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New Layout Progress Report (New Photos Added 12-29-09)

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  • Member since
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  • From: Fountain Valley, Ca.
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New Layout Progress Report (New Photos Added 12-29-09)
Posted by Bob grech on Saturday, November 7, 2009 5:34 PM

 Here are the latest pictures showing some of the progress I've made on the layout, which is 1/3 complete, and 11 months old today. Still to come will be a river scene, small town, classification yard with round house. The pictures were taken from left to right as they appear on the layout.  I hope you guys like 'em...

 

 

 

Have Fun.... Bob.

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Posted by ARTHILL on Saturday, November 7, 2009 5:49 PM

My My, what an artist you are. Such wonderful attention to detail. Your imagination is exceeded only by your exicution. Thanks for the pics and the inspiration.

If you think you have it right, your standards are too low. my photos http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a235/ARTHILL/ Art
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Posted by Bob grech on Saturday, November 7, 2009 6:01 PM

 Thanks Art. However, it was your Yosemite Falls that gave me the inspiration for my waterfall scene.

 

Have Fun.... Bob.

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Posted by selector on Saturday, November 7, 2009 6:23 PM

Bob, while you may take inspiration, you also provide tons of it.  Thanks for posting your wonderful images.  It has been a real treat.

I seem to recall that you started this new layout in early 2008 (?) .  What is your estimation to getting to the point where you were nearest the end of your last layout?  Do you expect to be occupied here for another two to four years?

-Crandell

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Posted by rrinker on Saturday, November 7, 2009 6:27 PM

 Wow, spectacular waterfall. Some of you can do great scenery, the rest of us can only look and marvel.

                                               --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

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Posted by Bob grech on Saturday, November 7, 2009 6:42 PM

 Thanks Crandell. The layout was started last December, 2008. I had to postpone the start date due to last year's convention tour / visit. Your estimate for completion is about right. It should take me another 3-4 years to finish. But is any layout ever really finished?...:) 

Have Fun.... Bob.

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Posted by larak on Saturday, November 7, 2009 6:46 PM

Excellent work as usual Bob. You give us all something to strive for.

I am curious ... does the guy in the second photo know that he is about to be beheaded by a piece of roofing?

Karl

The mind is like a parachute. It works better when it's open.  www.stremy.net

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Posted by thatboy37 on Saturday, November 7, 2009 8:34 PM

wow what great work and craftmanship you have shown and done here. please keep up the great work and inspiring me and all of the other model railroaders out there. i cant wait to see more of your work and are you up for hire. i cant wiat to get to the point you are with the scenery and i only hope that my work is at least 25% the quality of the work you have done. you have some unmatched talent here. i cant give enough praise here great job keep it up.

LIVE LIFE AS IF YOU ONLY HAVE ONE LIFE TO LIVE ! UNTIL NEXT TIME PEACE !!! REGGIE thatboy37@hotmail.com
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Posted by Margaritaman on Sunday, November 8, 2009 9:14 AM

Looks super amigo.  Got your email, yes I'll bring the brass!  ;)

Do these pics take you to the far corner of the room?  I'm trying to figure out where your progress is.  Of course I suppose a visit would solve that!

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Posted by salt water cowboy on Monday, November 9, 2009 11:39 AM

 Thanks for the great pics! I really like your gravel road in the last photo. Howdja do it?

Matt

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Posted by PRR_in_AZ on Monday, November 9, 2009 12:59 PM

Bob,

Extremely nice work, extremely nice!  I especially like all the different types of shots (close, medium and far).  Close up shots are nice - but sometimes it is nice to see the overall thing.  Wish my layout progress was as fast as yours.

Chris

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Posted by doctorwayne on Monday, November 9, 2009 1:13 PM

Thanks for sharing those scenes with us, Bob.  The new layout, not surprisingly, Wink looks great!  Thumbs UpThumbs Up

Wayne

 

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Posted by Bob grech on Monday, November 9, 2009 9:50 PM

 Hi Mat. The gravel road was done using "real" dirt which was sifted to remove all the unwanted debris.

Have Fun.... Bob.

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Posted by Bob grech on Monday, November 9, 2009 9:52 PM

doctorwayne

Thanks for sharing those scenes with us, Bob.  The new layout, not surprisingly, Wink looks great!  Thumbs UpThumbs Up

Wayne

 

 

Wayne. Thanks for the kind words. Coming from you, it means a lot.

Have Fun.... Bob.

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Posted by Ben1272 on Sunday, December 6, 2009 8:25 PM

 Bob, your layout is a beauty!  Reminds me of George Selios' F&SM.  Have you ever posted a trak plan for your line?  I think it is very much the style that I am looking to build my layout in (shelf style).  Is this correct?  Could you post a track plan?

 

Best Regards,

 

Ben

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Posted by GARYIG on Tuesday, December 8, 2009 7:03 PM

Ok if my layout looks even 1/8 this good i will be happy incredible details got me going.

Gary Iglesias, Hialeah, FL http://photobucket.com/GARYS_TOWN
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Posted by tgindy on Tuesday, December 8, 2009 8:05 PM

Bob grech

This is my favorite picture due to the subtle track-siding blending into the jam-packed neighborhood let alone the small deck bridge.

