the rail. If they do, I screw them in another quarter turn, then repeat. It also shows up any screw heads that are too low, as using solder to bridge the gap creates a weaker jount.Jon
GMTRacing wrote: Jon, Do you do anything special to ensure the screws are all at the same height or do you just check visually before soldering the rail to the screws ?
Do you do anything special to ensure the screws are all at the same height or do you just check visually before soldering the rail to the screws ?
JR,
I made a simple jig to check that the height of the screws was correct for the underside of the rail.
It is nothing more than a 4inch length of track with 4 sleepers/ties missing from the centre. I rub it over the screws with the ties resting firmly on the roadbed to see if any screw heads catch on the rail. If they do, I screw them in another quarter turn, then repeat.
It also shows up any screw heads that are too low, as using solder to bridge the gap creates a weaker jount.
Thanks for sharing, the light just went on for me!
The ballast is now glued down (with WS scenic glue and an eye-dropper, after spraying with Servisol- IPA)
I then spray-painted both the ballast and the track with a brown/grey mix, after which I drybrushed the ties with 'tie brown'.
Now to paint the rail edges.
GMTRacing wrote: Jon, This is turning into an excellent tutorial. I have been struggling with the rail alignment on my swing bridge and your idea of using brass screws is outstanding. Do you do anything special to ensure the screws are all at the same height or do you just check visually before soldering the rail to the screws ? Keep up the great work and thank you for sharing. J.R.
This is turning into an excellent tutorial. I have been struggling with the rail alignment on my swing bridge and your idea of using brass screws is outstanding. Do you do anything special to ensure the screws are all at the same height or do you just check visually before soldering the rail to the screws ? Keep up the great work and thank you for sharing. J.R.
Check the height with a tie as you screw the screws down, they should be equal in height to the tie.
Jay
C-415 Build: https://imageshack.com/a/tShC/1
Other builds: https://imageshack.com/my/albums
I started putting the ballast down last night. There is still some tidying up to do with a small soft brush around the turnouts before I can spray on the IPA and add the glue with an eyedropper.
Over the past few days I have managed to get all the rails soldered and cut, where they pass over section/module breaks.
I have also rewired the new sections into the layout and reconnected the turnout motors - easily done when you can turn the layout on its side.
Finally, I had the first train running over the layout last night to test out all the wiring.
Now to get some ballasting done.
mobilman44 wrote: ...you did good!!!!I was born/raised in Chicago...and can relate to your layout quite well. Ha, all you need is some black smoke, soot, & cinders and I would have been "home"!
...you did good!!!!
I was born/raised in Chicago...and can relate to your layout quite well. Ha, all you need is some black smoke, soot, & cinders and I would have been "home"!
Thanks Mobilman, glad to know I'm on the right 'track', never having been to the US, let alone Chicago. I hope to dirty up the layout some more when I get this latest reworking done.
WOW ! Excellent photos & video - you did good!!!!
I was born/raised in Chicago, and lived about 3 blocks from the C&NW "raceway" from age 4 to 14. I spent many a day trackside, and can relate to your layout quite well. Ha, all you need is some black smoke, soot, & cinders and I would have been "home"!
Thanks for sharing,
Mobilman44
ENJOY !
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
MisterBeasley wrote:Jon, your "demolished" tracks are one of the best models I've ever seen of abandoned right-of-way.
That was the same thought that I had when looking over the demo shots. The modeling is so good that even the demo work looks realistic!
jon grant wrote:
Jon, your "demolished" tracks are one of the best models I've ever seen of abandoned right-of-way.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Neutrino wrote: I don't want to stop your post dead in the water, but I wanted you to see this. I was thinking of you when I scanned it. Photo by me.
I don't want to stop your post dead in the water, but I wanted you to see this. I was thinking of you when I scanned it. Photo by me.
Excellent photo Jerry, very useful. Thanks