Blacksburg Junction oNetrak module.

[Bobster]

Specter,

I know about the ex-Clinchfield line down by Spartanburg.  The wood trestle I'm thinking of on I-85 is by Blacksburg I believe and appears in good shape.

I ended up "Google Earthing" the bridge west of Shelby.  It is somewhat north of Boiling Springs NC over US-74.  It appears to be abandoned.  I could not follow the track path very far south of 74.  The tracks path can only be followed slightly into the trees to the north of 74.

Happy modeling,
Bob

[Specter3]

Bobster: We are still talking about the same line. The bridge I was referring to is just south of exit 102 on I85. It is on a long fill across the valley there.South goes to the pictures I have posted here, North goes to Shelby. The bridge you mention in your last post on 74 is the same old Sou line after it went through Shelby. The north end of the bridge lead to the north side of the PPG plant where the current line ends. NS and CSX share a line to the PPG plant but if you look carefully you can find the old alignment of the Sou line that is the same line that comes north out of Blacksburg.  The south end of the bridge meanders west until it hit existing tracks at exit 182 off hwy 74 just south of Forrest City.


Three rowhouses have been acquired and are starting to be built. While they were drying I placed them on the module to see what they would look like.

[Specter3]

Worked hard at cleaning everything while the kids were out of town and rewarded myself with some modeling time. First I built another storage rack down in the dungeon for my rolling stock storage box and some modules.



This allowed me to actually have some space to get in and work on this module.



Painted the areas that I am pretty sure will be roads grey, and filled in around it in burnt umber.

[Specter3]

Couple more things to look at. Couple more real buildings in progress. Weathered all of the rolling stock lightly.







And lastly is some fun with picture effects.

[Specter3]

Working on the nine mile tavern. Throwing some interior into it and really thinking about lighting it.



g

v

Checking out the complex roof

[Specter3]

I really want to have this street on this module look somewhere between this late teens photo:



mid 20s photo




and this 1935 shot of the same area



I need some vastly different autos than I have currently.

[GaryHinshaw]

Love that last shot.  In addition to the autos, the awnings, multi-arm telegraph poles, and the street light suspended on a wire are key period indicators.  The crossing gates in the first shot are cool too.  Keep plugging away at it.

[Specter3]

Gary, when I saw that shot I knew it was pretty much what I was looking for idea wise.

Two buildings approaching being finished.



Everyone told Cornelius the tailor he should let a professional build his shop but he insisted on doing it himself



This is actually starting to look interesting.



Thanks for looking!

[John]

Is this a laser kit?

I would pop a couple of those windows and re-set them. I use a straight edge go get them level. It will make a big difference, especially in close ups. ..

[Specter3]

It is and I may, but if it is buried mid block one may never get that close to it again. I certainly will not put windows in before the coffee takes affect again.

[John]

I certainly will not put windows in before the coffee takes affect again.

LOL .. better modeling through close up photography and peer pressure

[Specter3]

Change one aspect of a picture an it has a huge effect.



Older cars and BAM! it's the 20s. Compare this pic to the one a few posts up.

Got my second steamer(Thanks Marc of 3D!) and thought I would drop in on for a quick shot. Ultimately it will be a poor, but thats all we have, stand in for a New Haven I1 or 2 hauling around some heavyweights. Right now it is parked with some Ebay finds that are going to be some kitbash fodder.

The local barely squeezes into the run around as the noon varnish slides into the station.

[Specter3]

Thanks to the Wife and kids and the wonders of the Amazon wishlist widget(put anything from anywhere on the net on your amazon wishlist) I got a new Bachmann 4-6-0, an MT RPO car, 4 DPM kits, and a nice trainworx trailer for my F89js. Jammed a few of the DPM kits together and dumped them on the old module for a look see.





The local sits on the siding while the new varnish rolls into town





Downtown is busy today



Barnaby Western, the hotel owner decided that he wanted one more set of rooms and built all the way to the edge of the railroad right of way. He was quoted as saying " I know it's loud, but the train isn't there all the time, is it?"



Ryan

[Specter3]

Going to make some salt box houses out of styrene. Holy cow do I now see why some folks dread making windows!

[railnerd]

Going to make some salt box houses out of styrene. Holy cow do I now see why some folks dread making windows!

check out M.C.'s tutorial here, about 5 minutes into the first video:

http://www.yardgoatlayoutdesign.com/28.html

You can use a punch, or a nibbler tool to make a window hole in styrene

http://www.micromark.com/nibbling-cutter,7761.html