Very nice indeed, Reinhard

great work, Reinhard

Russ Bellinis Wrote:Looking good Reinhard! Are you going to try modeling any of the buildings where they put a modern fascia on the street side of the old building and left the older construction as is, flaking paint, rust, and all on the railroad side?

Hello Russ,
I did not decide what buildings will be next. The basic outcome of our trip to Vernon and south LA was the huge variety of buildings. I did therefor stop the erection of further slab buildings and put the models done after prototypes in south LA back on the layout and started detailing that part. There is one long slab building in the left rear corner representing that style but I will extend that part.
All the open slots will be filled with models following more or less strict prototypes in Vernon and south LA. The kind you mentioned will be very well among the selection.
Barbara and I have been back to Vernon the next day (after we strolled thru all the very nice antique shops in Orange). I did find places like 2421 E. 53rd St. It looked much worse then on Google streetview and I did not take pictures of that building. But that is another example what kind of buildings are prototypical in that area. Very useful to fill a small gap on the layout. It is amazing!
One thing I did find frequent is corrugated iron sheet in all conditions. I like that very much to do buildings. Brick buildings are another topic. I will have to learn how to do that. Even simple looking brick buildings are rather complicated if you look at the details.
It was very good to go to Vernon. Google streeview is great but the real thing is greater

@Harry, Mark and shortliner, thanks for the kind words

I noticed all the various types of fencing and details you added. Looking really good. Your trip to Vernon was valuable indeed.

The details are looking very good. I especially like those valves and pipings with the yellow poles to protect them. If you are looking for finer ground cover, you might consider using tile grout. On my Miami layout I used this fine granite (0 - 0.2 mm) from Conrad (<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.conrad.de/ce/de/product/218728/Granit-Gelbbraun-Groesse-1-0-02-mm/SHOP_AREA_20023&promotionareaSearchDetail=005">http://www.conrad.de/ce/de/product/2187 ... Detail=005</a><!-- m -->) and mixed it with tile grout to get the right color.

cnw1961 Wrote:The details are looking very good. I especially like those valves and pipings with the yellow poles to protect them. If you are looking for finer ground cover, you might consider using tile grout. On my Miami layout I used this fine granite (0 - 0.2 mm) from Conrad (<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.conrad.de/ce/de/product/218728/Granit-Gelbbraun-Groesse-1-0-02-mm/SHOP_AREA_20023&promotionareaSearchDetail=005">http://www.conrad.de/ce/de/product/2187 ... Detail=005</a><!-- m -->) and mixed it with tile grout to get the right color.

Kurt, I did find a forgotten box of AOSA partnumber 1119 N scale lime sand brick (Kalksandstein) an hour ago. That is very fine and has about the same brown color as the dirt from the street I started using some days ago. I did just start a small test on a foreground track.


Could you elaborate a bit more on the tile grout. Do you use the stuff used to "glue" the tile on the wall or the stuff to be put between the tiles? It is a power, right? You mix it with the ballast and it becomes some kind of concrete when the water/white glue sets. Does the grout mainly influence the color or does it also smoothen the surface? The later is what I am in need. The Vernon ground is often like pressed powder. No single stones are visible.
This an example

I am talking baout the stuff to fill the gaps between the tiles (Fugenmörtel). You can use it to color your groudcover or use it as groundcover itself. It does not help to smooth the surface. If you are using very fine ground cover and want to achieve a smooth surface, wet the surface with the normal water/glue mix and then sprinkle your ground cover on it. Make sure to sprinkle on enough ground cover to soak up all the glue. If you do it the usual way (apply ground cover first, wet it and then apply glue), you won’t get a smooth surface with very fine ground cover.

It was last call to do basic reworks while the detailing was going on. The main track with virtual no distance to the road was a weak design point. I did look carefully in Vernon to find a situation that might be an excuse. No chance, my road to track distance was not acceptable.

The track has been removed this morning. The next track (had to be newly layed too) became the main line and the first of the former stub tracks of the yard became the siding and run around of the yard. Two turnouts connecting old main line and siding had to be removed too. A new turnout has been added to connect the former stub track to the new main line to become a siding and run around. The price to pay is one yard track (down to 2 from 3) and a much shorter siding (down to 7 cars from 11). However, that rework was overdue.
The yellow bumper in the background of the upper photo is the former main line. I use it as an engine pocket connected to the entrance of the industry area.

That gives the required space to place traffic signs (no parking any time, a real favorite in Vernon ) at the road and traffic lights at the two intersections.

The new yard got it's ballast and ground cover.
Ballast is N-scale fine granite and light fine sand between the tracks. The sand got patches of N-scale lime rock to enforce a more brownish finish.
Following Kurt's advise no H0-scale ballast has been used and the nice brown dirt from the street has been replaced by finer lime rock of an equal color.

I can now proceed detailing.

Looking good Bro!

Some more details spread all over the layout. I am not happy with the poles of the traffic signs. They are wood sticks that came with the signs. I feel they are to thick. May be I should replace them with gray painted needles.

ps. The "No standing at any time" signs are spread all over the layout. It is mandatory for all Vernon streets...

Update next morning:
I have no more spare traffic signs and the used ones may be damaged when the poles are removed. Did not want to take that risk and painted them white again. The poles are still to thick but much more inconspicuous. Will order new signs and retry later.

Man every time you do a post it just keeps getting better and better what will be next

Stand by folks, Reinhard has been "up close and personal;" with Vernon, Ca. Expect to see his layout "explode" with details now! He is really raising the "bar" for my version of the LAJ!

Russ, there is a small building in Vernon at the corner of Minerva and 25th St. on a nice triangle property I forgot the address of and could not visit that location.

This is the prototype


I got aluminum foil from the kitchen to cover the styrene base structure with patches. They are prepared with a brush on a spare styrene with the image of corrugated iron sheet.


This is the current status on the spot under preparation works (the model has been turned by 180° to show the front details).


And a detail showing "how easy" it is to do the plating like a mess The foil is glued over doors and windows, firm attached with the brush to the base and than cut out.


It is about 2am and the glue has to set. Will be back in the morning to do the paint job

ps. When ever I look at Vernon in streetview I would like to be there again!

Some progress. It is amazing how much paint is required to fully cover the silver shine of the aluminum foil.