East Norwood, OH in Z Scale

[Scottl]

Looks great, but I get the sense the backdrop is scaled a bit large in the boxcar scene. 

I used solvent spray adhesive for my backdrop and no wrinkles or issues.  Mine was 3M 77 spray, but there are others commonly available.

[nickelplate759]

Spray mount?

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I haven't commented lately because what else can I say? This is killer man. Absolutely killer.

[Jesse6669]

Progress on the backdrop.  I did some resizing and printed more panels extending to Linden Road in East Norwood.  The prints are all inkjet printed on 60lb. A4 paper then cut down to size.  When attached the joints are not very visible (see pics).  Any minor space but I can live with it for now.. might try some putty or the like-- with testing first, of course.

For mounting I tried something completely different:  Tombow adhesive rollers.  I did a little digging and they're popular among the crafty crowd, so ordered one to test.  It worked out great for the 60 lb. paper.  The adhesive is extremely thin, and (according to packaging) is "permanent".  But I found I could lightly attach and peel off the print if needed before giving it a final press.  And even when attached permanently, I could remove the sheet with a little residue left on the backdrop (but the paper print destroyed of course).   So if I want to change the backdrop at some point-- in theory at least-- it can be done.

It was very simple to apply.  I ran a couple horizontal strips with an "X" in the middle applied directly to the backdrop.  Some tips:  Mark where the joints between the paper panels are and make sure there's a strip (or two) on the vertical joint overlapping the paper on both sides--this makes sure the paper is tight to the backdrop with no lifted edges.  I learned I need to pre-apply a strip of adhesive along the bottom of the paper because you can't do a strip of adhesive totally flush with the top of the benchwork--it's a few mm and the paper edges will be lifted. 





There will be a retaining wall along the edge of the tracks where the exposed foam is on the gatorboard, and a bunch of trees and shrubs mostly obscuring the bottom of the backdrop.  In reality, there's a highway in this area (recessed) parallel to the railroad (Highway 562 aka the Norwood Lateral).

I also test fit together some of the components of Zumbiel Packaging to see how they'd fit with the backdrop.  I might lop a section off the left section as there's also a water tower that's supposed to go on top... maybe.   

[sirenwerks]

That's looking great! I love those mill windows. Are they 3D printed?

[Jesse6669]

That's looking great! I love those mill windows. Are they 3D printed?

The windows are indeed 3D printed.  This section is a test piece for the curtain wall construction, and I was trying the Dirty Down Rust Effect on the windows.  It's kinda "chunky" (has bits of something in it) so probably won't use it on the end product.

Regarding the water tank..  although it's iconic, it was removed sometime in the 80s so it's prototypic to leave it off.  There was a small peaked roof put in it's place as seen in the pic.

 

[wm3798]

You're setting a new standard.  Very inspiring.
Lee

[SAH]

Wow!  New standard indeed, especially for the backdrops.  I drove "the Lateral" many times during my Cincinnati daze.  You can't really spend much time looking about in the process, but I know exactly where New Bethel Baptist is.  Very well done.  And in Z scale no less.

[Jesse6669]

Quick Update-- 

I've mostly been working on Zumbiel Packaging, adding a cyclonic dust collector and truck dock, and the footers that the building clicks into so it's removable, and roofs.  Here's a pic today;  Compare to the prototype pic with the ex-BN GP50 shown in the previous post.   This would be a little further east.  GK Tower will be on the right of the camera.



Here's the Midland Sub a bit further west, with the styrene for the retaining wall cut but not yet installed, and the mirror is in place to give the sense of "depth".  That's the GM plant siding on the left.



I gotta get to ballasting the yard lead off the Midland.. and I think I will just install a styrene interior floor inside Zumbiel.   I did design/print some crossing timber assemblies needed for the crossings to Zumbiel and GK tower. 

[Jesse6669]

I installed the floor of the Zumbiel interior rail dock and painted the ties/ballasted the siding. 


