PRR/Conrail Juniata Division Engineering Report

[Dave V]

Well, gents, I appreciate all the different options you've suggested for the stone wall.

I should have been more clear in my dissatisfaction with home my stone wall came out.  I absolutely love the texture; I don't think anyone does cut stone like Chooch.  I was also pleased with how the color came out (layers of PolyScale paints such as reefer gray, UP dark gray, railroad tie brown, etc.). 

I did not like how it cut (it's too stretchy to do straight cuts) and I did not use it correctly.  Lazily I stuck it straight onto the rough Styrofoam wall that was left behind the rigid stone wall I'd pulled out.  This meant it had a wavy surface.  Couple that with the crooked cuts I made on the top edge, and I didn't do a good job.

By backing it with styrene and leaving the straight edge along the top (so the rough cut is at the bottom and can be buried in weeds) I should solve those two problems.  Besides, it's already en route from MBK.

[Dave V]

The new factory begins to take shape in this quick iPhone grab.

[conrailthomas519]

Looking Good there Dr. Dave! its coming together...

[Bsklarski]

Massive. I like.

[DKS]

[Bsklarski]

You know what would be the cats behind is if the siding went through the new building to reach the dock on the brick building.........

[Dave V]

DKS, what color should I do?  I posted a neat two-tone red above that's probably closer to the real thing, but a concrete/brick combo would be more common for this style of construction.

I real love the colors used on this HO version of the American Hardware Supply posted by user "faraway" on the old Atlas forum:

http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae149/faraway52/FL2012/IMG_1352.jpg?t%201333622264

It's very close to the real JC Blair & Co.

[Dave V]

Okay, working with colors:



The wall on the right is actually the short end wall; I narrowed the entire structure to fit between the road and the siding.

[conrailthomas519]

Dave, your idea to shorten the building, makes it definitly better!

[DKS]

DKS, what color should I do?  I posted a neat two-tone red above that's probably closer to the real thing, but a concrete/brick combo would be more common for this style of construction.

I would tone down the concrete color to a more neutral grey with some light weathering to warm it up just a bit (along the lines of the original stand-in you had earlier); the cream kind of overpowers the brick. I must say the brick color on the larger section to the left is spot on.

I liked the longer version a bit better, but if you stick with the shorter one, I'd consider adding more buildings to the right--shorter "outbuilding" types but all connected. Might want to see if it's possible to work in a "drive through" further to the right where the street passes under a pair of connected buildings. Just a thought.

One more thought--a touch of soot for the chimney to the left, and a few bits and bobs for the roof.

[Dave V]

I would tone down the concrete color to a more neutral grey with some light weathering to warm it up just a bit (along the lines of the original stand-in you had earlier); the cream kind of overpowers the brick. I must say the brick color on the larger section to the left is spot on.

I liked the longer version a bit better, but if you stick with the shorter one, I'd consider adding more buildings to the right--shorter "outbuilding" types but all connected. Might want to see if it's possible to work in a "drive through" further to the right where the street passes under a pair of connected buildings. Just a thought.

One more thought--a touch of soot for the chimney to the left, and a few bits and bobs for the roof.

Dave, as I mentioned, the wall on the right is the narrow end wall.  I still intend to use the Walthers structure exactly as I mocked it up earlier.  I only propped the end wall next to the Atlas structure to indicate the color contrast.

The chimney will get soot like my other chimney:

[Dave V]

Dave, your idea to shorten the building, makes it definitly better!

I really didn't do a good job of explaining what I'm doing.  I'm not shortening the building; just comparing colors with both buildings by using one of the end walls (which are smaller and therefore easier to paint).

[Dave V]

More color experimentation. The brick curtains are PRR Tuscan like the Atlas building on the left. The trim is Boxcar Red on the left and on the right and across the top the trim is Burnt Sienna. I think I like the Burnt Sienna.

[DKS]

Bit too much red to these eyes (albeit admittedly bloodshot from surgery). All blends together.

Much preferred a toned-down version of this for the concrete--

[Dave V]

Dave,

I've already stepped out with the red.  I think it's a camera issue...  Lemme shoot it with the D5100.  The terra cotta color is a bit duller in real life.

Thought about this one; the whole structure is brick red in real life, so I kinda like the idea of keeping it that way so it's closer to prototype.  It also helps tie the tow structures together better.