SAMRA Layout, Scenery, Members, etc.

[Flash Blackman]

The San Antonio Model RR Club (SAMRA) is building a HO scale layout.
SAMRA website (http://www.trainweb.org/samra/)

One of the members, Doyle Bond, scratchbuilds some very nice buildings. I have not seen them all, but here are some pictures of the scratchbuilt HO scale structures or scenes he has made.
Cotton gin
http://www.railimages.com/g2/d/6197-2/boz.jpg
Band arrives at the dance hall. My pictures of the dance hall interior were bad.
http://www.railimages.com/g2/d/11806-2/Bond31Dec05-07.JPG
General store in South Texas.
http://www.railimages.com/g2/d/11810-2/Bond31Dec05-09.JPG
Interior of the same store.
http://www.railimages.com/g2/d/11802-2/Bond31Dec05-01.JPG
Doyle is currently building an oil field pumping apparatus. More on that in a few weeks.

[ January 04, 2006, 03:11 PM: Message edited by: sapacif ]

[Powersteamguy1790]

Flash:

That's very fine modeling. The detail is outstanding.

Stay cool and run steam.... graemlins/cool.gif :cool: :cool:

[BoxcabE50]

Nice models. Excellent detailing!

:D

Boxcab E50

[Colonel]

Excellent work and your photo techniques arent too bad either :D

[Flash Blackman]

A few more Doyle Bond buildings. The cotton gin is still being positioned on the layout.

http://www.railimages.com/g2/d/11933-2/BondDoy--12.JPG
Here is the interior of the Texas dance hall. The band is just setting up.
http://www.railimages.com/g2/d/11937-2/BondDoy--13.JPG
I really like this one. It is just a building next to the country store. The wooden automobile bridge crosses several tracks in the cut below.
http://www.railimages.com/g2/d/11941-2/BondDoy--14.JPG

[Mr_NScale]

Looks cool!

[Tom Hynds]

That dance hall looks like they picked it right up outta Gruene, Texas...Sawdust on the floor an' all!

[Flash Blackman]

The SAMRA club is on-going, of course. here is the Zingerle bridge to be installed.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/Zengerle_Bridge-1.jpg
This is the installation location. Scenery should go about 18 inches from the floor. HO scale.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/bridgecut-01.JPG
More information as the story develops.

[Flash Blackman]

Pioneer Flour is an old-time San Antonio company. Doyle Bond is building a full scale model of the facility for the SAMRA HO scale layout. This is the beginning of the model. Silos will go on th other side of the steel column. Note the tall facility is wrapped around a steel support column. The nine doors along the loading platform are spaced for 40 foot boxcars.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/doyPioneer-01.JPG

[r_i_straw]

You mean you acctually let Doyle get some real work done around there? Now the pressure is on Flash, you have to contribute something even better to the layout to "one up" him. :rolleyes2:

[Flash Blackman]

You mean you actually let Doyle get some real work done around there? :rolleyes2:
I must admit that if you leave Doyle alone, he does pretty well. Probably like a lot of clubs that the committee work is more complicated than the layout and the modeling.

[Flash Blackman]

Here we are a couple of weeks later. You can see the bridge profile pinned on the lower benchwork. The actual bridge is 48 inches long and 18 inches high. The two outside tracks here (light colored boards) will be supported across this chasm by bridges. The other tracks (two, I think) will be below the scenery and hidden from view. Orphie Neathery, on the left, and my Marine buddy, Paul Dawson, far right, are supervising; Doyle Bond, with the keyhole saw, is working. I am the secretary for this project and I am making a permanent record of all events as they occur for the club archives.:D
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/brijCut-05.JPG
We did locate pictures of this bridge. It is a French bridge called the Garabit Viaduct Bridge (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/wonder/structure/garabit_viaduct.html). The actual span is 3-4 time longer than this. The arch is the main part of the bridge. It was designed by Gustave Eiffel who also designed the Eiffel Tower. Mr. Eiffel also engineered the framework for the Stature of Liberty. While we are not convinced there is a solid connection to Texas for this bridge, it is still a good bridge to model. Mr. Zengerle was stationed in France (US Army) in the old days and was a regular French railfan. He built this bridge for his layout when he returned to the USA.

And the beat goes on.

