Dave,
Thanks! Finding that 90' section of brick roadway with curbs in the leftovers from the Walthers LCL kit was the key to making this work. It turned out easier than I expected.
That piece of roadway could be turned into a lot of things, so people may want to keep it in mind. I used the traveling crane in the kit at the May Day Mine in Hesperus, but have since had people asking if I'd sell them the crane, so maybe it's hard to find?
One more note on parts...the doors to the coal bin are the sideboards from an old Roundhouse 30' standardgauge flatcar kit.
Some of my best kits are just the castaway leftovers from "fancy" kits -- the kind that come all neat in a box with instructions
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Very creative!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
It wasn't a lot of land, but just enough. I dug around in my piles of stuff. Found some windows in the Tichy 200-window assortment. The walls are the driveway from the Walthers 933-3174 LCL Container Terminal, with the curbs forming vertical pillars once stood up. Some stone sheeting on what is supposed to represent the original powerhouse that was updated to the present appearance on top of the coal bunker. Various Plastruct scraps and bits, plus some household waterline PVC tubing for the boilers and a couple of those big phat bubble tea straws for the stacks. LEDs from holiday lights, suspended on bus bars made from brass stock.
Front
Back, note the doors to load the basement coal bunker.
I did have to engorge the bump-out a little, which was simple with Sculptamold. I stuck the short ends of some skewers in, then glopped on some Sculptamold, smoothed and shaped it and let it dry.
Thanks for your kind comments. But I wasn't quite done yet. Now I have a plot hacked out of the hill and extending onto the bumpout. Not really big, but big enough.
Mike!
You should be a Real Estate agent! You can do amazing things with small properties!
Seriously, the addition will make the mine even better.
The Outlaw Mine needed a little more elbow room along the front. I'm still working on figuring out a place to put the powerplant/boiler room, probably right out the main building besides the spur entrance so that there's a place to unload coal. In the meantime, I figured I'd work on getting some real estate. First was the frame, made from some shop odds and ends that happened to fit the need.
The frame is screwed to the ends of a couple of crossmembers. Then some foam was glued on top.
Sculptamold was applied to serve as a scenery base, then painted with the first coat. Note that before this was done, the base was unscrewed from the fascia, then some plastic wrap was sandwichedin between so that any messiness was easy to clean up afterwards.
EDIT: Please note that there's more after Dave's comment at the bottom of this page. The forum software only indicates up to a page 5, this one, but there is now a page 6. In the URL, change the 5 at the end to a 6 and hit Enter and it will take you forward.
Or follow this link: http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/219241.aspx?page=6
While I had my LED stuff out, I returned to Black Cat Junction to do some more work there on the station I built last month. Light's on after dark...
There's a secret clue in there about this week's upcoming WPF...
I also added the dock for freight and express.
Finally, an after dark action shot, switchin' at the Outlaw Mine.
This project had a long gestation period from when I included the siding for it to about 10 days ago when things gelled in my mind about how to proceed. That's when I started making rapid progress. Here's catching up with the build over the last week.
Paint and millwork go on after the many, many battens were glued in place
The roofers came next and set the Paper Creek corrugated sheeting in place, along with some custom variants to give the impression of a roof maintained over time.
Next came the electricians, who wired up the dock lighting first.
Soon, the whole building was wired up.
Then I started some of the work still needed in the covered dock area. First a raised dock next to the bumper that receives supplies.
Then I cobbled together something that looks like the outlets for ore bins. I didn't get too fancy here, but plan on some more detail eventually. I also included an adit to the mine to allow tram cars to bring in supplies from the dock.
I added some concrete docking along the rails in front of the ore bins and loading dock.
A look in showing boxcars in the dock
I'm still on the fence about adding more supporting posts along the open front, which was inspired by a similar covered loading area at the Silver Ledge Mill in Chattanooga north of Silverton. Should be more for structural reasons, but that interferes with reaching into the track in case something goes wrong. They would also make it harder to do the same when detailing. Doesn't need done right away, so will think on it more.
I couldn't sleep last night, so took a crack at the understructure of the roof. First I fitted foamcore supporting structures.
