Well, it only took a year, but I finally got the roof of my train maintenance shed roofed in 4'x4' corrugated steel, from Rusty Stumps.
I've still got weathering & final detail to do but at least now it's no longer the eternal project...
I thought to have a practise go at the weathering before I went for the big one; here one of the coaling towers:
Well, two years of experimenting, gleaning advice from MRR forums, ordering obscure parts from the 8 corners of the globe and making 2500 corrugated roofing tiles is finally finished (for this project) - my five track HO train maintenance shed is done & ready to be installed on the layout!
I know it's a little ragged in spots; I sort of allowed for that in my narrative as the structure is of 'indeterminate' age.
And I may add some more roof details, like floodlights, lightning rods, and depending on winters, another small roof over the fans; also seriously thinking about shed doors...
I think it'll look pretty awesome with the signal bridge. Next pics on the layout - after I dress the set.
Stay tuned!!
This should mean that I will be able to tape my 'spy' camera to one of the windows & film trains entering the shed!
Again, sorry for the delay in posting but this 'life' thing keeps getting in the way of my hobby.
Anyway, the maintenance shed is now permanently installed on the layout; the blocks of regular lights are turned on, each powered by a great electronic DC stepdown transformer I got from China through Ebay for $2.85 each (after spending $20 to build my own..); and I'm working on placement of the security cams for the layout overview. Next on the agenda is wiring up the motion sensor controllers for the signal bridge, uh, signals...
With the track work mostly done, I could turn my attentions back to rolling stock health; namely assuring that all the couplers were of a uniform height & functionality. As each car is done, it's added to the train (in no order) and if there's still a problem it's back to the bench until it does work.
http://vid1120.photobucket.com/albums/l490/bigpianoguy/First%20Long%20Sheridan%20Train_zpscuqtxpko.mp4
Mostly Rapido stock, with the addition of a Stewart F7B and a Bachmann dome car.