Kitbash ideas for Standard Steel

[Dave V]

Here's the space I have to work with, with the mountain removed:





I don't mind dramatically trimming back that mountain.





The track is free to change as well.

[unittrain]

Man that layout looks so prototypical the lighting the weathering the trees on down to the dirt and ground cover ect ect it is awesome I feel smaller layouts with good attention to detail are best thats why I have downsized my layout plan to have more detail and more realistic trains and scenery thats why your layout is so well liked it captures the prototype very well.

[DKS]

I can see the scene working very well with that hill whittled down to almost nothing--think a retaining wall, the very edge of the upward slope, and a line of trees--and every remaining square inch of space monopolized by steel plant. I could also see the siding taken out so you can add at least one new switch (essentially restoring what was there pre-Blair), or possibly two...

I think for starters re: kitbashing, I might invest in at least one more Vulcan, possibly two, so you can make one really long building to run along the edge of the highway. From there, it'll likely have to grow organically to suit the space.

I think what's most exciting is that you're not reluctant to tear out whole chunks of layout to achieve what you see in your mind's eye, even if you only see a vague impression of what you want.

[Dave V]

Another Vulcan, huh?  I like the way you think!

[Chris333]

4 kits would look something like these 2 kits without backs:


And if you use New River a bash something like this might match what other mill buildings are there:

[Dave V]

I just wonder how much this would fundamentally change the whole nature of the layout.  I don't mind, as long as it's "same or better."  Right now it's still pretty rural, even with the JC Blair building.  A steel mill makes it pretty industrial.  Will it look silly that compressed?

[DKS]

Ever see Super 8?

Point being it's based in a rural-ish town in a verdant valley, where the town is totally dominated by a steel plant. As soon as you started down this road, this immediately came to mind.

[Chris333]

Just my first doodle


And there could be all sorts of smaller brick buildings like a boiler house and machine shop. The crane area would have all sorts of steel shapes laid out on the ground.

[Chris333]

Keep some of the hill:

[Chris333]

I would make a cardboard cut-out of that whole area and start playing around in full scale.

[Dave V]

Second choice maintains the visual separation from the Spruce Creek side.  I like!

As for structural steel shapes lying around...not so much.  Standard Steel was, and is, famous for making primarily one thing...railroad wheels!

[Chris333]

Oops, had no idea what they made.

[crrcoal]

Go to google earth or bing maps and look up Avonmore PA.    Rural setting with similar facility. So what you want to do is spot on!

[DKS]

I see something along these lines, myself...

[Dave V]

Maybe...  Concerned that I will lose any sense of separation between the layout sides if I do that.