Next, I cut the underlayment from styrene. I used the cheap "For Sale" signs you can find at the big box. Most are painted only on one side. The price beats the heck out of the packaged hobby shop stuff (not that I don't love my Evergreen for other stuff.) Then I spray the foam core backing with 3M 77 and attach the styrene.
Thanks, Dave
Here's a few more pics. I'll have more soon, but switched over to a project I've put off for too long -- refacing a bunch of control panels on the main layout. They're been added to and subtracted from so much it's ugly...and they were pretty much just a place to stick controls at first. First six done tonight and the other 5 tomorrow I hope. In the meantime...
I like to leave access when I build to install LEDs later, plus you need light blocks to make it appear there are different spaces inside. Here some floors are friction fit for now to allow later installation of the wiring and LEDs.
Usually, I like to glue in at least one floor to help stiffen the overall structure. Here it's the one above the loading dock, which you are seeing from the top.
This will be the supply loading dock/warehouse. It still needs the dock built and a set of doors installed.
The other two spots inside will have chutes for the ore bins.
I glued in foamcore to finish the structure for the headhouse and sheathed it, cutting windows as needed. Starting to look imposing, plus the edge of the duct is now partially disguised. Once I get the roof on the living quarters, you'll hardly even know the duct is there and the space will seem correspondingly larger.
Looking past where you could normally see standing in front of the layout, the camera looks along behind the Outlaw at the grade going downhill t
o Crater Lake Junction.
As you can see, it's not a flat, that's for sure, but it's tailored to fit the space.
Nice project Mike!
Lynn,
No, it lifts out like the foundation does. The posts on the front wall extend downward and lock it into place once it's set all the way down.
It is nice and handy, so when fitting stuff I sometimes work on it right on the layout, but I mostly bring it back in to the shop to work on. As I noted, though, I like to constantly reference it in its surroundings so I get thr proportions and perspective right.
Mike am I reading this right that your building the structure right on the layout?
Lynn
Present Layout progress
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/p/290127/3372174.aspx#3372174
The foamcore needs to be straight and square, but need not be perfect as you can adjust and correct the sheathing as needed. And then the project set, err, percolated for a few months while other projects took priority. I like having the built-up foamcore in place, though, as it helps inspire creativity in the design process while working on other things. Eventually, I returned to the Outlaw Mine project. Here, you can pick out where I've started framing the openings, pillars, etc with stripwood, some purchased and some wood shop leftovers.
I sometimes still use the Titebond III after the basic framework is complete. However, to speed the process I generally switch to a decent thick gel CA and kicker at this point. Make CERTAIN the products are both foam-safe, or you stand the chance of melthing part of your project instead of bonding it together.
Keep checking those clearances. It's also good to bring in the largest loco that will serve the building, as these are sometimes wider than the rolling stock. You can also use a NMRA gauge. Then the fun really begins, sheathing the structure.
I like to use 1/32" and 1/16" thick basswood sheeting. Many of my structures are board and batten, like many structures in the Silverton area. You can buy milled siding to do this, but I'm on a budget and this is a big building. I'm going to apply individual stripwood battens, which also look great.
I cut the door and window openings out when I cut the sheathing pieces to fit. Then after test fitting, I spray the backs of each piece with 3M 77 adhesive and bond everything in place. I also use thick CA to bond things like corners that end up not bonding in harmony, etc. After sheathing is in place on the foamcore, I use a knife to cut the opening behind each window and door opening using the sheathing as a template. Works quite well as long as you have a sharp blade. And here it's starting to look like a real building.
A couple of more shots of the whole structure.
All for right now, but I have more pic to process and since I'm now rolling I should get this one finished in the next few days. Be back soon.
Here's my current project on the Cascade Extension, the Outlaw Mine. It has no prototype, but is a mash-up of features I liked among mines and mills near Silverton. In particular, the covered loading dock at the Silver Ledge Mill in Chattanooga was an inspriration. The site of the Outlaw Mine is right on the edge of the benchwork, so it keeps the cars spotted there from being brushed off accidentally.
Here's a pic og Goose 5 passing the location before construction started. The assay office I bashed from a Grandt No Problem Joe's House was a placeholder for bigger things to come. Notice the blue-painted ductwork above, which I wanted to help disguise.
