Track Upgrade for Sweethome Chicago

[jon grant]

The team track is almost complete having had the fence re-erected and a new crane ready for installation

While everything was progressing nicely, I thought I'd do one last piece of demolition work and reduced the size of the power station so I could increase the white warehouse to accommodate 2 freight cars at once.

So, to finish up, here are a couple of overall views showing the progress so far.

Jon

[jon grant]

I have been working on extending one of the industries to accommodate at least 2 freight cars, and building up the scenery at the front. The old building at the front is a Bar Mills kit.

Now for some trees and bushes

Jon

[jon grant]

I have been busy adding the basic scenery, which for me is the best part of modelling a scene, where a model starts to take on its own identity and I get an idea of what the finished scene will look like.

First was the rustic fencing and the culvert (the WS, N gauge masonary culvert was just right)

 

next job was to add some trees and some shrubbery (Ni!)

Before adding the smaller details I need to get the other three boards to the same level of scenery, starting with the road in the last photo, which is on the next board along to 'Wicked Wandas'

Jon

[teen steam fan]

maybe you should add a model of Scarface ( Al Capone ) or gang activity depending on the era.

 

[jon grant]

'This week, I have been mostly working on' the grade crossing.

I have finally made a start on the scenery on the next board along from the scrap yard and 'Wicked Wandas'. I even managed to find a use for a couple of freight car kit boxes along the way.

First up, I glued card to raise the level of the road to just under rail height. The road itself is made from a plasticard sheet of 4mm-ft bricks, to give the appearance of cobblestones (or whatever they are called in the US)

The sheets were embedded with Das modelling clay, painted and grass tufts added to hide the edges. I also cut away a few bricks to simulate wear and tear.

It is hoped to get the wig-wags operational.

Now for the team track

Jon

[jon grant]

maybe you should add a model of Scarface ( Al Capone ) or gang activity depending on the era.

Check out the black Horsch in the last post. Some of his gang are in there. I think Capone was still in prison during the period I model.

Jon 

[teen steam fan]

maybe you should add a model of Scarface ( Al Capone ) or gang activity depending on the era.

Check out the black Horsch in the last post. Some of his gang are in there. I think Capone was still in prison during the period I model.

Jon 

 

Or in florida. He was actually convicted of a minor charge and sent to prision.

[jon grant]

I've been beavering away on the scenic parts of the layout to get at least the basic scenery patched up for the NMRA show next Saturday, and have ben working from left to right.

First up is the freight agent (as yet unnamed) and a revamp of the REA building.

Note the new position of the 'not-so-portaloo'.

Jon

[jon grant]

Continuing to the right, I made a start on the last board, which as it happens, needs the most work doing to it. I started working at the back so as not to damage any recently fitted scenery.

The building that had been at the back had to be altered to fit the smaller space caused by the additional track cutting right through the old site.

I started by modifying the part of the building that stands on the board to the right of the one I am working on - hencethe flat white edge at the baseboard joint.

The rest of the modified factory then butted up to the joint.

I was never happy with the colour of the mortar, being too light for a sooty trackside location, so I took the opportunity to repaint it to look more grimy. (Note to self - it is far easier to repaint buildings before gluing and ballasting them in place - Durr!)

Jon

[jon grant]

Moving forward in the scene (I'm a man on a mission), I planted the fence for the Fuel and Oil Co and added some bushes - this is what I worried about damaging if I had started at the front and worked backover.

Finally a couple of shots showing how the new scene is taking shape

NB - the track exiting the scene through the backscene will be heavily disguised - more on that later.

Jon

[jon grant]

Finally drawing to a close with the scenic upgrade on Sweethome.

Here are the last 2 areas that got a recent makeover  - the fuel and oil company and a park area, that will accommodate some down-and-outs - and a soup kitchen.

First up, the Fuel and Oil Co

Jon

[jon grant]

The second area used to be a grade crossing but has now been transformed into a park area where the down-and-outs hang out. There will be a soup kitchen arriving soon.

 

The BKO Taxi Co was also moved to accommodate the new scenery.

 

The only thing that remains now is to take some before-and-after photos to show the differences made.

Jon

[GMTRacing]

Jon,

Thanks for keeping us updated. If I may be so bold, the "park" area could be overgrown more - even during the great depression the homeless tried to stay out of sight to avoid the constabulary and general bullying. We have similar unbuilt areas near the railyard here and in the thickets and weeds are the leanto's and campfires. Especially in the windy city you would see some scrap lumber shelters hidden among the trees so the "down and outs" wouldn't freeze during the sub zero snowy 40mph windy times. Your work looks fantastic.   J. R.

[simon1966]

Jon, you have done a fabulous job. The new scenery blends in perfectly with the old.  When do the modules go out for their first public showing?

[jon grant]

When do the modules go out for their first public showing?

It was out last weekend at an NMRA show near Birmingham (England)

http://www.ardenrail.co.uk/

 

Jon