[r_i_straw]

What I really like about the SAMRA layout is the building is so clean and bright on the inside. I stopped in to see the layout at the Texas Transportation Museum northeast of the San Antonio airport yesterday and found it dark and gloomy. Did like the little train ride behind a real ex US Army Baldwin diesel. ;) You guys need to get a big train to ride on outside in the yard. :shade: Nahh, just keep up the modeling.

[Flash Blackman]

No one around much today. I ate some donuts while Orphie worked out the measurements on the exact location of the bridge and the supporting structure for the chasm we are about to build. The paper bridge profile is taped in the approximate location in this picture. The added plaster was done Monday night, I think. It is slowly moving along.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/brijCut-06.JPG
Happy Thanksgiving.

[Flash Blackman]

Saturday, December 2, at SAMRA and there were a bunch of people there. The benchwork guys tackled the benchwork area for the Zengerle bridge. This involved moving the support and electrical for two lengths of track. It would have been a massive undertaking for me, but these guys did it in about three hours. In this picture, the floor of the river area is going to be on the protruding boards just above the floor.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/brijcuts--06.JPG
Later, It is all completed with the bridge cutout in place. The large support in the center of the span is temporary. Wiring will have to be reworked at a later date. At this time, power is fed from both sides of the bridge only using rail joiners. Orphie is probably computing how many 100 pound bags of plaster this is going to consume.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/brijcuts--13.JPG
There is a lot of plaster work going in beyond this area across from the floor fan in the background. This is a new scenicked area on the layout that will be visible as you enter the building. The lower span is four feet. The upper span will be about two feet. The large canyon will curve out of sight to the right as you view the bridge. I'm beginning to visualize it much better now.

[JASON]

Nice progress there Flash,I see the fly screen/plaster method is still very much in use & works well by the looks of it.How did they do the supports underneath,for the shape of the mountain?Timber,foam?
I'm still abit lost on how the canyon will look,but I'm sure all will be revealed soon.Also,hows the tree making coming along Flash?

[Flash Blackman]

Jason: They do use the screen and plaster at SAMRA. They dye (not paint) the plaster to make rocks and soil. I know the screen and plaster is old technology, but it seems to work just fine. It is a permanent layout and weight is not a factor. The screen is held in place with sticks until the plaster is in place; then the sticks are removed. The "mountain" area in the picture is all hollow. The track runs around the outside (and inside edge), so the open part inside the mountain is necessary for access to clean the track. Orphie made the comment that there were going to be lots and lots of rock castings to make this canyon.

As for trees, I don't know. They are buying trees at SAMRA the last time we needed trees. I am not sure how many trees will be in this area.

FWIW, in the photo above, the tunnel portal on the right is behind the canyon and the track will pass along the rim. The tunnel portal on the left exits and the track crosses the canyon on the high, smaller bridge.

[Flash Blackman]

More plaster at SAMRA yesterday. Before we started:
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/551/SAMplaster003.JPG
Around one pm:
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/551/SAMplaster010.JPG
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/551/SAMplaster011.JPG
There is a lot more to go below the low track on the left. It's getting there.

[Flash Blackman]

More Plaster today, Jan 13, 2007. This is a better view of the whole canyon scene. The lowest part will be near the floor where the two guys are standing.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/brijcut--120.JPG
This is a good concept view of this side of the penisula.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/brijcut--125.JPG
These are the two upper level bridge abutments. These are a combination of plaster castings and carved rock by John Lowrance. It is all white now, but it will be stained different colors.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/brijcut--127.JPG
I really like the reverse face on this abutment.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/brijcut--126.JPG
We will probably get more plaster up before the train show, but no colors, I expect. The Eberle bridge will not be in place until after the train show.

[Flash Blackman]

There has been some more progress on Doyle Bond's Pioneer Flour, too. This is the basic structure; there are a lot of details left to do.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/pioneer106.JPG
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/pioneer107.JPG

[Flash Blackman]

We are staining rocks. This is a before and after of the beginning of this. There are four colors applied in separate washes to create the rock color: yellow ochre, raw sienna, Payne's grey, and burnt umber. They are not applied evenly; the washes drip, spread and saturate the plaster. Needless to say, I am not allowed to do this unsupervised.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/brijcuts--051.JPG
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/DSCN7402auto.JPG

BTW, I have just become aware that my pictures in the SAMRA building have a reddish tint, for some reason. I will work on that. The plaster around the colored area is bone white and it doesn't look that way on my monitor. Just FWIW.

