TheRailwire
General Discussion => Layout Engineering Reports => Topic started by: DKS on February 27, 2019, 03:33:09 PM
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NOTE: This was formerly a thread about a "micro-diorama," but it has mutated into one about a planned room-size, around-the-walls rendition of the Black River and Western Railroad in Ringoes, New Jersey. Skip to Page 3 (https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=46548.30) to pick up the beginning of the story. (The micro-diorama isn't all that interesting, trust me...)
It all started with some Zn3 track and an old photo. The track I'd laid back in 2010; the two bits of it were sitting in a drawer, neglected.
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/images/misc/IMG_6082.jpg)
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/images/misc/zn3_switch.jpg)
After facing all manner of difficulties building my home, I'd become acutely depressed. And I was actively ignoring an effective treatment: modeling. So, when I came across the Zn3 track, this image flashed in my mind:
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/images/misc/07-Plymouth-trackageGF.jpg)
The photo I'd found online shortly after I'd bought my property and was contemplating the possibility of building a 1:1 15-inch gauge railroad (which I've long since abandoned). I've no idea where or when the image was taken, but it captivated me, and together with the handlaid track it became the driving force behind the the diorama. The narrow-gauge rolling stock was equally captivating, and while I rather doubt I'll be able to do it justice in N Scale, I saw no reason not to build the diorama.
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/images/misc/08-IndustrySwitcherGF.jpg)
The real railroad heads off I know not where; my imagination allows me to envision anything I like.
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/images/misc/05-NarrowGuageTrackageGF.jpg)
I almost had to force myself to start modeling again. Depression, physical issues and a host of other (mostly contrived) reasons held me back. It was the editorial by Dave Vollmer about the health benefits of modeling that got me off my fat arse.
I call this a "micro-diorama" for what should be an obvious reason: it's tiny, 4 by 10.5 inches. The length was fixed by the combined pieces of Zn3 track, and the width was arbitrary. And I just so happened to have a scrap of foam insulation that was the perfect starting point. Here are the main ingredients posed on the foam:
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/images/misc/IMG_3760.jpg)
Laying the track involved nothing more than some double-sided foam tape.
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/images/misc/IMG_3761.jpg)
By sheer luck, I happened to have freight cars quite close to those in the photo, and by even bigger luck, they fit perfectly on the piece of Railcraft Code 40 flex cut to fit the base.
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/images/misc/IMG_3762.jpg)
The next step is to fill in the terrain with ballast and Sculptamold. This is where things stand right now; stop back again to see the progress.
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This reminds me. When did Google reverse image search stop being worth a crap?
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This reminds me. When did Google reverse image search stop being worth a crap?
Got me, boss, but it sure failed big time with this one.
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I'll watch this with interest as it had crossed my mind to scenic my small test track. Its purpose is to just run locos and rolling stock, three loops with code 40 switches between them also made from my code 40 track bed, testing and/ or demonstrating the performance of that stuff as well. It's really a functional test bed and boring spaghetti
bowl platter. What entered my mind to make it a little less boring is to put at least some scenery materials down. This may offer some ideas/ inspiration. 8)
The o'all dimensions are about 9" x 24" and has turn radii of 3 3/4", 2 3/4", and 1 3/4", the idea being if it will make those it will make the broader ones. ;)
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What a cool proto photo! Hard to fathom this trackage next to the N. Like the MEC cars you put up. Is the plan just a similar sort of overgrown look? Doesn’t take a big area to make something unique and interesting..
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Is the plan just a similar sort of overgrown look?
Exactly.
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I'm still POed that I can't find these photos :| Searched for over an hour. I figure it is a lumber mill in the New England area. I know the critter is a Plymouth. And I've seen the photo with the loco before a few times. Now I can't find it at all.
Oh well found a whole bunch of cool stuff while trying.
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This is in Maine. The factory is American Thread. Here are some more photos.
(https://www.therailwire.net/forum/gallery/9/1318-280219182410.jpeg) (https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=9765)
(https://www.therailwire.net/forum/gallery/9/1318-280219182441.jpeg) (https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=9766)
(https://www.therailwire.net/forum/gallery/9/1318-280219182503.jpeg) (https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=9767)
(https://www.therailwire.net/forum/gallery/9/1318-280219182528.jpeg) (https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=9768)
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One more:
(https://www.therailwire.net/forum/gallery/9/1318-280219182950.jpeg) (https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=9769)
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Milo, ME More pics in B&W at bottom of page. https://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/antique-machinery-and-history/early-light-railway-roller-bearings-274092/ (https://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/antique-machinery-and-history/early-light-railway-roller-bearings-274092/)
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Aw yeah! A DKS micro-layout with narrow gauge! This goin' be good, y'all!
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Milo, ME... This is why I couldn't find it:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Milo,+ME/@45.2482443,-68.990929,302m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x4cb01df44e5ce119:0x6f52cb3dc9b99e3e!8m2!3d45.2533339!4d-68.986263
Big field now. :|
https://www.ebay.com/itm/ORIG-SLIDES-American-Thread-narrow-gauge-plant-RR-Milo-ME-Two-original-Ektach-/162043972504?hash=item25ba92cb98&nma=true&si=%252FXnHynvAqMQcTv%252FAm4QMlp%252FyN3s%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
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The company became Three Rivers Hardware.The cars were used to ferry wodden birch spools to a siding on the BAR, to be loaded into standard gauge cars. A few more , I believe they are Goerge Melvin photos.
(https://www.therailwire.net/forum/gallery/9/1318-280219190429.jpeg) (https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=9770)
(https://www.therailwire.net/forum/gallery/9/1318-280219190458.jpeg) (https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=9771)
(https://www.therailwire.net/forum/gallery/9/1318-280219190523.jpeg) (https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=9772)
(https://www.therailwire.net/forum/gallery/9/1318-280219190613.jpeg) (https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=9773)
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Just what @Chris333 needs...another type of narrow gauge to model. ;)
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DKS - On the SD&AE you designed for me in Plaster City.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjRyu7omeDgAhUVoZ4KHQEIByUQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2F7547061%40N02%2F4328652934&psig=AOvVaw0-_vZWeKPrG6H_xhCMqdPy&ust=1551504210148715
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At least now David knows where that track leads to. ;)
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@coosvalley and @sirenwerks, that is awesome! I am in debt--thank you. And now of course I want to model the whole industry! But handlaying that much narrow gauge track... or any, for that matter... damn...
On the bright side, the diorama now gets a name, American Thread.
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FWIW here is the mill in 1982, there are earlier years, but none are better detailed than this one.
(https://www.therailwire.net/forum/gallery/9/109-010319070030.jpeg)
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Awesome. Leave it to TRW to have all the answers.
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Just a guess based on the pics:
(https://www.therailwire.net/forum/gallery/9/109-010319072505.jpeg)
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So when are you starting the layout?
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lol I'm not :D
Would be cool to make that Plymouth in like G scale with full interior though...
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Would be cool to make that Plymouth in like G scale with full interior though...
You kidding? You could probably knock one out in Z.
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So cool!
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Man, if my 3 acre yard wasn't such a swamp...
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Man, if my 3 acre yard wasn't such a swamp...
Man, if I had a 3 acre yard . . . and hit on Powerball . . .
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You kidding? You could probably knock one out in Z.
I been done did it:
https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=43748.msg559318#msg559318
But in G I could model the flywheel thing behind the engine and the wheel that engages it to control the speed.
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I'm quite reticent to inquire as to the fate of that marvelous little layout...
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I'm quite reticent to inquire as to the fate of that marvelous little layout...
Still have it intact. :)
(https://i.imgflip.com/212qi8.jpg)
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A bunch of people overseas are putting battery powered RC systems in their HOf locos:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoOdZ6sHd_3zxvJmOu8gS0g/videos?shelf_id=0&view=0&sort=dd
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... But handlaying that much narrow gauge track... or any, for that matter... damn...
Make you some tie bed? No tools, just glue the rail in. 8)
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Make you some tie bed? No tools, just glue the rail in. 8)
Already done that... quite some time ago. May do it again. But still... as much as I'm lovin' this little railroad, in the end it wouldn't scratch enough itches. So I've been tinkering around with a totally new track plan for my layout room--assuming I ever finish the house...
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/BRW-1.gif)
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If you're like me, the layout room will be finished first!
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15 inch gauge in G scale would be close to HO, so it would be quite practical to model this. Finding a G scale standard gauge boxcar might be difficult, though. I don't even know if there's a formal gauge for G scale standard gauge. One of the old tinplate gauges, probably.
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Oh it would be cool, but I'm just daydreaming.
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If you're like me, the layout room will be finished first!
Ordinarily, yes. But owing to practical circumstances, it will likely be the last one finished.
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The BR&W? I LOVE IT!!!
If you don't have the Atlas RS1s I've got the shells that are yours for the asking.
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The BR&W? I LOVE IT!!!
If you don't have the Atlas RS1s I've got the shells that are yours for the asking.
Thank you! Already got all four of the locos, plus the caboose. Bought them the instant they were released. Surprised and eternally grateful Atlas had the kahunas to do them.
Now I'm working on a plan to model #60...
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Oh *****, yo, you gotta do this! I only rode the BR&W once...a long time ago...but man, I'd love to see a DKS around-the-walls BR&W!!!
You gotta do this...for the sake of humanity!
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Wow... and here I thought the notion of doing the BR&W would elicit snickers (and not the candy)...
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Wow... and here I thought the notion of doing the BR&W would elicit snickers (and not the candy)...
