New modular layout: CPR Philly Waterfront

[GaryHinshaw]

The paving looks great.  How did you do it?

[amato1969]

I was going to say that too @GaryHinshaw !  The coloring and texture is really nice.

  Frank

[jsoflo]

I was going to say that too @GaryHinshaw !  The coloring and texture is really nice.

  Frank

Thanks Frank- was watching the Eagles do....Eagles things.

I did the paving by using products from textures.com. I printed concrete full page photos on my printer. I laminated both sides of the photos, and trimmed them to fit the scenes- always trying to trim on the expansion plate lines. I laid a base of .060 styrene up to the rail ties, to bring the area even with the top of the ties. I would then lay my laminated photos up to the rail, cut strips for between the rails, and glue them down with white glue.

Once it was dry I sprayed it with a matte finish to get rid of the gloss.

On the west end of the module- no longer on the pier, I used a different concrete photo to simulate a parking lot in poor condition, but the technique was the same, and finally, the strip of pavement in front of the pier 74 building is from the textures.com roads section- it will match the roadway on the well taken care of Tioga Marine pier.

I download the photo I want and print it as a full page- its perfect for N scale.

Take care,
J

[Bob]

J - that looks really great.  I am going to have to try this technique.  Also, that whole area down by the Delaware river is really interesting!

[jsoflo]

J - that looks really great.  I am going to have to try this technique.  Also, that whole area down by the Delaware river is really interesting!

Thanks! There really was so much to choose from down in that area and I am having to compress and shift things around to make it on my small set of modules.

This technique is great- obviously you have to seal the paper some way or moisture will alter the coloring. There were some very small spots where some moisture still got it and gave it a limestone color, but I was able to cut around those. Just a word to the wise- make sure your lamination has a good seal. The website has lots to choose from, and there are many free samples in the small and medium format, which were fine once expanded to a full page, for my needs. It gives you instant perfect coloring, weathering etc. instead of battling for that look like I used to do.

I am incorporating more photos into the modeling, including the paving, and I am doing similar with the windows on my Pier 74 building. I have been trying to see where you can get away with it and where it does not work, but I have been very happy with paving and windows.

[Bob]

Just looked at the website - looks really great.  If you get the premium version, are the images decently large for N scale?  Can you say something more about how you print and seal, or is that info on the website.  This Eagles game is just painful.

[jsoflo]

Just looked at the website - looks really great.  If you get the premium version, are the images decently large for N scale?  Can you say something more about how you print and seal, or is that info on the website.  This Eagles game is just painful.

This game is torture.
I am not sure what more comes with premium as my modules are small so I did not need much and when I print I expand to fit the whole 8x11 page and it’s perfect for N scale. I believe the sections I used for the pier are actually close up photos of walls but they were perfect for my needs. I recommend printing the small sample and playing with it

I used peel and stick lamination on the front and back of the paper and used a kitchen rolling pin to really press it together. Once that is done cut and arrange. Because I want rail embedded in pavement I needed to bring the pavement to tie height and I did that with the .060 sheet styrene under the laminated photos. Actually was the easiest paving I’ve ever done and I have used a lot of the other techniques out there in the past. A styrene under layer is really easy to use also- it’s tough can use a lot of types of adhesives so it’s a great base layer

[Bob]

Thanks J - I am positively going to try this when I move on to my next section of scenery. One last question - I see peel and stick lamination sheets from Avery.  I would think that these could be glossy or dull - do you use dull, or do they come in only on flavor?  Many thanks! Bob

[jsoflo]

Thanks J - I am positively going to try this when I move on to my next section of scenery. One last question - I see peel and stick lamination sheets from Avery.  I would think that these could be glossy or dull - do you use dull, or do they come in only on flavor?  Many thanks! Bob

I was actually unaware the lamination came in non glossy! I am using the Avery sheets as well. I have had no issues with using the glossy and spraying them with a matte clear coat. Because I am unfamiliar with the dull finish I can't comment on that. I would recommend printing one of the small or medium sheets you like, laminating it and seeing how it fits and how you like it. I think you are going to find it very easy and really perfect look. I have used so many other techniques in the past- styrene with paint and powders, foam board with same, sandpaper, drywall compound, and they have had some decent results I was pleased with, but a lot of work and trial and error to get to that point. And this technique is both extremely easy and is perfect visually- its pavement!

[jsoflo]

2 pictures today-

First- a side shot across the pavement- from waters edge to the (cork) area Pier 74 building will occupy:
 


Second, the wiring for the East (pier) module, which was simple because its one switch and 2 straight tracks. Also as an end module it was easy as well:




The wiring on the west module is similar but there is A LOT more of it.
take it east
J

[MDW]

J-
The pavement looks great - thanks for turning us on to textures.com.

Michel

[dem34]

Indeed. Some good rail textures there too, may be of interest for our friends working with the linear motor T Gauge systems.

[jsoflo]

Been working for a few weeks on the scratch build of pier 74 building and its close to complete now. I have the windows done for the marble building corners, but will not install them until all my weathering is done. This was built from .060 styrene- which is heavy enough to have good rigidity but has been a major pain to cut all those doors and windows from. Here is what I have:



And a closeup of the marble west end:




This was posted earlier but here again is the actual building: