Summer Shunting Shelf Project

MC Fujiwara Aug 12, 2011

  1. chinapig

    chinapig TrainBoard Member

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    Brilliant! Just when I was looking for inspiration for a modular oNeTrack switching layout. Can’t imagine how I haven’t seen this before. Looking forward to the next episode!


    [FONT=&quot]Many thanks, Ted[/FONT]
     
  2. flexeril

    flexeril TrainBoard Member

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    What exactly are you using for a background of the buildings? Looks like a picture printout of an industrial park?
     
  3. MC Fujiwara

    MC Fujiwara TrainBoard Member

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    Here's the "behind-the-scenes" of the buildings behind the scenes:
    the Brewery is made from pieces of the Micro-Trains Freight Warehouse kit (which I can't seem to find on their own website), with a loading platform scratched out of basswood strips & with cedar shingles from RLW. The brick buildings next to it are DPM walls & Walthers roofs.
    The super-long "Bella Fonte Cannery":

    [​IMG]

    (modeled after the real Del Monte Cannery in Alameda) includes pieces from two DPM Gripp's Luggage kits plus scratched loading docks from styrene and ladders from Traincat (who has a lot of detail parts that help sell the scene).

    The rest of the flats, including the odd, triangle-shaped Doolittle Freight warehouse:

    [​IMG]

    are made from DPM walls & styrene.
    We painted each building slightly different base coats (boxcab red, red oxide primer, etc.) to get some variety.

    All the backdrop photos are either real buildings / photos from Alameda or taken from CGtextures (which allows a certain amount of downloading per session after free sign-in).
    We size them for the backdrop, looking at doors & windows to scale them right (takes multiple printings sometimes)
    Print them out on cardstock, use a sharp xacto to cut them out, so white glue to join sections together, and then spray adhesive to mount them on the low backdrop.
    Gotta do that before you put in the backdrop flats & low-relief buildings!

    The dock-side warehouse will be made with pieces from Northeastern Scale Models Box & Crate Factory, basswood strips, and ????

    We prefer bashing and using what's lying around, but If you'd prefer more completed kits for flats, check out Republic Locomotive Works and Model Tech Studios. A lot of great, detailed kits if you have the money ;)

    Hope this helps.
     
  4. LocoHorn

    LocoHorn TrainBoard Member

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    I really like what you're doing here. The track arrangement looks fantastic. I love the curve of the interchange track mirrored with the fence. What kind of fence is that? Also, did you scratch build the wooden grade crossing? And what did you use for the concrete areas?
     
  5. MC Fujiwara

    MC Fujiwara TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks.
    The track arrangement is courtesy Byron Henderson and his Alameda Belt Line layout in Model Railroad Planning (2005).
    [Funny, I do layout design professionally but my daughter picks Byron's design for our project! Good taste!]

    I just modified it to include a brewery (Dad gets thirsty) and moved the carfloat from "off-layout" to on-layout.
    I also figured out that putting a 3" spacer (and two sets of hinges) between the two sections would allow us to build it as a portable box that would leave some space for more permanent scenery.
    As of now, only the two small oil tanks and one brewery building need to be removed to fold everything up into a 1' x 3' box with a handle on top.

    Byron provided the interchange track, but we had to curve it a bit more to clear the box we built for the power pack.
    The fence is jug-o-stain-dyed basswood strips glued together (I think in 2" segments).

    The wooden grade crossing is jug-o-stain-dyed basswood strips (probably 1/32" x 3/64", which we used for all the replacement ties).

    The "concrete" is thinned lightweight spackle tinted with a little india ink, I think, as suggested by Lee Weldon over on the Railwire forum.
    For a discussion on various paving methods, I highly recommend reading through this thread.

    Thanks again for checking out our work.
    (moocho family in Seattle, parents met at UW, go Sounders!)
     