[Flash Blackman]

We began painting the ground for the bridge cut. This upper area will be completely done first as it will be very difficult to reach after the lower scenery area is complete. My current understanding of this method is: stain the rocks - paint the ground.
Before:
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/551/SAMplaster010.JPG
After:
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/brijcutt--007.JPG

[Matthew Roberts]

Oh, finally painted that area, too, now, Flash?

- Matthew (Wishing he had a club in his area like that!)

[Flash Blackman]

The Zengerle bridge was originally made of wood. It has now been repaired by Tom Eubanks using styrene. It's a very nice repair job on a bridge model over 50 years old.

[Matthew Roberts]

Where will that masterpiece be located? :teeth:

[Flash Blackman]

Matthew:

It's posted earlier in this thread.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/brijCut-06.JPG

[Flash Blackman]

As of last Wednesday, 28Feb07, John Lowrance had begun painting the backdrop behind the bridge. The technique involves painting the most distant hills first and then spraying a very light "haze" covering with a white spray. Then, paint another row of distant hills and another "haze" layer. Then a third row of hills with no "haze" layer. Thus, the most distant hills get more "haze" than the near hills. Why didn't I think of that? :o Notice that there are a few clouds there, too.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/brijhills01.JPG

[Flash Blackman]

As of 17 Mar 2007, here is the progress. The hills are beginning to turn green. This is the first layer of grass. Workers are Paul Drummond and Doug Monroe of Monroe Rail Corporation.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/brij-17mar--2.JPG
I have some more pictures to add today.

[Flash Blackman]

17Mar 2007 again. Tom Crosthwait scratch builds the frames for one of the control panels.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/CtlPanel--1.JPG
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/CtlPanel--0.JPG

[Flash Blackman]

This is two of the H0 scale buildings that will hide three tracks running along the wall. This industrial area will be about 40 feet long, so this is fairly large even in H0 scale. Notice the use of a mirror at the far end of the building next to the tall tower.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/PioneerWall--1.JPG

[Flash Blackman]

New Lone Star Brewry in San Antonio by Doyle P. Bond.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/Pioneer2.JPG

[Flash Blackman]

Before and after scenery on a gully area above the bridge. I thought it was an interesting contrast between the white plaster and the stained/grassy areas.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/brijkkk-01.JPG
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/brijkkk-08.JPG

[Flash Blackman]

This is the green area with most of the Woodland Scenics foam types in place. It looks pretty good to me, but there will be a lot of review of the area and many scenic details added before it is considered finished. I know they will use some florgrass type for weeds and maybe several rocks/skree slopes. Also, there will be some trees, too.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/brijkkk-24.JPG
Here is the whole area that once used to be white plaster. Pretty neat transition for the start.
Before:
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/brijcut--120.JPG
After:
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/brijkkk-25.JPG

[Flash Blackman]

And finally, the bridge is in place. Temporarily at least. There is a lot more scenery and work to do.
Guys working on placing the bridge:
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/brijkkk-17.JPG
The bridge and the lower level. It gives a much better picture of how all this is supposed to fit together.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/brijkkk-21.JPG

[Flash Blackman]

Here are two posts showing the progress since March 24th.

Here is a skree area of broken rocks. Interesting little idea for some variation.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/brijj--03.JPG

Notice the fault line on the modeled slope parallels the fault line painted on the backdrop.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/brijj--06.JPG

Before:
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/brijkkk-01.JPG

After drainage cut filled in. Very different from the original plaster picture.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/brijj--07.JPG

[Flash Blackman]

Three more overall pictures of the area above the large bridge.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/brijj--09.JPG
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/brijj--11.JPG

Lower track leading to the bridge.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/brijj--12.JPG

[Colonel]

that is awesome Flash the hillside scenery is so authentic.

[Cleggie]

Awesome work Flash, taking shape nicely :thumbs_up: :thumbs_up: :thumbs_up:

[Matthew Roberts]

Hurrah for realism! :teeth: :teeth:

How'd y'all weather the track??? Spray cans? :unsure8ao:

[Flash Blackman]

Matthew: I believe the technique is to use spray cans with 2-3 different colors. John Lowrance (NMRA Modeling with the Masters person) does this with a special technique involving great flourish and skill. I am always amazed when he does it. (Personally, I use just one color; that's all I am qualified to do.)