Conemaugh Road & Traction circa 1956

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Posted by Knowcents on Wednesday, December 9, 2009 8:56 AM

Thank you for posting these pictures. You have a Great layout!! The attention to detail, the fine scratchbuilt structures just add to the realism.

Jeff Clodfelter Santa Fe "Knowcents Division"
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Posted by upacific1862 on Friday, December 11, 2009 7:02 AM

 Hi Bob,

As you can see in my profile I´m from Barcelona, Spain and I don´t have enough words to give you many congratulations for your work. Incredible!!!

I have a question? Can you tell me the track you use in your layout?

Thanks,

Alex

pirineuscalemodels - H0 and N USA scale models

www.pirineuscalemodels.com

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Posted by Bob grech on Friday, December 11, 2009 1:30 PM

upacific1862

 Hi Bob,

As you can see in my profile I´m from Barcelona, Spain and I don´t have enough words to give you many congratulations for your work. Incredible!!!

I have a question? Can you tell me the track you use in your layout?

Thanks,

Alex

Hi Alex.

I used modified Walther's code 83 turnouts and a combination of Atlas and Micro engineering (code 83) flex track. The spurs, such as the one shown next to the Flour Mill, is hand-laid using ME code 70 rail. If you take a closer look at the first picture, you can see how my turnouts were modified. First, i cut off the head block ties so only two ties under the switch throw remains. Second, I drill  the center of the throw tie in order to recieve the actuation wire from below the layout. (I'm using Tortoise Slo-Mo Switch Machines). Third, I cover those "ugly" point throw rivets using .019 thick sterene strips.  To finish, I weather and hand paint my rails using Burnt Umber and Grimmy Black, followed by a wash of alcohol and india ink over the grey-blend ballast. 

Have Fun.... Bob.

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Posted by Bob grech on Friday, December 11, 2009 1:32 PM

Ben1272

 Bob, your layout is a beauty!  Reminds me of George Selios' F&SM.  Have you ever posted a trak plan for your line?  I think it is very much the style that I am looking to build my layout in (shelf style).  Is this correct?  Could you post a track plan?

 

Best Regards,

 

Ben

Have Fun.... Bob.

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Posted by Medina1128 on Saturday, December 12, 2009 2:32 PM

Looks great! Just a suggestion though. Check to see if your camera has a "macro" setting. I discovered mine when I was fooling around with it. If not, try using the manual settings and set your f-stop to its highest number (smallest opening). This will increase your depth of field (making things closer to the camera more in focus). You'll probably have to use a tripod, because the shutter speed with be pretty slow. But keep up the great work, and keep us posted with pics.

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Posted by PowhatanFan on Saturday, December 12, 2009 4:10 PM

Bob,

I'm really new to this. How long have you been at model railroading? I'm just trying to get a handle on expectations. Is this a skill you acquired over 5 years, 10 years or ....  Beautiful stuff

 

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Posted by Blue Flamer on Saturday, December 12, 2009 7:05 PM

 Bob.

I see that you are at it again. It's not nice to fool all these fine people by going out into the boondocks and byways to take pictures of any and every old building that you find. What is worse is the fact that you then super-impose all those Pics. onto your bench-work and try to pass them off as models on your model R.R.

Have you no shame???

But on a more serious note, keep up the great work. You are an inspiration to us all. Bow Bow Bow Thumbs UpThumbs Up

Blue Flamer.

"There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness"." Dave Barry, Syndicated Columnist. "There's no point in being grown up if you can't be childish sometimes." Doctor Who.
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Posted by Margaritaman on Saturday, December 19, 2009 11:06 PM

I know you've made progress, so where are the pics?  I'm off this week, let's run some trains and take pictures.

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Posted by Margaritaman on Tuesday, December 29, 2009 6:12 PM

Every once in a while I have to go to Bob's place to make sure he hasn't gone "modern era" on me.  I was asked to bring the camera and today was just one of those days that the camera and I were talking to each other.  Some are repeats, but I thought the color was such that they needed repeating.  Bob was chugging right along as always.  I did see one diesel unit on the layout but he promised it was only for track cleaning duties.  Enjoy!

















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Posted by Bob grech on Tuesday, December 29, 2009 8:06 PM

 Just wanted to give Jeff the photo credit for these new pics. His work behind the camera makes it look like I''m seeing my layout through a new pair of eyes. Thanks again.

Have Fun.... Bob.

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Posted by nbrodar on Tuesday, December 29, 2009 9:03 PM

 You're a bad man Mr. Grech!  Smile,Wink, & Grin

Great looking work Bob.

Nick


Take a Ride on the Reading with the: Reading Company Technical & Historical Society http://www.readingrailroad.org/

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Posted by secondhandmodeler on Tuesday, December 29, 2009 9:22 PM

Very fun to look at.  Thanks for the updates. 

Corey
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Posted by icemanrulz on Wednesday, December 30, 2009 9:20 AM

 I have to say that is some awesome work!

May I ask what scale that is?

Thanks Stryker

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