Bay Ridge Redevelopment.

Uh-oh.  I feel some demolition of an outstanding model coming on.  But you know me, I just love your work so count me in.

Welcome to the thread Coach Joe.

Plenty of writing, plans, photos and hopefully discussions coming up in the future you won't be disappointed mate ! Roo.

Looking forward to your new creation.

Chuck

Neville, your RR is very much akin to real life. Real life circumstances are always changing. Sidings and mainlines come and go as needs change. You are being most prototypical. I look forward to your upcoming adventure!

Dan Weinhold

I like this topic! 

Lew

Always look forward to your modeling and ideas Neville. Might have to come visit next summer!

Will be watching, Roo!

MELGAR

OOHH! Sounds interesting. let me get some popcorn and sit back and watch

One question Roo- are we talking Bay Ridge...Brooklyn, NY, USA? Long way from Australia mate.

Bob

I can see it now, all the "little people" are running for protection in holes and  crevices to avoid the upheaval.

Please touch on your steps for damage and dust protection in the redo.

Thank you everyone for your support!

Like every journey that begins with the first step this one begins with a list...........

Confirm concept track plan.

Prepare scale drawings to ensure the position of through board mechanism, such as Tortoise motors do not conflict with supporting timber framework.

Approve final track layout and drawings.

Generate Bill of materials and estimated cost for track, turnouts and tortoise motors.

Agree costs and share expenditure.

Place orders for long lead time items.

Prepare electrical schematic.

Draw detailed electrical wiring diagram.

Design turnout matrix boards.

Design turnout latch relay boards.

Generate bill of materials for electrical components and cabling.

Draw Control Panel display.

Order Control Panel Fascia.

Construct and wire complete self contained control panel assembly.

Construct and test Matrix boards.

Bench test the control panel to ensure it opertates before fitting.

Consider options for phased rewiring such as temporary location of existing control panel while new panel is being fitted.

Remove all obstructions underneath the layout and consider temporary supports.

Consider changes to existing backdrop and scenery before laying any track.

Shut down existing layout only when all equipment is available and the above preparations are satisfactorily completed. 

This above list shows the steps needed to keep the layout fully operational while preparing for the changes it is not a complete rebuild of the layout only one section and we are using the existing bench work it will get more clearer when I post the track plan which is being prepared now.

Thanks for joining us on our journey more soon. It will get more interesting when I can generate some photos that will happen soon. Roo. 

Seems like you're starting from scratch but I believe I remember you having a Bay Ridge layout before or was it the Brooklyn navy Yard?

Roo posted:

Thank you everyone for your support!

Like every journey that begins with the first step this one begins with a list...........

Confirm concept track plan.

Prepare scale drawings to ensure the position of through board mechanism, such as Tortoise motors do not conflict with supporting timber framework.

Approve final track layout and drawings.

Generate Bill of materials and estimated cost for track, turnouts and tortoise motors.

Agree costs and share expenditure.

Place orders for long lead time items.

Prepare electrical schematic.

Draw detailed electrical wiring diagram.

Design turnout matrix boards.

Design turnout latch relay boards.

Generate bill of materials for electrical components and cabling.

Draw Control Panel display.

Order Control Panel Fascia.

Construct and wire complete self contained control panel assembly.

Construct and test Matrix boards.

Bench test the control panel to ensure it opertates before fitting.

Consider options for phased rewiring such as temporary location of existing control panel while new panel is being fitted.

Remove all obstructions underneath the layout and consider temporary supports.

Consider changes to existing backdrop and scenery before laying any track.

Shut down existing layout only when all equipment is available and the above preparations are satisfactorily completed. 

This above list shows the steps needed to keep the layout fully operational while preparing for the changes it is not a complete rebuild of the layout only one section and we are using the existing bench work it will get more clearer when I post the track plan which is being prepared now.

Thanks for joining us on our journey more soon. It will get more interesting when I can generate some photos that will happen soon. Roo. 

Neville, you are missing the greasing of palms.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlVDGmjz7eM

BOBBYD.

So you think I should have included. 

" Cash box set aside for Politicians and Council members"

At the top of the list!  I enjoyed the video.   Roo.