For the detail people: Here is what Orphie Neathery had to say about the rocks and the "fault" line:
One thing, the rock line across the hills is not a fault line. Its just a hard limestone layer with softer rocks above and below it. It makes a slight ledge because it is harder that the other rocks and vegetation does not grow on it well. That's what I was trying to model. Just remember, hard rock layers make ledges and cliffs. Soft rock layers make slopes covered with vegetation.

[Flash Blackman]

Lone Star is the last major building on one end along this 45-50 foot wall where the yards will be. Doyle Bond has made this entirely from styrene; it is about three feet long (H0 scale). Now there are three structures along the wall: Lone Star (Doyle Bond), Pioneer Flour (Doyle Bond), and Scobey Moving and Storage (John Lowrance). There was some discussion last night about adding a Continental Can Co. who used to make the beer cans for Lone Star. These buildings will cover 15-20 feet when finished. Scobey will be eight feet long and about 10 stories high in H0 scale. That is a big building!

Here is the mostly finished Lone Star:
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/Lone_Star--01.JPG
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/Lone_Star--06.JPG
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/Lone_Star--08.JPG

[r_i_straw]

And finally, the bridge is in place. Temporarily at least. ......
The bridge and the lower level. It gives a much better picture of how all this is supposed to fit together.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/brijkkk-21.JPG
This looks kind of like your bridge.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Garabit.jpg/800px-Garabit.jpg

[Flash Blackman]

Boy! That sure does look like the bridge! Is that the French Bridge? The approach on one end of the prototype was very large and very long.

[JCater]

Amazing stuff...the bridge is excellent and the Lone Star brings back memories...drank plenty of their product in my youth!!
John

[r_i_straw]

Boy! That sure does look like the bridge! Is that the French Bridge? The approach on one end of the prototype was very large and very long.Probably is. I was looking up catenary on wikipedia where they used it as an illustration on an inverted catanary and I thought I recognized it.

[Flash Blackman]

Probably is. I was looking up catenary on wikipedia where they used it as an illustration on an inverted catanary and I thought I recognized it.

Also, Russell, I found out there is more than one bridge design like this in France. If it worked once...etc. :teeth:

[Flash Blackman]

Here is Doyle Bond's rendition of a cotton bale. Not bad, I would say.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/cottonginDoyle04.jpg

Overall view of the cotton gin. It does follow a prototype here in Texas.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/cottonginDoyle01.jpg

[Flash Blackman]

SAMRA has several on-going projects. I have already mentioned the Alan Dawson Memorial Bridge. (http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?t=88863) This is a picture of the real Alan Dawson who built this bridge. I suppose a renaming is in order now. Here we are continuing on placing the supports and locating the bridge footings.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/DawsonBridge39.jpg

Each year the local PBS station has an auction. Ernie Kaak and others made the auction layout that we donated this year.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/KLRNlayout04.jpg

Dennis Pierce and Tom Crosthwait, track gurus, works on the San Antonio Yard. Lots of track and spikes to go.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/Pierce_Track01.jpg

Next work night is Monday. More bridge piers for me.

[Colonel]

flash,

Excellent track work and I like the transition half way through the yard

[Flash Blackman]

Here's the latest on the Alan Dawson Bridge. First, all in place.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/dawsonbridge-01.JPG

Maiden voyage. MoPac E-8, for some reason?
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/dawsonbridge-07.JPG

[Flash Blackman]

We had a milestone of sorts today. Both bridges are in place and operational. We will remove them as necessary to complete the scenery, but no more temporary bridges. It was interesting to me, and not obvious to me, that the bridge is supported first from the base and then from the track ends. This allows the bridge to really support itself and not have any unwanted lateral forces on the track or the ends. In other words, the track alignment is exact and the bridge can be easily removed. I am sure this is best, especially for the size of the structure in H0 scale. (For my N scale bridges, I generally made the roadbed rigid, attached it to the abutments, and then hung the rest of the structure from this rigid crossing.)

This first scene is the overall view of the bridges from floor to top of backboard. Dennis Pierce, track guy, checks it out.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/brijbothin-02.JPG

First train across the bridge.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/brijbothin-03.JPG

We also added plaster behind the upper bridge. The scenery work in this area will continue for some time.

