Challenge #3 - Vintage Chemical & The Philadelphia Belt Line

[Ed Kapuscinski]

This weekend I kitbashed a house for Bridesburg.

In this case I took inspiration from all of the houses around when I was growing up including the porch and "budka" (the shed) from my grandparents place and the awning from my great-grandparents place.



I remember hanging out on that porch with my great-grandmother watching the world go by as a kid, and I can only imagine how I would've turned out if I had had the view that this house has.



Here's how it fits into the scene.



It is a combination of the front walls from IHC colonials and the side walls cut down from IHC storefront walls.

I still have some details to add, including various meters, gutters, porch furniture, and of course the requisite Polish flag on the porch, but I'm happy with the progress.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

So here's something that changes everything (ok, not really):
Was just talking to my dad and he mentioned that my grandfather said that the Reading guys were nicer than the Pennsy crews. Hol up.

Yep. I forgot, the Philadelphia Belt was a joint operation that any railroad in town could use. I had FORGOTTEN about that and didn't realize that the Reading actually did.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philadelphia_Belt_Line_Railroad

So I just got a much better justification for running Reading and Chessie stuff on it.

I had been planning on using my other Reading SW1200 mech under my 1001 but now I'm not so sure. Hmm.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I photoshopped a bunch of Google Streetview images together and voila!





Do they stand up to INTENSE scrutiny? Eh, not so much.

But do they make the background disappear? Absolutely.

[amato1969]

The background photos look great!  Any pointers about the paper and finish you used?  I have a few roads that will need that treatment at the backdrop.

  Frank

[Ed Kapuscinski]

That's just regular old paper on my inkjet.

I think I'll find a poster print place for it for real, but this proved that the image is good.

[Point353]

That's just regular old paper on my inkjet.
I think I'll find a poster print place for it for real, but this proved that the image is good.

Try printing it on glossy photo paper.

[Chris333]

I'd think matte paper would be best.

You could try cutting out the doors and windows and paste it to another copy with windows for some 3D.

[dem34]

I'd think matte paper would be best.

You could try cutting out the doors and windows and paste it to another copy with windows for some 3D.

Why not go a touch further, cut and mount some of the foreground buildings on thin posterboard. Would probably add just a tiny bit of pop. but I've never done anything similar before.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Wait, guys, where do you think the background starts?

There really isn't anything that should have any relief to it.

[Jbub]

Wait, guys, where do you think the background starts?

There really isn't anything that should have any relief to it.

Behind the apartment and 7-11 building/ parking lot.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Behind the apartment and 7-11 building/ parking lot.

Ok, yes.

I don't think they'll be good candidates, honestly.

[Hawghead]

Ok, yes.

I don't think they'll be good candidates, honestly.

I'm sure the background scene looks different in person than it does in the above photos, so it's kind of hard for us here to judge.  Given that, from the photos you posted I think it looks quite good.  The background buildings look like they kind of fade into the distance and loose focus the closer to the horizon they get, just as in real life until you really focus on objects in the distance.  To be honest I wouldn't think you'd want the backdrop to be to...er dramatic?/sharply focused, as that would draw the eye away from the foreground.

Just my $.02
Scott

[basementcalling]

I photoshopped a bunch of Google Streetview images together and voila!





Do they stand up to INTENSE scrutiny? Eh, not so much.

But do they make the background disappear? Absolutely.

Those must have been some damn polite and orderly looters to take everything off the shelves of that 7-11 and not smash anything or break any windows. Then things went to hell when the Hookers showed up.
Don't mess with the background, but you do need to add some interior details inside that 7-11. Do that, and that would be an amazingly realistic scene, like damn hard to tell from reality.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

So I decided to throw in a little easter egg on the backdrop.

Growing up I always heard my family talking about "the taproom".

My great great grandparents owned a bar in Bridesburg. That bar is writ large across my family's history and I had been looking for a way to work it in.

Well, it turns out that the corner it was actually on was PERFECT for the backdrop photo. However, I realized I could go one step further.

I've changed the "Everyday Cafe" sign from the actual photo to make it represent the building's former life as Moskal's Cafe where people came from far around for their seafood lunch specials (and I'm sure a nice cold Schmidts).

This will be included in the final print I use.

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[Ed Kapuscinski]

Ok, so this weekend saw work on two fronts: the Ferko String Band building and the tire dump.

The tire dump has been going on for a while but is coming along. I need to make MANY more tires.
See https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=49938.msg677786#msg677786



And the Ferko building. It started out as the classic Ramsey Journal kit that has had some modifications done, including a much more plain facade and conversion of the old timey windows into modern double hung versions (something that I've now done two weekends in a row).



Like most things on these modules, it's far from exact, but I think it captures the flavor of the real thing enough for me. There may still be more detailing in store for it, however. We'll see.