Jeepers, it looks like there's Creepers in your Church Yard! Hey Joe, what did you use to make your roads? I would like to make mine look like yours. Thanks, Robert
After the previous video's stepper motor test, I built in the stepper motors, LED lamps, and the Digispark, into the Railroad Hotel. This represents the first floor electronics, as all it is meant to do is run the ceiling fans and the lighting in the hotel lobby and restaurant area. No interior has yet been added, but there is wiring service loop so I can remove the first floor roof to add the interior details later.
Those ceiling fans look so realistic, fantastic! Never seen this done in any scale before, much less Z scale. You are constantly raising the bar even further for us modelers. Well done Robert!
Robert fans are truly cool…did you ever finish all the lighting and motions on your roundhouse? Believe it or not the roads are noch foam roads. I cut to size then I paint with asphalt paint. Usually 3 coats. Then use bragdons weathering powders to get that kinda dusty look.
You know Robert in some ways you have become the Patrick Mahomes of Z scale. Every week I watch him do something amazing. And you get to a point where your only shocked when something isn’t amazing. So it’s safe to say you’re first team all pro!
I am most of the way done with the roundhouse, I just have to add a guy running the grinder animation, and put a loco under repair inside. I also need to detail that module and wire up the track power. There is always something else I can do, but right now I am still honing my microcontroller skills and building design skills. I believe that each model made can be better than the previous, weather in detail, design, electronics, etc., constant improvement is the way I enjoy model railroading.
You got that right. Even today after I finished the creeper scene I noticed cab was a little high so I made adjustment got it set right. So here’s a less scary truck…the tow truck and yes I’m getting better with decals. Slowly! got little aggressive with weathering powders but still a cool truck! and…I’ll have to add a little blue paint where it flaked off….
I did a little more work on my Railroad Hotel today. I need to get the first floor done so I can wire and detail the second floor, so I started with the curtains. I took a sheet of 2 ply paper towel, and peeled off 1 ply, then laser cut the curtains as below: Then I glued them into the windows. The first floor curtains are scalloped, and cover the top windows only, but you can see the scallops at the tops of the second windows: For the second floor windows I glued them in place with the slits centered in each window, then I glued a smaller strip behind them to represent a valance. The effect I was looking for is a sheer type curtains as might be found at a bed and breakfast type Victorian Era Hotel: I am kinda looking for this effect: Next I started on the first floor interior. I painted up some of Walter Smith's 3D chairs, and some We Honest People, then laser cut the tables to fit inside the restaurant area: I still have more first floor interior stuff to do, but for now, this is what it looks like from outside:
They sure look like lace curtains in your model. Wow, never would have thought they were made from paper towels, but it works well.
Rob, Have you thought about becoming an Z scale interior decorator? The curtains do look cool, nice detail. The fans are a real nice touch as well! I thought the building looked familiar, but couldn't put my finger on it. But then I saw the picture, that building is in Ferndale, CA! I have stayed in Ferndale many times, and have eaten at that in several times. Scott
Yeah, what happened is there was a large damaging earthquake there a few days ago, so I googled it and then I seen some really nicely painted Victorian era buildings in town. I took screen captures for reference.
Funny you should ask, this morning I decided a Victorian Hotel needs fine artwork, so I went online and perused Van Gogh, Da Vinci, Picaso, Monet's, and others looking for some high quality paintings, and I gathered some Whistler, Starry Night, Mona Lisa's and other fine compositions to shrink and display: With the paintings and several other subtle details, the first floor is complete, and I can seal it up to allow wiring the second floor:
EA electronics beer truck! Thus is a really well designed truck. Easy to assemble and the barrel detail is very nice in stake bed.