I look at it this way... So many of us have deep connections to a tourist operation of some sort. I know @Ed Kapuscinski , @eric220 , myself, and others have Strasburg in our blood, @davefoxx has the Wilmington & Western DNA, you were weaned on the BR&W... So why not model one of 'em? Seriously.
Follow your passion, man! I was worried about the blowback on the board when I jumped prototype & scale, and maybe it took a little bit of time before folks came 'round, but when they saw what I saw in my mind's eye, it all made sense. Same for you. I don't think anyone here would ever give you crap for any choice. You're the one who made Unitrack look like weed-choked Penn Central industrial trackage...surely you can demonstrate that the BR&W is something worth modeling!
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Dooooooooooooooooo it! I know very little about the BR&W, so this will be fun to follow along. Maybe I need to head up there for an excursion this summer.
DFF
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I don't think anyone here would ever give you crap for any choice. You're the one who made Unitrack look like weed-choked Penn Central industrial trackage...surely you can demonstrate that the BR&W is something worth modeling!
These are the TRUEST words ever typed on the Internet.
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Wow... and here I thought the notion of doing the BR&W would elicit snickers (and not the candy)...
What's not to like about this scene?
(http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/misc-b/brw-s60drc.jpg)
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Thanks, all for the awesome moral support! It goes a long way to helping me come to terms with my future layout plans.
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Thank you! Already got all four of the locos, plus the caboose. Bought them the instant they were released. Surprised and eternally grateful Atlas had the kahunas to do them.
Now I'm working on a plan to model #60...
Awesome!
Did you get a CF-7 from Randy? I love them in that big BRW scheme.
And oh damn, #60 would be hot. That's the first steam engine I ever rode behind (or so I'm told).
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Dooooooooooooooooo it! I know very little about the BR&W, so this will be fun to follow along. Maybe I need to head up there for an excursion this summer.
DFF
Let me know when. I'm in!
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Wow... and here I thought the notion of doing the BR&W would elicit snickers (and not the candy)...
Honestly modeling tourist railroads is a very under-done thing in the modeling world. I've often thought about doing it myself. Hmm... maybe I'll do a series of TTRAK modules after I get the MPA outta my blood.
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Let me know when. I'm in!
Road trip!
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Honestly modeling tourist railroads is a very under-done thing in the modeling world. I've often thought about doing it myself. Hmm... maybe I'll do a series of TTRAK modules after I get the MPA outta my blood.
[thread drift]
I've actually considered not modeling the ET&WNC Ry. in On30, and, instead, doing the tourist attraction, Tweetsie RR. This would allow me to model a loop of track prototypically, and I could run No. 12 in the ET scheme or the Tweetsie scheme. Tweetsie RR also has the former WP&Y 2-8-2 steamer No. 190. Since my On30 would be built likely only for railfanning, it could work!
So, my point is, building an excursion line, especially one like the BR&W that handles some freight, would be cool.
[/thread drift]
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[thread drift]
I've actually considered not modeling the ET&WNC Ry. in On30, and, instead, doing the tourist attraction, Tweetsie RR. This would allow me to model a loop of track prototypically, and I could run No. 12 in the ET scheme or the Tweetsie scheme. Tweetsie RR also has the former WP&Y 2-8-2 steamer No. 190. Since my On30 would be built likely only for railfanning, it could work!
So, my point is, building an excursion line, especially one like the BR&W that handles some freight, would be cool.
[/thread drift]
Yep, and gives you a good excuse for all sorts of weird stuff that wouldn't otherwise be together.
Like this: http://www.railpictures.net/photo/532608/
A CN ten mogul with a TBOX, some centerbeams, and an SW8 helper.
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Awesome!
Did you get a CF-7 from Randy? I love them in that big BRW scheme.
And oh damn, #60 would be hot. That's the first steam engine I ever rode behind (or so I'm told).
I did not get a CF-7. But I too love that big BRW scheme, and thankfully Atlas did an RS-1 in it. As for #60, like you, she was the first steamer I rode behind, the year they began operations. I was 7, and vividly recall that thrilling ride (the first of countless rides). Although they no longer have the open gondola to ride in, I plan on messing with the timeline a bit and include it, for the sake of nostalgia.
Let me know when. I'm in!
Me, too! Maybe make it a mini-Railwire meet-up?
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BR&W RailFest June 8th & 9th https://tockify.com/blackriver/detail/27/1559966400000 (https://tockify.com/blackriver/detail/27/1559966400000)
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Awesome!
Did you get a CF-7 from Randy? I love them in that big BRW scheme.
And oh damn, #60 would be hot. That's the first steam engine I ever rode behind (or so I'm told).
Lol, you of all people asking if he got a CF-7 from Randy :D LOL
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I did not get a CF-7. But I too love that big BRW scheme, and thankfully Atlas did an RS-1 in it. As for #60, like you, she was the first steamer I rode behind, the year they began operations. I was 7, and vividly recall that thrilling ride (the first of countless rides). Although they no longer have the open gondola to ride in, I plan on messing with the timeline a bit and include it, for the sake of nostalgia.
Me, too! Maybe make it a mini-Railwire meet-up?
I'm almost positive that there's a small drawer labeled "CF7 Kit" in the layout room.
In other news, I'm almost positive that I've never been aboard the BR&W.
I've stood in the shops for maybe 15min late one evening, but that's a bit of a convoluted story.
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I'm almost positive that there's a small drawer labeled "CF7 Kit" in the layout room.
Hmmm... got so much sh!t, I don't even remember it all...
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Hmmm... got so much sh!t, I don't even remember it all...
That's what Cody and I are here for (and to dig ditches).
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I've fleshed out the track plan a bit more. Now it's highly detailed, so the image is large out of necessity.
http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/BRW-1b.gif
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:drool:
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That is so awesome.
But now my ops brain kicks in... how ya gonna run it? There's no good turnaround or runaround at either end. Do you have room for a fake "off scene" loop at either end?
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That is so awesome.
But now my ops brain kicks in... how ya gonna run it? There's no good turnaround or runaround at either end. Do you have room for a fake "off scene" loop at either end?
No loops. When I run it, it'll be just how BR&W does it. I may do some kind of automated control thingie--who knows.
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That is so awesome.
But now my ops brain kicks in... how ya gonna run it? There's no good turnaround or runaround at either end. Do you have room for a fake "off scene" loop at either end?
There are runarounds at Flemington and between Ringoes and Lambertville. I don't know how the prototype operates, but pushing cars to the two endpoints wouldn't be implausible. If this is a layout for single-train operation, it could work. Certainly, though, more staging or runarounds/loops can never hurt a plan.
DFF
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Certainly, though, more staging or runarounds/loops can never hurt a plan.
Nothing personal, Dave, but I believe loops and/or more runarounds would indeed hurt or even break this plan. As for staging, BR&W never does enough to warrant such. They shuttle between Flemington and Ringoes for tourist trains, using the runarounds to keep #60 on the head end; on rare occasion they yank a few tank cars from the one industry in Flemington, push them up to Three Bridges with a small diesel, and drop them. Then, once in a great while they stage steam freight ops, where #60 shuffles a few vintage cars around. The only operational liberty I took was to "reopen" the line down to Lambertville, which was handled push-pull style, since there's no runaround there. And I did that mostly so I could model Lambertville, my favorite town.
My goal with this plan is to remain as faithful to reality as I practically can; Ringoes in particular is quite accurate, since it is the heart of the railroad. The rest was done understanding full well that many miles of track had to be compressed down to feet and sometimes inches. As we all know, real life is ginormous. (I made a 100% accurate N Scale model of my property, and it's nearly as big as a bed.)
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Nothing personal, Dave, but I believe loops and/or more runarounds would indeed hurt or even break this plan. As for staging, BR&W never does enough to warrant such. They shuttle between Flemington and Ringoes for tourist trains, using the runarounds to keep #60 on the head end; on rare occasion they yank a few tank cars from the one industry in Flemington, push them up to Three Bridges with a small diesel, and drop them. Then, once in a great while they stage steam freight ops, where #60 shuffles a few vintage cars around. The only operational liberty I took was to "reopen" the line down to Lambertville, which was handled push-pull style, since there's no runaround there. And I did that mostly so I could model Lambertville, my favorite town.
My goal with this plan is to remain as faithful to reality as I practically can; Ringoes in particular is quite accurate, since it is the heart of the railroad. The rest was done understanding full well that many miles of track had to be compressed down to feet and sometimes inches. As we all know, real life is ginormous. (I made a 100% accurate N Scale model of my property, and it's nearly as big as a bed.)
With more understanding through your more detailed explanation in your last post, I agree that you should leave the track plan as-is. I like how you're doing this as the prototype exists, with the only liberty being reopening the line to Lambertville. As I indicated in my last post, pushing cars to the endpoints of the layout is plausible, and, here, it's prototypical!
Kudos,
DFF
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Nothing personal, Dave, but I believe loops and/or more runarounds would indeed hurt or even break this plan. As for staging, BR&W never does enough to warrant such. They shuttle between Flemington and Ringoes for tourist trains, using the runarounds to keep #60 on the head end; on rare occasion they yank a few tank cars from the one industry in Flemington, push them up to Three Bridges with a small diesel, and drop them. Then, once in a great while they stage steam freight ops, where #60 shuffles a few vintage cars around. The only operational liberty I took was to "reopen" the line down to Lambertville, which was handled push-pull style, since there's no runaround there. And I did that mostly so I could model Lambertville, my favorite town.
