Reinhard
Those kind of fire escapes usually had a drop down ladder to go from last level to the ground. Of course if the building is now completely abandoned it doesn't matter.

lajry Wrote:Reinhard
Those kind of fire escapes usually had a drop down ladder to go from last level to the ground. Of course if the building is now completely abandoned it doesn't matter.

Andy, I know and the Walthers model provides that parts.
I studied a bunch of photos of abandoned buildings in the south bronx and most of them had the drop down ladder and/or the lowest platform and/or the next stairs too removed. I assume the land lords or the last residents did that intentionally when the area became more and more unsafe.

I have got a question about fire escapes.

Google street view shows some residential buildings in NYC Harlem with fire escapes at the street side and the backside of the building. It looks like each apartment got an immediate access to a fire escape. Is that the nation wide standard or a unique NYC fire code?

UFC (Uniform Fire Code) is the national standard. Most local standards adopt their basic standards from the UFC and then adjust as needed. Big cities like NY are often the source for UFC due to their fire history. Fire protection is always a knee jerk practice - have to kill a bunch of folks and then make a code so it won't happen again. Wiki has a good read on them <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_escape">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_escape</a><!-- m -->

Fire escape codes vary on area and time frame. The further you go back the less requirements there would be. Floor followed by unit followed by room. I would guess that your area, and the time the buildings would have been built, I would say to each unit would be expectable

ratled

Wow!! The fire escapes added a lot tot he building. Another lesson here, right detail makes all the difference on a model. I love the signs and awings too.

Reinhard, I'm still not sure what you're trying to accomplish in this latest iteration. Peter Feigenbaum, by his own account to me, is basically no longer in the model railroad hobby, and he regards his architectural models as "installations", and beyond that, he acknowledges that they're basically fantasies of New York in the 1970s-80s, not even representations of the real world. I notice that you're including very few model trains in your photos, which is probably appropriate, since there aren't many trains visible aboveground in those parts of New York anyhow -- and if they were, they'd be New Haven, NYC, PC, Metro North, Conrail, CP, CSX, etc, which basically aren't your model focus.

So I'm not sure if what you're doing -- following Peter Feigenbaum pretty carefully -- is even model railroading. If it is, it's at least not my cup of tea. How do all these fantasy abandoned buildings contribute to a focus on a model train? George Sellios creates a kind of fantasy world, too, but there are trains in it!

I'm not sure if I'm completely sympathetic with the idea of tearing everything out and doing something else every few months, either -- I guess I like the idea of working toward things on the longer term and trying to accomplish something. I realize there are people who think this is great, but I'm losing interest. Just sayin'

Keep in mind some of the abandon building owners would remove the last few steps on the fire escape this is done to stop homeless people from moving in and to stop people from ripping the place apart getting the copper wire for scrap.

So I'm not sure if what you're doing -- following Peter Feigenbaum pretty carefully -- is even model railroading. If it is, it's at least not my cup of tea. How do all these fantasy abandoned buildings contribute to a focus on a model train? George Sellios creates a kind of fantasy world, too, but there are trains in it!
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Actually railroads do run through these parts of cities getting to the urban industries or even major older terminals and having been to several cities in Ohio Reinhard's modeling is spot on and far better then Mr.Sellios "Sweethaven" style modeling (Sweethaven is the town in the movie "Popeye")..

As I mention earlier railroads usually don't run in neighborhoods that feature manicured lawns.The abandon buildings is what's left of mom and pop business after people started shopping at the malls instead of downtown due to several reasons including the local crime rate.

Reinhard has taken the next step in realistic urban modeling and is to be congratulated on this bold step.

Don't know or care who Peter Feigenbaum is and don't know or care why his work is being compared to Reinhard's...

The photos are meant to show off his modeling skills, not so much the politics of why we choose to model certain concepts.

I have up to now enjoyed this thread...(named FREElance 2013 for a reason ) and at least one person would also lose interest if we head down that path....how about a separate thread to ask the big Why? questions....

Agreed!!!

scubadude Wrote:Don't know or care who Peter Feigenbaum is and don't know or care why his work is being compared to Reinhard's...

The photos are meant to show off his modeling skills, not so much the politics of why we choose to model certain concepts.

I have up to now enjoyed this thread...(named FREElance 2013 for a reason ) and at least one person would also lose interest if we head down that path....how about a separate thread to ask the big Why? questions....

Couldn't have put it better myself.

Please keep the photos coming Reinhard

Cheers,

Kev

I would like to say that this high modeling art and I have a great pleasure to see them and the permanent progress of Reinhard's layout!
I'm looking forward to see your next foto session of details and street running scenes!

Got today a bag of 1:87 scale bricks. I added some to an pile of debris and fixed them like ballast (white glue etc.)


I tried to do some residuals of walls to be placed in the debris and ruins. My hands and eyes are not made for that kind of work.....
The pencil is a reference of size


John, thanks for your remarks. It is very understandable that you wonder why I model such a nasty run down area and why I do a new scenery every some month. I assure you there is absolute nothing I want to accomplish. It is just my hobby and I take the liberty to change my mind and build whatever comes into my mind. That is a degree of freedom very rare in real life.

Peter Feigenbaum was mere chance. I was just starting to rebuild small town US into some more urban when I stumbled over his web page again and got attracted by the overall impression of his installments (I know he is an artist and not a model railroader). I thought why not, let's try it. That is the freedom I wrote about in the above section.

Anyhow, it is very much freelance. I need simple some scenery for the south west corner of my layout. Only one track runs through that area. No rail served industry would fit on that curved track. A perfect place to do something that needs no railroad but makes scenery only. Conrail SW9, GP15-1 and GP38-2 serve the layout currently. I think that fits into any city in the north east in the 1980 time frame.

Last but not least, John thanks a lot for all the support and help you gave me in this forum.

I think that fits into any city in the north east in the 1980 time frame.
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Reinhard,Your urban decay modeling fits any major city in the "rust belt" area.

For those that may not know.

Time was small neighborhood "cities" grew up around the industrial areas of larger cities to serve the workers and as industries shut down and shoppers went to the malls these areas slowly died off and the end result is what your modeling portrays.

However,not all industries moved or shut down and urban industrial branch lines still wonders through these once flourishing areas.

One doesn't see the "other side" of urban modeling to often..

I do like seeing that type of urban modeling and a tad excited seeing you took that bold step and shared photos of your urban decay modeling.

Thanks!

lajry Wrote:....Most abandoned cars in US are so stripped for parts there's nothing left but some of the body (damaged) & the frame w/ most doors, hood & trunk open (if not taken also)....

:o


I am thinking about the blue Pikestuff industry in the center of the layout. It looks somewhat to well on my layout now. The Atlas Middlesex Manufacturing Kit might be a better choice after some kit bashing.