Wintery Wild Mary, a T-Trak Experiment

[PiperguyUMD]

Seeing all the great TTrak work around here has given me some serious FOMO! One of the big reasons I’ve been reluctant to test the waters is because so little of the WM was double tracked, but after I picked up a 3d print of the Emory Grove interlocking station, it was time to dive in! I picked up one of the Klawndye’s double modules and got to work. Putting these together scratched all the same itches as building kits when I was a kid. I did not expect to get hit with nostalgia when putting this together! I really enjoyed it!



To me one of the fun challenges will be making Kato Unitrak look right. When I picked up the pair of crossovers I needed, I was pleasantly surprised to find North American tie spacing, all be it with a mixture of concrete and wooden ties.  The wide tie spacing is a tough compromise in my opinion. My first thought was to use the unitrack with concrete ties and simply paint the ties. Time consuming, but potentially very effective. Then I had another idea! I’ll just cover them up! I’d done some winter modeling before, but there are number of new products and techniques that weren’t available 20 years ago. TTrak will be the perfect place to hone some new methods to potentially bring into FreemoN.







Looking at prototype photos of Emory Grove, I may need to create some scenery that drops below the level of the of the track. To give my self the option of digging trenches, I used my router and a straight edge to cut a small opening parallel to the track. I glued in a piece of 1” foam underneath.  I could have used a drop module but I’ll know better next time!



I love modeling in the Freemo system and will continue to do so, but TTrak looks like a great place to explore some of the things that FreemoN simply can’t do. For example, FreemoN can’t really do is back drops, or even better, shadow boxes. I’ll be adding shadow boxes in my TTrak ventures in an effort to capture that look of a permanent layout with matching fascia and valances. I had planned to get one of the RS Laser kits but they weren’t available. Nbd, I’ll just make my own! A $14 sheet of plywood (and $250 in tools later 🤣) we have proof of concept. I made a quick template for the L brackets using plywood and cut them out using a pattern tracing bit in my router. The top and back were cut to size, and the sky board and front fascia were added using some 1/8” Masonite. I’ll add some cheap sky paper and dimmable LED lightening for polished look.



The scene behind the station appears to rise in a low hill, I  take care of this with a stack of 1” foam carved to shape and covered with sculptamold. While I was at it, I cut out openings in the sub roadbed to access the power routing options on the bottom of the Kato turnouts. These may be unnecessary but seems like it might be a good idea to have them just in case. I’ve figured out BWWB, but still scratching my head about how exactly the crossovers work.





With the Unitrack on the bench, I painted the rails Floquil roof brown since they will be visible above the snow. Once that dried, I started adding “snow”. I’ll be using Golden Light modeling paste for this. For the first go around I masked the rails but this was totally unnecessary. The paste is thinned with water and very easy to work with. I slather it on, then spread it to the desired appearance with a brush dipped in water. I double checked my work with an old truck equipped with pizza cutters. All clear!



Perhaps the most interesting part so far was the work on the train order station. I did the bulk of that work on my in-laws kitchen table this week. When we get home this weekend I’ll be able to take some better photos. I picked up some Showcase Miniatures signals (these are gorgeous btw!), and will have to scratch build the train order stands to complete the scene. After that, lots of trees, and SNOW!

[PiperguyUMD]

Let there be light! While we were in PA, I painted the shadow box (and the module frame) flat matte black, attached the previously mentioned cheap sky paper, and installed the LED strip lights. I didn’t bring any other electrical gear with me, so I’ll have to instal the dimmer switch later this weekend. For the moment though, I can attach my power source for proof of concept! I like where this is headed!



While we’re here, here are a few close up shots of the train order station. I found a really awesome product for the brick mortar at Mainline Hobbies last week, which the name of escapes me… But it is applied like a paint, but dries to a hazy finish like tile grout. Once it’s dried, the haze is wiped off with a clean, wet paint brush (or paper towel) leaving behind only the material in the mortar lines. Super easy, great results! I’ll post the name once I unpack. I need to do a little touch up to the foundation and the underside of the light shades. Finishing touches will be some of the interlocking plumbing and a 3d printed Emory Grove station sign.





