The Little Rock Line

[Bendtracker1]

Thanks Sawyer.
That industrial lead is still up in the air until I get some of the buildings built for the industrial area. 
It could change drastically by then.
A short rip track off of it could work...

[nscalbitz]

Allen, I think you're going to want some sort of passing siding or runaround between the industrial lead and the industries above the consist storage track, correct?

As well as that, I'm thinking no self-respecting railroad would 'waste time=money' on a limited access  switch-back process than a direct route, even if 'inconvenient' to the overall yard access- like a sharper curve approach (for switching locals does it matter?).
regards dave

[Bendtracker1]

I've been working on the engine facility over the last few weeks.
I got a third turnout installed for the caboose track (fourth track from the left) then got things arranged so the shed would fit the tracks.



After that I got it painted and weathered.  While I weathered the floor, it probably won't be seen but it gave me some practice for time when I made the fueling pad.




On the last building I built, I printed a roof from Google Maps and glued it to the building, this time I wanted to try my hand at painting one.  Later I came back with Pan Pastels and lightened and blended the colors a bit.



Once I was satisfied with it I sat the building in place I added some backdrop images in my editor to cover up the surrounding clutter. 




I've been working on the building and have gotten further along after taking these photos.  I'll get them processed and posted shortly.

[MDW]

Great work, Allen.
The painted & weathered roof looks awesome - very realistic from the aisle side shots.

Michel

[Bendtracker1]

Continuing on the engine facility, I needed a sanding tower.  I had one of the Stewart sand towers but didn't like the looks of it nor did I think it was big enough.  So I decided to to try my hand at scratching one out.

I started the base with this, nothing more than styrene "I" beams and a section of an old kit for the main tank.



Then I added the arms made from brass rod and some short strips of "H" beams for the outrigger supports.
The top railing was scavenged from some old Walthers HO ladder stock, bent and glued to a styrene floor.
I also used a GMM caged ladder.
The black hoses are stripped 18ga wires soldered to the brass rods and painted black.

[Philip H]

Wowzers- really well done.

[wazzou]

That's some really great work Allen.

[OldEastRR]

Continuing on the engine facility, I needed a sanding tower.  I had one of the Stewart sand towers but didn't like the looks of it nor did I think it was big enough.  So I decided to to try my hand at scratching one out.

Walthers made (still makes?) a sanding tower much like yours. The only thing I found was the sanding pipes with thin plastic that broke easily but replacing them with brass wire fixed that. The kit also came with the crew ladders so they could climb up to position the hoses on the sand filler openings.

[Bendtracker1]

Wowzers- really well done.

That's some really great work Allen.

Thanks guys.

Next thing I worked on was the fueling platform.
Like the caged ladder on the sand tower, the only thing stock on the platform was the MU rack which came from the Botchmann fueling kit.




 


I needed a couple of lights so the union employees wouldn't complain.









I have a few more items to add to the scene then I can start ballasting the facility tracks.

[Vince P]

Coming along very nicely

[Bendtracker1]

While waiting for a few more details for the engine facility, I started ballasting the yard tracks and adding the base layer of ground foam.







I played around with Helicon Focus and edited in a backdrop as well to see what it'll look like.
The large brown area is reserved for the industrial area, once I get a Round Tuit.

[Jeff AKA St0rm]

Looking great

[Bendtracker1]

Looking great

Thanks Jeff.

[Bendtracker1]

After getting the main section of the yard to a stopping point I moved to the end of the yard where the track loops around to the backdrop
and added a small hill in the corner to break up the flatness of the yard. 





A friend told me this scene was begging for a bridge, so I dug out an old Rix bridge I started on years ago and worked it into the scene.



After getting it weathered I got a little advice from Mr. Foxx on how to make the grease lines in the lanes, Thanks Dave!



Then I started adding some homemade Super Trees.  I also added some shrubs made from WS poly fiber and some WS coarse foliage to fill in under the trees to give it a fuller look.



Since I haven't gotten the Distant Hills painted on the backdrops yet (like I've done elsewhere on the layout), I again turned to Helicon Focus and my editing software to add a threatening sky.   

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I really like that. It's a nice way to spice up the area while still looking very natural.

The rubble under the bridge is a really nice touch.

What are the plans on the other end of the bridge?

The only problem is that there's no safe place for railfans to stand!