West Ivy

[ocalicreek]

Couple more shots of the AT&D diorama structures, such as they are.

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In the first shot, the loading area is actually one sheet of balsa that's been 'lined' aged and weathered with my pencil technique. I have found that adding a large loading dock can be a way to increase the apparant size of small structures that in reality may not warrant trackside service. In this case I think the building would take rail access anyway, but the dock fits the shape of the L and sweeps around to meet the double doors on the end.

For the second shot, notice the electrical box and conduit, a ruse to disguise the joint line between wall sections. Still more detailing to add, but one I'm pleased with was a Woodland Scenics dry transfer for 'No Clearance' in yellow with vertical letters I applied to the side of the building nearest the siding.

Galen

[Ralph]

I really like that loading dock! Nicely done!
Ralph

[viperman]

I really need to start working on my buildings now

[ocalicreek]

Thanks, Ralph!

Steven, you are not alone - I have been spending most of my hobby time on this layout, plus unpacking & sorting hobby stuff that was packed hastily into boxes without much rhyme or reason. Anyway, my summertime kitbash is awaiting attention...but I won't get to it until next week unless there's some time tonight.

I layed out a few ties alongside the diorama tracks just to see how well the fiber board material will hold and it seems just fine. I want to get started laying track but first I must cookie-cut the roadbed.

Galen

[viperman]

Galen, as you know I'm sure, my layout and I do not live together. So a while back I brought home some building kits I have (Clayton County Lumber) so I built those, but now after seeing your buildings and reading through the book I checked out from the library (101 projects for your model railroad) I want to detail/weather these things to get them more ready for the layout.

[ocalicreek]

Galen, as you know I'm sure, my layout and I do not live together. So a while back I brought home some building kits I have (Clayton County Lumber) so I built those, but now after seeing your buildings and reading through the book I checked out from the library (101 projects for your model railroad) I want to detail/weather these things to get them more ready for the layout.

Funny, my layout is in the garage and sometimes I feel the same way!

But seriously, time away from a 'home' layout can be very productive. I think about my own modeling during the in-between times; between school and the first call (living in my wife's old bedroom and modeling on a 2x2 square of plywood 'workbench' on the kitchen table & most of the modeling supply in storage), then just recently between the second and current calls, up in the 'cabin' on that same portable workbench, the modeling material not in storage this time, but practically so! If I take stock of the modeling I accomplished during these in-between times, it's substantial!

Hang in there. Also neat how a good modeling book can spur on the interest, eh?

Galen

[viperman]

I have the buildings assembled, but I still need to dirty them up a bit and decide what I'll be doing for interiors

[ocalicreek]

Progress this weekend. Sunday afternoon I managed to cut away all that was not roadbed from the fiber board sheet without cutting off any fingers.

Now I can begin cutting out basic landforms & features below grade, then install the roadbed and proceed with tracklaying. However, with inlaws coming this week, I may not get to anything that ambitious so I may finally sit down and start work on my kitbash.

Galen

[ocalicreek]

Here you can see the roadbed cut from the fiberboard, along with some initial foam cutting to begin below grade shaping. The corner of the layout in the right side of the picture will be the location of the passenger station, with the brick arch over the road leading to said station. On the otherside of the tracks (as yet uncarved) the road will cross over the river and head into the low-rent district near the AT&D factory.

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The close-up shows the turnout placement for that side of the layout. The one leading off the main is a standard #6L while the one heading back to the factory spur will be a custom curve, approximately a 19" radius inner and a larger radius outer curve. The factory diorama is resting on foam risers - the land forms around it will actually be higher, not as shown. I haven't fit the foam around it yet.

Once basic below-grade landforms are in, I can liquid-nail down the roadbed and begin laying track!

Galen

[Steve]

That is looking soooooo goooood! Can't wait to see some tracks layed, but I'll try to be patient and just watch

[ocalicreek]

Thanks, Steve! I can't wait to see some ties and rail and spikes and balast...oh my! It is indeed exciting, and this has been a long time coming.

I should also mention some progress on the Timesaver side of the room...found a way to strengthen the upper shelf of the gorilla rack shelving. Without the middle front vertical supports (they'd make operating and photography especially difficult) I was reluctant to put anything on top of the shelving, including the front horizontal pieces. But even with out additional support they hung there pretty well.

I managed to get a 1x2 strip, 8' long, screwed along the top of the shelf. This provides good stability by securing the metal framework to the shelf surface and the strip, as well as being a good ledge to keep things on top from falling off onto unsuspecting operators below! :o

But that's old news...did it last Sunday before the roadbed was cut.

Galen