BTW, remember the plaster bridge footings? I noticed that we had cracked one today, so that will have to be repaired. It goes on and on, but that is the idea, isn't it? :biggrin9xs:

[Colonel]

That is awesome Flash and what work do they let you carry out :D

[Flash Blackman]

That is awesome Flash and what work do they let you carry out :D
I watch the expert mix the plaster and I carry it from the mixing bench over to the bridge. Also vacuum as necessary. I might add that I also monitor all other facets of layout construction while remaining well clear of any serious exertions. :D

[Matthew Roberts]

That's what the photographer's there for!!!

[Flash Blackman]

More work this weekend and some nice structures. This is Scobey Moving and Storage by John Lowrance (http://www.nmra.org.au/conventions/Clinics/Sky%20Boards/Sky%20Boards.html); the basic structure is made with the new Walthers structural materials. I don't have pictures, but this building and all the structures at SAMRA have complete interiors, at least on the ground floor. This building has a break room with a pool table and a game underway...really! Anyway, here is the overall view:
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/aSAM15.JPG
Fire escape:
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/aSAM16.JPG
Allied Van Lines decal by Orphie Neathery. Notice the John Lowrance pigeon.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/aSAM18.JPG
Scratchbuilt awning and steps/railings by John Lowrance.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/aSAM20.JPG
More pictures later tonight.

[Flash Blackman]

Another one of our members, Al Boos, has been building the Ft Worth engine facilities on the SAMRA layout. This is not a large facility and has both steam and diesel capability. I think that the coaling tower is a modified kit; all interiors are scratch built. This is a wonderful scene with great detail and weathering. The layout is so large that I "discovered" this just last Saturday, but I know Al has been working on it for some time. BTW, Al is also installing one of those new Walther's Conerstone turntable kits at the same location; you can see the box in the last picture.

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/aSAM21.JPG
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/aSAM22.JPG
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/aSAM23.JPG
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/aSAM24.JPG

[Flash Blackman]

Two more.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/aSAM26.JPG
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/aSAM28.JPG

[Flash Blackman]

Here's my participation for Saturday. We finished the hard shell base plaster for the two bridges that have been the primary subject of this thread for some time. John Lowrance, Orphie Neathery, Doyle Bond, and I were there for about eight hours yesterday. I was both tired and covered with plaster. Here are the pictures.

After both bridges were removed, wire was added. We staple it in place.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/aSAM34.JPG
Next comes the sort of soupy plaster dipped in cloth strips to cover the wire. Doyle Bond and Orphie Neathery work on this part.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/aSAM36.JPG
Thicker plaster is used to cover this thin shell and to form the base for final plaster detail such as rock castings, shale, scree, etc. Orphie finishes up the plaster.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/aSAM37.JPG
Finally, we replace the bridges for the operators. More work on Monday night.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/aSAM39.JPG

[Colonel]

Flash,


That looks awesome but I expect to see a photo of you actually working next time :D

[Flash Blackman]

Paul: I may have one picture of me working. I will look.

After the base layer of plaster forms the terrain, rocks and vegetation are added, rocks first. These are large 2-3 foot rock molds made at the club. We fill a section of the mold with plaster and then press that onto the plaster base. It takes two people to get it all in place at one time. As you can see, the rocks are being added in "layers" that represent the rock formations laid down in this area from prehistoric times. Orphie knows the names of all of these layers (as an oil company geologist type), but it is all I can do to get the plaster mixed.

Here is John Lowrance and Orphie Neathery pressing the mold in place.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/CIMG0010.JPG

Here is a picture of Orphie peeling the mold away. You can see the layers being formed here. Much faster than using the Great Kansas Inland Sea.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/CIMG0014.JPG

Because of the water staining technique used to color the plaster, the plaster will have to dry for 2-3 weeks to be sure all parts of the plaster have the same water content prior to adding the dye. There is still a lot of plaster detail to do with the bridge abutments and other objects.

[r_i_straw]

Flash,


That looks awesome but I expect to see a photo of you actually working next time :D
Here is one. They are rare you know so enjoy.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/713/Flashwork.jpg
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/510/Flashwork.jpg

[Flash Blackman]

Here is another photo of me working away planting trees:
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/BasaltTreesFlashB.JPG

We are currently working hard getting the giant canyon filled with plaster. Sometimes there are slight mis-steps in the construction and some of this exquisite rock work has to be removed. Here is another photo of me (standing) as I assign the locations about where to chisel next. My friend Doyle Bond (seated) is the chiseler here.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/meanddoyle01.JPG

All in a hard days work art SAMRA.