My goal with this plan is to remain as faithful to reality as I practically can; Ringoes in particular is quite accurate, since it is the heart of the railroad. The rest was done understanding full well that many miles of track had to be compressed down to feet and sometimes inches. As we all know, real life is ginormous. (I made a 100% accurate N Scale model of my property, and it's nearly as big as a bed.)
It's nice having a prototype whose operations and operational challenges are of a scope that they can be recreated exactly. Hey, if the prototype can work without a runaround at either end, then by gum, so can you by <gasp> doing what the prototype does.
I think people forget that when you're modeling a prototype as closely as you can that their "constructive criticism" works against that purpose. I remember laughing out loud when someone called me out on having the Alta mine tramhouse at Ophir crossing the RGS mainline--exactly as it did in real life for 50 years--as unprototypical.
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The only serious operational problem I see is the lack of sufficient tail track on the point end of the switch on the former LV main. There’s not enough tail track to accommodate a locomotive, much less any cars, so the former LV main is a dead line from an operations standpoint.
Of course, if you don’t intend to do anything other than push a few cars to the interchange track and leave them, then it’s fine.
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I watched some videos of the real thing and they had a switcher at each end of the train :P
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Of course, if you don’t intend to do anything other than push a few cars to the interchange track and leave them, then it’s fine.
The LV line is purely cosmetic.
I watched some videos of the real thing and they had a switcher at each end of the train :P
I'd not seen that--good to know, thanks. The pics I have only show motive power only on one end.
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Awesome!
Did you get a CF-7 from Randy? I love them in that big BRW scheme.
I did not get a CF-7.
Lol, you of all people asking if he got a CF-7 from Randy :D LOL
I'm almost positive that there's a small drawer labeled "CF7 Kit" in the layout room.
Hmmm... got so much sh!t, I don't even remember it all...
That's what Cody and I are here for (and to dig ditches).
Just found it. So the real answer is yes. I'll have to get custom decals made, though.
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The one I happened to watch:
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Cody just found it again. So the real answer is yes. I'll have to get custom decals made, though.
Fixed that for you :D
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As someone who has been to the Black River and Western several times before and loves the line to bits, let me just say that you are absolutely doing god's work!
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I just noticed the old rail line some how has Google street view:
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.374238,-74.9492747,3a,75y,23.32h,102.62t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s99055zxFnURxBIws-xNdXQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
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Street view tricycle.
Jason
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Fixed that for you :D
That's what I meant. Came out wrong, sorry.
I just noticed the old rail line some how has Google street view:
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.374238,-74.9492747,3a,75y,23.32h,102.62t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s99055zxFnURxBIws-xNdXQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
Google has been adding trail-cam views for a while now. I hate Google, but they have brought us some valuable tools.
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I take it the scenery and locale are as important to model as the actual line. Is that going to take a lot of scratchbuilt structures matching the real ones?
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I take it the scenery and locale are as important to model as the actual line. Is that going to take a lot of scratchbuilt structures matching the real ones?
It will be a mix of stock kits, kitbashes and scratchbuilds. Key railroad structures, like the stations and shops, will be scratched to match as closely as practical. For the rest, I'll target the general feeling, but I'm not about to scratchbuild every single one--I won't live long enough. Just as liberties were taken to compress about 15 miles of track down to less than one scale mile, I'll take similar liberties with the structures and scenery, both to make the layout practical to build as well as more enjoyable.
Furthermore, I'm consciously altering reality to improve the aesthetics of some areas. For example, Flemington is dominated by outlet shopping centers, with enormous, multi-story modern buildings right across from the Flemington station, covering several blocks in area. There's a little park in the area, so I replaced the outlets with a slightly larger version of the park to provide better viewing (as well as to omit the unsightly shops). Otherwise, you'd never see the train at the station. Plus, I'm tweaking the timeline here and there so I can model some of the things I remember about my earlier train rides, such as Stangl Pottery in Flemington, now long gone. In Lambertville, I'm also thinking of relocating a park from one end of town to the other to provide a better transition from the town to the countryside, and I'm picking and choosing certain key structures and locating them all in the middle of the town--like a "best of" album of favorite tunes.
I've remained as faithful as possible with the line and its operations, with only a few minor tweaks (some by necessity rather than choice), but I'm not going to be a slave to everything else, because I believe it would make for a less enjoyable layout. That said, I don't think I'm doing anything that would be outside the realm of possibility or believability given an alternate timeline. Sure, I could have wound the clock back thirty years or more and done things just as they were then, but that would mean giving up certain more modern features I like, such as the endless stream of different rolling stock that traipses through Ringoes like a parade. Such are the choices I've made to justify building the layout I want. I think it's safe to say we all do it, to some degree at least.
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I THOUGHT your Flemington looked less ugly than the real thing :)
It's a good plan.
The only other concern I have is... there's not a lot of "nothing" for your paying passengers to see.
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I THOUGHT your Flemington looked less ugly than the real thing :)
It's a good plan.
The only other concern I have is... there's not a lot of "nothing" for your paying passengers to see.
Yes, I agree. I maintained a fair amount of nothing beside Ringoes, and now I'm weeding out some excess sh!t in the between-Ringoes-and-Flemington stretch, so hang in there. But I can't rip out much more without losing some landmarks.
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Yes, I agree. I maintained a fair amount of nothing beside Ringoes, and now I'm weeding out some excess sh!t in the between-Ringoes-and-Flemington stretch, so hang in there. But I can't rip out much more without losing some landmarks.
Awesome. Can't wait to see V2!
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A very creative plan. Protobased, but yet selective enough to eliminate some of the proto ugliness. I've done some of that too on my layout; there's enough ugly in our world... Ugly with character, that's another story.
I do have a questions about how to handle the big divided four-lane, Rt. 202. It maybe proto, I don't know, but I often find it difficult to "believe" a major highway model with stationary vehicles, and it's hard to not have any vehicles on a long stretch, either. It still photos, traffic is fine, but in real life, not so much. It's much easier to model small roads... or short segments imho. Just food for thought, if you need any that is...
Looking forward to see this evolve.
Otto K.
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I do have a questions about how to handle the big divided four-lane, Rt. 202. It maybe proto, I don't know, but I often find it difficult to "believe" a major highway model with stationary vehicles, and it's hard to not have any vehicles on a long stretch, either.
Perfect site for a model of the Northlandz building.
(https://www.theclio.com/web/ul/21391.44057.jpg)
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Perfect site for a model of the Northlandz building.
(https://www.theclio.com/web/ul/21391.44057.jpg)
I'm sorry, I don't uunderstand your comment.
What does it have to do with mine, about stationary vehicles on a major highway?
Otto K.
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I'm sorry, I don't uunderstand your comment.
What does it have to do with mine, about stationary vehicles on a major highway?
Otto K.
Gonna assume it’s because Northlandz is on 202 in Flemington.
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I'm wondering why the Rte 202 mega-road is on the layout (in the middle of the U section). There aren't any buildings or landmarks on it, unless the sprawling concrete expanse is a significant feature that needs inclusion. By moving the edge of the layout in you could keep the countryside but completely leaving out the highway. Unless the highway is part of the "nothing to see" from the tourist train.
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I don't see any solar panel farms in the plan ? :P
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I'm sorry, I don't uunderstand your comment.
What does it have to do with mine, about stationary vehicles on a major highway?
It was more about Rt. 202 than the stationary vehicles.
However, wouldn't you expect everyone to come to a stop if they saw this roadside sign?
(https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/02/6d/b9/79/filename-northlandz3.jpg)
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I do have a questions about how to handle the big divided four-lane, Rt. 202. It maybe proto, I don't know, but I often find it difficult to "believe" a major highway model with stationary vehicles, and it's hard to not have any vehicles on a long stretch, either. It still photos, traffic is fine, but in real life, not so much. It's much easier to model small roads... or short segments imho. Just food for thought, if you need any that is...
The bridge will be under repair, and traffic temporarily halted.
I don't see any solar panel farms in the plan ? :P
I've considered it, but they're space pigs. I'd rather have real pigs. :P
Perfect site for a model of the Northlandz building.
Well... If you must know, I did give it some thought. I don't have the room for the building, but I can spare some space for part of the outdoor train. Northlandz is close to Three Bridges, so if I do go this route, I'd replace the water treatment plant with a model of a model train ride. We'll see...
I'm wondering why the Rte 202 mega-road is on the layout (in the middle of the U section). There aren't any buildings or landmarks on it, unless the sprawling concrete expanse is a significant feature that needs inclusion. By moving the edge of the layout in you could keep the countryside but completely leaving out the highway. Unless the highway is part of the "nothing to see" from the tourist train.
A few reasons to include this particular stretch of road... It's an easy access point for railfans to stop and shoot the train, so it's a "landmark" from the standpoint that it figures prominently in fond memories of the line. It's also the site of a diner, and I like modeling diners, although I won't be faithful to the real one--it's seriously fugly, so it'll be there in name only. And finally, you guessed right--it is indeed part of the "nothing" in this area (sometimes "nothing" can be a landmark, strange as it sounds). I may slide the highway back toward the edge of the layout a little to allow the scene to breathe a bit more, but it's not going away. Oh, and the cars on this stretch will be stopped at the traffic light on Eggerts Road.
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Well... If you must know, I did give it some thought. I don't have the room for the building, but I can spare some space for part of the outdoor train. Northlandz is close to Three Bridges, so if I do go this route, I'd replace the water treatment plant with a model of a model train ride. We'll see...
It wouldn't be the first time that we've seen you model a model of a model train. It was a functioning N scale layout in the window of a Z scale hobby store, if I remember correctly.