  6. MC Fujiwara

    MC Fujiwara TrainBoard Member

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    Finished up and installed the dockside warehouse, which is the last backdrop flat:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Basically pieces of Northeast Scale Model's Box & Crate factory trimmed & bashed, with a scratched loading platform.
    Still need to workout the area between the brewery & the warehouse: that chimney will be removeable (so the layout can fold up), but need some weeds / bushes and junk around it.
    Also need to add some more freight details & figures (besides the dude sitting up in the loft) along the platform.
    But here's how it works into the whole scene:

    [​IMG]

    Now to finish up the Oil Tanks and the quonset hut, and then add all the little details that bring a layout to life.
    Thanks for looking, and Happy Holidays!
     
  7. JSL

    JSL TrainBoard Member

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    Looks awesome, I love the details. You and your daughter do great work! Thanks

    JSL
     
  8. MC Fujiwara

    MC Fujiwara TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks!
    This flat was all me (daughter's in Japan for the holidays), though she did many of the other flats, built some of the turnouts in front of this section, and did a lot of scenicking.
    We agreed that I can finish it while she's gone so we can take it to shows, and then we can start a new one, one that will be all her ;)
    It's been fun to work together.
     
  9. MC Fujiwara

    MC Fujiwara TrainBoard Member

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    Detailed the big oil tank with ladder & railings, weathered big and small tanks, and finished a Traincat quonset hut:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    The quonset hut has to be removeable, as there's not enough clearance over the large oil tank when the layout is folded up, so I need to add some bushes and grass around it to mask the (slight) gaps.

    Next up, finishing the oil unloading platform, pipes & weathering the pump house.

    Thanks for looking.
     
  10. flexeril

    flexeril TrainBoard Member

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    You sir, do awesome work. I wish you could be my mentor.
     
  11. TwinDad

    TwinDad TrainBoard Member

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    Mmm... isn't that exactly what this forum is for... so that we can share and encourage and mentor each other?
     
  12. flexeril

    flexeril TrainBoard Member

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    Yes it is TwinDad. But I wish to have a mentor like very close. Like in the same town :)
     
  13. MC Fujiwara

    MC Fujiwara TrainBoard Member

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    I understand: it's great to have these forums and see projects & progress from people spread out all over the world, but it's also wonderful to be able to see the layouts in person and have the one-on-one conversations (as well as the opportunity to help each other out on your layouts!)

    I finished up the oil loading platform, pump & office house, as well as laid down some more gravel, grass & bushes, but until the glue dries, I'll just post a couple more picts from yesterday:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Thanks again for looking & commenting!
     
  14. Calzephyr

    Calzephyr TrainBoard Supporter

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    The layout looks fantastic MC!
    As for the quonset hut... maybe you could make a concrete pad or perhaps wood piers and a deck at the doorway to elevate it slightly.
    See how the office of the Walthers Cornerstone Interstate Fuel kit is elevated...
    [​IMG]
     
  15. Railroad Bill

    Railroad Bill TrainBoard Member

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    Continuing to help my own work. Thanks for your pics.
     
  16. MC Fujiwara

    MC Fujiwara TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks Bill & Grandpa Joe.
    Should have thought about a foundation for the quonset.
    Tried bushes & gravel. If I don't like it after a couple days I'll probably build up a foundation.

    Got more done on the oil unloading platform / complex, as well as some scenery doo-dads here & there:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Really could use some 4mm dead grass for some better textures.
    Problem is that it's difficult to do static grass on MDF (sticking the grounding pin in is a PITA, and doesn't seem to conduct very well, even when thoroughly wetted).

    Anyway, things moving forward.
    Will be working on the cannery for the other layout, but starting to figure out the detailed roof & faceplate to cover the control box.
    Thanks for looking, and happy New Year!
     
  17. Cajonpassfan

    Cajonpassfan TrainBoard Supporter

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    MC, you like totally rock! Seriously!... :)
    Otto
     
  18. MC Fujiwara

    MC Fujiwara TrainBoard Member

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  19. Curto

    Curto TrainBoard Member

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  20. flexeril

    flexeril TrainBoard Member

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    Right on!! Thanks for sharing.
     

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