08-26-2011, 01:49 AM
Been a while since there have been any ideas/suggestions on this thread, so thought I'd add another idea that has been tossed around by Lance Mindheim and some others. The idea of "suggested industries" placed on the front edge of the layout. Specifically; "suggesting" a large warehouse by simply modeling the loading dock between the layout edge and the industry siding. This has possibilities, but to me would not look very convincing as you aren't too likely to find a long uncovered loading dock at a warehouse or similar facility.
I threw together this diagram of how I'd model such a "suggested" industry, that to me, would look far more realistic in so far as suggesting the facility behind the loading dock:
I'd model the loading dock with a canopy over it and its support columns. Then have just the track side wall, whose main purpose would be to provide support for the back of the canopy. The entire thing would be just a tad deeper than the depth of the loading dock and the canopy would be just slightly higher than the top of a typical model box car, with the modeled structure wall just a bit higher than the canopy or perhaps level with the top of the canopy. Just something to provide support for the canopy and prevent you from damaging the canopy.
Although it wouldn't be very prototypical if the structure wall was modeled, the entire area behind the loading dock would be open, enabling you to see the cars on spot at the industry and being only about 2 inches deep, would allow you to reach over the canopy to uncouple cars. You would of course have a fork lift or two on the dock along with pallets of merchandize and a few workers to unload the cars. The view from the back of the loading dock (layout edge) might look something like this:
At the moment, I have no plans for incorporating anything like this on my own ISL, but will keep it on the back burner, just in case. You can find examples of warehouses and other industries with similar loading docks all over the country. Might be something that someone else might contemplate using on their own ISL.
I threw together this diagram of how I'd model such a "suggested" industry, that to me, would look far more realistic in so far as suggesting the facility behind the loading dock:
Although it wouldn't be very prototypical if the structure wall was modeled, the entire area behind the loading dock would be open, enabling you to see the cars on spot at the industry and being only about 2 inches deep, would allow you to reach over the canopy to uncouple cars. You would of course have a fork lift or two on the dock along with pallets of merchandize and a few workers to unload the cars. The view from the back of the loading dock (layout edge) might look something like this:
Ed
"Friends don't let friends build Timesavers"
"Friends don't let friends build Timesavers"