Finally got some signs up on the buildings, so everyone (especially the engineer) knows what is where.Doolittle Freight & Bella Fonte Cannery:(Jimmy Doolittle of WWII fame was from Alameda, while Bella Fonte sounds similar to the real Del Monte cannery and plus we all love Harry Bellafonte, especially on The Muppet Show)Flotsam Brewery:[motto: "First you flotsam, then you jetsam!"]Rosie the Riveteer hangs out at Doolittle Freight waiting for the loco to finish the "Banana Boat" job at the Bella Fonte Cannery:She's getting a little impatient because daylight comin', she wanna go home We also finished the big building that covers the powerpack space (you can see a little of it behind Doolittle Freight in the first photo), but I'll need to get some photos of it tomorrow in some good light.Untill then, thanks for looking.
M.C. Fujiwara
My YouTube Channel (How-to's, Layout progress videos)
Silicon Valley Free-moN
Thanks for the kind words, guys.
Getting closer to "done" here:
"Sacrificed" a Fine N Scale 36' boxcar to build the yard maintanence shed:Tried a salt-weathering technique for the first time, but the weathering powders over it seem to have obliterated the effect.Boxcar still seems too new, so will hit with some more weathering soon.Probably should have done some dry-brushing ahead of time, but oh well.Will come out okie dokie in the end.Some wider shots of the right 11"x36" section of the layout:Still working on the building "cover" for the powerpack (which, because we use the e-Z throttle, now is a storage area).Should have that done pretty soon: trying to get the layout done for show-&-tell at the NMRA Coast Division Meet March 11.It's free and you're all invited!Thanks for looking.
Its turning out great M.C. Nice work. (I'll keep an eye out for "flock of school girls in uniforms" figure sets;)
erik
mcfunkeymonkey As one who's lived in Japan, I applaud your work!(Needs more gaggles of giggling high school girls, though: they're everywhere!)
As one who's lived in Japan, I applaud your work!(Needs more gaggles of giggling high school girls, though: they're everywhere!)
How true! I spent some time in Japan back in the late 1980´s and remember seeing high school girls in their uniforms all over the place. There is still a lot of room left on the platforms of my station, so I will populate that with a flock of school girls.
Thanks, Ulrich!
It's been a lot of fun to build.Having the space limited small (1'x6') really allows you to spend time on the details.
Just like your modules: seems like just yesterday that you were debating about which HO long switching layout to build, and now you have an amazing set of highly-detailed Normal scale masterpieces!
It seems that one of the biggest issues for model railroaders is space, so it's great to see your work, and to also be able to contribute myself to showing how N scale can provide satisfying scenes & operations!
And, since every post should have a picture:
Cheers!
McF - your achivement is just amazing. All that detail!
Been adding little details here & there while I build the cannery for the Mt. Coffin layout:Next up: wiring a Stonebridge Models e-Z throttle to take a wall wart and using it to replace the current power pack brick.This will reduce weight and give a mobile, tethered throttle to the layout, and 9 volts should be fine for a layout this small.Thanks for looking!
Would like to share my first published article in Model Railroad Hobbyist.2012 is off to a good start! Thanks to all who gave feedback during construction!
Should have thought about a foundation for the quonset.Tried bushes & gravel. If I don't like it after a couple days I'll probably build up a foundation.Got more done on the oil unloading platform / complex, as well as some scenery doo-dads here & there:Really could use some 4mm dead grass for some better textures. Problem is that it's difficult to do static grass on MDF (sticking the grounding pin in is a PITA, and doesn't seem to conduct very well, even when thoroughly wetted).Anyway, things moving forward.Will be working on the cannery for the other layout, but starting to figure out the detailed roof & faceplate to cover the control box.Thanks for looking, and happy New Year!
Thanks for the kind words.The flats have been fun to build: making them fit in and be functional has been kind of like a Tetris game ;)
Detailed the big oil tank with ladder & railings, weathered big and small tanks, and finished a Traincat quonset hut:The quonset hut has to be removeable, as there's not enough clearance over the large oil tank when the layout is folded up, so I need to add some bushes and grass around it to mask the (slight) gaps.Next up, finishing the oil unloading platform, pipes & weathering the pump house.Thanks for looking.
