First Annual International Winter Layout Party

okane Dec 8, 2008

  1. ppuinn

    ppuinn Staff Member

    2,377
    1,444
    55
    I got another couple feet of trees planted in front of the backdrop behind the East Peoria Yard. It isn't much, but I figure I spent a ton of time doing related activities which will help everything fit together in the end:

    I finished about 12 to 15 more inches to the right of the bridge that crosses over the yard, but tore most of it out the next day because I didn't like how it looked (the most distant trees weren't the right height.)

    I also spent some time trying to reconfigure how the bridge over the Yard will pass out of sight behind trees only to reappear as a more distant photo mounted on the backdrop....which meant I had to find all my bridge sections so I could assemble a few to test how I could make the transition from 3-D to 2-D....and then I had to reshape the short, small piece of the styrofoam I was using to support the back end of the bridge where it makes its 3D to 2D transformation...which meant I had to readjust the surrounding tree height again...which meant the photo bridge was glued too low...which meant I had to scrape off the old one, repair the "sky" and print another pic of the bridge after a trip to Office Depot to get replacement ink cartridges. Sigh....For this amount of work, I should have a lot more to show...

    My pics aren't turning out as nice as I'd like (too dark because it is getting late and I want to leave for Chicago in 4 hours so I don't want to set up the photo lights... and a little blurry because I tried to get them without getting out the tripod and setting it up, too. (Silver lining: I've proven something that family lore says my paternal grandfather said: "Taking short-cuts often lengthens the time it takes to complete the job, and usually reduces the overall quality of workmanship."

    So instead of pics, imagine a 2 foot extension of the treeline I installed the first week of the Layout Party with a blob of semi-forested green styrofoam in the middle where the 3D bridge will end and the 2D bridge will appear from behind the trees.
     
  2. denny99

    denny99 TrainBoard Member

    357
    0
    16
    Great job everyone! Looking forward to the next week update :)
     
  3. CSXDixieLine

    CSXDixieLine Passed Away January 27, 2013 In Memoriam

    1,457
    0
    21
    Todd, That's a fantastic job with the Walthers kitbash. I have several of their kits that will not look right in their "kit" form but have lots of possibilities in heavily modified form--your posts have given me a few ideas. Jamie
     
  4. Flash Blackman

    Flash Blackman TrainBoard Member

    13,326
    499
    149
    Some of you guys are prolific but I am still moving slowly. I am doing something, though. This is the Ft Sam Houston receiving facility. Ft Sam prototype is a huge area, but I just use this small siding to simulate the location on the layout. The Quonset hut on the left is scratch built; the two on the right are a kitbash of the Rix Quonset hut. I would like to get this all done with ballasting and scenery.
    [​IMG]

    This wasn't in the original party plan, but it is something.
     
  5. jhn_plsn

    jhn_plsn TrainBoard Supporter

    2,642
    2,793
    73
    Mike, nice job on your solution and execution for the backdrop ends.
    Todd, very nice coal tiple.
     
  6. pachyderm217

    pachyderm217 TrainBoard Member

    380
    168
    17
    Still working on the no smoking sign, but I built a pump shed / office for the propane tank site.

    The majority of my structures now have foundations like this one. Eventually, I'll upgrade the remainder to include foundations for greater realism.

    [​IMG]

    Here's the finished (?) scene.

    [​IMG]

    This little building is made entirely from scraps left over from kitbashing projects. I love being cheap.
     
  7. denny99

    denny99 TrainBoard Member

    357
    0
    16
    Todd:
    looks great!
     
  8. Caddy58

    Caddy58 TrainBoard Member

    972
    91
    26
    I have not made asmuch progress as hoped, there arefewer days between Christmas and New Year than anticipated... :))

    I did manage to get the railroad barge started. Here are 2 pics of the real thing:

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Though the real Foss barge had 4 tracks I needed to settle for 2, as there is simply not enough space for a larger version.

    [​IMG]

    The hull is simply carved wood with styrene details and metal railing stanchions.
    Next steps: Finish the details (lettering, railing, weathering) and the dock and apron.

    My second project is in the next message...

    Cheers
    Dirk
     
  9. Cleggie

    Cleggie TrainBoard Member

    525
    76
    18
    Todd:
    Nice pumphouse and great when it costs pennies to create. Just wondering would there be a security fence around such a facility? You may need to borrow a leaf out Wolfgang's swinging gate book.

    My progress has stalled on the upper level and I think I will leave it that way for now and turn my focus to the lower level.

    [​IMG]

    This is the east end of my yard and at the moment there are four tracks opperational. I need to finnish laying two more yard tracks plus some spurs that service a flour mill and an engine facillity. The line that curves toward the bottom of the pic will be a diesel fuel and sanding siding.

    [​IMG]

    This pic shows where the flour mill will be.

    The last three days have been super hot and I have discovered the some of the lower level trackwork has buckled with the heat. So that's another project to keep me busy, go over ALL my trackwork checking for alignment and buckling issues.

    The lower level trackwork should be easy enough to correct with a Dremel cutoff wheel to gap the track or in the worst cases, re-lay the track.
     
  10. pachyderm217

    pachyderm217 TrainBoard Member

    380
    168
    17
    Thanks, Ken. I too have been thinking about a gate for the site. I don't think a fence all around the site is warranted, but an access control gate across the driveway may be appropriate. If I do that, it will be simple to model with brass wire. I agree with you - Wolfgang's swinging gates are very impressive.