Roo,

If it is anything like the mill, I can't wait to see you future posts!  Good luck!

Neville,

I remember various updates of the Bay Ridge over the years, ALL of them VERY well done! What led you to choose that specific 'realm' to model?

I certainly WON't be put off with the project. Envious maybe, but never put off!

Simon

I have called this yard "Bay Ridge" going right back to when I first started a Rail Marine theme which is long gone now. When I changed to a Steel Mill theme I kept the Bay Ridge name for the yard it was just to hard to change it!

Bruce is working on a track plan and will have it ready soon I have made some changes to the track which is why it's taking so long but I want to get it right. As soon as the track plan is ready I will post it to this thread in the meantime I am fixing up the backdrop working with what I have it might look a bit "cartoonish" to some but you see it when you first walk in the room and the colour looks the part keep in mind everything has to come from America which tends to delay certain jobs like the nearest American Hobby shop for me is 16,000miles away ! I still have to Glue the Walthers backdrops on the wall I will paint some clouds to break up the blue after the final piece is glued to the "sky".Ha Ha.

We have the control panel drawing almost ready I will post it at the same time as the Track plan all going well.

It's not exactly exciting work at the moment but as we go along over the next few weeks it will slowly get more interesting.

Thank you all for following this thread and your kind remarks. Roo.

The backdrop is going to be time consuming instead of pasting the Walthers backdrops flat I have decided they look a lot better pasted onto foamcore board first, lucky there is a gap on the already pasted buildings below so they will fit behind (Maybe I had this in mind when I pasted the buildings originally, I forget!)  it just gives everything a feeling of depth not being artistic minded I struggle with little projects like backdrops. I also lightly feather sprayed some clouds on the "blue sky" to break up the monotony of the blue. It's fun isn't it.   Roo.

The final photo of the actual backdrop before the the ground cover and other ground scenery. The real thing looks better than the photo as you are further away from it and can't take the whole thing in at once photos can be cruel sometimes.

I'm happy with it and I am the one who has to look at it everyday! No track plan yet but we are working on it. Keep looking in I won't let you down. It's basic Model Railroading but that's what I am, you still might learn something from it. 

  Roo.

Roo,

Yes, pictures can be cruel, but they can also be very enlightening.  It appears, from your last photo, that the light source for this picture is off to the left and not back near the back-edge of this layout section.  I reached that conclusion by noticing the small shadow lines created near the top of your now 3-D (after adding foamcore) Walther's backdrop building pictures.  Those shadows caught my eye because they are very dark on your blue painted sky.

I know you probably can't safely remove the backdrop pictures from the foamcore, but can you move the lighting to be more directly over the back edge of this table?  That might minimize the "shadow" look.

And, of course, if my analysis is completely wrong because my old eyes have deceived me, please accept my apologies up front.

Chuck

Looks great.  What's the source of the Building Backgrounds?

Off to another great start Neville!

I like what you're doing, there Roo. Urban/industrial is one of my weaknesses: Love it... gonna' find a way to get more of it.

I also like your use of photographic flats. I think the results speak for themselves. (i.e. They produce VERY realistic looking "factory/urban" backdrops.) I use photographic flats, too.

Looking forward to seeing your latest whim take shape!

Andre

Thanks guys the backdrop flats in the front are from Trackside Flats O scale size off the internet and Walthers Instant Buildings HO size at the rear.

Andre. I like industrial areas as well as you may have guessed !

Chuck, the backdrops look OK it's my photography that's the problem.

Tonight I am buildings fences to go in front of the backdrop see photo. I made the jig myself and used the wood you see in the boat building section of the hobby shop not scale wood to expensive for a fence.

Almost forgot have the track plan ready to post along with other drawings will get them up tonight if I'm not to tired. Roo.

Here is the new Track plan for Bay Ridge. Sorry I couldn't post the PDF file to big. I'm working on it.

Any Questions or queries I will try and answer. Thanks. Roo.

Lenz (Germany) makes double slip switches.

Nev, the back drop adds nice depth and the wispy little clouds break up the expanse of blue sky so realistically.

