Amoskeag Northern - Simonds Industrial Branch

[Ian MacMillan]

Lets see if Ed knows what building is going to go on this corner...

[central.vermont]

Must be a Bacon joint. 

[Pomperaugrr]

I am really enjoying following the progress on this layout.  The tile rock walls are awesome.

Eric

[Ian MacMillan]

Must be a Bacon joint. 

Nope 

I am really enjoying following the progress on this layout.  The tile rock walls are awesome.

Eric

Thanks Eric...its progressing quite a bit. I put power to the rails the other day for the first time and it was very nice to run trains again. So far I only have 4 of 9 grade crossings installed and the limited switching I did was a nightmare. I'm going to have a lot of fun with this layout. I should have all the roads in this weekend, but that progress has slowed down a tad as I need to back track and take some photos now that I got my camera back for the first two Model:160 articles.

[MEC_FAN]

Hey Ian,

The canal looks good. I have to build some roads so trying to decide weather to do plaster or styrene. What thickness styrene are you using there.

John

[Ian MacMillan]

Thanks John.
The canal was a nightmare to build...its actually still not done...I have about 18" left to do, and if I didn't use 8' blocks and instead used the smaller size like Jon, I would have blown my head off! Its worth it as you know in the end. The look is spot on.

If this was not a portable layout I would so do plaster. I like the coloring, potholes and what not I can do with it. I'm using styrene here so that it does not crack or come off in transport. Its .040 styrene...using the big For Sale signs that you get at the box stores.

[MEC_FAN]

Ian,

   My instinct was to do plaster so that's probably the route I'll go. Any thoughts or suggestions about going about it. I've seen the smooth it thing with the tape where you lay the roadway out and fill it with plaster. And whats a good color for old pavement. So what's your work schedule now days haven't been operating much but would like to get back to it if you want to come down sometime. You can PM your schedule if you want

John

[Ian MacMillan]

I used 1/8 square strips of balsa wood as my forms, and then I would pour in the plaster. I would run a trowel over the form tops just as the plaster was setting up, wetting the blade to keep it smooth. Waiting 24hrs I would then remove the forms and slightly sand a crown in thee road an make cracks and pot holes. I took overhead shots of the types of roads I wanted and then made washes, coloring the road to the way I wanted it in several layers. For old roads I liked something similar to a battleship gray.

[mcjaco]

the first two Model:160 articles.

Nice! 

Finished taking pictures on Friday night for one of mine....

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Awesome Ian. It needs an Orlandos too.

[Ian MacMillan]

Awesome Ian. It needs an Orlandos too.

I dunno if you would find an Orlando's in this part of town...

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Well, it depends on if you're following show geography or real geography. They played pretty fast and loose with that...

I also think there needs to be a 9am sobriety check point too.

[Ian MacMillan]

We'll see.

Visited the Dry Hill layout again at Springfield...I love the lighting and stuff they have on that layout and I'm working on adding some of it to mine as well.

[Ian MacMillan]

Started working on some structures. A modified Middlesex Mfg. Co. into an L shape, and Custom Model Railroads new Hampden Row Houses. I need to pick up an additional set of the row houses to finish off the street.

[wm3798]

Since we're all about accurate models here, those Hampden rowhouses should be about twice as deep as they are.


Many proper Hampden townhouses have curved fronts, and of course, Formstone on the facade.  Along 34th, 36th, and of course, Chestnut Avenue (the Nexus of Hampden's residential area) you would also find covered front porches and sometimes bay windows on the front of larger rowhouses.

Typical rowhouse (at least in Baltimore) is going to be two stories, 12 to 16' wide, and 30 to 40' deep. 

What you have there is an "alley house" which typically appeared behind rows of larger townhouses of 20' to 24', 3 stories, and 40' to 50' deep.  At the time they were built, the smaller alley houses were occupied by what H.L. Mencken referred to as the "Blackamoors" who worked in the big houses.  Many still exist, on the east side, these small houses are occupied by Yuppies who don't know how to park, drink National Boh even though it's awful beer that's made by Pabst in Allentown (not down the end of Conkling Street), and who have never set foot in a mill, or in St. Casimir's or Sacred Heart of Jesus.

So, to be clear, what you have there is not a proper Hampden Rowhouse due to the small size and lack of detail, and the alley house you do have is way out of context.   Man, talk about the ride height being way off!!