The Oakland Industrial: A Street running layout.

[Miles]

Nice work Miles.  As a Bay Area native, I'm especially fond of the setting.

What does narrative depth mean?

Narrative Depth in the case of model railroads, is telling a richer story from the details on the layout alone. It's telling the story of the era, the neighborhood or region modeled and the kind of (in this case tiny plastic) people that frequent the area that you model. All of these, if done thoughtfully can tell a larger story about your layout and give the viewer something to have their imagination work with.

Carefully thought out placement of vehicles, signage, figures & buildings = An engaging story, if done well.

[Smike]

Interesting take on it, larger scales do let you play out the details to a higher level in compact scenes, like the one you have. It also helps that you display a really fine modeling talent and some excellent photography work to bring that scene to life. Love to see more. On the flip side scenes for say the Tehachpi loop require expansiveness to be rich and engaging which is often compromised or not possible with larger scales.

[packers#1]

I like your take on narrative depth, it's the main reason I've thought about switching to HO; maybe one day. But keep the pics coming, your layout is stunning!

[Miles]

Tonight I installed correctly painted white & green firehydrants on the streets of Oakland, following the guidelines on this site: http://www.firehydrant.org/info/hycolor.html

[Baronjutter]

Very nice, I need to get all those little details for my urban layout soon.  I like the old cobbles or what ever peeking out from the edge of the road there, very nice curbs too.  Did your scratch them or is that part of some sidewalk system?

[Miles]

Aaaaaaand, we're BACK! Had to figure out where my life was going to take me next, and apparently it's beginning my career Industrial Design as opposed to more college. SO! I decided to take a heavier Prototypical lean with this module and choose more Oakland prototype structures to build for the layout rather than adapt kits. Hopefully this will result in more scratchbuilding and less empty lots.

I also decided to add removable staging at one end of the layout, with the yard lead being the 24" R curve you see the SW1500 & gon rolling on.







Most of the buildings seen will be "stand-ins" until the prototypes are measured and the models built, but it's coming along.

Anybody know where I could find 3-4 IHC Victorian house kits for cheap? I'd like to kitbash them into something more Oakland, 2 story versions vs. the 3 story models you see there.

[jagged ben]

Yeah... that roof definitely makes it feel like Oakland.   

[tappertrainman]

The Espee is my second love (after Santa Fe) so it's great seeing this active again.  Thanks!

James

[Miles]

Did a miniature version of "This old house" turning a VERY tired IHC victorian into one befitting my Oakland industrial neighborhood prototypes. The Green one behind it will also be kitbashed/scratchbashed into a more accurate model once this one is complete. The prototype for this house is at 13th & E18th street in Oakland.

[Miles]

I decided to add another module to the layout, and change everything around to more closely resemble locations in Oakland.

Photos are here: http://weatheringman.tumblr.com/post/98766430845/thesunsetempire-my-ho-layout-continues-to-grow

of Particular note is the installation of the 880 Cypress St. Viaduct at the end of the layout to serve as a view block.

[DeltaBravo]

Nice work,I like the detail, wish I could fine those fire hydrants in N-Scale

[railnerd]

Nice work,I like the detail, wish I could fine those fire hydrants in N-Scale

http://www.shapeways.com/model/848554/20-n-scale-1-160-fire-hydrants.html?materialId=61

[Miles]

The ITR Baldwin makes a caboose hop to the yard.



The painters arrived to refinish the house.



Working on an abandoned lot

repaired img tags. -gfh

[jpec]

http://www.shapeways.com/model/848554/20-n-scale-1-160-fire-hydrants.html?materialId=61

With NZT's unavailable,  I've used Shapeways and they're great, especially for an East Coast pike.  Out West they use wet barrel hydrants which are a different design but in N Scale, what the heck?

Miles, you're doing some great work!

Jeff

[Miles]

A lot of cars arrived in the mail this week from a variety of sources. Can you name every year, make & model?