New Hope & Ivyland shelf layout (ex-Reading)

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Frickin beautiful

[amato1969]

Not much work on the layout this week, but I did get some of the last piping done, as well as an access ladder and walkway:



And after picking up a decoder at the LHS, I am set to get going on some 90s era-appropriate power:



  Frank

[amato1969]

Brief update tonight; I added hoses (22 ga wire) and a pump house so the plant staff can unload tank cars now:



I also printed off some parked trailers from Google street view to fill the space between industries.  The sky matches my backdrop pretty well, but I may increase the size a few % and see what that looks like:



  Frank

[amato1969]

With the layout's major industry (CRC) up and running, I have started mocking up a transload dock for the team track.  I'm looking to accommodate two boxcars (or flat cars), with the 3rd car spot intended for a covered hopper or gondola:



Not sure about the ramp yet (left side or right)...

   Frank

[amato1969]

Over the weekend, I built and painted the dock and ramp, and laid down the base parking lot and surrounding greenery.  I need to trim out the cinders around the edges next (it is sitting loose at the moment):

[amato1969]

While the team track parking lot was drying, I grabbed a quick shot of the switch into the siding, now sporting an NZT ground throw!

I also planted some weeds along the abandoned freight house, but need to add some junk to that gravel lot.

[amato1969]

I finished up my team track dock, and dug out an old forklift from the junk box (Alloy Forms possibly?).  Spotted there is an X71 boxcar that was also weathered this week.  I think the dock needs some weathering and pallets/strapping added next:



I also added a photo backdrop (Google street view) and some trees to this scene; the perspective of the road isn't perfect, but let's not let that be the enemy of good:



  Frank

[CRL]

I’ve always struggled with the scenery perspective when a road on the layout “continues” on the backdrop. You have to do so many things to make it believable, and even then it only works when viewed from a very specific controlled angle.

The best examples I’ve seen have a slight rise in the road as it approaches the backdrop, then the road dips out of view to obscure the transition point to the backdrop. Then the road “continues” on the backdrop, but at a narrower width to suggest distance. Like an artist working with a vanishing point when creating a 3D view on a 2D canvas.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Those grass areas and removed track are crying out for some 2mm static grass to take them to another level.

But this is AWESOME.

[amato1969]

I appreciate the comments @CRL @Ed Kapuscinski ; feedback from this group really helps everyone level up their modeling!

Moving south, the Castrol plant is next on my to-do list.  I won't have room for both parking lots, and I'm on the fence about the loading track overhang (switching interference):



I also grabbed a Google street view from the PA-132 (Street Road) crossing, showing the scabby NH&I switcher.  And yea, that Yuengling billboard is going to happen!



  Frank

[amato1969]

Spent some time today working on the Castrol plant.  I built a "core" from For Sale sign styrene, and have started to attach a "skin" of brick on the bottom (N Scale Arch) and corrugated siding on top (JTT).  I am confident it will look much better with paint 



I will have room for a few truck bays on this end of the facility:



  Frank

[amato1969]

I have primed the roof with light gray and hit the corrugated siding with a mottled coat of Tamiya light blue.  The lower area (brick) is the next job for the paint crew!

[nscalbitz]

I’ve always struggled with the scenery perspective when a road on the layout “continues” on the backdrop. You have to do so many things to make it believable, and even then it only works when viewed from a very specific controlled angle.

The best examples I’ve seen have a slight rise in the road as it approaches the backdrop, ...

Yes I agree. Perhaps a slight curve right and a narrower end (tapering in the curve) to the physical road; I'd also 'shade' darken the rhs lane as if those shade trees were closer than they really are (ie backdrop) that would also artificially 'narrow' the road aspect to the human eye. I'm thinking a 'bubbly' cloud like greyish shade just along but not quite (unless you wanted to) upon the centre line.

FWIW, dave

[amato1969]

Good pro tips for the road/backdrop intersection, thanks @nscalbitz and @CRL.  So much yet to do!

That said, I have been working on the brick walls, using a base coat of Polly Scale Boxcar Red and craft paint wash.  I used brown and red colored pencils to even out areas with too much "mortar".  Doors, drain pipes and roof HVAC parts are next!



  Frank

[perezbill]

Looks like you used fast tracks switch jigs. The resulting switches are very nice looking. I did that for my layout.