Don't forget a common kitbashing premise - age represented by growth (add-ons). The older brick building should be sited on the lot as if it had been the only structure there. But the corrugated extension came along later with a growth in the industry (whatever it may be) and the stucco office building with the nice facade and pretty landscaping around the parking lot even later. You get the idea, I hope.
A building showing these signs of progress over the years could possibly fit into any of your areas, A, B, or C, as long as the story suits. Something old and well established in the midst of new growth might be (for your region) a packing house for that good Texas citrus crop (let's say pink grapefruit, or how 'bout cantaloupe - not citrus, but definately Texas). The fields surrounding the packing house have long been sold for development (concrete tilt-ups for tech industries) and the packing house evolved in order to survive. A new addition, along with refrigeration units, and a truck load-out/dump for the produce processing, made business profitable during the transition. As with other ag industries, perhaps a 'value-added' step came along like producing concentrated syrup or dried fruit for distribution. And rail traffic that would have been iced reefers back in the day, has become RailBox cars with packing materials or a tank car of HFCS to make fruit juice concentrate or a mechanical reefer to ship the finished goods to a distribution center.
Sound interesting? There's your story, now kitbash the industry!
Galen
Galen, great idea. A few of the buildings should be older structures with additions. Thank you for the suggestion.
Kurt, glad you could stop by my thread, and thanks for the encouragement. I was busy at work last week, so not much progress, probably the same thing next week. Tonight I am trying to glue the foam down... contact cement. But it isn't working! I'm using the same stuff I used for the original layout. I let it dry 45 minutes per instructions, but it just isn't sticking. I'm trying to remember if I used two coats before - I only used one coat this afternoon. I added a second coat and am waiting for it to dry. Then I'll see if the foam will stick to the plywood. I sure hope so!
Update: Intense and stressful work week prevented any progress on the layout (and posting on Big Blue). Things will be back to normal this weekend, so back to the foam and contact cement.
Gary S Wrote:Update: Intense and stressful work week prevented any progress on the layout (and posting on Big Blue). Things will be back to normal this weekend, so back to the foam and contact cement.
Gee Gary, I've been out of work so long I almost miss those stressful work weeks!!
Looking forward to your progress...
Gary....If work cuts into your play time...Just quit work,...already..!!!!!
Kevin, I can see that a guy could miss these kinds of weeks... NOT!
Gus, I wish I could quit, but then how would I afford all this stuff?
Along with Charlie's progress on his building, I made some progress too. Finally got all the foam cut and glued to the plywood shelf tops. The hold-up was that the contact cement didn't act right. First, the can said it was good for foam, plywood, fabric, etc. Instructions were to paint it onto both sides and let it dry for 40 minutes before pressing the pieces together - and it had a warning - make sure the pieces are exactly aligned because the contact cement bonds instantly upon contact. Well, it sure didn't bond instantly. In fact, it hardly stuck at all. I even climbed up on the shelves and sat on them with all my weight. Still nothing. The foam would just lift right off the shelf!
So, out of desperation I put a piece of foam in place, laid a bunch of 1x4s on the foam and ran some 3.5" screws through the 1x4s, through the foam, and into the shelves, basically making a foam sandwich. I let this sit overnight and then removed the screws, and bingo, the foam was stuck. Completing all the shelves took several days because of the limited amount of 1x4s and screws I had.
[
attachment=19721]
[
attachment=19720]
And tonight I got some roadbed down. I very much enjoyed it after the past few months of working on the building. It's also been nice to think about the layout design too. If I had about a week off, I could make some S E R I O U S progress!
[
attachment=19719]
Aaaahhh....Some REAL building going on now....It's all fun 'n games from here on out..!!
Keep us posted on your progress...
Gary S Wrote:If I had about a week off, I could make some S E R I O U S progress!
Yes, because so far, you've really been slacking...!
Are you kidding...!? I've been working on the same two sets of modules (total of 20') in an EXISTING building for several YEARS.
I am pretty sure you can check the "SERIOUS PROGRESS" check box! ~200' of benchwork in a brand new building!
That's SERIOUS "WOW"!
Andrew
Thanks Andrew. I really want to be ready for the layout tour in November. Not that the layout will be complete, but I do need to have trains running by then. I figure it will be several years before the scenery is substantially complete.
Progress: Have been working on the transitions from the old shelves to the new shelves. Cutting the cork back and leaving some exposed rail for connection to the new track. In some areas I am having to make considerable mods to accomodate the new shelves.
Reworking a spur at GERN -
[
attachment=19726]
Changing the trackwork at Industrial Area A - the "main" curves to meet the shelf along the south wall, and lengthening one spur and rerouting another (which didn't get in the pic).
[
attachment=19725]
Roadbed coming out of the Santa Fe interchange yard. I think I am going to make this a highway underpass similar to what exists in the Houston area at various locations. For now, I will lay a board across and put track on that until I decide exactly what kind of bridge is going here.
[
attachment=19724]
Here is the southern Pacific Interchange yard, cork is done.
[
attachment=19723]
This yard will be used as storage for shortline rollingstock and GERN cars. I'm making it double-ended although a shortline probably wouldn't go to that expense. If anyone has thoughts, I'd love to hear them. Anyway, having to rework the track in this area.
[
attachment=19722]
Gary, It's looking good. Remember, most of the fun is the building, so take your time and have fun.
Charlie
Geez! I just finally got to this thread during my nightly forays into the depths of previous Big Blue happenings, just to give me background and get to know the personalities of the players a bit better. This is one looooooooooooooooooong thread! I sorta skimmed through it, stopping here and there but tonight's bed-time reading will start with the first post of this thread and I'll work my way through to the end ... lots to be discovered and, I'm sure, a number of new things to be learned.
I can say this much, though, having both read and commented on Gary's "Power Control Box" (which is a beautiful installation -- any trouble-shooting down the line should be straight forward and the neatness of the wire routing will help make that an easy task,) from the thought that went into the 1:1 structure to the installation and tying together of the original pieces of layout look to be a very "studied" progression. I look forward to the read!
Once again, a first rate job, Gary S.!
Kudos!!
bil, it is gratifying that you would take the time to read through the thread. I appreciate that. I have been enjoying your posts here on The Gauge. Thanks for making the effort to read through the various topics and chime in with your expertise.
I've really enjoyed building the train room, and honestly, as I look back, I am somewhat amazed at the progress that has been made. The layout is still in the design stages though, so I would certainly appreciate any feedback on what I am doing. I'll be asking for some input on various areas of the layout... for example, I am not quite sure what to do with the big peninsula and the 180 degree turn at the center wall... will draw up the area and post it here, asking for suggestions.
