Well finally finished all the track installing for the port area. I now have 8 sidings installed in the port area, 3 more sidings than the previous version. 100_0004-1 by John Moore posted Nov 7, 2023 at 9:28 AM Everything is on hold while I get my new brewery built. I decided to give the brick building a coat of paint. So last night I applied a coat of Apple Barrel Granite Gray available in the art supply section of Walmart. It is the same color I am using on the Woodland Scenic foam track bed. A single coat gives the track bed a color close to Kato's unitrack. The brewery complex has a color scheme of light gray with green trim. 100_0005-2 by John Moore posted Nov 7, 2023 at 9:28 AM
John, I like the scene you have created in the port area. The tight curves remind me of O gauge. It brings back happy memories. Very cool!
Excuse the lousy pictures but the camera is on it's last leg. New one arrives tomorrow. After almost three weeks of fiddling with the brewery site I finally had a break through yesterday and with both Kato flex track and unitrack I was able to come up with a satisfying solution. Got the new brewery installed along with the hops elevator, The grain processing building, and the facility for making animal feed out of the left over sour mash from the brewing and distilling process. Lots of elevated piping will connect the buildings and many grain silos yet to be installed. I also design a between the track grain unloading for my covered hopper cars. 100_0018-1 by John Moore posted Nov 11, 2023 at 7:45 AM 100_0015-4 by John Moore posted Nov 10, 2023 at 10:35 PM And a shot of the old brewery site and all the elevated piping and grain bins that I need to install. 000_1346-1 by John Moore posted Dec 28, 2019 at 10:38 AM Next up is to create the power plant tank farm and lay the track for it. I also tore out my lower highway ramp to the upper area and will redesign it. Then finally I can ballast the track clean it and hook up my power feeds.
Another little update on the layout rebuild. I did not like the access to the middle level of the upper village so tore it out and am redoing the highway ramp. The big white splotch is were the curved ramp used to be. Some more work with a hot knife and then plaster and plaster cloth still to be done. 100_0004-1 by John Moore posted Nov 13, 2023 at 1:09 PM The final piece of track was added going to the power plant and the power plant tank farm. 100_0005-2 by John Moore posted Nov 13, 2023 at 1:09 PM I have also started installing the marine fueling depot in the harbor. 100_0006-3 by John Moore posted Nov 13, 2023 at 1:09 PM Work on the brewery site continues with the grain bins installed and a Rix grain elevator built and installed. Grain is unloaded into the pit between the track rails an d goes via conveyor to the elevator which fills the bins. The bins are interconnected via a conveyor and another converyor leads to the main building. 100_0007-3 by John Moore posted Nov 13, 2023 at 1:09 PM The rail loading side with a few of the rooftop details added. More details are on the way to be added. 100_0008-4 by John Moore posted Nov 13, 2023 at 1:09 PM A front shot of the brewery showing the stack lettering and building build date of 1859. 100_0009-5 by John Moore posted Nov 13, 2023 at 1:09 PM Once the highway ramp is done I can start the town install and the train station. And a lot of work still remains on the brewery site plus a possible engine service area. Taking a lot of time to rehab the buildings and repair some. The new layout has 19 sidings and has double the amount of mainline running plus three hidden staging tracks.
Well another update on the layout rebuild thread. I am once again using the GreenMax crossing kits. I addition the the crossing and gates they have some other parts that I am getting mileage out of. 100_0028-2 by John Moore posted Nov 29, 2023 at 6:24 AM I finally got my last grain bin and have started on the last section of the brewery complex. Part of the brewery is a feed processing operation using the mash left over from brewing and distilling. This is an alfa blend bulk feed mix processing. Rich Alfalfa hay is mixed with the processed mash along with grain, Molasses, and beet pulp to make a cattle feed by the truck load. 100_0029-1 by John Moore posted Nov 30, 2023 at 9:19 AM Now mounted at the brewery and needs more scenic material and piping installed. 100_0030-1 by John Moore posted Dec 1, 2023 at 7:28 PM I worked for alpha blend for a short while while in high school. I have started laying out the train station. The third platform in back is the mail and baggage plus freight operation. All platforms have passengers installed and even two train crew waiting to change crews. This is Kato's rural station with some extra platforms. Still waiting on the platform crossovers before installing. 100_0031-2 by John Moore posted Dec 1, 2023 at 7:28 PM Further down I have started on the village site by laying out a black pad to set the structures on and then sidewalk. I am using heavy black construction paper. Saves having to place streets later and I just install structures and sidewalk. The road with the markings is a Busch product being used for the main street. 100_0032-3 by John Moore posted Dec 1, 2023 at 7:28 PM Even further down is the road leading to the ferry landing. Once again heavy black construction paper. I will smooth the edges with scenic material and road markings will be by pastel pencils from my artist's box. 100_0033-4 by John Moore posted Dec 1, 2023 at 7:28 PM I did finally get my power extension cords in place but not yet hooked to the power pack. I am having too much fun with the build challenges.
