149th Street Harlem Station

[JaBear]

Yes, I'd like to experiment a little bit with that system

Hmmmmmmm, far to advanced for this Bear, but I guess with the improvements to battery size and technology in general, it’s well worth a go. Good luck, I shall observe with interest.
Cheers, the Bear.

[faraway]

.... Yes, I'd like to experiment a little bit with that system. It's the reason why I will use a boxcab, lots of place for the hardware.....

My thought was to run with constant DC powered rails for semi continuous accumulator reloading. But the challenge will be the radio receiver and motor control. I know ship and airplane models are controlled via servo motors. Is there some electronic at the market available to control a motor direct from the receiver?

[bdw9535]

Matt,

I also enjoy carfloat operations and have been following your build. You have done a great job in such a short time.

Bruce

[sailormatlac]

.... Yes, I'd like to experiment a little bit with that system. It's the reason why I will use a boxcab, lots of place for the hardware.....

My thought was to run with constant DC powered rails for semi continuous accumulator reloading. But the challenge will be the radio receiver and motor control. I know ship and airplane models are controlled via servo motors. Is there some electronic at the market available to control a motor direct from the receiver?

Reinhard, many systems are available for trains. Parts are getting relatively small to be quite useful with HO models (I think steam locomotive tenders are well suited for that). It's far to be cheap, but for this particular island layout, it will be useful. Some systems like Tam Valley can be plugged into your actual DCC without too much modifications. Others start from scratch (S-Cab, AirWire, etc.). There was recently an article in MRH about a custom-made system similar to what you describe. It could be another good option but control festures are a little bit limited.

@Bruce: Thank you! It is really a fun project to tackle and small enough to have hope completing it in near future.

Matt

[faraway]

That is fantastic. Did not know it exists already as a commercial product. It is an outstanding solution for a small one engine switching layout.
May be some others are interested too.
http://www.tamvalleydepot.com/products/d...nents.html

[sailormatlac]

Did some work yesterday, mainly painting and weathering the concrete piers and making wooden pilings. I did another bunch of pilings today. I use wooden stick used to light candlelight in churches. Many years ago, when I worked at a shrine, a brother gave me quite a bunch of them for modelling purpose. They are about 2.5mm diameter, so they are useful for many things (utility poles, etc.). To weather the wood, I tried a technic called ebonizing. You apply tea to wood, let it dry, them apply a solution of steel wool/peroxide. Most people use vinegar, but peroxide dissolve the steel wool faster (in a matter of minutes instead of days). It reacts with wood (and tea) tannings by oxidizing them in a nice grey color. If you add too much, it will turn almost black. I made two application and drybrushed a buff color paint to make wood grain pop up. This was also a good way to replicate real wooden pilings color gradient. The famous CPR carfloat in Rosebery, BC was used as prototype to make sure the weathering pattern was realistic.



Next step is to paint water. It was supposed to be done today, but weather was quite nice and I decided it was the best time to replace my veranda's wood planking. Lots of rain in the upcoming days, so it will be perfect for modelling. For the water, I'm thinking using a greenish/brown - kind of varech color - then apply several layers of acrylic gloss medium to add ripples.

Matt

[sailormatlac]

Some more wood details added this morning. Next step is to complete the pontoon and secure it in place permanently. After, the last weathering will be done before adding the acrylic gloss medium.









Matt

[Ralph]

VERY nice!!!!

[Canadian Atlantic Railway]

I never heard of your weathering technique for the wooden pilings before. The results are spot on for the 1:1 world.

[dickgreen]

Love the pilings!!
How did you achieve the mushroomed tops they look great

Thanks

Dick

[sailormatlac]

Love the pilings!!
How did you achieve the mushroomed tops they look great

Thanks

Dick

I did like the real prototype and hammered them with a hammer.

Matt

[MLW]

Extremely well done. WOW! Attention to details and nice piling (and colors too.)