Thanks again Coach Joe.

This photo shows the back drop from a distance I think it looks OK I am going to add a few signs when I get time.

At the moment I am about to put some signs on the fencing I stained them yesterday then I will "Plant" the fences today.

I have ordered all the track and the Tortoise motors also the ballast has been ordered along with other items so the next couple of weeks look like being busy.

Jim. I know about those Lenz double slips but I have used English Marcway track for many years and found it to be very reliable to old to change brands! Thanks for the call.  Those plastic things are silverfish deterrents had some attack the backdrop.   Isn't Model Railroad building fun.  Roo.

ROO, in the second photo the exterior stairs are casting a shadow.  Are the stairs 3D or does the backdro have the shadow printed on?

Coach Joe, Thank you my friend. The shadow is printed on the backdrop. 

The work continues.... The fence is in place. Forget the track, that's only temporary. Thanks Roo.

OK the final photos of the backdrop before I move onto other work I added some foliage to break up the "sameness" of the fence line. This is where the redevelopment comes to a temporary halt as far as posting here on the Forum,  but in reality work is still going strong like I have finished all the ordering of what we need and I have removed everything from under the layout including shelves getting in preparation for the electrical work and the fitting of the switch machines. All the items I have ordered are coming from overseas so there will be a delay of between 14-21 days before anything arrives from The USA and England, in the meantime I will work on other projects and keep the layout up and running every Friday till I finally make the decision to shut down the layout for a few weeks I will still post here every few days  and let you know what's happening.

Bruce is working on the matrix modules for the interlocking on the Control Panel and the board has been ordered from the laser sign man I will show you this when it is delivered it's a larger board (A3 size) than we have on other parts of the layout (A4 size) as there are 15 turnouts, 4 Double slips, and 23 isolating sections lots of buttons and switches.    Roo.

Why do steel mill operations have to shut down for Bay Ridge redevelopment?  Time or interlocking?

Roo posted:

<OK the final photos of the backdrop before I move onto other work I added some foliage to break up the "sameness" of the fence line. This is where the redevelopment comes to a temporary halt as far as posting here on the Forum,  but in reality work is still going strong like I have finished all the ordering of what we need and I have removed everything from under the layout including shelves getting in preparation for the electrical work and the fitting of the switch machines.>    Roo.

 

Looking good Neville. Your fence and landscape work add a lot of visual interest. 

LETS not forget this is the staging area for the rest of the layout and for a lot of the time it will be full of cars like this photo taken today shows. This area has never had any kind of scenery up till about 18 months ago when I decided to change the whole area.

Coach Joe. The Steel Mill part of the layout or the rest of the layout could be operated still but without any staging that would make it a bit awkward to use. 

Thanks BobbyD and Coach Joe and anyone else looking in. It will be more interesting when everything finally gets here you have to have patience when your an O scaler in West Australia! Long way from anywhere.   Roo.

Hi Nev, Pierre here.

very excited for the Bayridge Redevelopement program!

love the plan, lots of action in the double slip arena.

so far I am enjoying the progress.

all my best mate.

Thanks Pierre.

Hooray!!   Good news, the work at Bay Ridge will be starting again soon, yesterday four double slips turned up in the mail along with more track and joiners, so looks like a lot of work, lots of photos, and no excuses coming up.  Roo.

Great looking yard and backdrop Roo.

MELGAR

Roo posted:

Hi Everyone.

Even though this thread will be about one section of the layout I am sure you will find it interesting as I will include our thoughts and approach to model railroading that we have gathered through many years of layout building and modelling. Again I stress that Bruce and myself are not professionals just  average Model railroaders so don't be put off about this thread thinking it is just another "Endless money and outside help project" it is not, anyone can use our methods and ideas.

(Roo) and Bruce.

 

You better believe it! Neville and Bruce have built some killer stuff over the years.

Simon

Thanks Melgar and Simon if you can make it to the running session this Friday your both invited !  Roo.

Roo posted:

Thanks Melgar and Simon if you can make it to the running session this Friday your both invited !  Roo.

I dunno......does Quantas have a Geezers fly  free program (sorry Melgar) 

Simon