[Flash Blackman]

On August 8, 2007, plaster work complete except for some small bridge footings. It is presently undecided about how to construct these footings.

The bridge is very fragile. It seems to break a little every time we handle it. Ed Zengerle built it from a French prototype that he saw during WWII, so we think it was originally constructed around 1950 for his layout. It is mostly balsa wood, but we are repairing it with styrene and, in some cases, brass. If we can finally get it into place, maybe the destruction will slow.

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/brijjjj-05.JPG

Saturday, August 11, 2007. Carpentry work only to install the fascia. Tom Crosthwait shows his handiwork.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/brijfascia-07.JPG

More on the fascia treatment next week.

[Flash Blackman]

SAMRA fascia treatment is as shown here. The upper part is Masonite that will be painted some type of green color (I believe). The lower part is recessed about one foot and is regular sheet rock that will be taped and floated just like in a home. This is the only time I have ever seen sheet rock used for a fascia. The electrical outlets and all other access is built into the sheet rock, too.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/731/brijfascia10.JPG

I will add that the layout benchwork is pretty substantial. This picture shows an all wooden portion of the layout, but metal studs are used in some places. A lot of the construction variation is because we used old materials contributed to the club.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/731/brijfascia14.JPG

[Flash Blackman]

Today we put the final bridge footings in place. The mold was made from cardboard covered with painter's tape and then the footings were cast in-place. Here is the mold with the plaster pour.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/731/brijjjfeet02.JPG

The final footings are shown here. It took all day to get four footings completed.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/731/brijjjfeet05.JPG

[Colonel]

That looks awesome Flash when are you guys planning to have the scene finished?

[Flash Blackman]

They were discussing that today. Next week we will surface a road and paint the track. After that, all dying rocks and adding scenery. I would say 3-4 months to go. It will take longer depending on how many structures we add, if any. I don't see adding any structures to this scene.

[Flash Blackman]

Two boxcars for Lone Star. I think these are just Athern blue box kits. The guys find them at the train shows.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/lonestarboxcarsx2.JPG

Pillsbury. This may be a kit, but it is a pretty nice looking building. It will get weathered, too.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/pillsbury-05.JPG

[Flash Blackman]

Mask the track by John Lowrance and Paul Dawson.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/731/paint_track-01.JPG

Select the colors. Reddish first, then the dark brown, then the light brown. All Krylon rattle cans.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/731/paint_track-04.JPG

Track painted.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/731/paint_track-05.JPG

Remove the paper masking and clean the rails. This is the hard part. Notice I have my water bottle close at hand in case I become faint.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/731/paint_track-09.JPG

[Flash Blackman]

Tom Crosthwait is building the eleven SAMRA control panels. Here is the basic structure.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/731/Controlpanels01.JPG

Tom at work. This is hard to do, too.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/731/Controlpanels05.JPG

[Flash Blackman]

Paul Dawson and John Lowrance are shown coloring the rocks at the large bridge gorge. This is the beginning of staining the plaster.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/731/brijjjrockstaining.JPG

[Colonel]

Excellent work Flash how much time do you spend at the club a week?

[Flash Blackman]

Colonel: About eight hours a week total on two different days. All of that is doing scenery projects. I spend more time each week on my own layout or painting and decaling my N scale rolling stock.

[r_i_straw]

I was going to try to drop by and see all the progress today while I was in San Antonio but had too much going on with the kids. Speaking of San Antonio, what is with all the old passenger cars parked along I 35 near Brooke Army Medical Center?

[Flash Blackman]

Speaking of San Antonio, what is with all the old passenger cars parked along I 35 near Brooke Army Medical Center?

I don't know. It is about two miles from my house, though. I will try to ask at the club Monday night.

[Flash Blackman]

Rock staining continues. It takes a few days as the first stains lighten as they dry. Here is the overlook on the right side of the bridges.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/731/DSCN8254.JPG

Here is an overall view of the area. There may be some more touching up on the rocks, but grass and trees are next. Also, there will be a trickle of water added, too...maybe.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/731/DSCN8268.JPG

Here is an artsy shot from the floor looking up. Not bad on the rocks. :teeth:
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/731/DSCN8260.JPG

[Flash Blackman]

As you may remember, there is a long false building area along the wall to hide some track. The track is hidden all right, but how can you give a sense of depth to this flat model area? I am glad you asked me that.

