Weekend Update 3/8/15

[lashedup]

Had to compress things to fit that side of the module and took a few liberties. Still working on it though. Thanks again for the kind words. 

[lock4244]

Nice stuff everyone. Dave that bridge looks like a fun project. Added some handrails, new decking on top, traffic guardrails and a few odds and ends to the bridge one of our guys (Nate Pierce) built for the Wisconsin Dells module. Still work to be done (guard rails, roadwork and on and on), but its coming along...



Also been working on detailing the lumber yard...

Didn't want to clog the thread with duplicate images, but that bridge scene is breathtakingly executed. I'd say perfect, but that seems to understate the effect you've created.

The attention to detail with the lumber yard is pretty top notch, too. A great example of why an interior makes the difference between a building and a model. I'm glad I don't actually model, because if I did I'd feel pretty inferior looking at your work.

[lashedup]

No need to ever feel inferior.  In fact maybe it's better to think someone is crazy to spend that much time on one scene. It really is just a matter of how much time you spend working on a given area modeling what you see in real life (or photos). Maybe some people have two left thumbs for some things, but more than anything it is just patience and trial and error.  All those little weeds for example are created by taking a toothpick and dipping it in white glue and dabbing it where you want weeds. Then you quickly sprinkle some fine ground foam over it before the glue dries. You work small sections quickly and it is tedious.  But the results are nice and start to look more like what you see.

I also want to make sure that credit goes to multiple people on that bridge module.  Nate Pierce did the majority of work on the module itself and the main bridge was built out of two Walthers kits and a bunch of Central Valley bridge pieces. Bill Denton did most of the rock work if I remember correctly and Nate did the water and cleanup to get it running for a show we had.   Since the module was here I went ahead and added the railings, new top decking, white car guardrails on the lower level and some basic weathering.  Skibbe worked on some road and sidewalks that still need to be finished and a few other odds and ends.  That's the nice thing about the group is that everyone contributes different parts and you can scratch a new itch when you feel like diving into something.

[jmlaboda]

That bridge is a stunning beauty!!!

[Roger Holmes]

Lashedup-- Now I know why your bridge scene looks so familiar.  You could duplicate the scene in N scale with a 10" plastic doll



Minirama, Wisconsin Dells circa 1965.  Milwaukee Road, real water and operating Dells tour boats in O scale.

For those of you with access to the MR archives, Minirama is supposed to be on the June 1965 MR cover--I don't know what scene is depicted.

[Kentuckian]

Lashedup

The pic where the photog must be in a boat or standing in waders looking up at the bridge - wow!  Wow!  I thought that was your prototype reference photo.  Thanks for sharing.

[delamaize]

Did a proof of concept test on the class C climax this weekend. I didn't have much time for trains this weekend anyways, between my daughter being here for her spring break, and our annual Firefighters association Crab and spaghetti feed. Overall, the proof works, I was able to do Randy's suggestion, and make the tender drive's shaft telescope on it's self. I was able to make a 2nd extremely short drive shaft for between the motor and the "middle" truck. Overall the concept seems to work, although I think I will have to drop a lot of weight over the middle truck to keep it tracking strait. Now I need to find a source for brass, since most of my old resources have done out of business.
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[Santa Fe Guy]

That bridge scene looks awesome, well done to all involved.
Rod.

[Iain]

What did you use for dirt?  I've been experimenting with spackle to try to simulate the sandy soil of eastern NC and I'm just not quite liking the result.




I've been working on drawings of the Edenton, NC depot, what is going to be one of two signature buildings on my layout (the other being the Edenton Peanut Co.).  I'm also probably going to submit cleaned up drawings to the Eastern Carolina Despatch, the NSHS newsletter.

[lashedup]

The dirt is a natural dirt from Scenery Express

http://www.sceneryexpress.com/FINE-NATURAL-SOIL-DIRT-QUART/productinfo/SE0403/

I sprinkled it on, smoothed it out, misted it with 70% alcohol and then soaked it with a 50/50 mix of white glue and hot water. 

[altohorn25]

The end abutments are cast; they are not exact copies of the original ones on the bridge, but they're close.  The center pier is a piece of wood that was sanded down to shape.

Nate

[altohorn25]

Lashedup-- Now I know why your bridge scene looks so familiar.  You could duplicate the scene in N scale with a 10" plastic doll



Minirama, Wisconsin Dells circa 1965.  Milwaukee Road, real water and operating Dells tour boats in O scale.

For those of you with access to the MR archives, Minirama is supposed to be on the June 1965 MR cover--I don't know what scene is depicted.

All we need to complete this photo is the big pink dinosaur with polka-dots on it on the other side of the river

Nate

[altohorn25]

No need to ever feel inferior.  In fact maybe it's better to think someone is crazy to spend that much time on one scene. It really is just a matter of how much time you spend working on a given area modeling what you see in real life (or photos). Maybe some people have two left thumbs for some things, but more than anything it is just patience and trial and error.  All those little weeds for example are created by taking a toothpick and dipping it in white glue and dabbing it where you want weeds. Then you quickly sprinkle some fine ground foam over it before the glue dries. You work small sections quickly and it is tedious.  But the results are nice and start to look more like what you see.

I also want to make sure that credit goes to multiple people on that bridge module.  Nate Pierce did the majority of work on the module itself and the main bridge was built out of two Walthers kits and a bunch of Central Valley bridge pieces. Bill Denton did most of the rock work if I remember correctly and Nate did the water and cleanup to get it running for a show we had.   Since the module was here I went ahead and added the railings, new top decking, white car guardrails on the lower level and some basic weathering.  Skibbe worked on some road and sidewalks that still need to be finished and a few other odds and ends.  That's the nice thing about the group is that everyone contributes different parts and you can scratch a new itch when you feel like diving into something.

The main spans are Walthers double track bridges as Jamie stated (heavily modified - there's really not much left of the original bridge besides the outer framework).  The plate girder parts are actually micro engineering kits.  The bridge track is micro engineering bridge track (ties are spaced closer together).

The magic water is great as Jamie said.  Right now there are two pours in there for the river (they were poured a couple of years apart and you can't tell - another nice thing about the product).

Rocks are sculptamod/plaster.  Bill did a sample on a piece of styrofoam before we went to town on the module to make sure his technique would look correct.  I think he succeeded brilliantly.

Jamie is really the master of details.  The railings on the bridge were all hand-done.  The photos hardly do it justice.

Nate

[garethashenden]

Did a proof of concept test on the class C climax this weekend. I didn't have much time for trains this weekend anyways, between my daughter being here for her spring break, and our annual Firefighters association Crab and spaghetti feed. Overall, the proof works, I was able to do Randy's suggestion, and make the tender drive's shaft telescope on it's self. I was able to make a 2nd extremely short drive shaft for between the motor and the "middle" truck. Overall the concept seems to work, although I think I will have to drop a lot of weight over the middle truck to keep it tracking strait. Now I need to find a source for brass, since most of my old resources have done out of business.
(Attachment Link)

Does the center truck turn or is it just the outer ones? I think it shouldn't as that will help guide the engine in a straight line while the pivoting trucks guide them around corners.

[mcjaco]

All we need to complete this photo is the big pink dinosaur with polka-dots on it on the other side of the river

Nate

If anything Nate, this just cements the idea that the building has to be added.  It's a defining element to that scene!