Continuing the build thread I tackled the intermediate level of the cliffs, namely the lift out section over the hidden tracks. Decided that the little guard shacks at each crossing included with the GreenMax grade crossing sets could be used as motel rooms I went to work. And a Red Roof Inn was born. Took about a week to develope this. The main inn building was once at the top of the cliffs. It has a restaurant, deli, grocery store. and rooms for rent. Sidewalks are Evergreen sheet sidewalk cut into strips. Yellow lines are from a Kato decal sheet and the diagonal markings are from the GreenMax kits. There are the first trees there with the new layout. 100_0042-2 by John Moore posted Dec 12, 2023 at 4:51 PM Moving on to the train station at last I need some mail and baggage carts so found these wood kits. 100_0038-1 by John Moore posted Dec 12, 2023 at 4:51 PM I decided I needed a baggage cart tractor and did not like either the price or the size of the Shapeways offering. So went to my parts box and in a couple of nights I had my baggage cart tractor. Next up is to expand the mail and baggage platform a little wider. 100_0046-6 by John Moore posted Dec 12, 2023 at 4:51 PM The next three photos are of Kato's rural station that has been expanded by and additional platform section on each side and then a mail baggage platform added. The structure at the end of the mail baggage platform is from another Kato station. 100_0043-3 by John Moore posted Dec 12, 2023 at 4:51 PM 100_0044-4 by John Moore posted Dec 12, 2023 at 4:51 PM 100_0045-5 by John Moore posted Dec 12, 2023 at 4:51 PM I am still adding to the brewery complex.
Slow progress on the layout rebuild because I am repairing things plus making things as I go along, Assembled my last Rix grain bin for the brewery and at the same time assembled and painted a set of small luggage push carts for the train station. 100_0048-1 by John Moore posted Dec 16, 2023 at 5:48 PM 100_0052-3 by John Moore posted Dec 16, 2023 at 5:48 PM A aerial view of the almost completed brewery complex. 100_0053-4 by John Moore posted Dec 16, 2023 at 5:48 PM The new Rix grain bin installed with associated piping. 100_0054-5 by John Moore posted Dec 16, 2023 at 5:48 PM All that is left is to install the parking lots and scenic materials. The lift out section over the hidden tracks with the now complete Red Roof Inn in place on it Just need to connect the highway with the to end of the two ramps leading up and down. 100_0055-6 by John Moore posted Dec 16, 2023 at 5:48 PM And the new roof over the mail baggage platform which was cobbled together from parts of the former train station. Now awaiting installation of ballast and scenic materials. I have still to create the highway through the area plus parking lots and install the parking garage. 100_0058-7 by John Moore posted Dec 16, 2023 at 5:48 PM
Thank you very much. The brewery is the first view of my layout along with the mine as you enter the man cave. Next will be the station that comes into view. Just got through laying some of the parking lot and roadway both at the brewery and the station. Once again I am using heavy black construction paper that goes on the layout using Elmer's Glue then the paper is soaked with a spray bottle of water Which helps the glue to spread out under it.
