The Shoo-fly's been on hiatus as I've been working on the staging yard module, but recently I've pulled it out to test out the staging module in it's "split stub-end" configuration so I thought I'd post some picts to keep the documentation up to date: Here's a short video of my new 2-10-2 pulling a bunch of cars through the Shoo-fly: [video=youtube_share;ntryw3aQzNY]http://youtu.be/ntryw3aQzNY[/video] Inspired by the easy of use on the staging yard module, I've gone ahead and modified the Shoo-fly module legs so that they're "slip-ons" as well. This involves cutting slots down to the bolt-holes on the leg plate and then Gorilla Gluing the bolts in place to the cross-support. This way you don't have to take any hardware off, just loosen the wing nuts, slip the leg plate in place, and then tighten the nuts. Makes set up oh-so-much easier. Also finally got my hands on a Kato Mikado, so I'm a happy camper: Don't worry, the Erie will disappear and be replaced by my Portland & Pacific RR or something else soon. As soon as I get the Staging Yard done I'll go back and finish the Shoo-fly, hopefully all by the GTE show in September. Sometimes deadlines (or show-lines?) are your friend. Thanks for looking.
After working on a bunch of other modules & projects, I've returned to finish the Shoo-fly module, starting with "Lush Vineyard". Used small stranded wire to create the vines, which I painted with ceramic stucco paste and then with Grimy Black: You might have seen me use sawdust & whiteglue to create the bark on my oak trees, but that takes too many coats and too long to dry for the vines, and the stucco is easy to work with, sticks to the wire in one coat, and comes out with almost the same texture. (And with a couple hundred of these to make, easy & quick wins!) Here's about 80 vines planted: Only about 100 more to go! Used floral wire for the irregation hose. Not a super-fine detailed vineyard, but creates a good impression: Why no grapes? It's early-/mid-spring. Plus, an N-scale grape would be 0.00315". No thank you! Might put some of those big fans you see among the vines in Sonoma, though that might date the module a bit modern. We'll see. And, of course, a "how-to" video: [video=youtube_share;bq-vIdVK20g]http://youtu.be/bq-vIdVK20g[/video] Hope it comes in handy. Thanks for looking.
Finally finished planting Lush Vineyard: That's 182 individually made & planted vines. At about 3 hours per batch of 40 vines, it was a bit laborious, but the end result is worth it. Especially as this is a Free-moN module, and both sides are the "front" and close to the viewer. If I ever make a vineyard again, I'm puttin' towards the back of the layout and just detailing the first row or two and fakin' the rest. Still, I think it turned out alright, and, with the oaks, definitely says "Sonoma, California". Now just got to finish the bridge-building scene and this module is d-o-n-e! Thanks for looking.
Fantastic patience. Something I wish to have a lot more of... I wish we could give a prize for work such as accomplished here with the Shoofly. It is deserved.
Thanks, but it's not 3 hours straight per 40. Strip, twist, and paint with stucco: 40min-1 hour Paint Grimy Black: 5 minutes (and 30 minute dry time) Glue polyfiber to vines: 30min-45min (plus 30 min dry time) Spray with hairspray and apply ground foam: 20 min (plus 30 min dry time) Plant on layout and install floral wire "irrigation": 30min. So it wasn't some crazy marathon in the super-heated garage. Since I work at home, I could pop out and do one of those steps on my "breaks". And when you're doing all that repetitive work you kinda go into a medatative zen trance which is kinda relaxing. Just remember that I only went through all this effort because 1) it looks cool and 2) the vineyard is at the edge of the module so EVERYONE will be looking at it up close. Like inches close. No "3-foot rule" here. Plus I just wanted to see if I could do it. I'm just glad I didn't plan on having the whole 6' module covered in vines!
I can do that as well. But about the time it becomes relaxing, is the same instant where Mr. X-Acto Knife meets Mr. Finger....
MC, that's just fabulous, beautiful work and very California. So what kind of grapes are these; looks like Sangiovese to me... Keep it going, Otto K.
Looks great! Good thing you don't model the Mosel River valley (Germany)... Miles upon miles of these on every conceivable mountain side. Those turned out superbly.
Wow the vineyard realy sells it. Could you please take some pics with weathered, sooty SP tunnel motors! Or super rusted SP SD9's? A few bulkheads with lumber, maybe a Cotton Belt boxcar too?
