Weekend Update 12-27-2009

[DKS]

I find the clutter stuff to be the hardest .. how do you plan randomness ..

This is true. I find inspiration in reference photos, or by wandering around areas I shouldn't. Sometimes I'll gather together a pile of stuff and literally sprinkle it around, then rearrange the parts that don't look convincing. I've also found that areas like this grow organically over time.

This area on my layout was not planned out; it happened after a few tries--adding stuff, tearing it back out--and grew in stages over a period of weeks. (Being only a few square inches helped.)
 

 

 

 

[diezmon]

But .. other than that .. its perfect  ;D

I find the clutter stuff to be the hardest .. how do you plan randomness ..

maybe I'll just hold a bunch of scale junk a couple feet above the layout.. and let go?  LOL

thanks guys.. time to start adding junk 

[asciibaron]

wow - that looks the business.  too bad that's not the normal viewing angle.

[lock4244]

DKS, looking at what you've done there from the perspective of a railfan photographer, I'd have to say that the overgrowth obscures the main tracks making photography impossible. In other words, great job... seen a million places like that and have to say you've nailed it. In particular, I like the third shot... simply a great job!

[Erik W]

This is true. I find inspiration in reference photos, or by wandering around areas I shouldn't. Sometimes I'll gather together a pile of stuff and literally sprinkle it around, then rearrange the parts that don't look convincing. I've also found that areas like this grow organically over time.

This area on my layout was not planned out; it happened after a few tries--adding stuff, tearing it back out--and grew in stages over a period of weeks. (Being only a few square inches helped.)
 

David,

Where did you get the cinder blocks? 

Erik

[DKS]

DKS, looking at what you've done there from the perspective of a railfan photographer, I'd have to say that the overgrowth obscures the main tracks making photography impossible. In other words, great job... seen a million places like that and have to say you've nailed it. In particular, I like the third shot... simply a great job!

Thanks very much! That was my goal--to make it harder to see the track, just as in life. One of those trees is actually growing right up through the coal trestle.

wow - that looks the business.  too bad that's not the normal viewing angle.

It is for some people.

David,

Where did you get the cinder blocks?  

Erik

They were a detailing item in the Lew Skroo's Hardware kit from Robert Ray:

http://www.zscalemonster.com/robert-ray/bb-003.htm

[BCRail_FSJ]

Still kitbashing Central Valley Truss bridges....

Three spans complete with two to go.   My mass production system is proceeding at the blistering pace of about 12 hours per span (this is some serious kitbashing), but it has to be done to get across that wide river..... Oh well... it beats building this monster from scratch.

[BCR 570]

Looking good Andy!  I was wondering what you had been up to and why you were so quiet . . . . .


Tim

[BCRail_FSJ]

Hi Tim

If I had waited until I had finished all the spans and the bridge supports you might not have heard from me till Spring!.    I think this is an affordable, if time-consuming option for anyone wanting to model the Peace, Pine, Cottonwood or Prince George bridges on future layouts.  Still figuring out how to make the bridge supports though.

I have also been engrossed in Keith Hansen's new 'North from Edmonton' book about the Northern Alberta Railways.  There are a handful of 70's era Dawson Creek photos in there (at around the page 230 mark).

Happy new year (in advance)

Andy

[BCR 570]

Andy:

Yes, I think you have come up with a very good way to model the bridge.  If you get stuck on the piers you could always go the FDM route just for those.  For those that are identical the CAD work costs will be lower.  Another option might be to try and carve a master from balsa wood, seal it with a thin wash of plaster and then have it cast.  Will the CV kit also yield the spans at either end which are shorter in length and lower in height?

Keith's book is very good.  The photographs taken at Dawson Creek and accompanying captions have been very useful for me as they have yielded much information about interchange traffic between BCR and NAR at the time I am modelling.  Those are the first ground level photographs of the mill I have seen, and they are taken from the same perspective as how it will be seen on my layout.


Tim

[BCRail_FSJ]

Hi Tim...

I think i will try making one good master bridge support and then casting duplicates in hydrocal.  I have enough kit parts for the smaller transition spans.  Then I will use strip styrene to make the remnant trestle bents before the fill at the north end.  I will likely have to truncate the bridge at the south end due to lack of space.   That end can be quite well hidden by trees and a cut though.

[RDG_Rich]

Wow! I'm diggin that bridge! I know how much work it was to build one span, bashing a bunch together has got to be exhausting!

[diezmon]

got around to getting started on the details.

first, some left over plaster for a pile of concrete.



I'm working on a couple of old foundations, to represent old buildings.