Roundhouse Update

[wm3798]

Got the roof laid out, and the main panels built.


Found some old Vollmer station platforms and cut up the canopies to make the skylights.  I'm pleased.

I need to find something to make vents out of.  I'd like them all to match.  I had a set of Walther's Rooftop details, but I don't know what the hell I did with it.

I notice in the picture my porch light is out...  I'll have to check the connections, but I also might try the power at 9v instead of 12... kind of intense!  (but it does look good!)





I also found a chunk of homasote, so I can build the extension out to support the side wall.  There will be enough room for two more storage tracks!  Finally, I can stow my work train!

More news as it happens...

Lee

[asciibaron]

get to work you slacker

[wm3798]

More progress on the roundhouse tonight... Got the roof done.

The vents are "for placement only"  I need to find 6 (or ideally 12) that match.  The skylights worked out really well, I think.

I colored the ribs on the glass with a sharpie marker, which really helped.  I want to add some weathering to the roof, but I'll wait till I have the vents figured out.

I found a new use for an old Mehano GP-40 shell I had laying around....

Window vents!

I'm planning to take the carbody and cutting up some of the engine room doors to make lockers for the roundhouse interior.



I have lots of room in there to work on some things.  I'm studying up on what one would find in a roundhouse by 1970...

Here's a look with lighting provided by the skylights....


I may be getting a little personal here, but I think I love this shot.  Really.  It's love.

Enjoy!
Lee

[davefoxx]

Lee,

The roundhouse is really coming along and looking great!  I noticed the window vents in the first picture and wondered where you got them.  Thanks for the subsequent explanation and kudos on the imagination and "recycling."

But are you having trouble sleeping?  Your post was at 3:09 a.m.!  The boss isn't going to like you napping on the job, but it is refreshing to see that you have your priorities in order.

DFF

[Sokramiketes]

Here's a look with lighting provided by the skylights....


I may be getting a little personal here, but I think I love this shot.  Really.  It's love.

Enjoy!
Lee

See, now with a nice scene like that, don't you want to have a little better interior lighting solution than mix-matched old light boards? 

[wm3798]

Oh, Mike....


That's what photo shop is for.

Lee

[wm3798]

There.  30 seconds worth of cropping vs. $40 worth of Miniatronics light fixtures...

Actually, now that you mention it, I think I have some of those brass shade things floating around somewhere...  I might go ahead and hang them along the back row, since they're more visible from that photo angle... The way I wired it, it will be very easy to change out the fixtures as better ones can be acquired.

Lee

[Sokramiketes]

There.  30 seconds worth of cropping vs. $40 worth of Miniatronics light fixtures...

Actually, now that you mention it, I think I have some of those brass shade things floating around somewhere...  I might go ahead and hang them along the back row, since they're more visible from that photo angle... The way I wired it, it will be very easy to change out the fixtures as better ones can be acquired.

Lee

You chopped out the cool skylights though...


I was thinking more like $10 worth of surface mount LEDs with the plastic carrier strip repurposed for halogen light fixtures.... that's OK for 70's, right?

[wm3798]

Yes, the purpose of the angle was to show the skylights...  But as Dave so cleverly pointed out, it was 3 a.m., so certain synapses weren't firing...

Surface mount LED's might be an answer... but my artistic sensibilities require the more traditional fixtures... Plus they turn up in some reference photos from the era...



Damn!  I just noticed that the steps are in the middle of the inspection pits!  Guess I'll have to work that out too...  Cool details!
Lee

[davefoxx]

Ooh, Lee, don't forget the raised platforms either!  And about those steps into the inspection pits, it might help to figure out how locomotives would typically be parked in order to put the steps where workers could still access the pits and, most importantly for you, where anyone viewing your roundhouse could appreciate the added detail.

Dave

[wm3798]

Those elevated racks are a great detail.  I'll be building some more like this one that's out by the fuel rack.  I use an old plastic roof rack from a box car and some plastruct rails and steps.  Looks like I'll only need one or two...

That interior shot, by the way, is from Hagerstown.  My roundhouse is patterned more after Elkins, which was much smaller.

I'd love to build Hagerstown at some point, with all of it's traveling cranes and the high roof in the back, and all those windows!!!

Next, I have to see how creative I can get to make all those carts and other widgets out of crap I have laying around...  I'm thinking old brake wheels might work for the carts, and I have all kinds of sprues I can make gas tanks out of, and fire extinguishers etc.

I don't know what they'll be, but a bunch of bolster pins might make some decent clutter without a big outlay of cash...  Ooh!  And I may finally have a place to prominently display this!



Lee

[Mark5]

Oh, Mike....

That's what photo shop is for.

Lee

Cool. I no longer need to hi-nose my models, I can just photoshop them!

Morpheus

[sizemore]

Here's a look with lighting provided by the skylights....


I may be getting a little personal here, but I think I love this shot.  Really.  It's love.

Enjoy!
Lee

I wouldn't say I have an infatuation such as Lee's but I like this photo A LOT.

The S.

[Mark5]

It is a great shot, even with the diodes. ;D

[Bob Bufkin]

Lee:

You want the vents off this one, there yours.  Any other parts for that matter.  This does not fit into my current plans.  After Lee gets his parts, if he wants any, this is a freebe to anyone in Balt/DC Area.  Just let me know where to meet on a weekend and its yours.