The latest progress
S&S : LOL yeah how about that. Using rabbit brush to model rabbit brush!
The building is looking great! It's going to be a very impressive scene once it is installed.
I was looking back over the thread, and I noticed that the flower that you picked and dried looks kind of like the whole plant in the photo you posted. With a little bit of trimming along the "branches" to remove the spikes (dried sepals?), the dried flower would make an almost perfect match.
S&S
Modeling the Pennsy and loving it!
A test fit on the layout.
The transfer and drying house. This is where the coke and limestone are hauled in and where the concentrates are stored and dried. The second floor will house a repair shop through which the mine tailings track will go.
Finally some walls going up.
I guess that is true, plants are kind of glossy. They almost look a little like skunk cabbage. The kind that grows in the mountains around here.
I so much struggle with paint! After looking at this photo of the Camp Bird Mine, I had to repaint the first walls and the paint on them is starting to get too thick.
I'm pretty limited on paint. All we have here in town is some hardware stores and a Hobby Lobby. But, I think I have come pretty close.
E-C-Mills
Your layout is looking great! It's amazing what can be done with such a small space. I love the little weeds that you made from the seed holders. They look remarkably like some type of fleshy shrub or desert/arid plant.
In my opinion, the glossy paint on the seed holders is more realistic than flat paint would be because the gloss looks more like the sheen on the leaves of fleshy plants.
Got the elevator shaft glued in. The sheave is assembled. Ordered a drum hoist. The hoist house and headframe is about ready for assembly.
Primer
Top Coat (and weathering)
To try to mimic concrete using wood, I did some experimenting with basswood scrap. Here is the result.
1) Scribe forms lines. 2) Smooth any corners and joints using spackle. 3) Prime with cheap indoor wall paint primer. 4) Paint with WS Concrete Top Coat.
I did a little research on concrete and found, from the Gates Forms Company, that 4x8 plywood forms did not come into use until after WW II. Since this complex was supposed to be built using 1920s to 1930s technology, 8" planks were used to make forms. I scribed 12" plank lines into the basswood to mimic this. The 4x8 scribes below were not deep enough to really be seen.
Building the foundation for Chrysolite Metals mine mill and smelter.
They are a little delicate to remove from the painting board. Tweezers can crush them. At first I drilled holes in the plaster and planted them with their little base stem. But then, it was easier to break off the stem (they were coming off anyway) dab a little white glue on the very base and just place it on the layout.
I tried to paint some with acrylic but that looked real bad! I had some old leftover cheap green spray paint in the garage, glossy even! Would probably look better with flat.
Here is one of the holders (I dont know what to call it) and a couple seeds to the left. Both unpainted in the natural morning sunlight.
At first I was more interested in the seeds, maybe they could be used like grass tufts. But after pulling them apart, the thing that holds the seeds in looks more interesting.
Here is a flower. I sprayed it with hairspray.
Ive noticed in the fall, the rabbit brush (of which there is an endless supply of around here) turns to seed. The flowers on them pop open and I thought, hey, I wonder if those would make good weeds?
Chrysothamnus nauseosus, chamisa, rabbit brush
John Allen was awesome! I wish I had a basement!
Ok, tank or tanks it is. Full of all kinds of nasty stuff!
The flats are some of my newer rolling stock, from roundhouse, ready to run with those nice metal wheels and kadee style couplers. About 30 or 32 feet long. I do like them too. My only complaint is that there is permanent casting on the tops for holding the tractors in place. So if you take the tractors off, the holding blocks, stay. I was more interested in the flat cars themselves than the tractors. But still, kind of cool.
Hi -E-C -Mills.
It's low budget yes but a very High quality build.
Who made the tractor flat cars I rather like those.
You do realize that your going to have to do a John Allen and in 3 layouts time each geting bigger .
That this little gem will have to be in it somewhere
Faridays tank question answer yes it wants one well I think so ,and it would probably have PCB in it would not be permitted today but back then yes it would be used.
regards John
Thanks 304 and John.
No way! You cant quit!
Yeah, I have some model railroad cars and kits all the way back from the 50s. Some of those old wood and metal car kits my dad built (and freinds have given me). I recently bought the roundhouse kits off ebay, a couple of 36' box cars. Also the accurail kit. Trying to build up the shorter and 1910s - 1930s era stuff.
Yup, its mostly old stock and fairly low budget for me!
Hi -E-C-Mills
Thats it I quit a layout the same size as mine a temporary one at that.
And ten times better than my permanent one
Keep it up this is very interesting.and informative
Are those roundhouse freight car kits?? haven't seen any of those for years.
this is some fine modelling!
the work space looks great too...
I rescued some cabinets and a counter top from a remodel I recently went through.
My work space went from this:
To this!
Hi wilson.
The track plan shown in post #1 is the current plan. It is 4'-6" x 4'-6" and has a 24" main line radius.
I think thats great you say it seems larger than it is. Perhaps its the exaggerated vertical dimensions?
e
?????How big is this table? I know it said 4x4. But WoW it looks a lot bigger.
Thanks canazar. Greetings from the four corners! I used to live in Tempe when I went to ASU...
I noticed something about myself when I decided my layout was temporary (even though its been basically permanent, LOL). It gives me a license in a way, to go for it, and not worry so much about messing something up.
Regards,
Just stumbled upon you thread. Amazing little layout you are working on. The level to detail is inspiring to me as I have begun my new "temporary layout". I will be following along.
Best Regards, Big John
Kiva Valley Railway- Freelanced road in central Arizona. Visit the link to see my MR forum thread on The Building of the Whitton Branch on the Kiva Valley Railway
I plan on starting work on the mine mill smelter next. Probably the town streets at the same time.
eric