Weekend Update 4/7/13

[Dave V]

Dave,
What is the photo for the backdrop? It looks like something I would want to use at Tunnel Hill / Gallitzin.

http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Realistic-Backgrounds-Small-Town-Scene-p/rlb-704-11.htm

Frankly it's overused, but it actually does look like it could pass for Lemoyne-Wormleysburg-Enola-Summerdale.

[mark.hinds]

Been working on a PRR stone bridge.  Did some painting and mortar today.  Here is the progress:

<images removed>

That is an absolutely beautiful looking bridge; not sure why, but it is; maybe the color/texture of the stone?   

However, unless they just touched up the mortar, on most such bridges I have seen, the mortar is dark and discolored.  Admittedly, most such bridges I have seen are quite a bit older.  However, here's an image of a railroad bridge:  http://www.bridgemapper.com/bridge_detail.php?ID=3031

On the other hand, here's one with light colored mortar.  So perhaps your bridge represents one which is well-maintained. 

MH

[Dave V]

That is an absolutely beautiful looking bridge; not sure why, but it is; maybe the color/texture of the stone?   

However, unless they just touched up the mortar, on most such bridges I have seen, the mortar is dark and discolored.  Admittedly, most such bridges I have seen are quite a bit older.  However, here's an image of a railroad bridge:  http://www.bridgemapper.com/bridge_detail.php?ID=3031

On the other hand, here's one with light colored mortar.  So perhaps your bridge represents one which is well-maintained. 

MH

For bridges still in use, I would have to disagree.  Remember, Doug's modeling the 50s.  Even today, look at Sherman's Creek:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=265631&nseq=5

I'm of the opinion that most model railroaders don't use enough light colored mortar in their stonework.  The common wisdom is typically to paint stonework gray and then use a black wash to bring out the seams.  For dry-fit stonework, that's fine.  But PRR used limestone mortar that was not only very white, it tended to leach and streak, as can be seen here on a Juniata River crossing:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=415823&nseq=19

Mortar lines still like pretty light on Granville Bridge near Lewistown even today:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=406827&nseq=29

As well as crossing the Juniata at Mount Union:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=406747&nseq=30

Of course the best option is to use pictures of the bridge in the era you model, and all of my 1950s color photos in books show light colored mortar on Sherman's Creek bridge.

[mark.hinds]

For bridges still in use, I would have to disagree.  Remember, Doug's modeling the 50s.  Even today, look at Sherman's Creek:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=265631&nseq=5

I'm of the opinion that most model railroaders don't use enough light colored mortar in their stonework.  The common wisdom is typically to paint stonework gray and then use a black wash to bring out the seams.  For dry-fit stonework, that's fine.  But PRR used limestone mortar that was not only very white, it tended to leach and streak, as can be seen here on a Juniata River crossing:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=415823&nseq=19

Mortar lines still like pretty light on Granville Bridge near Lewistown even today:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=406827&nseq=29

As well as crossing the Juniata at Mount Union:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=406747&nseq=30

Of course the best option is to use pictures of the bridge in the era you model, and all of my 1950s color photos in books show light colored mortar on Sherman's Creek bridge.

Dave, you're probably right, and good point about there being different types of mortar.  I notice that this website shows both light and dark-colored.    http://www.historicbridges.org/map_penn.php  Also, you have to discount the ones where the mortar is in shadow. 

MH

[Dave V]

I think it varied by era too.  Some of the PRR stonework that pre-dated the big Cassatt-era improvements were dry-fit or used other mortar types.  From what I've seen, though, the big 1900-era projects almost universally show lime-colored mortar lines even today.

Almost every bridge on the Middle Division's modern alignment was part of this improvement project and so shows the light-colored lime mortar.

[davefoxx]

So several years ago I inherited Dave Foxx's Virginia Midland. I admit, I have enjoyed running trains around it immensely. I am a bit of a coward to make any alterations to it . . . .

Brian,

You have no reason whatsoever to hesitate to make any changes at all, including major revisions.  As far as I am concerned, that layout is yours, and you are free to do whatever you like to "Rockify" that old Virginia-themed layout to make it look more like a midwestern locale.  I'm so glad to hear that you are enjoying it, and it's great to see it in pictures again.

Dave

[kelticsylk]

Frankly it's overused, but it actually does look like it could pass for Lemoyne-Wormleysburg-Enola-Summerdale.

I don't know if it can be overused...It looks like every town from Shamokin east 

My wife and I spent some time prowling Reading and Lehigh Valley country in our younger days. Must have passed that same scene dozens of times.

[dougnelson]

Doug,

That's two great modeling tips in one post!  I'll remember that on my next expansion of the Juniata Division.

So, obviously, that bridge begs the question...  Are you expanding or replacing?  And were we right about Sherman's Creek?

Hi Dave:
For now, the bridge will be a diorama and photo set.  Maybe a future module or part of a new layout someday.  I have a small 2-arch bridge on my layout now that used the same technique minus the mortar.  I am much more focused on prototype modeling now than when I created my layout.  Too much to model, not enough time.

The background photo is from Sherman's Creek.  The geometry of the arches is off a bit, but otherwise it is a pretty good rendition.

[keeper]

Today I managed to finish a car that probabely never existed.
LS&I MOW car made from an undecorated MTL Parlor car:



Sure, it could be improved but I'm happy with it and will leave as it is for the time being.
I also worked on the boom car for my DM&IR crane.

Thomas

[Scottl]

Lot's of great stuff here this week.  No photos from me, but I have added a few hundred more bits of styrene to my Cisco bridge.  I also realised that I cut my ties for the deck (all 400+ of them) 1/8" too short  .

[Alwyn Cutmore]

Eric


That is one good looking E6. Was it a eBay find.

Regards

Al

[CBQ Fan]

Awesome work everyone!  If I can get time to finish my trackwork in my engine terminal I just might be able to start some realy scenery.  Round house and turntable are in, coal tower, ash pit too.  Need to create my diesel service rack.....I did update my Burlington Round Up business car into 6 wheel trucks.

[chicken45]

Bridge is looking great, Doug!

[PRRATSF]

Doug, Outstanding job on the bridge.
Sam

[rsn48]

So I worked on my nolix to get it ready for show; this is a week before the pre-show but with all road bed in, track in and electrical almost in, which was completed by two days before I was to "show" the area.  There is approximately 72 feet of track in the nolix area, excluding the one siding; electrically it is hooked up every three feet or less.

Because I am using a phone camera with a very broad lens, their is visual distortion so that the track closest looks steeper and wider apart from track further back; everything however is roughly uniformly a part and the rise is roughly 2.2% - 19 3/4 inches over 72 feet.

So again, the nolix is a modified helix allowing for some visibility of track instead as in helix almost all track hidden.  You will only see the second and third level in the front of the table, large mountains will block the back view.  The backdrop here is for peak views as you look between the mountains, trains are not intended to be visible by most the backdrop.  The tall skeleton ribs are ribbing for the interlaced, hot glued cereal box card board strips: