Watching all this GREAT WORK by John reminds me of the photos I saw of the B&O Museum being rebuilt after the snowstorm crashed in the roof
John, This is amazing work! You are inspiring me to ditch my Heljan roundhouse and start from scratch--or at least kit-bash!
This is turning into a bigger topic than I thought it would when I started, I'm happy that you all are following it. I wanted to add the low part of the roof next because it will be glued into place and will help to add strength when handling the structure. Because I narrowed the stalls the roof has to be cut down also to match. The end piece has just one side trimmed off, the other sections will have some taken off both sides. I roughed up the bottom of the roof sections. This will be very hard to see but if someone found a way to check it they will look like wood, and it did not take very long to do. The first one is the original, the middle is scored with a razor saw and lines scribed in. The last one has been painted and stained. A little black soot will be added later. After the roof sections were put in they did not match up at the front so I added a little plastic to keep the overhang even. I super glued a piece of strip plastic to the edge and then cut it down to fit. The wall sections that sit on this part of the roof come next. These have to be trimmed on each side because of the narrowed stalls. I gave the back of the wall a wood look because it will be seen. The first section of wall installed. I have also added extra framing between the posts and made a walk way to access the windows from the inside. A ladder wil be added to each end later. There is a thin lip to hold the windows in place, and by cutting this out I was able to make the windows in a open position if I want. I used the clear plastic on the back and then scribed it like I did for the larger windows.
This is the most awesome roundhouse I've ever seen. The pits are very clever. I wish I had your dexterity.
FD, The pits are really nothing more than little square boxes glued to the base after the space between the tracks were cut out. I have found that most structures are some form of box shape and an occasional circle. Think of them like that and there not too hard to put together.
Wow John, I love the attention to detail. Thinking of adding a walkway and a ladder to access those windows is great!
The plastic roof does not have the texture that I wanted so I used some black paper cut into four foot strips to simulate the roofing paper. Construction paper could be used. After the strips were put down I used some narrow pieces of strip wood for the joints and then took a gray piece of chalk and scraped off a fine powder on to the roof and then brushed it in for a wheatered look. The area to the left in the photo above is just the paper and to the right is the brushed in chalk. I thought it was time to take a break from the construction of the RH and add a little detail. Besides the two painters can help me paint the wood areas. Had to lay down a tarp to catch the paint spills. They have already got the area to the left painted. One guy is doing the gray and the other the green trim. The paint buckets and lids are on the tarp. I put the handles on the paint buckets but they are hard to see. This is the progress to date;
Wiliam, The two painters left their lunch boxes down on the break table as seen in the photo below. Russell, After a good start, the painters are still on the third bay so I haven't had to re-fill their buckets yet. I have been adding a few other details; The doors are all on. There are four ladders to access the walkway. Electrical service is being installed. The meter is inside the building, and some of the conduit is in.
Are you going to have the overhead crane to lift boilers or diesel bodies off and move to the next bay for frame or motor replacement work? I'm kidding you! The detailing you are doing is superb! Excellent craftsmanship! My hat is off to you, your photos are inspiring, if not a bit intimidating to most of us.
Watash, Thanks for the kind comments. The roundhouse is for light repairs so I do not plan a overhead crane for it. But my Back Shop is next to roundhouse and does have an overhead crane already; There is also a wheel shop connected to this building for turning down wheels. Both are completley detailed inside. [ March 06, 2005, 01:48 AM: Message edited by: J WIDMAR ]
I'm further impressed John! You are taking me back to when I worked in a roundhouse! Its a good thing you are taking photos, because we couldn't see all this detail once the house is finished. I think you need a hobby to relax with!
Watash, My other hobby is 1/700 waterline ship models when I want to work on small stuff. Paul, I thinlk those painters have got it made, they haven't finished another bay since I last checked on them. I have added a toilet in the corner for the little people; The toilet, urinal and sink along the wall. The inside of the restroom wall. Two rolls of extra toilet paper on 2X4. Restroom in corner. I still have to add a paper towell holder and wastebasket.
AC, The mirror is over the sink and the paper towell dispenser and trash bucket are in. Now on to the rest of the conduit. George, I am not a member of the N scale club and do not know what there plans are. So your guess is as good as mine.
