Summer Shunting Shelf Project

[Chris333]

I don't plan to remove mine. So I might just wait till it's mounted to pour the water.

[M.C. Fujiwara]

Finally got the carfloat & apron installed, water effects and some basic ground cover done.






Following some advice by M. David K. Smith, we ended up screwing the float to the layout to ensure rail alignment.
Still need to add some more details: ropes, more weathering on deck, dockside details, etc.
But it's nice to have the track 100% done, along with our staging / connection to the off-layout world.

[wm3798]

That is simply simple, and perfectly perfect as a staging solution for a small layout.  The more I soak up this simplicity, the more I'm tempted to downsize my layout to better suit the space I have.

Lee

[M.C. Fujiwara]

That is simply simple, and perfectly perfect as a staging solution for a small layout.  The more I soak up this simplicity, the more I'm tempted to downsize my layout to better suit the space I have.

Lee

Uh, oh.
Looks like you're in danger of being a "K.I.S.S. A$$hat", too!

Personally, I think you're using your space pretty well, Lee, with that groovy eliptical helix & your staging space under the decks.

I kinda miscalculated with the carfloat: should have gone 13"-14" and then could have fit 4 cars on each track.  As is (12") it's limited to 3 each.
I'm used to thinking 36' cars for my Mt. Coffin & Columbia River layout, and forgot I'd be using 40' & some 50' cars on this early 50's Alameda layout.
The 1" track centers make it a little tricky to place cars, too, but you gotta work with the space you got.

Still will work out fine, though.
Thanks for the compliments.

[MichaelWinicki]

That is simply simple, and perfectly perfect as a staging solution for a small layout.  The more I soak up this simplicity, the more I'm tempted to downsize my layout to better suit the space I have.

Lee

I kinda know what you're saying Lee.

What part of your design are you thinking about changing?

[Chris333]

What color did you use for the water?

I'm taking notes 

[M.C. Fujiwara]

It's pretty much the same for my Mt. Coffin & Columbia River water.
Painted the MDF a dark grey (grimy black, I think).
Base layer is Magic Water tinted with Floquil BNSF Green and Grimy Black.
(Need to use solvent-based paints for tinting MW)

I measure by dipping a coffee stirrer in the Green, then stirring that into the MW, turn the stick over (don't want MW in the paint) and repeat for the green, then another stick for one dip of Grimy Black.

I think for a larger area (like MC&CR) I did three green dips & two black.

I just used Modge Podge gloss on the top for the moving water effect.  3-4 layers.
For MC&CR I accidentally used Modge Podge flat / matte for the first layer after the MW, but that turned out pretty well with a couple coats of MP gloss over it: more of an opaque effect.

For this Alameda project, the area is so small, and the carfloat covers most, that I poured the MW first, put the carfloat on top, and then brushed the MPgloss around the edges of the float.

Turned out alright.
You can't see in the recent pictures, but there's a thin strip of water on the other side of the wood dock at the "top" of the layout.
Did that the same way & it turned out alrighty.

[M.C. Fujiwara]

Didn't think anything could be as tedious as tie replacement, but I gotta say: painting window sills and door jambs has to be right up there.
 Fortunately, I have helpers.
 
My daughter discovered the joys of painting around panes:
 


And then my 5-year-old son decided to pitch in by helping CA the windows:
 


The structure is two bashed "Gripp's Luggage" kits into something akin to the original Del Monte cannery in Alameda.
 We're calling it the "Bella Fonte" after one of our fav singers (especially his appearance on The Muppet Show).
 
When all was washed & dried, we affixed some cardstock background buildings:
 


In the left corner you can see the planes flying over the Alameda Naval Air Station, which will have a chain-link gate to help the transition.
 In the above photo you can also see the concrete street & pad for the freight house we poured, using thinned & tinted lightweight spackle.
 When it dries we'll sand it smooth (the ties still show through a little), and then weather.
 
(cont.)

[M.C. Fujiwara]

CA'ed the black styrene backing to the backdrop, and then CA'ed the cannery to the backing:
 


(The window shades were "fun" to paint too dang if it isn't hard to get a straight line! Next time I'll try masking tape or manilla folder squares)
 
So here's the long view:
 


It's about 25"+ long and the docks can hold 5 cars (with 5 more on the parallel).
 
At the very end is a little jog in the building to help block off the end:
 


Just put some cinders on the roof to mimic a rough roof.
 
Next up:
 The concrete loading dock, which will probably be made out of .06 or .08 styrene strips.
 Still debating on having an awning: the original did, but we'll see how it goes.
 Thanks for looking.

[wazzou]

That looks fantastic M.C.  I really love the incorporation of the photo and how perfectly it ties in.

[wm3798]

I'll have to take some pictures of the old cannery here in Cambridge, because you've absolutely nailed it.  One thing you might add is a couple of smoke stacks.  Canning requires a lot of boiling, so there'd be a boiler house somewhere in the facility, which would also give you an excuse to load in some coal hoppers.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Cambridge,+MD&hl=en&ll=38.561678,-76.067072&spn=0.001588,0.004128&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=52.152749,135.263672&vpsrc=6&t=h&z=19

The Bay Country Antiques building is part of the old Phillips Packing Company.

Lee

[M.C. Fujiwara]

Thanks for the link, Lee.
Looks like a pretty groovy structure.
Here's the original Del Monte cannery in Alameda:



I'm still debating on the awning.

The brewery closer to the docks will have a power plant for the coal loads, along with a detachable walthers smokestack (anything over 3" needs to be removable;), but the cannery definitely needs some details like that added.
I might work in another smokestack at the right end of the complex: a chimney cut vertically in half would make a good transition at the end corner.
Thanks for the suggestion!

[Ed Kapuscinski]

This is the type of modeling I love to watch come together.

[M.C. Fujiwara]

Did a bunch of work to get the layout ready for a show / open house at my LHS today.
 Bunch of quality SF Bay Area layouts were there in G, O, S, On3, HO and HOn3, but I was the only "Normal" scale dude there.
 
Put a building front on the back of the control box, where 99% of viewers will never see it:
 


Experimented with an ad poster, printed on regular paper, sanded thin & attached with diluted Modge Podge matte.
 Sticks alright, but I should have sanded it a bit thinner.
 
Here's a shot down the street to the Naval Air Station (with gate installed):



Will mask the corners better at some point.
Maybe with a tree!

Needed a 1/4 car to stick out of Doolittle Freight warehouse, so I sacrificed a Baby (-food car).
 This is what happens when you calculate the correct angle but cut the incorrect direction:
 


Easily fixed.
 Here's an overview of the left side of the layout:
 


Got the concrete dock in for the cannery, with Gold Metal industrial stairs at each end.
 Weathered the road a bit.
 Installed the chainlink fence & gate with barbed wire at the Naval Air Station entrance (it's a bit short, but will work).
 Put in basic ground cover (dirt, a little fine foam of "weed" and "green blend", some fine gravel for under the tank & around the cannery).
 Put cinder "ballast" for the SP interchange line.
 Mocked up Doolittle Freight with DMP walls & carstock.
 Installed an SP tank (bought yesterday at Great Train Expo in Richmond) at end of Oil spur to service the engine on the neighboring track.
 Installed a wood grade crossing at the front-left.
 One bush.
 
Here's a little bit more busy scene:
 


Things are coming along.
 Things will look better when we get Doolittle Freight bashed together & we build a "roof" for the control box during photo ops.
 Thanks for looking.

[MichaelWinicki]

Gosh, that looks good!

Appreciate that you share the "oops" moments too.