Watching with wonder,
DFF
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It wouldn't be the first time that we've seen you model a model of a model train. It was a functioning N scale layout in the window of a Z scale hobby store, if I remember correctly.
You remember correctly (I still have that little beastie, and I may put it in a window on the layout). In this case, I'm toying with the idea of making a loop with T Gauge track and possibly make it run. We'll see--it's way down on the priority list.
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You remember correctly (I still have that little beastie, and I may put it in a window on the layout). In this case, I'm toying with the idea of making a loop with T Gauge track and possibly make it run. We'll see--it's way down on the priority list.
That'd be awesome if you do. Are you going to make the drive-in movie out of a functioning flat screen television or cell phone?
DFF
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Are you going to make the drive-in movie out of a functioning flat screen television or cell phone?
Nope. Everyone and their brother uses little LCD screens to make drive-ins, and they always look just like what they are: little LCD screens. I'm using a small, cheap video projector (I bought one several years ago) to actually project an image onto a model screen. The projector will be under the layout, pointed straight up at a mirror in the model projector booth. Yes, you won't see much of anything with the lights up full, but that's just the way it works in real life. I'll do a day/night light cycle so people can enjoy the show starting at dusk. And I'll deliver the sound through a tiny speaker under the layout so it sounds "right."
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Excellent! Well played, DKS!
Suggestion: Do you want to mount the projector horizontally and bounce it off two mirrors to make the image correct and not reversed?
DFF
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Suggestion: Do you want to mount the projector horizontally and bounce it off two mirrors to make the image correct and not reversed?
Good thinking. But I've already been through this puzzle. The problem is the second mirror would be larger than the first, and it becomes too large to fit in the projection booth. The solution is to burn a DVD with the movie digitally flipped.
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Wow. Interesting solution.
DFF
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Nope. Everyone and their brother uses little LCD screens to make drive-ins, and they always look just like what they are: little LCD screens. I'm using a small, cheap video projector (I bought one several years ago) to actually project an image onto a model screen. The projector will be under the layout, pointed straight up at a mirror in the model projector booth. Yes, you won't see much of anything with the lights up full, but that's just the way it works in real life. I'll do a day/night light cycle so people can enjoy the show starting at dusk. And I'll deliver the sound through a tiny speaker under the layout so it sounds "right."
Ah, well you would need 50 mini speakers on little wire poles to make it sound "right" no?
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Ah, well you would need 50 mini speakers on little wire poles to make it sound "right" no?
Actually, some drive-ins had loudspeakers on the projection booth so tailgaters or people sitting on the roofs of their cars or in pickup truck beds could hear the sound too.
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Good thinking. But I've already been through this puzzle. The problem is the second mirror would be larger than the first, and it becomes too large to fit in the projection booth. The solution is to burn a DVD with the movie digitally flipped.
Many projectors also have built in "mirror" options, to handle front and rear projection. Not sure about the one you plan to use, but it might be worth investigating that a bit.
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Many projectors also have built in "mirror" options, to handle front and rear projection. Not sure about the one you plan to use, but it might be worth investigating that a bit.
Good to know. But, I bought the one I have many moons ago specifically for making a drive-in. It's actually a "toy" made for kids to project their video games (or other videos) on their bedroom walls. Very cheap, thus low-res--but for the intended purpose, it's not an issue. And it has a cheesy little built-in speaker that just might be perfect for the job.
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Don’t forget to model this at your drive-in.
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When it comes to fart scenes, nothing will ever top this:
/>
DFF
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BR&W just posted this photo to their facebook page. So if you wanted to model an Imperial invasion, it would at least be somewhat prototypical!
(https://www.therailwire.net/forum/gallery/9/1318-080319164136.jpeg) (https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=9985)
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When it comes to fart scenes, nothing will ever top this:
Beg to differ...
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I notice at Three Bridges there is a double ended storage track just to the west of Ferrelgas (and a spur servicing said industry)
Is this customer serviced by the BRV or by the connecting road?
If the storage track is not usable by the BRV crew or you are simply ommiting that part of the prototype to avoid cluttering the plan, then a long shove isn't outside the realm of possibility... We have a 4 mile shove in Red Deer to service the CN interchange (not fun at minus 40)...
Plus tank cars are realitively comfortable to ride... :D
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I notice at Three Bridges there is a double ended storage track just to the west of Ferrelgas (and a spur servicing said industry)
Is this customer serviced by the BRV or by the connecting road?
If the storage track is not usable by the BRV crew or you are simply ommiting that part of the prototype to avoid cluttering the plan, then a long shove isn't outside the realm of possibility... We have a 4 mile shove in Red Deer to service the CN interchange (not fun at minus 40)...
Plus tank cars are realitively comfortable to ride... :D
I'd originally streamlined that whole area because I was at a loss how to handle it. But I've since completely reworked it, and squeezed in the siding at Ferrellgas, plus a passing siding. BR&W does work them, so now there will be a little more to do. Oh, and I also added their siding at G&C Fab Con, just south of Three Bridges.
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I'd originally streamlined that whole area because I was at a loss how to handle it. But I've since completely reworked it, and squeezed in the siding at Ferrellgas, plus a passing siding. BR&W does work them, so now there will be a little more to do. Oh, and I also added their siding at G&C Fab Con, just south of Three Bridges.
Happy to hear that. It would be an interesting bit of operation running around cars to serve the interchange and gas dealer...
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OK, here's Version 2. The changes to the track plan include a big change in Three Bridges to add the Ferrell Gas siding and a passing siding, a siding at G&C Fab Con, and a small tweak in Flemington to include the old connector to Flemington Junction.
Quite a few things have been removed to create more "nothing," mostly along the bottom edge of the layout. Flemington got reworked a fair bit to include more landmarks (some of which admittedly no longer exist), with two fast food joints being the token nod to the ugly commercialization of the area.
Many structure kits have been earmarked for the layout; these are colored grey, and are correctly scaled to size. Structures in green will either be scratchbuilt or very heavily bashed. The remainder (tan) have yet to be identified.
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/BRW-2.jpg)
Larger version: http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/BRW-2b.jpg
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Far be it from me to weigh in on the plans of a guru - I like this one better. It has a greater sense of the railroad being part of its surroundings.
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Looks like you've put more than a little thought into this over the years. This is clearly your dream layout. I can't wait to see how it develops!
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Looks like you've put more than a little thought into this over the years. This is clearly your dream layout.
Oh, indeed. Been thinking about this on and off practically since my first ride on it in the 60s.
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Oh, indeed. Been thinking about this on and off practically since my first ride on it in the 60s.
As someone who is also finally building his dream layout after several decades of thinking about it, I can tell you you're in for the most rewarding hobby experience of your life. It's like answering a calling.
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I'd lose the turnout on the LV track and have the interchange just go off the edge. It'll give room for maybe another car and make it a bit less compressed.
Jason
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I'd lose the turnout on the LV track and have the interchange just go off the edge. It'll give room for maybe another car and make it a bit less compressed.
Tempting thought... must sleep on it... thanks.
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So, Jason's suggestion became a catalyst for change--throughout the whole layout. It was designed with 2-foot benchwork all around, except for Lambertville which was 2.5 feet. Then it occurred to me, this was kind of arbitrary and also limiting in places. So, I lengthened Three Bridges by 9 inches and added 6 inches of depth. Then I also added 3 inches of depth at Flemington and Lambertville. Consequently things aren't as crammed; scenes can breathe more, and I get to keep the full interchange at Three Bridges while gaining at least a car length, if not more.
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/BRW-3.jpg)
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This is a really neat plan David. Before retiring from the railroad, four years ago I spent several years starting up and working on short lines some with excursion service and hauling freight so it's an interesting prototype to model.
Although, I currently, model in HO my heart is still N scale (spent 40 years in it) and will one day make a small layout I can hang on the wall when not in use.
Attached are a few photos of my current HO railroad based on the Monticello (Illinois) Railway Museum which I have been a member of for 50 years. The theme is steam/diesl excursions, photo freights and a bit of added freight service (the museum does store freight cars) with a mythical shortline. This is a very well operated/maintained operation with a mainline, NS connection, 8 miles of track with a wye on each end although they only operate mostly push-pull for about 4 miles from the museum into town and back.
I needed to take some liberties (don't we all) to fit the modeled portion of the railroad into a 20'X25' finished room only around the walls but with staging in an adjacent mechanical room at one end and the other operating on a 6" shelf through a guest bed room and closet loop un-sceniced.
Barry
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What's the abandoned RR (purple dashed lines) on the left side of the layout?
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What's the abandoned RR (purple dashed lines) on the left side of the layout?
Used to be a coal trestle! :lol:
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What's the abandoned RR (purple dashed lines) on the left side of the layout?
Used to be a coal trestle! :lol:
Actually, of the two parallel dotted lines, the one to the right is the long-abandoned Flemington Branch, a connection between the CNJ South Branch and the Lehigh Valley at Flemington Junction to the north (the first few feet still exist, but the rest is obliterated). The dotted line to the left is a siding for either a freight station or a co-op, while the dotted line to the upper right is a siding for a freight house.
The coal trestle used to be on the right side of the BR&W, as viewed on the plan. I've been struggling to figure out how to cram in the trestle, and the problem has been that I couldn't work in a turnout for it. So, I said screw the turnout and I just tossed in the trestle; the connection to the line will be totally overgrown so it won't even be visible. Refresh the image of the plan to see how I did this.
