Hi, I'd like to solicit thoughts on an area of my layout. I have a thread on the HO board about my engine servicing facility. But I thought I'd get more views here. I have a situation where the upper level of my layout enters a helix to descend. I do not want the helix to be noticed. I have a turntable/roundhouse above and inside the helix. The mainline will go beneath an office bldg, never to be seen again. However, the arraingement of the walls of said office bldg are where I'm looking for help. I wish to keep certain sight lines and at the same time, create a nicely composed scene for photographing. Below are some pics of a crudely put together cardboard mockup and some comments on them:

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This shot shows the scene I wish to be able to still see. The front of the roundhouse and a shed next to it. You see the 2 tracks which pass beneath the bldg in the foreground. The wall behind these tracks conceals a switch machine which can not be placed beneath the roadbed as it would interfere with helix track. You can see if I add one floor above this, my view is obstructed. The floor which would be added happens to be the main floor, and you see its height just to the left.

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Taken from a different angle, you get a better idea of what things look like. You see that I have proposed the rear wall of the main floor has three sections, with two setbacks, if that is a proper term. And what i wind up with is a flat surface over the section of the bldg concelaing the switch machine. First question: What can i use this area for? You can barely see in this photo that I have a lower dock area for the truck in the pic to unload onto, and it matched the height of the passenger car door. A better view of this will follow.

The following shot shows that platform a little better. Now, another question is: You see there is a siding which has track right up to the wall/ This track can either end before the wall, or continue into the bldg (thru a door which would be closed) What are your thoughts on this? One thing I realize is that if the track does not enter the bldg (I have no idea what function it would serve) then I could lower the flat section over the switch machine so the platform height matches the one for the truck/passenger car. Tehn I gusee I'd put a railing around the perimeter. I'm just not sure how to handle this area.

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Finally, this is a shot of the front of the bldg. I did not run the wall all the way across the front, but you can get the idea. The parking lot in front is over the mainline as it descends. You see the private siding along the side of the bldg., and the fact that the front is two stories tall, with one story behind, then the loading platform. BTW, the siding is for spotting the Presidents private car.

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How big is that switch machine? I'd eliminate the single-storey addition altogether, then build a separate structure to conceal the switch machine - a brick or wood-sided building, perhaps a crew room, car inspectors' change house, or just some storage sheds would work. Leave the ground floor wall, where the single-storey addition was removed, fairly plain - maybe a single man-door a couple of steps up from ground level. I'd also add a stairway from the lower ground level to the loading dock area - steel or concrete, but even wooden ones could work. Dead-end the track wherever necessary - it might be useful for storing snow plows or similar MoW equipment that would be used only occasionally.
An alternative to sheds could be an electrical sub-station for the headquarters building - you could have some transformers in a chain-link enclosure, and the switch gear in a low, single storey, stand-alone brick or concrete building, which would cover the switch machine. Leave the track in place for the occasional delivery of equipment.
Either version would improve the sight-lines to the roundhouse area, and the whole area could be a spot for a detailed mini-scene on its own.

Wayne

Thanks Wayne, When I went donstairs to look into your suggestion, I noticed a way to mount the machine elsewhere, I will pst a photo later. I like the electrical substation idea and want to look into that. Thanks again.

I kind of like Wayne's idea with one suggestion. If there is enough room under the layout you can remove the switch machine and install a tortoise one under the same spot.

Hi e-paw, no room beneath the roadbed for a switch machine. However, I was able to move the witch machine back 4" from the turnout, using telescoping brass rectangular tubing. I am using a SwitchMaster machine here because they tke up less vertical height than the Tortoise do. I have used Tortoise machines above the roadbed in other locations and that works well too. I used musci wire running thru plastruc tubing for that. Here, because I did not want to unsolder the throwbar to install new music wire, I used the brass tubing, drilling the inner one to accept the wire, and glueing the outer one to the roadbed with epoxy. The machine will have its music wire enter the inner tube at the rear end. The motors height is about equal to the top of the roadbed for the upper section, where the passenger car siding is. A pic of the new linkage.

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Here are a couple pics of the mockup modified per Wayne's suggestion. I've used marker caps to represent transformers as I have nothing better on hand. There would be a tall chain link fence around them, with barb wire on top. The platform will be at a height to match a flatcar deck. I've included a ramp at the right end of the platform for forklift access. And in the 2nd pic, I've added some stairs from my scrapbox. I think the scene is much improved, thanks Wayne. I'm stil open to suggestions! Anyone interested in photos of the rest of the area can check this thread: <!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="http://www.the-gauge.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=561">viewtopic.php?f=17&t=561</a><!-- l -->

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I like the idea of using mock-ups. What's good here, is that you can set them up where they look good, and then leave them for a time. At some point you'll see the errors, and then can correct that easily, by simply moving or changing the mock-up. When the time comes that you like what you see, every time, it's right! Build the finished models.

( And find out that they don't look the same as the mock-ups! :oops: ) :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

I usually compose the scene with the finished buildings, and rearrange them until I'm satisfied with the "look", and then fix them in place. I have to give the area some time before I look at it again, and have gone several weeks before realizing that something isn't just right, and changing it. My usual "benchmark" is, does it look "real". I'm not ashamed to admit that I accomplish this half as well, and in three times the amount of time, as Val does. When it comes to "composition", She's the subject matter expert.

I know it's off topic, but your track work likes great!

Pete, you sure are right, Val seems to have the knack to nail the look of whatever subject she works on with no apparent effort.

Thanks for the compliment nkp!

I took a walk this morning to an old power substation right off the old Lackawanna Boonton line (now NJ Transit) This bldg belongs to Jersey Central Power and Light. The bldg has been abandoned for the 12 years I've lived here, but it seems the outdoor equipment is still operational. Thought I'd post a few pics, might use a few details on my model.

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