Well some more progress. At the brewery site I have applied more scenic material, stripped the parking lots, and added trees. Still a little more to do. The parking lot striping is with a Pastel artist pencil from my art box. It is purposely faded to reflect age. 100_0004-2 by John Moore posted Dec 23, 2023 at 2:53 PM Now working on the train station. Have created parking lots using sidewalk glued over the black construction paper. The sidewalks are Evergreen styrene sidewalks cut from a big sheet of the material and painted with my own mix of concrete color using Apple Barrel paints. I redid the high rise parking garage. Planted grass in the areas defined by sidewalks and also planted trees. Next up is to secure a section of sidewalk that is sticking up and start striping. 100_0002-1 by John Moore posted Dec 23, 2023 at 2:53 PM The next area I will begin work on is the space at the top of the cliffs. Then I will move to the village commercial district. Once again I got busy with extra parts from the GreenMax crossing kits. Using the same guard shacks that I used on the Red Roof Inn. But this time I laminated some scribed styrene to the sides to make them a bit longer and wider. The roof was from a previous old Kato train station that was cut down. And I have a small strip mall. From left to right a tax prep office, a 6 to 12 Mart, an early version of a 7-11, a cleaners, Wo Fat Chinese take out. and a barbershop. The Japanese make an N scale mini mall but why spend the money when I can build my own. 100_0005-3 by John Moore posted Dec 23, 2023 at 2:53 PM
Well work continues very slowly as I feel my way. Working on 2 areas now, the upper level at the cliff tops and the village business district. I just installed some more Busch highway to the upper areas. The farmhouse is going, to big, to be replaced by a smaller house. On the other side of the roadway I am going to build my own small houses out of cardstock and have a sheet of paper doors and windows coming in a few days. 100_0016-1 by John Moore posted Dec 29, 2023 at 12:24 PM I have started the village business district. The bigger DPM buildings are being discarded in favor of the smaller DPM buildings. I have an Exacto stainless steel precision edge that I found is just the right width when laid against the edge of the highway to place my sidewalks and create auto parking. Measures a 10 N scale feet width. I am going to use the smaller DPM building in a mix with some Japanese buildings by Greenmax. The first two buildings seen are both Greenmax buildings. One is the Turtle Creek RR office and the one next to the trees has been made into a hotel. I already have four of these structures and will order some more smaller ones. 100_0017-2 by John Moore posted Dec 29, 2023 at 12:24 PM
Good for the back of the layout where the lack of raised detail does not show. In my case most of them will be at back of the layout. There you cannot make out the lack of detail like raised window sills and door frames. Nothing beats plastic details for that but cutting the openings is a P.I.A. In my case I have a nice calendar smooth thin packing board backing that was in the packaging. A sheet of N scale window and doors made out of paper from Ebay and already have sheets of wood shingles made from paper. Just cut the walls some Elmer's then cut out the windows and doors and some more Elmer's then the roof shingle sheets cut to fit and more Elmer's. Have thin plastic brick sheets to form chimneys. A slightly thicker cardstock gives a base which is already on hand
Did some further work this afternoon to create an illusion. The trees spaced on either side of the highway give the effect the the road has just crested a grade and is dropping into a small valley and that is helped further by the way the backdrop was designed. Houses go on the left and the farm goes on the right. 100_0018-3 by John Moore posted Dec 29, 2023 at 8:38 PM
Well created 4 cardstock houses and 3 garages plus a garage with attached shed in front. They are setting on some of my shingle sheets which I can color by applying dilute water base paints or Bragdon Powders. Next up is to do some dressing up with sandpaper then paint and cut the roofs. My sheet of paper doors and windows arrive next week. In the back is the Ebenezer Pratt Grocery that is getting a new roof. I built that structure about 15 years ago out of styrene. 100_0023-1 by John Moore posted Dec 30, 2023 at 7:52 PM
Well created 4 houses, 3 garages, and one blacksmith and repair shop out of cardstock. Applied my paper shingles that I printed over 15 years ago on parchment paper. Used Bragdon Powders to color them and the a spray atrist's fixative that I use for pastels to fix the weathering powders. Also re-roofed the Pratt grocery and now getting ready to add an awning over the front that was part of a Japanese building kit, The chimneys are my own creations made from scrap styrene and the laminated with a thin scribed block sheet styrene. The Pratt grocery was built about 15-20 years ago out of styrene. Now waiting on the post riding a slow three legged mule to deliver my windows and doors tonight. 100_0001-1 by John Moore posted Jan 2, 2024 at 5:51 PM Since to cardstock was free along with the shingles the styrene was from my scrap box of odds and ends and the Elmer's glue is being used for other projects my total cost in this project is in the sheet of paper doors and windows from Ebay. Created 8 structures and repaired one for a cost of about $12.If I had bought these the cost would have been $30-$40 or higher.