Also, here's a newly-rendered enlargement: http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/BRW-3b.jpg
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So you are saying the line to the North used to keep going? In 1952 you can't see any old roadbed and it looks like it ends at the trestle.
(https://www.therailwire.net/forum/gallery/10/109-120319134839.jpeg)
A few piers look to still be left behind this fence:
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.5077723,-74.8618493,3a,60y,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1svw4zG5qc0HhnG15b5cgamQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
Was that also another trestle right above the turntable?
You can see another line that used to be where Walter E Foran Blvd is now, but it doesn't look like they were ever connected.
(https://www.therailwire.net/forum/gallery/10/109-120319135714.jpeg)
I have no idea why I dig into this stuff, but I thought the line continued so I looked it up... :facepalm:
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The topo maps for Flemington at https://www.historicaerials.com/ show the Lehigh Valley line never connected to the PRR branch or the CRR of NJ branch.
The Sanborn maps show a lot more detail about the industries in the area: http://library.princeton.edu/libraries/firestone/rbsc/aids/sanborn/hunterdon/flemington.html
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Not sure what to say; it shows up on some historical maps I have, so this is obviously some source of controversy. Either way, it doesn't affect my track plan.
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So it looks like there were 3 coal trestles and 2 turntables :lol:
Was just curious, looks like most was gone for the BR&W.
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So it looks like there were 3 coal trestles and 2 turntables :lol:
Was just curious, looks like most was gone for the BR&W.
Yep. So, whether it connected or not is only incidental. I wish I could find an image of the trestle just above the BR&W station, to the right of the main. At least my memory of it (circa late 1960s) is verified by this map:
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/reference/flem-map-1.jpg)
The cyan line is the existing BR&W main; green lines exist but are abandoned and overgrown; pink lines are totally obliterated. There's no trace whatsoever of the foundry; it's now all outlet stores.
This is where the trestle used to be. Hard to believe.
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/reference/former-coal.jpg)
I confess I'd love to model Flemington as it was in the early 1900s, with the 3 coal trestles and 2 turntables...
BTW, thank you @DMetz for this link. Very useful information.
The Sanborn maps show a lot more detail about the industries in the area: http://library.princeton.edu/libraries/firestone/rbsc/aids/sanborn/hunterdon/flemington.html
Edit: wait until you see what Lambertville used to look like. Belvedere Branch engine shops, just south of the station:
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/reference/lambertville-shops.jpg)
And this offers an idea of what the CNJ owned between Three Bridges and Flemington...
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/reference/cnj-properties.jpg)
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I confess I'd love to model Flemington as it was in the early 1900s, with the 3 coal trestles and 2 turntables...
Three days ago, I never even knew that Flemington, NJ existed. This has been a nice diversion to research an interesting small town. The modeling possibilities for the early 1900s are incredible. There are several industries on both railroads, interchange between the two, and passenger service for both. A model railroad based on this area could keep a few operators very busy. The biggest challenge would be kitbashing smaller locomotives from the turn of the century. Both railroads had unique "looks" for their locomotives at that time. Another challenge would be keeping the track in good enough shape for small steam locomotives in n scale.
Edit: wait until you see what Lambertville used to look like. Belvedere Branch engine shops, just south of the station:
Wow, a lot happening there! If anyone else hasn't found it yet, here are some more handy links:
Lambertville is here:
http://library.princeton.edu/libraries/firestone/rbsc/aids/sanborn/hunterdon/lambertville.html
Its interesting that there was quite a bit of track on the east side of the canal. Several industries on that side, and it looks like a small yard. And those duplex houses on the north end of Union street are still there.
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.3755006,-74.9481462,3a,75y,80.7h,84.58t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s5p0pz1M7L75rcj9hxO-u1g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en
All free Sanborn maps for New Jersey:
http://libweb5.princeton.edu/visual_materials/maps/sanborn/sanborn-web.htm
They are arranged by county. They cut off before about 1930, due to copyright.
But anything after 1930 can be found in many municipal and university libraries. Some are digital, but most are on microfilm, and can be copied for a small fee. New Jersey can be found at:
https://www.njstatelib.org/research_library/collections/maps_and_atlases/
But I have found that the heyday of most railroads in small towns is in the 1920s. After that, the maps are updated by erasing industries and tracks.
Dan M
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Three days ago, I never even knew that Flemington, NJ existed.
You must have never watched any of the old TV game shows on which one of the prizes was often a ladies coat from Flemington Furs.
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Edit: wait until you see what Lambertville used to look like. Belvedere Branch engine shops, just south of the station:
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/reference/lambertville-shops.jpg)
Wow, that whole scene looks so European -- those building windows! Then add the canal and it looks like Holland or Germany.
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It does look European. The scale track would be an interesting thing to model (even if it was non-functional).
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...and passenger service for both.
Actually, Flemington had three passenger stations: PRR, CNJ and LV.
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Dang that turntable pit is like 3" from the rail head and then they shoved a scale track in there too.
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Been tinkering with the plan a bit. I've talked myself into winding the clock back a few decades, but not by the same amount everywhere. I'm using modeler's license to mix and match features of the BR&W from different eras to make the layout as interesting as possible. Mostly I messed with the operations and industries to get the most bang for the buck. The biggest change I made was to replace WBM International, a supplier of liquid nitrogen, with Purina Mills and the Delaware Valley Farmers Co-op, which I placed side-by-side. And I went over the top by running opposed sidings for them complete with a diamond. While this is pure fantasy, it saved a lot of layout space and added interest--it all basically fit where WBM used to be. I also reinstated the Belvidere Branch to its Conrail days to supply freight for Purina and the co-op. But I left Ferrellgas intact, so I definitely have some temporal anomalies. Sue me. :trollface:
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/BRW-4.jpg)
Enlargement here: http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/BRW-4b.jpg
Plus, lots more details on the whys and wherefores here: http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/rcr-6.htm
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You certainly don't need our permission to have a wide range of eras on your layout! :D
More and more I see model railroading as therapy... You get to modify the world however you see fit to bring you the maximum amount of joy.
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You certainly don't need our permission to have a wide range of eras on your layout! :D
More and more I see model railroading as therapy... You get to modify the world however you see fit to bring you the maximum amount of joy.
I think of it as "enhanced reality." :D
Jim
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Been tinkering with the plan a bit. I've talked myself into winding the clock back a few decades, but not by the same amount everywhere. I'm using modeler's license to mix and match features of the BR&W from different eras to make the layout as interesting as possible. Mostly I messed with the operations and industries to get the most bang for the buck. The biggest change I made was to replace WBM International, a supplier of liquid nitrogen, with Purina Mills and the Delaware Valley Farmers Co-op, which I placed side-by-side. And I went over the top by running opposed sidings for them complete with a diamond. While this is pure fantasy, it saved a lot of layout space and added interest--it all basically fit where WBM used to be. I also reinstated the Belvidere Branch to its Conrail days to supply freight for Purina and the co-op. But I left Ferrellgas intact, so I definitely have some temporal anomalies.
Maybe you've seen articles describing those layouts which are designed to accommodate operating sessions from different eras?
Not only are there completely different sets of locos and rolling stock available for each era, but certain structures (and vehicles) are made removable so that they can be exchanged with era-appropriate models depending upon the particular era being recreated at the given moment.
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Maybe you've seen articles describing those layouts which are designed to accommodate operating sessions from different eras?
Not only are there completely different sets of locos and rolling stock available for each era, but certain structures (and vehicles) are made removable so that they can be exchanged with era-appropriate models depending upon the particular era being recreated at the given moment.
Yes, I've read about these. I'm not inclined to go to that amount of trouble, though.
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Maybe you've seen articles describing those layouts which are designed to accommodate operating sessions from different eras?
Not only are there completely different sets of locos and rolling stock available for each era, but certain structures (and vehicles) are made removable so that they can be exchanged with era-appropriate models depending upon the particular era being recreated at the given moment.
And another feature can be removable track like industry spurs .... my layout before these last two was a dual era one. Besides the change of cars and locos from '50s to late '70s, and some industries were replaced (one by a bridge approach), my freight house track was "abandoned". I used PCB ties to make a section of C55 rail but with about 1-1.25" tie spacing. Then I laid wooden ties where the spur went, leaving a gap wherever a PCB tie would go once the rails were placed on the ties. Ties were stained and ballasted without the rails in place, the PCB ties painted to match the wooden ones. I left gaps in the ballast where the PCB ties would go. For the '50s, I set the track onto the ties and used a few track spikes to hold it in place. When I switched to the '70s, I removed the spikes and lifted the skeleton spur rails out. What was left were abandoned rail-less ties.
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I really love how this whole plan has evolved. To see scenes in my own backyard come to modeling life makes it that much better. I can picture just about every inch. One design aspect I love of the plan is very little perpendicular lines, everything is at a slight angle to the bench work.
I hope you model J.B. Kline's in Lambertville. That was my all time favorite hobby shop as a kid. :)
Reading the history is pretty fascinating. I'm quite amazed at who much RR'ing was going on in that town at one time. I always seemed to focus on the other side of the river where in terms of RR stuff.
Mike
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I hope you model J.B. Kline's in Lambertville. That was my all time favorite hobby shop as a kid. :)
Reading the history is pretty fascinating. I'm quite amazed at who much RR'ing was going on in that town at one time. I always seemed to focus on the other side of the river where in terms of RR stuff.
I will indeed be modeling J.B. Kline. Spent quite a few Saturdays there as a kid--got to know J.B., and he allowed me to poke around behind the counters and in the back rooms. What a wonderful gentleman.
