The Canal Line

[Philip H]

i'd leave the photobackdrop building sections, weather the plastic brick to match and then build a wooden dock in from of the photos.  If you want relief mount the photos to foamcore or some such, cut out and recess the doors and then add a slight rook section.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Wht about making the loading dock do double duty? Pave over the area up to it, and trucks back in next to boxcars.

[prr7161]

To my eye the most likely place for truck docks in a setup like this would be along the outside of the long sides - stuff comes off the railcars in the middle, gets done whatever needs to be done to it, and comes out the other side onto trucks.  if the front wing were narrower, you could put in a truck lane and a series of sawtooth docks under a low shed roof between the building and the canalside tracks.  Trucks would circle the building counterclockwise and back up to the docks in sequence.  Sort of like this:

http://www.en.butt.de/uploads/images/content/full/s4_bild1_klein.png

but with the docks unenclosed above the slab.

[coosvalley]

I do intend on paving all, or most, of the area between the buildings, minus loading docks...For inspiration I have a pic of the "prototype", although I wouldn't say I was actually trying to replicate this structure, instead I'm trying to find a structure that fits my layout, and gives the right "feel" to it..

There is a street on the back side of this structure, so I suppose loading of trucks could take place on that side too...




notice here there is a building in between the two sides, I may do something like this, with loading docks for trucks between the tracks...




And I might model covered loading docks inspired by this one in Claremont, NH:, although open air covered docks seem like a detailing opportunity ...hmmm

[Lemosteam]

@coosvalley ,

What about loading perpendicular to the ends?  Move the elevator shaft to the inside corner of the u.  Recess a ramp dock toward the ends (if height alignment is required).  Transport of material inside a building is not efficient.  ideally loading on the opposite side as mentioned is most efficient.  Many times loading is done to the center and organized for movement along the long axis of a center aisle, this would lead perfectly to the ends.

Visually, especially on your layout, a sawtooth set along the nearest face parallel to the track would be awesome but I am not sure there's room next to the track.  Maybe you could make the U skinnier to do it, moving the inside inner wall closer to the closest inside spur.  then you could have end loading on the side closest the backdrop.

[coosvalley]

Heres what it looks like,and a mock up of what I envision, although it would be longer.. I'm thinking a open air coverd loading dock in the middle, like the silly mock up shows..

[coosvalley]

Well, some more progress. I finished up fitting the main structure together, I still need to do so finish patchwork, but its one solid piece of walls. The roofs are one piece too and painted black for now, more will come later.I also started fitting in floors and ceilings for 3 sections, in order to light them , as this works need to be done before I can paint it. I have not glued the floors or ceilings in yet, as I need to spend a lot of time doing windows and they'd be in the way. I lit the rear loading dock floor, and will model it with doors open and activity inside, as this area will be the most visible to operators. I will be adding an extended loading dock to the rear section, I'm just still not sure how, though I have some ideas cooking...The extension to the front portion is just sitting there, not sure I like it.












And you can see two of 3 lit areas here:



I also have been working on little bits of detailing and scenery. First is some NJ International switch stands, using low profile ones in the front of the layout , hoping they're less likely to get bumped, and the taller ones on the other side of the canal, where they're safer. Not likely prototypical, and maybe oversized, but they add a lot of character, and the jewels catch you eye.






I have also been adding some other details, some pallets and a tire and some mushrooms, the latter being a must, as my other half decorates the entire house with them, this makes the layout more exciting for her











Thanks for looking and have a great week!

[central.vermont]

Damn, looking good Joe!!!
Gotta say that's one hell of a Shroom!!! 

Jon

[Wardie]

Joe, Did you model the wall of the factory against the backdrop? I have three of these kits myself that I am in the planning stages of using as a mill against a backdrop.

[coosvalley]

Damn, looking good Joe!!!
Gotta say that's one hell of a Shroom!!! 

Jon

Thanks!...And,yea, it may be a tad oversized! ..they're HO scale, and I've used the smallest ones previously, so this one was it!...It makes the "old lady" have a slight interest in the model RR, and any little bit helps..

Joe, Did you model the wall of the factory against the backdrop? I have three of these kits myself that I am in the planning stages of using as a mill against a backdrop.

I did, at least the walls are complete on the rear, no parts are, or will be added, but it makes the structure much more stable, and also helped keep the roof all sloping towards the same side.It also helped me mount the floors in this side too.And if the structure ever finds another home, at least it will have complete walls on all sides. I started with 6 kits, and have 2 1/2 of the shorter, long wall leftover, and a few other bits...

[peteski]

Awesome scenery, and the mill building looks like so many of the ones I still see in Lowell, MA and Manchester, NH.  Well done (and must have been pricey with all those kits you needed to splice together). 

[coosvalley]

Thanks @peteski , I am definitely shooting for that look!..Six kits was all it took, which wasn't too bad price-wise ,comparable to one of the larger laser cut kits.. A few months ago, I sold some unused hobby stuff to generate funds for this layout, this structure being one of the main goals...The other major goal, which has not been met, is to find a walkaround controller that I like. I did find one, but as @peteski warned me about, it had a noticeable buzz, so I'm sticking with the 70's MRC pack for now..

[peteski]

Thanks @peteski , I am definitely shooting for that look!..Six kits was all it took, which wasn't too bad price-wise ,comparable to one of the larger laser cut kits.. A few months ago, I sold some unused hobby stuff to generate funds for this layout, this structure being one of the main goals...The other major goal, which has not been met, is to find a walkaround controller that I like. I did find one, but as @peteski warned me about, it had a noticeable buzz, so I'm sticking with the 70's MRC pack for now..

Just keep doing what you are doing - the results speak for themselves.

As far a train control goes, maybe you will eventually get bitten by the DCC bug. Even if you are a lone-wolf operator, the ability to turn the headlights on and off (or dim them) at any time (even when the loco is idling) is pretty enticing to me. DCC with the PWM motor control and BEMF for super slow speeds is really nice. And never worrying about electrical blocks with more than one locomotive on the layout is nice too. The wiring is also simplified.  You never know . . .

[DKS]

As an aside, you can build a very nice PWM throttle of your own for next to no money. Just saying...

[peteski]

As an aside, you can build a very nice PWM throttle of your own for next to no money. Just saying...

True.  There are also inexpensive PWM motor speed controllers available on eBay. Those might use higher frequency PWM which will not produce that buzzing sound.  Some research might be needed.  I think that @VonRyan bought one of those to use as a throttle for his Z scale trains. I wonder if his made the motor "sing", or was it silent?