I wanted the track and ballast of the siding to look old/unkempt, so I used more gray and light browns for the ties;  Then for ballast, I had a cup of the screenings from the mainline AZ Rock ballast that includes larger chunks.  This ended up having the look of some siding track maintained by non-RR personnel using less standard rock for ballast.  I might add some sifted dirt for the final touch.

[Jesse6669]

Update...

Ballasting is done up to the Highland Ave crossing/McCullough Yard limit.  This includes the siding to Weir Frog/Cohen Metals & Dana/Dalton Adding Machine/Rumpke.  I'm going to look at sifting some dirt onto those sidings (same as the lead into Zumbiel).  There's a hole in the sharp curve below the roadbed that is going to get a "Squealer" for a little sound enhancement. 

 

Speaking of Zumbiel, it's about 95% done.  There are some details needed and I may spray the interior of the windows with clear flat.  Maybe the exterior... I haven't decided--these windows are pretty dirty in prototype pics.



I need to add some paved areas between Zumbiel to the loading dock, and also to GK Tower.  I test printed GK to see what the footprint was like, seen here sans-roof.



Roads will be done using DAS modeling clay.  Here are two tests/samples using the clay--one with a 3D printed crossing.  The clay is painted with Tamiya Sky Grey, then given a couple washes with thin black.  The one on the bottom only has one wash, the top has two.  I think it looks decent!



Anyway, that's all for now.  Will post more as things progress.

[NorthWestGN]

Nice work man! You're making great progress and I appreciate the explanation of the church image rendering process in Gemini to get to the view that works in particular. The backdrop images and your track and ballasting work are very effective.

I'm tuned in now!

Brent

[Jesse6669]

Nice work man! You're making great progress and I appreciate the explanation of the church image rendering process in Gemini to get to the view that works in particular. The backdrop images and your track and ballasting work are very effective.

I'm tuned in now!

Brent

Thanks, glad it helps!  I'm doing a lot of "on the job training" and figured I would try pass along tips.  I sometimes get hung up over-thinking and researching how to do stuff and now "just do" things more--it really helps to have bits of test track and seconds of rolling stock or bits of structures to experiment on and get the technique down.  I also do a lot of photography to get a better view of things using the iPhone.   

[Jesse6669]

I finished up some paving for the road into the Zumbiel plant loading area, which also doubles as the access to GK Tower.   This was made as described and I'm very happy with the results.



The joint between the building and the pavement will be disguised with a bit of ballast, some weeds and trash.  I want the building to be removable, which presents the challenge of making the joint as invisible as possible.   Here's  another view showing the loading dock with a PC 45' trailer I printed/decorated.



GK Tower will sit at the junction, in the area with some gray/ballast across the tracks from Zumbiel.  It's printed and I'm starting decoration;  Windows are 3D printed with a translucent resin and they fit snugly inside the windows and around the top rail of the bottom sash.

 



This area is prone to water pooling (and there are always pumping mud-ties along the main there.  There must be a spring or something causing it.  But I wanted to model these puddles convincingly and landed on Boomer Diorama's use of Acrylic Pouring Gloss Medium.  It looks ok I think in this test.



The retaining wall along the Midland Sub is also shaping up.  It's just a strip of styrene I glued to the built-up Gatorboard, with 3D printed cap sections.  Of note--the curved section is where a segment of Cincinnati subway trackage curled into a tunnel under Norwood.  The subway was mostly built but was abandoned before it started up service.  That's an interesting bit of Cincinnati history and you can even get a tour of the old subway under Downtown a couple times a year.

[Jesse6669]

East Norwood Tower (GK) about 90% finished.  I need to add some misc details-- downspouts, chimneys, air conditioner, train order signal, exterior lights, etc.  I *might* add interior lighting at some point so I added a basic interior to the top of the tower.  I weathered it modestly--as it was in the late 80's and still in service and had gotten some "CSX gray" paint.  It was pretty beat up by the late 90s, and was eventually taken out of service by CSX.  It burned down in 2000 from what was likely a vagrant's campfire.