As for Lambertville, it was once a railroading mecca--the shops along the canal once manufactured rail cars and locomotives for the PRR. When @DMetz pointed me to the Sanborn maps of Flemington, I also found a set for Lambertville. To place its history in context, I superimposed some of the maps over satellite images. The results were quite illuminating:
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/reference/overlay-1.jpg)
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/reference/overlay-2.jpg)
The first one shows all of the industrial sidings on the north end of town. The second one shows PRR's shops, just below the station. The vast majority of the houses on the 1912 maps still exist, but all of the industries are gone, and of course the shops. The yellow lines highlight track that still exists, although it's been abandoned since around 2000.
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Here I thought J.B. Kline was just MB Kline that was re-named because it was a fantasy location :facepalm:
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Here I thought J.B. Kline was just MB Kline that was re-named because it was a fantasy location :facepalm:
Well, to be fair, it's something I might be tempted to do. But in this case, I didn't have to. J.B. Kline & Son was established in 1875 and has evolved over the years from one sort of store to another. When I was a kid, it was crafts and hobbies (with plenty of trains, including 1st gen N Scale). Today, it's fine art and musical instruments. They're also now renting 2/3 of the building to other shops--in this case, antiques and coffee. They're located about a block east of the train station.
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/reference/jb-klines-1.jpg)
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Well, to be fair, it's something I might be tempted to do. But in this case, I didn't have to. J.B. Kline & Son was established in 1875 and has evolved over the years from one sort of store to another. When I was a kid, it was crafts and hobbies (with plenty of trains, including 1st gen N Scale). Today, it's fine art and musical instruments.
It's amazing how structures change just in our lifetimes. The TV repair shop just north of the depot in Northbrook, IL used to also be a "hobby shop" of sorts. My Dad would throw me on the back on his bike and we'd ride up to watch the CTA/Metra trains, Amtraks Turbo, and the Milwaukee Road, and always poke into the TV shop to look at the model trains he had out. That building, which was reaching 70 years old back then, is long gone.
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I will indeed be modeling J.B. Kline. Spent quite a few Saturdays there as a kid--got to know J.B., and he allowed me to poke around behind the counters and in the back rooms. What a wonderful gentleman.
Can't agree more.
And those maps... never would have guessed a roundhouse was in that location.
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I've updated my modeling website with detailed information on the real BR&W, as well as the towns and structures planned for the layout.
Start here, and use the link toward the bottom of the page to drill down into the details: http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/rcr-6.htm
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Question for the Conrail experts... Since I've shifted my layout's temporal setting to the 70s-90s (I know, kinda broad), it's now squarely in the Conrail era. At the time, they operated the former Lehigh Valley that ran through Three Bridges. What sort of locomotive power/freight consists would have been seen there?
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Question for the Conrail experts... Since I've shifted my layout's temporal setting to the 70s-90s (I know, kinda broad), it's now squarely in the Conrail era. At the time, they operated the former Lehigh Valley that ran through Three Bridges. What sort of locomotive power/freight consists would have been seen there?
You can get a good overview here: http://conrailphotos.thecrhs.org/OnLocationWithConrail/LehighLine
The Lower Lehigh Line was a pretty hot ***** piece of railroad. It was Conrail's main funnel for NYC area traffic heading west.
So basically most any type of mainline train is appropriate. I'm not sure if unit coal trains made it that far east, but other than that the world's your oyster.
As for the most common power, it's tough to go wrong with the ubiquitous SD40-2. They were present from 1978-1999 in numerous paint schemes, but the plain can opener scheme with black number boards would be best for your era since it spanned the most years. It was applied from 1978-1990 but stuck around quite a bit later. After that units started getting white number boards, then white frame stripes, then the lettering changed over to the Conrail Quality scheme. Intermountain makes Conrail SD40-2s. I have four of em, and they're a good starting point for accurate models (and soon will be much easier to make way MORE accurate).
After the SD40-2, I'd say other generic second gen EMDs are good calls:
http://conrailphotos.thecrhs.org/Images/CR-6334-Bethlehem-PA-12-1988-0
You can sneak in some GEs (Conrail only had a handful of C30-7s but B23-7s were plentiful). Avoid the SD45-2 though. During that era they were exiled to Horseshoe Curve helper service. The new ScaleTrains units are BEAUTIFUL but might be a bit spendy for some scenery.
It's also tough to go wrong with a pair of GP38-2s or a GP38 though. They were pretty ubiquitous units as well.
http://conrailphotos.thecrhs.org/Images/CR-7870-leads-ENOI-at-Freemansburg-PA-8192
When you get your CR power, I'll be happy to send you the appropriate detail parts for it. Generally it needs three things to look "Conrail": a snow plow, a sinclair antenna and a cab signal box.
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Most excellent. Thank you!
Follow-up: Tried to use the interactive map to find photos in the Three Bridges area--got hit with "This page can't load Google Maps" followed by "503 Service Temporarily Unavailable."
But I still got to see a few images... this one is HAWT--
(http://conrailphotos.thecrhs.org/files/images/RDG%203627_3-09-77_edited-1.thumbnail.jpg)
OMG, some of those crazy lashups with RDG, LV, EL and PC patches... the possibilities are endless.
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Ed throws things at me when I mention CR patch jobs...
Most excellent. Thank you!
Follow-up: Tried to use the interactive map to find photos in the Three Bridges area--got hit with "This page can't load Google Maps" followed by "503 Service Temporarily Unavailable."
But I still got to see a few images... this one is HAWT--
(http://conrailphotos.thecrhs.org/files/images/RDG%203627_3-09-77_edited-1.thumbnail.jpg)
OMG, some of those crazy lashups with RDG, LV, EL and PC patches... the possibilities are endless.
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Ed throws things at me when I mention CR patch jobs...
Well, if he throws a patched CR loco, I wouldn't complain...
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For the early '90s, you'd want a C39-8, an SD50 and a B23-7:
(https://farm5.static.flickr.com/4704/25081691517_925f206105_b.jpg)
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For the early '90s, you'd want a C39-8, an SD50 and a B23-7:
(https://farm5.static.flickr.com/4704/25081691517_925f206105_b.jpg)
Awesome!
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@jpec, I just noticed this...
Patiently waiting for the Reading Central local to come switch this warehouse...
Does that mean what I think it means?
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@jpec, I just noticed this...
Does that mean what I think it means?
I may ask if I can borrow your concept's identity in the future. I have an O scale RS11 and an NW2 that would look wonderful running out their golden years in an RC paint scheme. I'm mulling over ideas now. I'm thinking of just modeling an interchange with a lone customer close at hand. We had a short line railroad just outside of D. C. (the last vestige of an Otto Mears venture to turn a small town on the Chesapeake in to the Monte Carlo of the U. S. but it flopped) that finished its life taking their wheezing Whitcomb 3 miles to pick up a boxcar of wine off the B & O and deliver it 150' to their customer. I would just change the players and the setting.
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I may ask if I can borrow your concept's identity in the future. I have an O scale RS11 and an NW2 that would look wonderful running out their golden years in an RC paint scheme. I'm mulling over ideas now. I'm thinking of just modeling an interchange with a lone customer close at hand. We had a short line railroad just outside of D. C. (the last vestige of an Otto Mears venture to turn a small town on the Chesapeake in to the Monte Carlo of the U. S. but it flopped) that finished its life taking their wheezing Whitcomb 3 miles to pick up a boxcar of wine off the B & O and deliver it 150' to their customer. I would just change the players and the setting.
Well, since that layout will never get built, by all means, use the concept! (Heck, even if it was getting built, you could still use it.)
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This popped up in my YouTube subscriptions...thought it might help get those DKS creative juices (which I assume can be purchased in bottles?) flowing:
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This popped up in my YouTube subscriptions...thought it might help get those DKS creative juices (which I assume can be purchased in bottles?) flowing:
Well, thank you, Dr. Hotballs! As it happens, I'm doing a lot of sheetrock work--I'm closing in on the completion of the living level, and the next one up is the middle level--office and layout room. So this does the job!
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Be sure to do a cat head count before you start taping the drywall.
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Just found this thread, this will be interesting to follow. I have learned a lot about the history of the area I wasn't aware of (I live just north of Flemington, in Annandale). Once I get out of our condo and into a place with more room I may "borrow" some of the ideas if you don't mind David.
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Once I get out of our condo and into a place with more room I may "borrow" some of the ideas if you don't mind David.
Not in the slightest! You can use the entire plan as-is, if you like. Also, if you haven't seen it yet, there's a lot of information about the railroad and the towns through which it passes starting here: http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/rcr-6-1.htm
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Not in the slightest! You can use the entire plan as-is, if you like. Also, if you haven't seen it yet, there's a lot of information about the railroad and the towns through which it passes starting here: http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/rcr-6-1.htm
Thanks, that was an excellent read. I perused your web site some more, lots of great info. I look forward to seeing your build thread once your home is done and ready for a layout.
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Yes, it's been a while. And to be honest, I didn't anticipate resurrecting this thread so soon, what with the layout room still studs and insulation. But I've recently been going though some emotional rough patches, and to distract myself from the crap, I did a little modeling. And it was BR&W modeling. I realized that I didn't need a layout, or even a layout room, to start on the structures. Which brings us to the first structure for the layout.
Given that the Rix Products enginehouse kit was quite close to the real one in Ringoes, it seemed like "low-hanging fruit" that I could tackle first. Originally I was just going to do a straight build, but partway into the project, I began to feel as though I'd do the BR&W a disservice if I didn't at least try to bring it closer to the 1:1 shop. I also thought about modeling it with the doors open to show a fully-detailed interior; however, the showstopper became the translucent panels along the tops of the long walls—I simply couldn't envision a practical way to simulate these, so the doors remained closed.