I tend to work when I get inspired. I also like to build to suut a location, as I often use forced perspective techniques to make things appear to have depth and distance. Having a plan is usually too restrictive, although I sometimes sketch something up. In this case, no plans at all. It's built to fit the location best. First, a foundation is needed, which I built from basswood.
I notched out the Sculptamold-based scenery to hold everything in place.
The basic form of the structure wasmocked up with cardboard templates. They're easy and cheap to work with to help determine the basic form of the structure, for instance, making sure it's high enough to act as a viewblock against the ductwork. Here, the first piece of black foamcore has been cut, with templates still at both ends.
As you can see, I keep a cut of cars handy during the design process to check clearances.
Hacked together, even the foamcore is still cheap enough for a do-over if needed. I assemble the basic structure using Titebond III Ultimate wood glue and let it dry.
Lynn and Graff,
Thanks to both of you for your kind comments. I'll try to add some more pics soon
It's looking really, really good!
Swedish Custom painter and model maker. My Website:
My Railroad
My Youtube:
Graff´s channel
Always nice to pop in and check out your works. You are progressing nicely.
After fussing around with the driver springs on my Sunset K-36, I finally got smart and just ordered some from NWSL. Here's a pic of the front four nestled in place waiting for me to flop the front drivers back in place.
The big K just couldn't make up the Cascade Extension at all, as much because of the vertical curves as the horizontal ones. I'd eased most of that as I brought track up to shape to run C-C diesels. So sorting out the suspension on 480 led to a test run. A few spots still have issues, but they could be fixed. The proof is in the pic, as things went well enough to make it to Snowden, then back to turn on the wye at Crater Lake, where the crew went for beans before the return trip to Durango.
Whether the big K gets back depends on how the forthcoming Blackstone K-36 does on the Cascade. If that goes OK, fixing the things needed to get the brass version up and back make sense. Otherwise, 480 will handle traffic between Durango and Silverton and leave the heavy hauling on the Cascade to the likes of this...
Mike,
Thanks for your comments. Yes, that resemblance is one reason why I like the DL-535E (a White Pass & Yukon loco in real life.) I do have a standard gauge Kaslo SDL39 done a a Rio Grande loco with dynamic brakes and a Pyle nose light, but it's just too big to credibly narrowgauge (or I would have !) I built my two -535Es from PSC kits. PSC also sold a number of these built-up. Both appear from time to time on Ebay, but kits can be particualrly hard to find. They pull darn well, especially if you fill the fuel tank with weight.
Happy to hear some of this has been of assistance and/or inspiration to solving issues on your layout.
mbinsewiLookin great Mike ! I like following this continuing thread on your work. That RG #64 is something that I've only seen on your RR. I love it. Reminds me a little of the odd looking MILW. SD39's. I also had to do some bench/facia extensions as I improved operations. I needed more room on the inside corners.
Peter,
Thanks for your comments, too. Yes, a color laserjet makes things possible we could only dream of years ago. The Shady Lady "affair" is a case in point. Since the first pic I found was on a general search for Silverton buildings, it was easy to narrow that to a search just for pics of the saloon. That quickly yielded results. Problem solved.
This is also a a reminder that some things can be overplanned. I'm not dissing planning, it has its place, but we shouldn't forget good results can be attained within broad general plans by letting inspiration play out. This is a principle I've used numerous times on the Cascade Extension. Better the ocassional easy do-over than the paralysis of over-analysis and planning.
Mike, Effective use of flat back ground scenery, looks good. Ah, modeling nowadays with the help of computers and printers sure is nice.
Thanks and regards, Peter
Lookin great Mike ! I like following this continuing thread on your work. That RG #64 is something that I've only seen on your RR. I love it. Reminds me a little of the odd looking MILW. SD39's.
I also had to do some bench/facia extensions as I improved operations. I needed more room on the inside corners.
Mike.
My You Tube
Switching gears a bit, let's return to Black Cat Junction, where I built the town as a long flat from printed images attached to a length of black foam core. This is the before shot and I want to preserve and enhance the depth it provides to this view of the layout with my sawtooth foam mountains.
I cut the mountains in order to shift one end a little to the left.
The first attempt came out OK, but the size of the structures on the right side was a bit large.
I reprinted several of those buildings in smaller scale to get the perspective working in my favor and modified the backdrop.