    I've finished all the major work I had planned for the village of Burt. Here's the before shot:

    [​IMG]

    And here's the after shot:

    [​IMG]

    I've been wanting to do both these structure projects for about a year now. The layout party (and Christmas break from teaching) made it easier to get started.

    I'm especially pleased with the coal tipple. More pictures after the jump...
     
  11. pachyderm217

    pachyderm217 TrainBoard Member

    380
    168
    17
    The coal tipple at Burt turned out better than I expected.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    I was hoping for better depth of field, but right now this next shot is the best I can do with the camera I have.

    [​IMG]

    The quality of the Walthers Glacier Gravel kit is really good. I especially appreciate the lap details of the corrugated siding courses. Weathering washes seem to find those texture differences and highlight them naturally. The overall size of the kit allows plenty of kitbashing opportunities as these photos illustrate.

    Last year, my overall goal was to kitbash two coal tipples and one coal washer plant from the combination of two Walthers kits - Glacier Gravel and New River Mining. In my Railimages, the various components of those two kits are identifiable at Burt, at Ellicott, and at Myersville.

    My posting will probably slow way down now that my work resumes next week. The last two weeks sure have been fun. Thanks, Okane, for inviting us all to the party.
     
  12. pastoolio

    pastoolio TrainBoard Member

    1,627
    289
    35
    Todd, very cool sir! Turned out really nice! I also see a little switching dilemma with the pulling and spotting of the tank cars :tb-biggrin: Very nice layout you have.

    -Mike
     
  13. CSXDixieLine

    CSXDixieLine Passed Away January 27, 2013 In Memoriam

    1,457
    0
    21
    Todd, Looks top notch. Just an overall very realistic look & feel to this whole scene. Jamie
     
  14. CSXDixieLine

    CSXDixieLine Passed Away January 27, 2013 In Memoriam

    1,457
    0
    21
    For this update:

    Backdrops Finished painting all of the backdrops (both lower and upper levels) with the light sky blue color. I have just about decided that I like the solid blue better than the previous section I painted, which had the light blue on the bottom blended to darker blue at the top. Seeing the all light blue has convinced me the dark blue at the top of the "old" section is too dark. That section will probably get painted over with the all light blue treatment. I also have a test section of backdrop that I am going to attempt to lighten at the horizon by airbrushing white along the bottom and feathering it into the light blue. If successful, I will apply this to the whole layout. If not, light blue it is!

    Helix Base The base of the helix is now completely framed out. I cut two 48" diameter "rings" out of 3/4" plywood that make up the bottom and top of the base. The base "walls" are then framed out using standard 2x6" stick lumber. The missing stud at the front of the helix base is actually the "door" that allows access into the helix. Still to be done: Cover the outside of the helix base with 1/8" Masonite, prime & paint to match the color of the room walls. Black curtain to hang over helix door to hide inside of helix base.

    A few photos to show what has been completed:

    All backdrops have been painted with the light sky blue color. You can see the new helix base at the end of the peninsula. You can also just see the end of the backdrop along this part of the peninsula that has the light & dark sky blue colors faded together:

    [​IMG]

    Overhead view of the new helix base at the end of the peninsula:

    [​IMG]

    Jamie
     
  15. denny99

    denny99 TrainBoard Member

    357
    0
    16
    Great stuff here! Todd, the tipple scene is awesome. It's amazing what you were able to accomplish in such a short time.
     
  16. DOUBLEJK

    DOUBLEJK TrainBoard Member

    64
    0
    12
    Week 2 progress report.

    You folk's are an inspiration as I look at your accomplishments each day and am in awe of your progress, very nice work.:tb-biggrin:

    As for my progress, I taped and puttied the new drywall and have started the painting. Not sure how well the paint will come out on the styrofoam walls but it is better than what was there...

    [​IMG]
     
  17. Wolfgang Dudler

    Wolfgang Dudler Passed away August 25, 2012 TrainBoard Supporter In Memoriam

    3,794
    352
    49
    I've finished the fence with barbed wire.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Now I've to build the tanks. Any prototype pictures?

    Wolfgang
     
  18. StrasburgNut

    StrasburgNut TrainBoard Member

    333
    3
    13
    Real nice work everyone!

    Todd, I know I said it before, but I'll say it again. Your work never ceases to amaze me. You got a real knack for taking something simple, costs relatively nothing, add a few little details and make it look like an expensive kit. Great work!
     
  19. Switchman

    Switchman TrainBoard Member

    861
    19
    19
    Wow! Everyone's work is most impressive and enjoyable to look at. The helix is great stuff.

    My project is dwarfed by others work. Here's mine.

    [​IMG]

    I'm adding a ridge from Boyd's logging camp for my log train. It will run along this ridge to a dummy tunnel. Just started working on ridge and tunnel it should be finished this weekend.

    See ya
    Ron
     
  20. CSXDixieLine

    CSXDixieLine Passed Away January 27, 2013 In Memoriam

    1,457
    0
    21
    Here is a modern AmeriGas facility in Buford, GA. The racks & tanks could be adapted to fit your available footprint:

    [​IMG]

    Here is a link to an interactive map if you want to look at different angles, zoom in/out, etc.:

    http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTSN&cp=pphgxx7zxv1b&style=o&lvl=2&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=19011318&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&encType=1

    Jamie
     

Share This Page