Hey M C.
Congratulations to both you and your daughter on building a great looking model. It shows everyone just what can be accomplished in "N"ormal scale. Keep up the great work and tutorials. Many thanks and
Blue Flamer.
mcfunkeymonkey Finished up and installed the dockside warehouse, which is the last backdrop flat:Basically pieces of Northeast Scale Model's Box & Crate factory trimmed & bashed, with a scratched loading platform.
Finished up and installed the dockside warehouse, which is the last backdrop flat:Basically pieces of Northeast Scale Model's Box & Crate factory trimmed & bashed, with a scratched loading platform.
Hey, M.C. - I looked at the picture of the original NESM Factory - frankly, it looks like one of those 1950's models that doesn't resemble any real building, and you have bashed those raw materials into a great-looking and believable structure. I have to admit, I could never have seen the potential in that kit the way you did. My envy and congratulations! - Gerhard
Hey, M.C. -
I looked at the picture of the original NESM Factory - frankly, it looks like one of those 1950's models that doesn't resemble any real building, and you have bashed those raw materials into a great-looking and believable structure. I have to admit, I could never have seen the potential in that kit the way you did. My envy and congratulations!
- Gerhard
Finished up and installed the dockside warehouse, which is the last backdrop flat:Basically pieces of Northeast Scale Model's Box & Crate factory trimmed & bashed, with a scratched loading platform.Still need to workout the area between the brewery & the warehouse: that chimney will be removeable (so the layout can fold up), but need some weeds / bushes and junk around it.Also need to add some more freight details & figures (besides the dude sitting up in the loft) along the platform.But here's how it works into the whole scene:Now to finish up the Oil Tanks and the quonset hut, and then add all the little details that bring a layout to life.Thanks for looking, and Happy Holidays!
Slowly expanding the scenery to the right (east).Put together the Flotsam Brewery main structure:[slogan: "First you flotsam, then you jetsam!"]And here it is installed on the layout:Still need to come up with a sign, weather the roof shingles a bit, throw some dirt underneath, and I'm still debating about adding posts under the dock or leave it cantilevered.Here's a wider shot to show how it fits into the section:Just got a dockside warehouse to build and then the background flats are done.Thanks for looking.
Whoa, can't believe it's been a month and a half since the last post for this project!Been working on it here & there, but I guess the boxcab took over.Well, got some stuff to show.Started extending the scenery to the right section which, up until now, had only the carfloat and dock done.Built the receiving building for the brewery, as well as the two removable structures -- the small oil tanks and the brick building that started as a power house but now is part of the brewery -- that hide the hinges:There'll be a Traincat quonset hut somewhere in that front area, too.The oil tanks are far from done: still waiting on some industrial ladders, railing & walkways to come in the mail to finish them.Yes, they still look like the ABS caps that they are right now, but after I add the details & weather I think they'll look pretty good.Still need to disguise the concrete berm a bit, but that, plus the larger brick structure across the tracks, are removeable, as they disguise the hinges of this "Alameda-in-a-Box" layout:If my daughter & I had taken more care constructing the benchwork, you wouldn't be able to see the left joint line.(It's difficult to see the right one, yes?)Remember, the hinges, because they're mounted above the boards, lifts the sections out & up, so track & scenery can be nearly seemless when flat.But the static grass & bushes I put in help disguise the crack when photographing down at track level.I also built two Traincat tankcar loading platforms & stuck them together:And soon will install the pipes & pump house.I highly recommend Traincat's brass kits: he ships fast and they're high quality, relatively simple to build, and look great (the detail really sells the rest of the layout!)Anyway, trying to finish this one up before the Layout Design SIG meet in January down in Mt. View, CA (you're all invited! great clinics & layout visits!), so will be putting the pedal to the metal for the next couple weeks.(Though I also want to build the cannery for the Mt. Coffin layout, too, so we'll see how things go)Thanks for looking.