Here is one of the buildings along the wall. You will notice that there is a drive-through loading dock in the lower left corner.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/731/DSCN8277.JPG

John Lowrance built the building and last Saturday he installed lights in the loading dock. When you look through the loading dock you "see" the buildings in the next block.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/731/DSCN8282.JPG

Pretty neat, huh? I think that is my 1957 Corvette there, too.

Notice that the "next block" is also a picture of a model including cars and people. How does John think of that stuff?

[Flash Blackman]

More SAMRA scenery last Monday night. The soil and grass are being added. Rock staining is finished before gluing grass, rocks, debris as the glue will prevent the plaster surface from taking the stain.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/731/brijjjj----005.JPG

Culvert.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/731/brijjjj----006.JPG

John Lowrance is hard at work. I am, too, taking this picture.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/731/brijjjj----007.JPG

[bravogjt]

The layout is taking shape nicely!!

Ben

[Flash Blackman]

The Zengerle Bridge area is about complete for scenery except for a few more trees. We may do that today. Here is a before and after view of the area.

Before:
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/brijcut--125.JPG

After:
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/731/brijjjj--07.JPG

It really is hardly recognizable between the two photos. The actual bridge is still not in place in the last photo.

[Flash Blackman]

This is the latest addition to the industrial area wall at the SAMRA layout. This area is about 12 feet long; there is about 20 feet more to build in this section. The Pioneer Flour tower is wrapped around a vertical I-beam structural part of the building.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/731/SAMbuilding.JPG

[Flash Blackman]

The foliage detail is approaching completion as you can see in these pictures. Here is one of the Dawson Bridge abutments. Note the overlook for rail fans.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/731/brijjjjfoliage-03.JPG

Vines and ivy.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/731/brijjjjfoliage-06.JPG

Steps in over look area needs railing. Looks snakey in there! Probably need a weed whacker.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/731/brijjjjfoliage-11.JPG

A closer view of the abutment.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/731/brijjjjfoliage-13.JPG

[Colonel]

Flash,

That is fantastic, maybe one day you can do a photo layout tour.

[Wolfgang Dudler]

Great, you have scenery experts! I wish I could do this.

Wolfgang

[Flash Blackman]

SAMRA has a new website. (http://www.samratx.org/) I think Ralph Alexander is the webmaster and is creating a very nice website. Although the site is still under construction, there are some photos to see. Also, notice the SAMRA Train Show Jan 26-27 at the Live Oak convention center.

[Flash Blackman]

Since I am in N scale, I volunteer to repair, weather, help set up, etc., the SAMRA rolling stock as it is repaired or added. As with any club, there is always something to do. Jack Morgan really checks the couplers, weight, etc. I don't run on the layout, so working on the rolling stock is a fun way to keep up with things a little.

Here are some cars that I have repaired or weathered for the layout.

Life Like Mather Stock car (kit)
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/1704/SCMSCX1697LifeLike_22_Sep_2008_18-36-53.JPG

Blueprint Series (I think) already assembled. Looks sort of like the Mather car.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/1704/IMG_2133.JPG

Athearn Blue Box
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/1704/DSCN8751.JPG

Proto 2000 kit.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/1704/DSCN8618.JPG

This is a varied type of rolling stock. One of our present issues is that it does not accurately represent the time period we are trying to model at the museum. There will be a resolution in the near future restricting the types of cars that can be on the layout. One idea is to have a "not later than" date.

Perhaps some others here have had this issue? Some members don't think it is important; some want to restrict the date to a morning or afternoon of a certain day. (Just a joke, but you get the idea.) Just wondering what others think. Thanks.

[ppuinn]

Flash:
Your weathering is outstanding!

Whoa!--your use of HO flex track on top of N scale track fooled me the first scan through the thread...Nice way to put an HO car into a sceniced area when there isn't one available in 1:87.

[BoxcabE50]

This is a varied type of rolling stock. One of our present issues is that it does not represent the time period we are trying to model at the museum. There will be a resolution in the near future restricting the types of cars that can be on the layout. One idea is to have a "not later than" date.

This is what I did for my last layout, and will continue for the eventual next layout.

Boxcab E50

[Wolfgang Dudler]

I like your Life Like Mather Stock car (kit), with cow. :angel:

Wolfgang