Awaiting progress

[sailormatlac]

Hi folks! I hope the wait wasn't to long. I spent last week rebuilding my veranda and assembling shelves to store my vinyl record and figurines collection, so no layout progress. My goal is to complete this layout before September 1st and deliver it to Jérôme. Only structures including the tugboat whould be left to build. I'm already planning to build another small layout for my own entertainment.



A few days ago, I decided to complete the water body. It's my first time modelling water even if I've been doing model railroading for over 25 years now. Harlem River waters are your
typical greyish/brownish color found on any urban setting According to pictures, the surface is moderatly rippled.





The first step was to add the bridge pontoon. It's basically a block of MDF. I rusted it using acrylics and cosmetic sponges. These work wonders.



I started by applying a base coat color mixed with chocolate brown and green. When dry, I airbrushed the seawalls base with a mist of alcohol and India ink. I made sure the water near the walls was darker to give the impression waters are deep there. Next step was to apply acrylic gloss medium gel. After a few minutes, when starting to get thicker, I dabbled the surface to create the ripple. A lot of air bubbles got trapped into the mix and it was really annoying to remove them. It wasn't perfect, but still decent. The next morning, another coat was added and dabbled. For this second coat, I added some acrylic paint to the medium to get a darker shade of my base color. I used it to create shadows on the water. I often saw that kind of shadow when St. Lawrence river's waters are muddy. Some highly were also added and I dramatized the shadow near the walls.



Finally, today, I added two coats of Future Floor finish. I heavily diluted Citadel washes to make this layer muddy. It really helped to subdue my crude painted shadows. They are quite cartoony I must say. At least, when the tug and carfloat are there, it looks better. I'm aware it could be better, but show must go on. I have to fit against my improductive perfectionnist state of mind for once. Anyway, the layout is already beyond Jérôme's expectations.

I also built concrete walls with cardboard. These will surround the property on 148th Street and Exterior Street. They were painted with Krylon flat camouflage beige then weathered liberally with oil paints. When dry, I dullcoted them. I love those easy technics, they really bring life to the most generic structures.





The carfloat is also getting a coat of paint and rust. More to come.

Matt

[faraway]

Great progress, looking very good.

I am confused by this statement:

.... deliver it to Jérôme..... I'm already planning to build another small layout for my own entertainment....

Are you not going to operate it and run a wireless boxcar engine?

[sailormatlac]

Great progress, looking very good.

I am confused by this statement:

.... deliver it to Jérôme..... I'm already planning to build another small layout for my own entertainment....

Are you not going to operate it and run a wireless boxcar engine?

Yes, I'll operate it with a wireless boxcab. We area actually working on low-cost concept using the GE 44-ton frame. If we are satisfied, maybe we will build another boxcab (I've got 2 shells) using a motorized truck with correct wheelbase and wheel diameter. But I won't promise anything since many interesting projects could focus my energies on something else!

Jérôme is the guy that pestered me to rebuild the layout and he really enjoy operating challenging trackwork. My old house being continously restored, I won't be able to keep the layout at home in the long term. From the start, it was decided that Jérôme would house the completed project and that we would gather there to operate it. In fact, the modular assembly was intended so we could shuttle the layout back and forth to my home. We decided against it since the layout would probably end up in dilapidated really quickly. So in the end, Jérôme is the sponsor of this project (and a founding member of Hedley Junction). If it wasn't him, I would have not rebuilt this layout but another one (which is actually in design stage).

I consider this layout as a great opportunity to try new technics. Having to meet a "deadline" is much more motivating for me. Well, there's no real deadline, but I want to operate the layout as soon as possible. Also, Jérome is a real-life railroader working on weird schedule. He will have more opportunity to operate with the small layout at home. I know he will and I know I'm too busy.

The other small layout will be less technical and more artistic. I've been planning to do it since 2010. It is kind of related to my Quebec South Shore Railway project. It will depict a 1940s small steam era backwood terminal located in Connors, NB served by Temiscouata Railway. http://www.trainweb.org/oldtimetrains/TMCR/history.htm

BTW, Frenchman River Models just shipped bridge and ship parts today. I hope to get them as soon as possible to complete the bridge.

Matt