Obviously some trees were planted before we left PA, but I was holding off on the foreground scenery so I could double check the electrical connections on the track after applying the snow. Now that we’re home, that’s next on the list, then I can continue tying in the scenery.

[John]

I like what you did with that little model - the icecicles are a cool touch ... Are you adding the chimney? I'm still trying to find some drawings for the US&S electro pneumatic gear for the interlocking plant ..

[PiperguyUMD]

I like what you did with that little model - the icecicles are a cool touch ... Are you adding the chimney? I'm still trying to find some drawings for the US&S electro pneumatic gear for the interlocking plant ..

It’s back there. All of the pics I could find were from low angles almost directly in front of the building. I couldn’t see a chimney, but I didn’t want to leave it out if there was one, so I kept it nice and low.



Here is the mortar product previously mentioned. Great stuff! #notsponsered, just impressed!

[nickelplate759]

How did you make the train-order station?  It's terrific.

[PiperguyUMD]

How did you make the train-order station?  It's terrific.

Thanks! Its a 3d print. John posted the files in the WM Modelers FB page. The only things I added where the lamps and a piece of bronze wire for the downspout in the front.

[John]

This angle shows the chimney and some of the equipment

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[chessie system fan]

That snow looks terrific!  I'm filing that modeling paste idea away for future reference.  What did you use for the rest of the snow? 

Maybe it's just me, but that sky backdrop looks like "summer" to me.  To my mind's eye, "winter" skies are either deep blue with cirrus clouds or a whiter, overcast sky that is mostly filled with gray clouds.

[PiperguyUMD]

This angle shows the chimney and some of the equipment

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I’m glad I didn’t leave it off! Looks like I need to add some kind of cap. This shot is actually really helpful on a number of fronts - not only placement of equipment, but also the size and types of trees. Looks like I need to make a few more pine trees, and one needs to make a home immediately behind the station.

That snow looks terrific!  I'm filing that modeling paste idea away for future reference.  What did you use for the rest of the snow? 

Maybe it's just me, but that sky backdrop looks like "summer" to me.  To my mind's eye, "winter" skies are either deep blue with cirrus clouds or a whiter, overcast sky that is mostly filled with gray clouds.

I agree actually. I want to get my lighting system situated before I tackle that one. I may airbrush in some darker clouds. I really want to capture that gray, ominous, snow storm look.  That said, if it doesn’t work, I’m ok rolling with a Blue bird winter day. The most important thing to me is that the scene is cohesive, even if it’s not quite what I set out to do.

[John]

On the left is the train order signal -- animating that would be fun -- or a rotary switch on the front of the fascia -- since you have the TO station, you need another module to the right with the Butler Road bridge, and of course Glyndon station 

Attached is a sign to put on the front of the module    [ Guests cannot view attachments ]

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https://theorycircuit.com/mini-projects/simple-traffic-light-circuit-using-ic-555/

[Ed Kapuscinski]

You want an appropriate photo backdrop?

[wm3798]

Looks like we might need to reserve another room in Altoona next year!
That looks fantastic!

[PiperguyUMD]

You want an appropriate photo backdrop?

I’m good on this one, but I might take you up on the next one. I’m eyeballing the feed elevator at Reid. A photo back drop might be just the ticket to blend in the road, empty pastures, and the horizon.

Looks like we might need to reserve another room in Altoona next year!
That looks fantastic!

I really hope I can make it for that one! They’ll have to crank down the AC for my modules:D

[PiperguyUMD]

Planted some more trees.
Built the first of two signals using Showcase Miniatures kits (pics later)
Got the lights and dimmer switch wired up.
Got the station sign painted and on the building. I had an idea about how I might be able to do this a little more cleanly. I may try again later.

Off to work!

[PiperguyUMD]

Here’s the signal that faces east. I started with a pole mount search light kit and added a 3 light signal lower down on the pole. I don’t have the first clue how to add a functioning signal, but I did add the LEDs so that I could add them later if I ever figure it out, or at the very least could permanently light one of the signals.



As best I can tell, the signal that faced west had two three light signals on the mast. The extra signal head showed up today, so perhaps I can get that completed some time next week