Newbie - District 22 - Downtown L.A. (A table top railway)

[jonte]

Yet more woodwork.

This time, detachable wings.

Attached:

                   

[jonte]

           


Detached:

       

Thanks for looking.

jonte

[faraway]

Jonte, your unusual wood construction is fascinating every time. I like the idea to have it build like a theater with a predefined viewing point at the front.

[jonte]

Hi Reinhard,

and thank you for your usual kind words of support. I'm glad you like it.

As there's not much of a layout here I'm hoping that together with the narrow depth of the scene, it'll make it look a little longer than it really is; if that makes sense

Please don't study the quality of the workmanship for too long though; as you can see, I'm certainly no chippy and the fact that the only power tools I own consist merely of a jig saw and electric drill, don't help too much either. I'm sure, however, a coat of paint will hide a multitude of sins

Thanks for your interest.

jonte

[dgaken]

I'm excited to see this layout progress! I love the viewing window design.

[jonte]

That's very kind of you, Dan, and thank you for your interest.

The intention was always to employ the 'window-on-the-world' approach as I call it, as it offers the observer (me!) a tantalising glimpse of the scene before them; just like looking at an old photograph of say Downtown LA, where you're left wondering: 'what was behind that building in the foreground' or 'what were the buildings like further up or down the street just out of shot?'. Sadly (especially if much of the scene has long since been demolished) they shall never know. Similarly, by restricting the view in this way, the observer of this humble model is
also left in suspense (unless they look over the top, of course ). That's the idea, anyway.

As for the construction side of things, although I know roughly the proportions of what I'm after and what needs to be portable etc., frankly I'm just making it up as I go along. Think I'm riding my luck!

Regards,

jonte

[jonte]

Finally, a backscene.

               

[jonte]

               

   

Now that the scene is fully enclosed, thoughts can now turn to some modelling.

Regards,

jonte

[jonte]

No going back:

           

jonte

[jonte]

An update.

I think to describe my modelling itinerary as 'random' is probably an understatement. To the casual observer there certainly doesn't appear to be any logical order to the build of late.

To emphasise this, may I present to you my latest dabblings in my attempt to model this postage stamp size scene from the environs of downtown L.A. in the late seventies.

           

This is my humble attempt at weathering the few ties which appear on the layout and are those of the switch to the right hand side of the model as you look at it. Made from a laminate of a couple of veneers I had at the time, they seem to have taken on some extra terrestrial properties in as much as they can almost withstand any punishment I could administer in my rather feeble attempt to weather them with an old wire brush. Having resisted any attempt by me to inflict even the slightest blemish (apart from pricked fingers in the process!!) I finally gave up and took an old scalpel blade to them. This proved rather more successful, however, apart from the odd gouge and several slashes to faintly resemble splitting timbers, I soon had to prevent myself from getting carried away as they's already begun to look like something more akin to an old logging line than ageing wood in the dusty earth of late twentieth century L.A..

Anyway, at this stage of the process, they've received an acrylic primer coat and first coat of Humbrol slate green enamel paint, thinned almost to oblivion with copious amounts of thinners, so as to form the first of several washes. Slate green ties? Have I really lost the plot? Well, I am working from a limited palette here (limited to what's on my modelling desk) and perhaps if I'd been blessed with a more generous range of colours I'd have chosen something possibly more suitable (although not being even slightly artistic - more autistic - I've no absolutely no idea what that would have been ). Anyway, hopefully it'll turn out to be nothing like green. Fingers crossed.

I started this brief update with reference to my apparent random and rather illogical approach to this build, and to continue in this vein, I propose to start building a 'cross buck', which will stand adjacent to the alley way to the left of the model, on Industrial Place as I'm calling it. Why? Dunno really; apart from to say I saw a rather decrepid looking one a while back in an old photo near Vigners Street(?) and as I adore decrepitude in all its gory forms, I've had the urge to just get on and build one ever since. This is really my approach to modelling: if something appeals and enthuses you, do it; a change is as good as a rest as they say and it all adds to the sum total eventually. I'm already hunting round for some thin fuse wire and nickel/brass for the arms (I think plastic of prtotypical thickness could prove too flimsy) and although I'm tempted to solder them to a post of brass of appropriate thickness, weathered brass still looks nothing like weathered wood; somehow, the balsa section of that size that I have is likely to warp in the long run, so the search is on amongst the cob webs under my modelling desk for a more hardier wood section. Incidentally, I found a suitable 'rail road crossing' sign to adorn the arms on a (US) highway code type site, so all I need to do is to ask my techno minded children to amend it electronically to a suitable size, so that I can simply print it out and stick it on; or something like that.

