(HO) NW Ohio Freelance Layout

[flight2000]

I had this week off, so made some good progress on the layout this week.  We finished up the fascia on the lower level and got all of the DCC face plates installed along with the associated holders for the controllers. 

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We also started on the scenery on the upper level for the Redigas propane distributor.  There are three off loading stands for rail deliveries, but this industry will probably only see one delivery and pick-up per ops session.

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We also started working on the parking lot for the Amtrak station.  The pink stuff is lightweight drywall Spackle that will dry white.  Once dry, it'll get sanded, a coat of concrete coloring and then the yellow safety stripes painted.  The rest of the parking load will be weathered asphalt. 

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I start an 8-day rotation on Monday, so I'll be out for a while.  I love my job, but hate these longer work rotations.  Much prefer the shorter ones, but I have a 16 day break after it, so I'm okay with this one....

Cheers,
Brian

[flight2000]

I took a break from scenery the last two weeks and spent some time working on completing some more buildings and then started laying the groundwork for where they are going on the layout.  Those included the Lowe's and O'Reilly Autoparts (Summit Customcuts), a Rural fire station (Rix Products), Tracksideside Transfer (Micro Engineering), and a picnic/railfan area behind the local diner.  The Gazebo and picnic areas were found on eBay (3D printed).

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I also found some resin 3d printed lawnmowers on eBay for a very reasonable price that will be placed for sale in front of the Lowe's.  I have some BBQ grills on order with Shapeway's, so we'll see how those turn out, but these are very smooth and high quality prints.  Just need to splash them with some color. 

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I also put up the initial backdrop on the upper level.  Long way to go, but it's a start so I can start working on the local scenery. 

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Cheers,
Brian

[flight2000]

Here's a shot of the transload terminal.  I left one bay door open and added a floor, some pallets, the forklift and finally a loading ramp from Showcase Miniatures.  Came out really nicely.  The back side has two loading docks for 50' boxcars to be spotted.  Sorry for the crappy photo, had to use a flashlight to highlight the area until I can wire up the lights hanging inside.

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Cheers,
Brian

[flight2000]

One more shot of the entire shopping area:

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Cheers,
Brian

[garethashenden]

Here's a shot of the transload terminal.  I left one bay door open and added a floor, some pallets, the forklift and finally a loading ramp from Showcase Miniatures.  Came out really nicely.  The back side has two loading docks for 50' boxcars to be spotted.  Sorry for the crappy photo, had to use a flashlight to highlight the area until I can wire up the lights hanging inside.

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Cheers,
Brian

Is the transload terminal in its final location? It looks a little tight to back a trailer in there without having to cross the tracks.

[flight2000]

Is the transload terminal in its final location? It looks a little tight to back a trailer in there without having to cross the tracks.

Not yet, but it's in the neighborhood.  Still need to figure out the track placement going to the back of the building while leaving enough space for trucks to maneuver.  It is a tight corner back there, especially with the recycle facility next door (the main building can be moved a little as well).  I'll definitely play a little with the layout to make sure everything fits properly and has adequate space.

Cheers,
Brian

[Ed Kapuscinski]

You're doing some really cool stuff here. But I'm going to say something that might be a bit controversial.

I think you need to leave everything a bit more room "to breath".

That Lowes is awesome, but with the compressed parking lot, pay attention to what you park in it. I think you'll want to employ a host of visual trickery to make people THINK it's bigger than it is. The truck in it messes with that.

Also, hot damn that CP SD40-2 is a work of art.

[flight2000]

Thanks @Ed Kapuscinski   

I don't think it's controversial at all.  I certainly wish I had some more depth to add to that parking lot (and a lot of other places too).  Most of the layout is only 24-30" wide, so things are a bit compressed everywhere.  I'll see how it goes when I paint the parking lot and start laying the stripes down.  I agree with the assessment on the truck, will find a new home for it as the scenery progresses.  Staging items is helping me see the issues and comments like yours are a big help!

Any ideas or tricks to make it look bigger?  The plan on the bridge/road/railline scene is to add a small mirror in the back and then split the ROW and road with a series of trees/ditch to make it blend in better with the back drop. 

Would you believe I haven't done anything extra to that SD40-2 except add weathering to it?  That's all Bowser, their level of detail is incredible... 

Cheers,
Brian

[mu26aeh]

Regarding the transload terminal and trailer access being tight, might have to restrict a few docks to straight trucks or pup trailers.  Perhaps that building was built in a time were 28', 35' and 40' trailers were commonplace and since then trailers have gotten bigger but they haven't or don't have the room to.  I live with this every day as the building I'm in was designed with 45' trailers in use, but now we get everything in 53's.  The parking lot/dock area is much tighter access and our landing gear pad is centered on 45', so the 53' landing gear sets in the stones.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Whew.

Ok, my biggest thought would be to remove the second building from the lot and park the truck around back. Park a few cars closer to the entrance but leave the lot closer to the tracks empty. That'll hopefully let the mind fill in the blanks.

[flight2000]

Things have progressed since my last update on the layout.  The biggest was laying down the final areas that needed track in the refinery.  Thankfully, no more track laying so I waas able to clean up my storage benches and convert them over to scenery material staging. 

The things that have been improved upon include:

- The Amtrak facility is getting more and more detailing added
- The fascia was finally painted in the front corner of the layout and along the top up to the bridges.  Still need to add the plaster cloth to cover the gaps along the second half of the layout and then I can paint the rest.
- Tracks for the refinery were finalized and laid
- Added a lot of super trees and ready-made trees from Creative Accents.  I like their bark texture and provides a good mix in fullness among the ST's. 
- Continued work on the "shopping" level.
- Added another industrial area that expands room for more non-rail businesses
- Static grass is now completed on the "island" portions, booth upper and lower decks, will continue to add details as time goes by
- Getting better at doing the roads.  Still need to figure out how to better weather them.  They still look to fresh laid for my taste. 

Photos:

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[flight2000]

Two more photos:

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I also managed to weather a few more engines after they got patched.  I will get some photos of those later this weekend if I can.

Cheers,
Brian

[James Costello]

This is looking very, very nice Brian - it's great to see a modern / current era layout be represented so well.

Who makes the backdrops you've used?

[flight2000]

Thanks James!

The backdrops are made by Trackside Scenery.  Joey (owner) does a terrific job and makes them in N, HO, and O scale. 

https://tracksidesceneryshop.com/index.php

Cheers,
Brian

[flight2000]

One more photo to show the barbed wire fence I installed for the pasture.  Thank you Woodland Scenics for that, I would have hated life trying to string that up....

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Cheers,
Brian