Erie Railroad Mahoning division HCD

[Chris333]

Took the "window" walls out.



OK done...or am I.

[VonRyan]

Looks good to me!

[MichaelWinicki]

I think it (the combo) looks good.

Granted the bricks on the Walthers' bldg are much larger, but I think it creates a nice contrast from one building to another.

[DKS]

Granted the bricks on the Walthers' bldg are much larger, but I think it creates a nice contrast from one building to another.

I'll have to be the grumpy one and say that contrast makes a bad thing (oversize bricks) look worse. Given a choice between melted scale-ish bricks and cinder blocks masquerading as bricks, I'll take the former. But... that's just me.

[OldEastRR]

You'd have to see what putting a mortar filling on the Walthers walls looks like compared to the DPM. Or wondering if its possible to lightly sand down the faces of the Walthers bricks. The mortar lines definitely have too much visible depth and width as is. " course if you weather it really dark nobody could tell.
Going to turn that first floor DPM rear window into a door?

[DKS]

About mortar... it is possible to create a nice subtle mortar effect with DPM brick. I happen to think that the subtlety is an advantage, since the mortar lines on most other brick surfaces are far and away too wide and deep.



The other thing to remember is that many brick buildings are painted. This does away with the need for mortar altogether.

[MichaelWinicki]

I'll have to be the grumpy one and say that contrast makes a bad thing (oversize bricks) look worse. Given a choice between melted scale-ish bricks and cinder blocks masquerading as bricks, I'll take the former. But... that's just me.

Good point Dave... I've mixed in the Walthers' building (with DPM's, Downtown Deco & Wil Models buildings) for a couple of my towns but the buildings are a little further away and the difference in brick size/mortar line depth isn't nearly as noticeable.

[Chris333]

Working down the line I have this open area between tracks:


Was thinking about a garage with a scrap pile out back. In Warren there was a scrap dealer right next to the passenger station with a cool sign on the roof:


I wish something like DPM's HO schultz garage was available. Any suggestions for a building to start with? Or real photos to scratchbuild off of.

[LIRR]

What about an empty lot instead of a building? Perhaps an abandoned foundation where a building was.....that way you don't block the view of the buildings in the background

[Chris333]

This would be a pretty small building that you can see around as you walk around the layout.

I was playing around and found this old Walthers built up that is now available as a kit. First I drew this:


and then cut some parts to re-arrange.


If I go with this I will need another kit for the other 2 walls. I'd add a corrugated metal roof with a copula vent. What do you guys think, keep going?

[Scottl]

It seems like an odd spot for a building like that.  I think some misc. industrial stuff in there like tanks or a smaller service-type building associated with the railroad. 

[Chris333]

It would have a fenced in area behind it with scrap piles:


It is right where the road bends so it seems like I need some kind of building here. Maybe it could be smaller though?

[crrcoal]

Yeah I like the idea of a open lot too. Maybe just have some railroad junk like tie plates, rails, old signals etc laying there.

[Scottl]

Smaller would look better, I think, but I do like the idea of some kind of industrial junk or storage.  The density of buildings is high elsewhere, so it would be a nice break visually to have some space and some longer views.

[DKS]

I like it. I'd say go for it.