Modules for SWARMTrak ( a T-Trak goup)

[arbomambo]

final painting on the gas pump island...it's now ready to be cemented into place.

[arbomambo]

Otto!

finally added a flag...searched the internet for some clipart, sized and mirrored the image, then printed it onto regular copy paper...I glued he images back-to-back with Elmers Glue, then affixed to a piano wire 'pole'.

[Cajonpassfan]

Ha! NOW it's a United States post office! 
Otto

[arbomambo]

I added a Pepsi machine to the porch (Railway Express Miniatures product)...I still have to add a drop mailbox and trash receptacle. I'm also going to add a storage shed behind the Store...along with plenty of details/clutter.

[arbomambo]

I finished the shed and added the postal drop box and a 55 gallon trash bin to the General Store...Now, I'll fill in some gravel, add some static grasses, and see what type of 'clutter' I can add to this scene.

[dnhouston]

This scene is coming together very nicely.

[arbomambo]

performing a tedious task (albeit rewarding when done)...prepping and painting lots of sundry detail parts-plastic and metal castings. Some of these metal castings were almost 'throw aways' from Woodland Scenics, but, with a little filing, sanding, and prepping, will come in pretty handy (I especially like the pallets...




I also took the opportunity to bring the remaining two modules that comprise the Grain elevator scene and clicked them together while I'm in the detail and clutter mode. This shows how the 2' General Store module fits in with the remaining two...

[Santa Fe Guy]

Once you add all those detail items it should look smashing. The two modules together look great.
Do you plan on adding traffic and railway crossing signs. They should add a lot more to the overall scene.
Looking good.
Rod.

[arbomambo]

the highway will receive quite a few signs; there will be a fence on the far side, more trees, etc...there will be a wigwag signal guarding the tracks...even though these were meant to be relatively 'simple' modules, they will consume a massive amount of details.
Bruce

[mighalpern]

Bruce:
those last two pictures look awesome.  I am especially liking the road work
I know many have mentioned the great roads, but I couldn't find how you make them?
styrene? poured?  what. 
I am trying a few ideas for roads on my layout, plaster first, then just the other day un-sanded grey gout. both ok but have to sand down some, makes a mess.   would like to try styrene, I can not locate black styrene in my local area, so going old school
thanks
Miguel

[arbomambo]

If you have access to Facebook, A photo tutorial is listed there in the SWARMTrak Facebook page...
here is the link:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.1108691605811623&type=1

The roads were born from a desire to use something low cost and somewhat flexible and durable for these small modules; it was meant to be a feasibility project (it ended up being very successful for my purposes-so much so that I will probably use this method more often than not)

the roads were cut from common chipboard ( a dense cardboard used by scrapbookers); I bought a large poster board-sized sheet from my local Hobby Lobby. There are various thicknesses, but this seems to be about 3/32" thick...it's less than 1/8" thick, anyway.
I decided to make the roads 2" wide, not because of any research into the prototype widths of the 50's, I simply put a few vehicles on the chipboard and, allowing for shoulders, etc, made the decision that 2" wide would 'look about right'.

I knew that the chipboard would adhere very well to the plywood surface of the modules (using inexpensive white or carpenters glue).
another experiment that turned out well enough was using lightweight spackle to form the sloped shoulders of the roads. The spackle went on easily, then, when dried, sanded to a very smooth surface with a very fine grain. I was concerned that the spackle would chip and break with the slight flexing that the module may encounter, but, so far, this hasn't been the case; once sealed with paint and scenic cement, it has proven to be very durable.

The roads, themselves were painted with a custom mix of flat enamels and the shoulders and surrounding areas were painted with my 'go to' earth color. Then the roads were striped with Woodland Scenics striping pens (I've found much less expensive products in the Sharpie 'oil based' pen line of products-available at WalMart, Hobby Lobby, Michaels, and even Office Depot)
The grease strips were done with Tamiya 'oil' pastels...
Bruce

[arbomambo]

adding some details only shows me how much more these scenes will need....








and a view down the line, past the grain elevators, shows an area around the loading dock that is screaming for detail/clutter!

[GimpLizard]

Dang, that's some nice work. That shot coming into Hutton almost makes me think I've been there before.

[arbomambo]

with Photobucket back 'up', I was able to post the VERY quick build of this bridge from Russell Higginbotham and Red River Models/Marshall Shops

http://higginbothamgraphics.com/redrivermodels/

it's a nice 'concrete' art deco arched viaduct model, that also just happens to be the exact length of a T-Trak 'double' module; it is designed to be height adjustable so it fits in perfectly in a T-Trak setup.
I'm going to use it as a 'fill in' module when we need a 2 footer to help balance a layout. I will probably also build one or two more to feature ion a fully landscaped T-Trak module.
It goes together in a couple of hours using carpenters glue; a simple laminate design laser cut from dense fiberboard(?). It's VERY sturdy once assembled. I just need to prime it now and spray a final concrete color.
Bruce

[bdennis]

Thats a cool looking bridge / viaduct. Would be a great way to build a large viaduct even if just part of one like Nicholson Viaduct (Tunkhannock Viaduct)