MC, thanks so much for the instructional video and introduction of a new modeling material (stucco paste)! I can't wait to get some and give it a go on some small twisted wire trees. Those trees with the sawdust were incredible, but I just couldn't get myself off first base knowing how much work it was to get the final outcome. With the stucco paste, that should drastically reduce the time involved. Wonderful work as always, and thanks for taking the time to take pictures and make the video. I know that adds a lot to the workload, but it sure helps those of us that aren't quite as well skilled... NCDaveD
Been working on the last scene on the Free-moN "Shoo-fly" module: bridge construction. Still have a ways to go. Currently building a bulldozer and crane car (to be perminantly positioned above the yet-to-be-poured abuttment. Need to figure out how to make churned dirt / dozer tracks / mud (thinking brown paint and some Durhams water putty, or maybe just paint and matte modge podge). Workers, water tank, tools, more wood, more framing, more rebar, etc. Any other construction detail suggestions appreciated. Last will be a final water pour to raise the creek a smidge and cover all the crap & scratches there now. At least I won't have to explain the lack of bridge there anymore!
Thanks! Screen door patch kit, spraypainted grimy black There's some piano wire single bars in front, but hard to see at that angle. Will add some more! Been trying for a churned-earth / muddish ground that shows evidence of the bulldozer / tractor that I'm assembling. So I tried some Liquitex Brown with some dirt and Durham's Water Putty mixed in. Painted it on the area, let it set a bit, then squished the tracks of the tractor around the muck to get prints and piles. Not sure if it was a success, as it seems to be drying a bit light tan instead of darker brown, but I can always paint over / stain that as long as the texture is good. That's the problem with real dirt: even fine sifted it's still a bit grainy for N. That's why I think the paint / water putty works alrighty. Was first experiment: will refine!
MC... I keep looking at those pics. Your work is exceptional to say the least ^5 !! I see you mention... "Workers, water tank, tools, more wood, more framing, more rebar, etc." In that vien I try to envision whats to come. The cranes, dozers and workers. That got me thinking (dangerous I know !! ). Along with the regular railroad workers maybe you can get... Woodland Scenics N Scale Surveyors I dont know any 'construction site' of any sort I ever seen without surveyors around. You may have already thought of that...just throwing out an idea....thnxs
If you have a cast bulldozer kit, the GHQ one for instance, you could use the tracks from that to form the texture.
Good idea, Gareth! The GHQ kit tracks are what I used to make the imprints above Dried very light, so I stained the area, and it turned out nice & muddy / churned. I know that a real construction company would build both abuttments at the same time, but I wanted to have "progress" in progress, so one abuttment "done" and another in medias res. The eye zero's in on details one at a time anyway, so I was hoping that each bridge side would frame the eye like a comic panel and divert from the slight diversion from reality. Alas, buddy Michael Rountree (WP&P), in addition to being a fine MMR, is also an architect, and called me on the concrete reality of the lack of parallel concrete progress, so I had to add to the scene and show the first "mis-cast" abuttment being carted away: Concrete chunks made from balsa foam painted & stained with "rebar" embedded. Concrete trash not planted yet: think I need to weather a wee bit more. Currently building an older rail crane to perch above the build, and surveyors are a great idea! Fun with a small scene like this: so many little details to make it real!
Dont forget about the 1 or 2 union workers taking their "lunch break" or whatever break you want to call it while others are hard at work. They are "supervising" the project to make sure it is going okay in their eyes. LOL
Don't worry, I've also included the company manager, who sits around and acts important while the workers actually work (though he's down the line a bit in his "office" at "Lucy Furr's Pleasure Parlor" in the town of Devil Mountain on the return loop). Glued in the concrete scraps and some more debris being removed. Cut the trestle bent posts to look like cut bent posts. The dozer's broke so it's getting fixed. Surveyor team is trying to make sure that the new abuttment is in line with the rest of the track: Just waiting for some ground cover to dry around the creekbed and then I can do my final pour of water: a thin layer to cover everything that fell in / scratched up the first pour. Will be building the rail crane that will be next to the surveyors while the water cures. My daughter created a new tunnel for the module: I guess our family lives, breathes and eats model trains! Thanks for looking.
Alrighty: poured the Magic Water (tinted with Floquil BNSF Heritage Green and Grimy Black). It was rather warm today (60's) but the nights (and days) are going to be getting very chilly starting tomorrow (maybe down to low-30's) so wanted to get the pour done now. Hopefully will be cured tomorrow night / next day morning. Am also hoping the fact I already did a pour earlier this year will keep the creep from happening too much, but no problemo if it does. Next tasks: build the rail crane and then construct the endplates for the module section halves (I figure by using endplates instead of the big box I can free up a few cubed feet in my car! ) Thanks for looking.
