Ralph Wrote:Looks good already!

I hope for fast realization!

The layout benchwork rebuilding program is now going on. The part located in the furnace closet was streamlined as much as possible to get an easier acces to electronic devices. Anyway, this part ouf the layout only held a 2-track staging to hold locomotives. This part of the layout has a small 0,5% grade to make up for the 1/2 inch higher track level between the two layout room.



I tested the track location of the new yard. Looks like my XtrakCAD drawing was quite accurate, which is a good thing. The track in the foreground is about 3 inches from the fascia. I contemplated the idea how adding an extra 2" x 3" lumber to widen it a bit for an access road but I’m not so sure anymore. I would need to lenghten the highway overpass which is something I don’t want to do.



I also built a quick mockup of Lairet Station with foamcore to get a better idea of the scene at Canardière Road. Honestly, the scene will be visually more interesting than I first envisionned it. It must be cause it’s a two-level station.



Finally, we started planning the benchwork modification for Canardière Road. The overpass will be an accurate rendition (except the road angle) of the real thing. Unfortunately, I discovered XtrakCAD Peco #7 curved turnout isn’t an exact replica of the actual item. It means the drawing is relatively useless to figure things out. I had to redo everything wth the real tracks which have a smaller radius than the nominal one. No big deal, however it’s a waste of time I didn’t planned. Canardière is definitely going to be a big challenge and we don’t have any spare room to fail because this is among the most iconic railway overpass in all Quebec City. That overpass was built during the 1930s economic crisis to provide work. It’s a pretty neat piece of simplified Art Déco. The abutments can hold up to 6 tracks but the overpass was build for three only. I suspect CN had plan to extend Limoilou yard northward if needed.



I also received a 89’ Atlas CP Rail flatcar. Very nice all metal car. Runs smooth as silk and will be helpful to set clearances on the layout! I also got a True Line 8 hatches CN reefer in aluminium. I was quite surprised to receive a second shell painted in the correct color (the factory messed up the color, painting them in grey instead of aluminium). I’m planning to repaint the wrong color shell and scratchbuilt a new underframe to get a second one. It will help lower the purchase cost.

Finally, a nice picture of Lairet Station found on a Facebook group (who can believe that LifeInvader crap can be useful).
The large advertising is for a Chrysler car dealer still in operation.I intend to reproduce it on my model. Now I'm trying to figure out if the station was covered in brown wood clapboard or with brick imitation tar paper...



Matt

sailormatlac Wrote:....... Now I'm trying to figure out if the station was covered in brown wood clapboard or with brick imitation tar paper...



Matt

Looks like Insulbrick to me. I think that somebody, perhaps Clever Models, offers it in HO scale, although any regular brick paper, cut into rectangles should look like a good representation of it. The CNR used to slap it on just about anything.

There's a nicely-done version of it on an S scale garage HERE, and they also list another supplier.

Wayne

Wayne,

Looks like we follow the same blogs...

It's definitely insulbrick and the kind of yellowish brown variety. I found nice picture of it from a home improvement blog and photoshopped it. I'll try to print it during the week. I'm not to sure about cutting everything and gluing it. In all honesty, that would be crazy. Each insulbrick panel is about 3/8" x 3/16" in HO scale. Also, on the picture of Lairet Station, the siding looks to be in good shape and you can barely see seams. I don't know what you think about it, but I feel like scribbing lightly the printed paper would bring a nice shadow line enough to bring some texture. I think the wood trims at corner and windows.

BTW, the station structure itself is now built. It's almost bullet proof! Made out of 1/2" MDF, it must weight about 2 lbs!

Matt

With insulbrick, you might not have to be too concerned with getting the bricks even with the ends of the walls.

BR60103 Wrote:With insulbrick, you might not have to be too concerned with getting the bricks even with the ends of the walls.

The texture I photoshopped is taken from a real building. Alignment isn't perfect, just like the real thing. I printed it in HO scale and feel I won't need to go through the tiring process of cutting and gluing several strips.

Matt

I started cladding the station with printed Insulbrick pasted on cereal box cardboard. So far, it looks promising and with some weathering, it should be quite good.





Honestly, next time I'm doing a brick building, I'm using this method. I'm particularly thinking about the Coca-Cola plant.

Matt

@Wayne: Do you remember the color of the trims when CN stations were clad with insulbrick? Hard to tell with the picture. My guts tell me they probably didn't bother repainting them and they were the habitual off white/brown red.

Thanks!

Matt

I checked through a couple of books, Matt, and the few photos of Insulbrick structures which I could find show the main framing around the windows as boxcar red, with the sash painted cream.

Wayne

Thank you.

Matt

I haven't seen insulbrick in a long time. What size sheets did it come in? and can you see the joins?

BR60103 Wrote:I haven't seen insulbrick in a long time. What size sheets did it come in? and can you see the joins?

My father had some brand new rolls in its garage many years ago. It was about 16" wide by the lenght of the roll (the visible part expose about 4 rows of fake brick). When in well installed, you see the seams a little bit. But with age and deterioration,they are more apparent as the material warps with age.

Matt

The brick looks very covincing!

Some update. The basement is completely clad and I'm starting to put insulbrick on the main floor. As easy as can be. The doors and windows arrangement is an educated guess from a very grainy picture, standard practice and a few memories I have of this building.





We continued working on rebuilding the benchwork at Canardière Road yesterday. We figured out our best bet was to make a "floor" at the level of the deapest element i.e. the underpass road. Then we will build up the overpass abutment and fill the void accordint to the topography.

Matt

Did some work tonight on the new Canardière overpass. Nothing fancy, but a good old 3/4" plywood as a sturdy foundation.

We also did a quick mockup of the scene according to pictures.







Matt