If anyone has bothered reading this far (and I don't blame you if you've given up the ghost after looking at those rather uninviting photos above) you may have wondered why I don't just go out and buy them, afterall, they're only a few dollars. Well, quite. However, even though they're available from specialist model shops over here in the UK, none is near enough to the enclave of Liverpool, and therefore subject to the dreaded postal charges which equate to the price they're being sold for. And, having just forked out fore something rather special from Texas ( an update soon, hopefully) the cost of postage and taxes is already exceeding what it's cost to build the rest of the layout thus far. See what I mean?

As you see, I''m rather tight- fisted.

Regards,

jonte

[jonte]

The Good Folk of the Republic awoke to stormy skies and torrential rain this morning, however, a rather large parcel full of good ol' Texas sunshine arrived, soon after, in the morning post to lighten the existential gloom.

Well, the weather eventually abated so I seized the earliest opportunity to take her outside and capture one or two piccies of her saucy little lines.

Fellow Gaugers, may I present to you the mainstay of motive power on 'District 22' in the form of this fine little lady:

       

Now, for those who may have been following this rather slap dash chronicle of table top layout building, you may remember that I'd intended to purchase a CF7u since I first learned of them, although this was proving a little more difficult than first thought as Athearn - the original manufacturer as I understand - had discontinued the range. I'd seacrched high and low looking for a used version, but on the odd occasion I discovered one (they're like hens' teeth to get hold of), I'd always just missed the boat. JWB kindly offered some solace with his posting of Athearn's future intentions to rerelease them, currently sometime towards the end of the year but possibly early 2015. This also involved me having to fork out the princely sum of £135 to secure one from a dealer in the South of England: not that I'm complaining about the price, just the thought having to wait so long. Anyway, one problem with this solution - having interrogated Athearn's website - was that the new release was to have the angular cab, however, from the photo I'd seen of the loco actually working the Patch, it appeared to have a curved cab. Looking at one or two of the models that had been for sale on the 'net, I noticed that Athearn had produced a curved cab, although these all appeared to be in the earlier 'pin stripe (?)' livery.

So, what a stroke of luck when one final search revealed the loco you see above: a curved roofed version in warbonnet livery, lurking on the shelves of 'Planomodel products 'of Texas - an excellent proprietor offering a first class service (usual disclaimer.....). And all for the competitive price of just under sixty dollars plus shipping.

As we've not been together long, all I can say is that I admire her excellent finish and livery; and as for those separately applied rails and grab holds....... I really shall enjoy getting to know her better.

Just a shame that I'm going to have spoil her finish before she can be let loose along the brick canyon (when I've built it!); or perhaps I should be positive and say 'enhance' her. Better get practising with that airbrush

jonte

[Tyson Rayles]

I always liked CF7's, they are so ugly they are cute!!!!

[jonte]

Yep. Cute will do for me

Thanks for looking in, Mike.

jonte

[jonte]

Hi

Just another brief update, if I may, to show I've not been a state of total inertia.

First of all, I'd like to say that this update has not only provided me with an education in modelling but also the use of technology: having only just got used to using my daughter's all singing, all dancing, compact camera, blow me down; didn't I just happen to go and drop the bl**dy thing whilst preparing a couple of shots for you. Needless to say, the zoom lens is now stuck out, and despite sourcing some useful advice from the 'net, well, it's still stuck out. No choice but to get it repaired :oops: She was very good about it, though. I've always been clumsy I'm afraid, and she's well used to me.

Anyway as a last resort - apart from my phone, which I can just about send texts with having had it for about five years and am still unable to take photos with (I could with my previous one but guess what? yes, you've guessed it, I broke that too ) I turned to my brand new i pad (?) - well it's Apple, anyway, not to be confused with my lap top which is apparently Micro-something-or-other, in particular the photography part of it, as I was told it could take piccies as well, when given it by my wife for my birthday a couple of weeks ago. Problem was, I had to wait for my daughter to come in from work to assist as I'd absolutely no idea how you connect one to the other (I know it's probably unnecessary but I'm used to downloading onto the lap top; I'm easily confused!). Turns out you use the cable for charging it. Clever, hey? I didn't bother asking my son as he just gives me that contemptuous look whenever I ask him anythi ng remotely computer orientated. Boys, hey. Actually, he's an adult; but you get what I mean. Thank goodness for the girls

Anyway, having figured out how you capture the odd image or two - quite simple as it turns out as (like the camera) it does all the work for you - still managed to get it the wrong way round though :? - I hope you think it was all worth it. BTW, I've left out the one that shows my bare feet in the corner; not a pretty sight.

           

Regards for now,

jonte

[jonte]

Almost forgot.

The prototype crossbuck I've used for reference:

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Nothing like it, I hear you add, but it's as near as I can get, I'm afraid!!

jonte