Northwest Industrial Park Engineering Report

[jpec]

Steal a white colored pencil as well next time for your marks...

Jeff

[SSW7771]

Steal a white colored pencil as well next time for your marks...

Actually, I was planning on using white, but that was the one pencil missing. After looking at the prototype industrial park on google, I found that the various businesses had yellow or white striped parking lots, sometimes both.

[SSW7771]

I got a couple of things done this weekend.

1. I mounted my NCE Powercab in a box to allow me to easily run the layout or a test track without having to un-wire or un-mount anything. More on this in the DCC/Electronics area.
https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=41269.0

2. I did a second test section of static grass. This time I did multiple layers in various colors and lengths. I think it came out great. I was going for unkept/overgrown lot look. I need to add some tuffs and maybe a couple of bushes or small trees. I am planning on doing this between the gravel lot and the non-rail served industry on the front edge of the layout and along the ROW.



Layer 1: Prairie Grass 2mm
Layer 2: Summer Grass 2mm
Layer 3: Light Blended Turf
Layer 4: Autumn Grass 4-6mm

[SSW7771]

Not much progress since the arrival our youngest a couple of weeks ago. Even with a new born I have had a few ops sessions with Miles so that has been nice. Even had an audience for one. The wife and kids spent most of the week in Houston while I had to stay around for work. I used some of the time to make some good progress on a bed frame that I am building for the wife, technically it was suppose to be an Christmas present.  Just a little late, which I blame on work. I did use the down between staining to get some work on the layout done.


I googled pictures of handicap parking spot markings, scaled it down, and printed out on normal printer paper. Then I cut it out with an exacto blade to make a cheap stencil. I hit with a few light sprays of flat white spray paint. I think it turned out good. I might use this for other paving markings in the future.


I also built the cores for the two warehouses. I copied the concept from @LIRR and his old n scale layout. I used some scrap MDF and will eventually wrap with styrene.

[squirrelhunter]

Looks good! Growing up in Houston I remember seeing GP9E's and MP15AC's working out on Hempstead highway and the local to Hearne.

[SSW7771]

Looks good! Growing up in Houston I remember seeing GP9E's and MP15AC's working out on Hempstead highway and the local to Hearne.

Thanks! I grew up in Cypress. I after I got my drivers license the Hearne line was my first solo railfanning. It also helped that my Dad was an engineer on the SP and made trips up to Hearne occasionally. He even worked the very industrial park I am modeling. 

[SSW7771]

Started on one of the warehouses. It was too long to get from a single sheet of styrene. I also got some new scenery materials in the mail this week so I can finally continue with landscaping.

[johnb]

Evergreen sells 12x24 sheets.....

[SSW7771]

Evergreen sells 12x24 sheets.....

All I had was some partial sheets of 24" to work with.  Since this a tilt wall construction I can match the sheet seam with the tilt wall joints.

[LIRR]

I am using 0.040" thick 16" x 19" styrene "NO PARKING" signs for a new building. Printed only on 1 side, the other side is blank, cost under $4 at Home Depot. the styrene is also softer and cuts easier than the evergreen sheets.

[SSW7771]

I am using 0.040" thick 16" x 19" styrene "NO PARKING" signs for a new building. Printed only on 1 side, the other side is blank, cost under $4 at Home Depot. the styrene is also softer and cuts easier than the evergreen sheets.

Noted. I will give the signs a try when I use the last bit of styrene I have.

[SSW7771]

Update: not much progress over the last few weeks. I quit my job and started a new one, which is good news. Less travel = more train time.  I did a quick test with some rustoleum multicolored textured spray paint. No pictures yet, but it looks promising for use on one of the warehouses.

[johnb]

I am using 0.040" thick 16" x 19" styrene "NO PARKING" signs for a new building. Printed only on 1 side, the other side is blank, cost under $4 at Home Depot. the styrene is also softer and cuts easier than the evergreen sheets.

i made a road out of that!

[SSW7771]

As noted in the Weekend Update, I got wharehouse 1 of 2 substantially complete this weekend. Still needs details, roll up doors, and weathering. I used multicolored textured spray paint for this. To me it looks good and not too course. For the roll up door I am going to use photos, but did not get a chance to print them off yet. I also got one of the no parking signs from Home Depot and started cutting out the sides of whatehouse 2 of 2. More on this later.

[milw12]

Nice! That's exactly what I've had in mind for at least one of the warehouses on my layout, thanks for blazing a new trail 

Multicolortextured spray? Any specific brand/color? The color and texture is spot on for what I've had in mind, and hopefully the local Home Despot can provide.

I spent a moment and went through the whole thread again. Gained some inspiration and a good kick in the rear to work on mine. Well done all around!