That said, since this is virtually guaranteed to be my last layout, I wanted it to reflect my very best modeling abilities, so I invested a great deal of time and effort making sure it was as good as I could possibly make it. Not to mention that this was a foreground structure, located just an inch or two from the edge of the layout. Consequently I spent the better part of three days working on the main subassemblies alone.
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/reference/steel-shop.jpg)
(Note: This photo is not mine; it will be replaced when I make my next trip to the BR&W.)
The starting point was Rix Products Pikestuff stock number 541-8007, with a few parts swiped from 541-8002 (a smaller enginehouse), along with Evergreen sheet and strip styrene, plus L- and H-girders. I realized the roof pitch was all wrong, but I decided I could live with that as long as I nailed as many other details as I could without going nuts. The model would also be shorter than the real building, but this suited my need for selective compression, and since #60 would never be stored inside, it would not be evident that it's too short.
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/rix-8007.jpg)
Work began on 8 September 2019 with the sidewalls. The original kit had a lot of door and window openings, while the real shop has one man-door and no windows (just translucent wall panels), which is where the smaller enginehouse kit came into play: I used a few of its plain wall sections to replace the ones from the original kit that had openings. Then, because I didn't plan to use any of the gutter/trim parts on the roof—the real building had none—the walls had to be trimmed down in both length and height to compensate. And finally, I added plenty of Evergreen 0.080" x 0.125" strips to keep the walls straight and true.
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/IMG_5355.jpg)
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/IMG_5356.jpg)
End wall modifications included removing the center wall sections (the real building just has H-columns there), and reducing the width to fit the modified roof. Splicing plates and stiffening ribs help strengthen the parts and keep them true.
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/IMG_5357.jpg)
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/IMG_5358.jpg)
As mentioned before, I omitted the trim parts from the roof, which forced all of the wall dimensions to change; I also had to modify the end ridge cap parts to fit. I added an Evergreen 0.080" x 0.125" strip down the center to keep it true, and I also added a new ridge cap made from two 0.010" x 0.080" strips, as the kit's original was so shallow that it sat below the roof parts.
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/IMG_5359.jpg)
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/IMG_5360.jpg)
That brings us to the present. I'll post more as it happens. Thanks for following along.
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Great to see the BR&W under way!
I got my feet wet on the RGS with structures first. Once I had a few of 'em, that got me ready to start benchwork.
I'm wondering if this would be a candidate for Model Railroad Planning. Given the research and planning that have gone into it and the unusual subject matter, I bet it'd make a great read.
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I'm wondering if this would be a candidate for Model Railroad Planning. Given the research and planning that have gone into it and the unusual subject matter, I bet it'd make a great read.
Hear, hear!
DFF
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And the fact that the editor could come see it with a short drive.
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Well, he'll probably have to wait a few years before he'd see anything substantial...
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Well, he'll probably have to wait a few years before he'd see anything substantial...
Uh-uh. It's Model Railroad Planning. The bulk of the work is already done. ;) That, and some prototype pics. And maybe you could set up a few dioramas for pics, if necessary to complete an article for interest.
DFF
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Work has continued on the steel shop. Painting was something of a chicken-and-egg case where some things were painted before assembly, and some after. I started with the white trim pieces (Rust-Oleum Flat White Primer), followed by the brown walls (GAF Shingle Match Shakewood), two of them having translucent panels (Rust-Oleum Satin Almond). I had to fight the compulsion to start assembling things while the paint was still fresh, and managed to let everything sit overnight.
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/IMG_5363.jpg)
Once the parts were thoroughly dry, I could assemble them and then construct the concrete foundation/floor, which I made from two pieces of 0.060" thick sheet styrene laminated together, with 0.040" x 0.080" index strips to hold the walls in place, as well as slots cut for the rails emerging from the shop bays at both ends (sized for Code 40 rail). I had to resist the urge to add cracks and such to the concrete surface, since the real foundation is still in very good shape. I painted it with Testors Light Aircraft Gray.
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/IMG_5364.jpg)
Since the door openings were radically altered, I couldn't use the kit door frames, so I made my own with Evergreen .080" angles, with .080" H-beams in between the pairs; I also framed the sliding door panels with the same stock. Apparently the building originally had sliding doors on both ends, but at some point the ones on the end facing away from the station were replaced with roll-ups (painted with GAF Shingle Match Pewter Gray). One of the sliding doors is deliberately cocked on an angle, since it would appear the roller on one end of the real door had broken many years ago.
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/reference/steel-shop-2.jpg)
Here it is as it currently stands.
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/IMG_5366.jpg)
Still to come are details (soffits, lights, etc.) and structural additions, and then finally, weathering.
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Wonderfully crafted, as ever. Now about those animated sliding doors... I see a gear head running off a Tortoise machine, either that or a stepped down motor from a blender and a rubber band. What say you?
Lee
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... either that or a stepped down motor from a blender and a rubber band.
Is that like an old Athearn Hi-Fi drive?
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The steel shop is steadily nearing completion. Next up were the additions on the side of the building. These were made from a variety of scrap box parts: the concrete block walls came from the "brick" control house included with Pola's rolling lift bridge; the shingle roofs were swiped from one of Atlas' classic house kit series; the wooden bits under the roof were cut from a Grandt Line shack; and the vent is from a Cornerstone industry kit. (The insides of the additions reveal a little of their crazy heritage.)
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/IMG_5368.jpg)
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/IMG_5367.jpg)
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/IMG_5369.jpg)
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/IMG_5370.jpg)
With the structure more or less complete, I started adding details, beginning with the soffits on the long sides. I added protective covers over the door tracks on both ends, plus the patch on the angled door (above). Then came the lights, of which there are four. The ones by the man-door are raw 0402 SMDs (the faces will be painted white later); the incandescent floodlight at the roof peak is an 0201 SMD fitted into an HO Scale diesel bell (below left); and the big security light is an 0804 chip with the body simply colored with a sharpie (below right).
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/IMG_5371.jpg) (http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/IMG_5376.jpg)
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/IMG_5377.jpg)
Not much left to do except add a couple more details, and then weather it.
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Nice! Especially the lighting (would be nice to see the night photo).
(https://www.therailwire.net/forum/header/banner-204.jpg)
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Nice! Especially the lighting (would be nice to see the night photo).
I'll post a photo once I've finished the wiring.
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Weathering was, for the most part, fairly subtle, and consisted almost entirely of a thinned grey acrylic wash. Rust washes were applied to the steel H-beams at the doors and the door frames with a small spotting brush. The shingles and wooden parts of the additions were hit with an India ink wash, and powdered chalk was used for the stains around the vent and the weathering on the concrete block.
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/IMG_5383.jpg)
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/IMG_5384.jpg)
The building still needs the electrical service line, a couple of small fixtures, and a door knob. Otherwise, this brings the model to the 99.98% mark.
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Subsequent to the weathering, I made a new security light. The original one was too small, so I used the largest white SMD LED I had, and then assembled a styrene box around it to better approximate the size and shape of the real one.
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/IMG_5394.jpg)
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/reference/steel-shop.jpg)
I'm also tempted to replace the shade on the middle light with a smaller one. We'll see.
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I've just finished wiring the building. First, I used my handy-dandy LED tester/evaluator to determine the appropriate resistors to use for each of the three types of LEDs. Since my preference is to make buildings removable, I fabricated a simple slide-on connector out of PC board scraps and bits of etched brass fret. The brass fingers are sprung to maintain contact with the double-sided bar that sticks up from the base.
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/IMG_5399.jpg) (http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/IMG_5400.jpg)
The connector parts also serve as terminals for the resistors and wiring.
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/IMG_5403.jpg) (http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/IMG_5404.jpg)
Here ya go, @peteski !
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/IMG_5405.jpg)
Kind of wacky to see how much variation there is with "warm white" LEDs...
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Very nice!
And yes, "warm" while is a very nebulous term when it comes to LEDs. In the past the white LED specs used to include their "X,Y" chromacity information, but nowadays they often specify the color temperature in degrees Kelvin (warm white is usually between 2600-3500K). Still, some LEDs can have light with yellow cast. Depends on the phosphor mixture they use. But I'm sure you already know all that.
Hey, in 1:1 scale there are also light fixtures using different color temperature light sources, so you model does not look unrealistic.
The electrical connector is also very clever!
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Super-impressive modeling! Thanks for including such a detailed description of how you put this together - this kind of narrative (with photos) is invaluable for us beginners.
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I like the variation in light color on your model. Since the variation in color appears to be between different types of modeled light fixtures, I think it works fine.
DFF
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Excellent!
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This calls for a "Peteski Approves" banner...hell, for that matter an "Everyone Approves" banner. Outstanding work!
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Very nicely done
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Thanks, everyone! Nice to know I haven't lost my touch (entirely), despite age and illness. It was telling (and a little sad) a project that, at one time, I could have knocked out in 1-2 evenings took a full week...
BTW, here's my handy-dandy LED tester/evaluator, in case anyone not familiar with it was curious: http://davidksmith.com/modeling/project-3.htm (http://davidksmith.com/modeling/project-3.htm)
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I like the variation in light color on your model. Since the variation in color appears to be between different types of modeled light fixtures, I think it works fine.
DFF
Me too. I think the different light whites adds to the character and realism. Inspirational work. I’m bookmarking this thread for my own reference.
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Thanks, everyone! Nice to know I haven't lost my touch (entirely), despite age and illness. It was telling (and a little sad) a project that, at one time, I could have knocked out in 1-2 evenings took a full week...
Knocking it out in 1-2 evenings = WORK
Taking a full week = Enjoyable Hobby
It’s a good thing to take your time & enjoy the process.
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Hey, this modeling stuff is addictive! I've already moved on to my next target: the BR&W Office in Ringoes. To be strictly accurate, this is the former office; the building is now the headquarters of KB Logistics, a trucking firm. I'll be modeling it as it was when it was still the office.
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/reference/office-1.jpg)
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/reference/office-2.jpg)
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/reference/office-3.jpg)
These photos are not mine. They will be replaced when I make my next trip to the BR&W.
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/jlid-260.jpg)
My starting point was JL Innovative Design #260, East Junction Section House, a laser-cut wood kit with Grandt Line window and door castings. Granted, there were numerous discrepancies to deal with: the model siding is clapboard, versus the fiber cement siding of the real building; the model's windows and doors are not even close; the roof of the lower portion is different; it's somewhat smaller (not a bad thing), etcetera. However, given its location, this constitutes a background building that'll be barely visible, so just having the basic size and shape is a good beginning. Plus, the kit is flexible enough to allow me to rearrange some of the walls; I'll also make a new roof and add a few details that will bring it closer to the mark than if I'd just done a straight build of the kit.
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/IMG_5415.jpg)
Despite being something of a background building, I felt compelled to at least try to correct some of the bigger issues. First, I replaced the wall with the speeder doors with a scrap of laser-cut kit wall that happened to have the right size window opening and the same siding. And, as it happens, it's just as well, since the kit window opening was too large for the supplied window. The other major change was to use one of the add-on parts (which I didn't need) to fill in the door opening on the large long wall. I also enlarged the lower window on the large end wall to become a door, and trimmed the peak off of the other end wall. The rest was a matter of rearranging the parts.
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/IMG_5417.jpg)
In the image above, the third part from the right is the one I replaced; the original part is below it. You can also see the window that replaced the door opening on the fourth part from the left; the seams will be hidden behind some sort of trim parts roughly approximating the odd arrangement on the 1:1 building.
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/IMG_5418.jpg)
After assembling the two main structure shells, I fabricated a foundation from four pieces of 0.060" thick sheet styrene, assembled in a step such that the smaller part of the building sits lower, as is the case with the real building.
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/IMG_5419.jpg)
Once the foundation was done, I was able to connect the two building shells together.
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/IMG_5420.jpg)
Everything was assembled with brush-on Krazy Glue, and completed this afternoon. In reviewing the project so far, I'm thinking of filling in the window over the door on the high end and putting a small vent there, so it'll be more in keeping with reality, and also so there's room for a light over the door.
More to come. Thanks for following along.
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I finished the office today--not a stretch, given it's a tiny background building. Today I modified the window opening over the main door (below left). I also installed roof supports for the lower roof (below right).
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/IMG_5423.jpg) (http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/IMG_5421.jpg)
I also installed 0.040" x 0.060" styrene indexing strips on the base to hold the building in position, but allow it to be removable.
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/IMG_5425.jpg)
Then I fabricated the roofs from Evergreen board and batten sheet styrene, with 0.015" x 0.020" strip styrene ridge seams. I also added a patch to the end roof part, as seen on the real building (below, far right).
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/IMG_5426.jpg)
Painting was quick and painless. For the building, I started with Krylon Primer Grey, followed by Valspar Flat Silver Fox. The roof of the real building is surprisingly brilliant, so I went with Krylon Chrome. And the foundation received Testors Light Aircraft Grey.
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/IMG_5428.jpg)
The windows and doors were all painted Rust-Oleum Dark Grey Primer (with a few rare exceptions, pure black paint looks unnaturally dark on models). I elected not to cover the seams on the side of the building with trim or anything; there will be some odds and ends littering the ground around the building that should disguise them.
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/IMG_5427.jpg)
The chimney was one of the few details to add, and since it would be almost impossible to see under normal viewing conditions (the back of a building located almost two feet from the edge of the layout), I made it from plain styrene, rather than worry about simulating brick. I started with 0.125" square styrene tubing, stacked on squares of 0.020" thick sheet styrene to simulate the offset brick pattern at the top, then finished it off with a tiny bit of 3/16" thin-wall brass tubing for the flue liner. I sprayed it with a mix of Rust-Oleum Grey Primer and Krylon Camo Desert Sand, then brushed Floquil Refer Orange on the outside of the flue liner, and Floquil Engine Black on the inside. (Yes, this sounds obsessive for a tiny detail that may not even be visible, but it made me feel good doing it.)
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/IMG_5432.jpg)
Other details include: a concrete step at the main door, which is a chunk of 0.040" x 0.060" strip styrene painted Testors Light Aircraft Grey; a pair of air conditioners in two of the windows, which were made from bits of 0.125" x 0.125" strip styrene painted Krylon Camo Desert Sand, masked for the vents, re-sprayed grey, and rusted; and a light over the door, an 0402 SMD LED painted gloss white. Eventually I'll add the electric service line in, and maybe even a sign.
One last item was the vent over the door. At the last minute I decided instead to make it a window, cut down from one of the two windows left over from the kit. Oh, and the other leftover window was cut down and installed in the main door to change it from a one-light to a six-light door, which was more in keeping with real life.
The roof was too brilliant for my taste, so I hit it with a heavy India ink wash. I was going to apply an ink wash to the whole building, but thought better of it after seeing how dark it would get when I tested it on a hidden spot, so I just applied a couple of small blotches of it where the real building had some patchwork paint thing going on, then used powdered pigment and very lightly applied some "splash" dirt along the bottom edges of the siding. And I dirtied up the foundation with more powdered pigment.
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/IMG_5436.jpg)
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/IMG_5437.jpg)
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/IMG_5438.jpg)
One other touch I made was to dust on a very light amount of meduim grey powerdered pigment onto the doors and windows to bring out their detail. The very last thing to do was install window glazing, using the acetate supplied in the kit. I secured the glazing with tiny amounts of CA applied with a knife tip along the edges from the inside.
Even having only one light on the building—over the door—still meant making an electrical connector so the building can be removed if needed. Given such a small building, I used a different approach than I normally do: brass fingers (pieces of etched brass fret) mounted to the foundation with a PC board press against two squares of PC board glued to opposite walls. It's a simpler approach that also helps hold the building in place.
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/IMG_5439.jpg)
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/IMG_5441.jpg)
That's it for today. And now I simply must get back to work on my house... I've been having entirely too much fun!
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That's it for today. And now I simply must get back to work on my house... I've been having entirely too much fun!
Too bad that working on your house isn't 160 times the fun of the N scale structures. Amirite?
Seriously, looking good. I'm enjoying watching you work. Keep the posts coming!
DFF
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I can hardly wait to see DKS apply an ink wash and some weathering chalks to his house to make the details pop when it’s finished.
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Too bad that working on your house isn't 160 times the fun of the N scale structures. Amirite?
You're right. Working on the house isn't 160 times the fun. Worse, it's more than 160 times the cost...
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The BR&W has had some minor revisions. As I continue to research the railroad, I've come to realize I'm best served by narrowing the temporal setting. Originally it was very "rubbery": 1960s-1990s. I've reduced that to 1975-1980-ish. Conrail was busy feeding the BR&W up to 750 freight cars per year; the big industries along the line—namely Ralston-Purina Mills and Delaware Valley Farmers Co-Op—were still alive and busy. Marvic Supply in Flemington almost certainly wasn't around then, but that's not far from where the Co-Op would have been.
There was a lumber yard and coal dock in Flemington as well, and while they probably weren't served by rail anymore, they provided visual interest. And the station in Flemington was in a coach parked near Flemington Cut Glass, as well as the old PRR passenger station—just a couple of blocks from the CRR South Branch passenger station. Meanwhile, Lambertville Station Inn (an eyesore, IMHO) wasn't built yet, Niece Lumber was still receiving lumber by rail, and the BR&W interchanged with Conrail there. Also, the line north of town was used as storage for excess BR&W passenger cars, and rail service to a quarry a couple of miles up the line was being considered, which meant the track was still intact.
That's just scratching the surface—I've made dozens of other more subtle tweaks. I've lost a few things I really liked, such as the crisscrossing sidings, the narrow gauge railroad near Three Bridges, and several (modern) industries, but I've gained other interesting things, as well as more historical accuracy. Plus, there's some new "negative space" so the layout looks a little less crowded.
Here's the current track plan:
(http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/BRW-7.jpg)
There will likely be more changes to come. And I'm stuck with a quandary, having just finished a model of the steel shops in Ringoes, only to realize it was built in the early 1980s, just outside of my new timeframe. I may need to twist history just a bit to keep it... we'll see...
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The BR&W has had some minor revisions. As I continue to research the railroad, I've come to realize I'm best served by narrowing the temporal setting. Originally it was very "rubbery": 1960s-1990s. I've reduced that to 1975-1980-ish.
And I'm stuck with a quandary, having just finished a model of the steel shops in Ringoes, only to realize it was built in the early 1980s, just outside of my new timeframe. I may need to twist history just a bit to keep it... we'll see...
Other modelers have tweaked the time period their layout represents to accommodate the operation of a favorite prototype loco or piece of rolling stock, so what's to stop you from doing the same for a particular structure or other scenic element?
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It’s easy... in your world, the bank load to build the facility came through much earlier than expected.