Now the issue was that the Shady Lady was too tall and just looked weird at the angle of the original pic. So I redid that part smaller and from a face-on view.
Now the mountain in the background to the right of The Shady Lady didn't quite fit, so it was trimmed down.
Finally, that looked pretty darn good. It'll serve until I build an actual 3-D flat to take its place. But an entire town for under $10 is something anyone can afford -- and is about as easy as it gets.
The pipe train arrived in Snowden to set out its cars on the team track where a crawler crane will unload them to be trucked up to the oil field.
Pulling forward, the locos dropped the pipe, then will runaround it on the main to escape to return to Crater Lake to turn on the wye.
The caboose is plucked off the end of the train for placment on the rear of the loads outbound from Crater Lake.
At CLJ there are a couple of MT Class C boxcars to drop on the Outlaw Mine spur for spotting on the return trip.
The MTs are dropped in the spur for now.
The train is reassembled, but is long enough to almost make it into Crater Lake from CLJ.
Once the trainline comes up to pressure, our train heads for the team track at Snowden...
I try not to recycle my WPF shots here, but this one was too good to leave out of this sequence as our photographer gets a low angle shot or two...
Our train looks fast passing the crude oil train in the siding at Camp 10, but it's just the slow exposure setting.
We'll skip Black Cat Junction for now (will return it later) and caught up with the train again at Crater Lake Junction in the next sequence.
After some time railfanning the Cascade Extension this week, I'll be posting some pics of my adventure over the next few days.
First up, a meet at Summit, where a new siding was recently installed
Here's a double-heaed pipe train crossing the Lime Creek Gulch bridge as it leaves Purgatory.
To be continued...
I generally apply good design practice and leave plenty of level area around towns and industries so that cars don't roll away. But this is not always possible in every case, especially when you're trying to squeeze stuff into leftover or unexpectedly available real estate. Much of the Cascade Extension is like that, with storage underneath, not always RR-related. So you take what you can get, even if less than ideal.
Until someone comes out with a cheap DCC "hand brake" brake system, you can improvise to solve issues at problem areas for both individual industries and at locations where the train may have to stand on the main. One trick I was reminded of lately is to use a Caboose Industries hand throw to rotate a wire into position to hold cars. Here's one of several I recently made for a few troublesome locations.
The next one is one I've made about a half dozen and used with great success in the main layout room. Here's what on the surface.
The all but invisible "brake pin" sits between the rails, marked by the B posts on each side. This is in Purgatory at the beginning of the grade that goes over Lime Creek Gulch and uphill. Trains coming downhill may have loaded stone flats that need dropped at the mill. They stop, as if to uncouple, preferably so the pin will rise up between the cars. The knob marked "B" controls it. It then holds the rest of the train on the hill.
Here's a pic of the mechanism, basically a RC aircraft control item, but used here as a crank that the link from the knob attaches to. The "brake pin" is attached on the other arm, guided upwards by passing through eyescrews or holes drilled in the benchwork as needed.
A camera can be a very useful thing. This thread wouldn't have been half as informative or interesting without the illustrative pics. But a camera can also be a tool. When working in the retsricted spaces provided by second decks or other places like the 10" of airspace tucked under an air duct that I call Crater Lake Junction, it can be difficult to get a good view from anything but the front. That's forced prospective working for you. But you sometimes need to see things from a different angle to evaluate how things are going. There's few things more basic than track and here the camera can help you.
The camera can overcome the limits of forced perspective in several ways. Most basically, it sit where your head or entire body can't fit so you can see it yourself. The smaller cameras are for this, the better. Don't forget you smartphone as a handy device to do this.
If you have a zoom lens, even better for a particular task, evaluating track location.. That's because the telephoto lens let's you "compress" the view tp show you the errors of your ways -- errr, or at least of your track's location
Here's a pic from the usual viewing angle of CLJ that looks pretty decent despite being unfinished in many ways scenically.
Then, if you can get the angle to do it, this is what you see frfpom the foreshortened end view.
As I spike it down, I'll reference pics like this, adjust accordingly or even go back to look through the zoomed lens to check things.
You can see I moved the Sinclair dealer from Crater Lake over to the end of the house track here at CLJ
Here's another pic from the same angle, but zoomed out to a more normal view.