In addition to not getting much done on my "real" layout (Mt. Coffin & Columbia River), I also haven't got much done on this one, either.It's a good 90 deg outside, so the kids disappeared to the swimming pool with friends, leaving me in a garage that's getting close to 100.That's with the door open.But I did get my 0-8-0 back together and weathered a little for some photo ops, rolling back the layout to Alameda in the late 1940s:Hope to get more done when things cool down.Thanks for looking.
The globs of white glue have dried, so here's the other end of the left section we worked on.Mainly installing backdrop photos, flats, fence and doing some ground cover, bushes & (small) trees:[The hinge at the upper right behind the gon will be covered by a removeable power house]When trying to put some static grass on, we put the white glue down, then tried to push the grounding T-pin for our fly-swatter static grass applicator.Took about 3-4 hard pushes to remember we used MDF, not pink foam, on this layout.D'oh!So just sprinkled it on with our hands, rolling it with our fingers whle letting it fall onto the white glue.A few passes with the vacuum got some to stand up, but otherwise it turnout out ok:At first the slightly-diluted white glue dried very shiny, to the point you could see the edges of the glue!We took a tooth brush, dipped in dirt and scrubbed the grass.This seemed to tone it down.Then we sprinkled a little more dirt & "weed" fine ground foam around & through the grass area, then re-wetted with booze and diluted white glue.That seemed to blend the grass, dirt & foam a bit better.Here's the whole backdrop scene so far:And here's a closeup of the photo-flat industry with gravel road and fence:Was thinking of putting a photo of an aircraft carrier in there, but a bit cheezy (& already had the navy planes down at the other end), and I liked the color / contrast to the nearby brick structures.Still need to build the oil-transfer shed and set up the oil storage tanks, but otherwise the left side of the layout is moving along pretty well.Thanks for looking.
In the middle of karate, soccer, drama, American & Japanese school and morning runs with Dad, we got some things done this week, mainly the Doolittle Freight up against the control box, the rest of the background photo & building flats along the back of the left section and some more ground cover.Here are some shots of Doolittle Freight:Here's a wide shot to show how the freight building butts up against the control box:Soon we'll be building a roof cover for the control box for photography, but until then low shots are alrighty:Still need some signs and clutter.When the globs of diluted white glue that cover the area to the immediate right dry we'll take some pictures of the rest of the week's work.Thanks for looking.
mcfunkeymonkey Stein: the bend at the end of the oil refinery spur is a wee bit sharp, but the photo does make it appear a lot sharper than it is. There's also more space at the end than it looks:
Stein: the bend at the end of the oil refinery spur is a wee bit sharp, but the photo does make it appear a lot sharper than it is.
There's also more space at the end than it looks:
You are right - at this angle it looks a lot less sharp. Cool.
Btw - I love the effect you got with the industry on the side of the enclosure for the controller, with the (twice) cut baby food boxcar.
Smile, Stein
There's room for the trucks of the next car to swing over and mate up straight.And if the coupler is slightly off, I have no problem taking my bamboo skewer and pushing the coupler into place, just like real life on the rails.
[By "real life" I mean hand-assisted coupling: real railroads tried using enormous bamboo skewers for uncoupling work but found them a bit awkward to store when not in use, not to mention the splinter issues that dominated labor talks ;) ]
mcfunkeymonkey Thanks, Stein.Remember: if they work for someone else its child labor, but if they work for you its "quality family time" ;)
Thanks, Stein.Remember: if they work for someone else its child labor, but if they work for you its "quality family time" ;)
LOL :-)
mcfunkeymonkey Here's an overview of the left side of the layout:
Here's an overview of the left side of the layout:
Been meaning to ask you about the curve at the end of the lowermost spur (with the tank made of a tank car without wheels) - that curve just looks very sharp to my (admittedly used to H0 scale) eyes - can you actually get cars to couple automaticall at the end of that spur?
But that's a minor detail - the layout a whole looks great.
Did a bunch of work to get the layout ready for a show / open house at my LHS today.Bunch of quality SF Bay Area layouts were there in G, O, S, On3, HO and HOn3, but I was the only "Normal" scale dude there.Put a building front on the back of the control box, where 99% of viewers will never see it:Experimented with an ad poster, printed on regular paper, sanded thin & attached with diluted Modge Podge matte.Sticks alright, but I should have sanded it a bit thinner.Needed a 1/4 car to stick out of Doolittle Freight warehouse, so I sacrificed a Baby (-food car).This is what happens when you calculate the correct angle but cut the incorrect direction:Easily fixed.Here's an overview of the left side of the layout:Got the concrete dock in for the cannery, with Gold Metal industrial stairs at each end.Weathered the road a bit.Installed the chainlink fence & gate with barbed wire at the Naval Air Station entrance (it's a bit short, but will work).Put in basic ground cover (dirt, a little fine foam of "weed" and "green blend", some fine gravel for under the tank & around the cannery).Put cinder "ballast" for the SP interchange line.Mocked up Doolittle Freight with DMP walls & carstock.Installed an SP tank (bought yesterday at Great Train Expo in Richmond) at end of Oil spur to service the engine on the neighboring track.Installed a wood grade crossing at the front-left.One bush.Here's a little bit more busy scene:Things are coming along.Things will look better when we get Doolittle Freight bashed together & we build a "roof" for the control box during photo ops.Thanks for looking.
My compliments to you and your able young helpers - this looks really good!
Smile,Stein
CA'ed the black styrene backing to the backdrop, and then CA'ed the cannery to the backing:(The window shades were "fun" to paint too dang if it isn't hard to get a straight line! Next time I'll try masking tape or manilla folder squares)So here's the long view:It's about 25"+ long and the docks can hold 5 cars (with 5 more on the parallel).At the very end is a little jog in the building to help block off the end:Just put some cinders on the roof to mimic a rough roof.Next up:The concrete loading dock, which will probably be made out of .06 or .08 styrene strips.Still debating on having an awning: the original did, but we'll see how it goes.Thanks for looking!
Didn't think anything could be as tedious as tie replacement, but I gotta say: painting window sills and door jambs has to be right up there.Fortunately, I have helpers.My daughter discovered the joys of painting around panes:And then my 5-year-old son decided to pitch in by helping CA the windows:The structure is two bashed "Gripp's Luggage" kits into something akin to the original Del Monte cannery in Alameda.We're calling it the "Bella Fonte" after one of our fav singers (especially his appearance on The Muppet Show).When all was washed & dried, we affixed some cardstock background buildings:In the left corner you can see the planes flying over the Alameda Naval Air Station, which will have a chain-link gate to help the transition.In the above photo you can also see the concrete street & pad for the freight house we poured, using thinned & tinted lightweight spackle.When it dries we'll sand it smooth (the ties still show through a little), and then weather.(cont.)
great job! very very realistic!!!
Finally got the carfloat & apron installed, water effects and some basic ground cover done.Following some advice by David K. Smith, we ended up screwing the float to the layout to ensure rail alignment.Still need to add some more details: ropes, more weathering on deck, dockside details, etc.But it's nice to have the track 100% done, along with our staging / connection to the off-layout world.
MC, I'm a n00b here, other than lurking for a while here & there, but the past couple of days I've seen a lot of posts on a couple of your projects.
Thanks!
Adrian
Heh... She does better work than I do!
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Wow.It's been a minute since the last post.Craziness of school starting and all, I guess.Finished weathering the carfloat:Drybrushed some light grey, brush some glue & put some gravel & coal droppings, drizzled some "Big Jug O' Stain" on there, and then powdered it up nice & good.Might have gone a little overboard with the gravel & cinders. Oh well.After this photo shoot, I didn't want to get the powder everywhere, so I sprayed it with Dullcote.Then I remembered that Dullcote makes powder vanish.Oh, well.After it dries, I'll see what it looks like. Worse comes to worse I work the M.C. magic again with powders.If anyone has any groovy carfloat weathering tips, I'd be happy to hear them!Also got the float apron made & almost installed, so tomorrow, after a quick trip to the LHS, I should have picts of an almost finished carfloat scene (and thus all track installed).