Layout Expansion in progress 9-24-23 new factory added

AWESOME!  Thank you for sharing

@Lionnnn posted:

Hiya Rich!

Stunning railroad obviously. The detail and the diversity...just gorgeous. You obviously have plenty o cash to spend.

Thing is, I've been with the tools for decades and I've never seen a job quite like yours. So clean. Tools looking like they were placed, and not left or set for the next day.

My question is this: Did you build it with your hands or did you hire out to someone to build it for you?

Lionnnn

Lionnnn,

Thanks for the note.  I have been building the layouts for over 12 years, progress goes in bursts.  Generally I build everything myself.  Of course I didn't build the MTH buildings, but most are built from kits or scratch built/ kit bashed.  I built the benchwork and did all the tracklaying and wiring. I have purchased a few buildings at trains shows, and on line, but I would say that 95% of what you see is simply me plodding along over time.

Your observation on clean is in part correct. I then to build first, and go back and add more weathering and details.  In many of the cases I have not made the rounds of junk and details.

For me the scenery is the more interesting part of the hobby.  I don't collect or amass a large number of trains or rolling stock.

As always comments and suggestions welcome.

New update

I haven’t had something to share lately but I finally made some progress on a used car dealership I have been working on for some time.

The scene started with my memory of a used car lot on state street in Schenectady NY when I worked there while in school in the 80’s.  The actual parts were laser cut by Richard at right in track models for me, we used ideas from an ho scale kit I found as well since I did’t have photos of the original but is has the feel of what I remembered.

As always welcome comments and questions.

Rich, the used car lot looks very convincing!

nice

add  American flags!

Most excellent!

Peter

                        Don't forget to add the flags

@SIRT posted:

                        Don't forget to add the flags

Rich,

Inspiring.  Not sure if you have or are planning to add lights, but this would be nice to see in a night scene.

Mike

Sam has a nice selection of cars in stock, something for everyone.  Is the blue roadster for sale or is that Sam's personal ride.

Like Iron Horse said some lights, maybe yard lights or a light tower.  Even if Sam goes home at 5:00 those shiny autos sure look pretty under the lights.

My poor contribution is a Sleazy used car lot, office is (was) an old trailer. It has since been removed due to a push by equally sleazy politicians who declared 'dominant domain'.

I am looking forward to building a prestigious Sales Office that handles only Antique and Classic Cars - Duesenbergs, Packard's or Cadillac's, Bentley's or Rolls from the Big Car era from the mid-30's.  It will require a decent building...trailers are out.  I recall from my much younger days walking past a huge Auburn each day on my way to HS, poor thing was on blocks, no tarp or cover of any sort.  It was a convertible, top up.  I always wonder what happened to it.  But another will appear on my layout some day.

Very nice addition! I can see a couple cars I would like to have on that lot! Also a couple on Chuck242's lot!

Great Job Rich!

Dave

Awesome progress Rich! Always like to see new details added!

very cute addition.

@dkdkrd posted:

@dkdkrd how did you make the flags? Or did you find a source for them? Need similar for a Christmas tree lot for the RFC Train Garden display I co-chair

@Rich883,

I think I remember those ‘OK’ signs from growing up in Pittsburgh. Are you from there or was that a nationwide thing?

The Chevy dealer in Rutherford, NJ also had them. Torn down for town houses. Hope someone bought the signs.

@Scotie,

Yeah, it would have been at a Chevy dealer because in our area that was the only one we had.

Thanks for the nice comments guys.  The ok used cars I think is an old GM logo I found on line - probably not exactly the same as the one I was thinking about but I like it.

I added some figures to add some action at the car lot, including a small fruit and veg stand.

I completed a new structure.  This is from the river leaf models Texas tavern kit.  It is made to represent the New Way Lunch - Dirty John’s hot dog place in Glens Falls NY.

led lights inside and a bit of signage and weathering

The used car lot really looks great with all the detail.  I have the Texas tavern kit.  It reminds me a lot of the Burger Hut, here.  You did a nice job on your variation.

I just went back and re-read the original post in this thread.  Hard to believe it's from over 11 years ago.  Seeing your construction methods and materials (1/2" OSB - oh the horror!) reminded me of so many recent arguments about what to use. 

IMO, your benchwork is a clinic on how to build appropriately - strong enough without wasted material and expense.

@Rich883 posted:

I completed a new structure.  This is from the river leaf models Texas tavern kit.  It is made to represent the New Way Lunch - Dirty John’s hot dog place in Glens Falls NY.

led lights inside and a bit of signage and weathering

Being from Long Island, I've had my share of "Dirty Water Dogs' from the NYC street vendors.

So what's a "Dirt Dog"????

Nice work on the model. Took a basic, simple building and gave it character. Looks like the kind of place that would be tucked under the EL.

Bob

@RSJB18 posted:

Being from Long Island, I've had my share of "Dirty Water Dogs' from the NYC street vendors.

So what's a "Dirt Dog"????

Nice work on the model. Took a basic, simple building and gave it character. Looks like the kind of place that would be tucked under the EL.

Bob

Maybe it has something to do with the homemade meat sauce they put on top of the dogs.

Pretty great deal on the menu. Hot dog with mustard, onion and meat sauce for $1.90!

Thanks Bob and all.

Bob the place is officially called new way lunch - a real place in Glens Falls NY near where I grew up.  It was nick named Dirty John’s after the original owner named john would make a bunch of hot dogs in buns with a meat sauce onions and mustard resting them on his bare arm before serving them to customers. The place was a little hole in the wall located on what became a bit of a rough area at a time.

Dogs are great but the back story stuck so many call them dirt dogs after the dirty john story.

As you said it seemed like the kind of place tucked under the tracks near a platform.

Rich, great job on the lunch building. Really like your signs.

Tom

@Rich883 posted:

Thanks for the nice comments guys.  The ok used cars I think is an old GM logo I found on line - probably not exactly the same as the one I was thinking about but I like it.

I added some figures to add some action at the car lot, including a small fruit and veg stand.

Great scene, Rich. Growing up in Brooklyn in the early/mid-60’s, I remember a big used car lot on Flatbush Avenue with all those OK signs… “thanks for the memories”

@Rich883 posted:

Thanks Bob and all.

Bob the place is officially called new way lunch - a real place in Glens Falls NY near where I grew up.  It was nick named Dirty John’s after the original owner named john would make a bunch of hot dogs in buns with a meat sauce onions and mustard resting them in his bare arm before serving them to customers. The place was a little hole in the wall located on what became a bit of a rough area at a time.

dogs are great but the back story stuck so many call them dirt dogs after the duty john story.

as you said it seemed like the kind of place tucked under the tracks near a platform.

Great back story. Now I'm hungry........

Bob

@Rich883 posted:

Thanks Bob and all.

Bob the place is officially called new way lunch - a real place in Glens Falls NY near where I grew up.  It was nick

Rich,

After just reading your post, I saw this on my local CL and thought you might be interested.

Glens Falls NY Milk Bottle

Regards

Joe

Rich, What great progress and I love the story about the Hot dog guy John!

Thanks for the comments guys.  Here are two more buildings going on the layout.  These are down town deco kits I build wearers and customized a bit.

Hey there Rich- good looking additions for an already impressive layout.  I look forward to coming over and seeing it in the future! Good seeing you the other day!

Rick

Rich both buildings look great.

Tom

nice looking

I have been behind in updating my progress.  

Here is a power house I built and added to my engine service area.  This is from an Altoona Model Works kit. Nice kit but the built is a bit fussy.

Looking really good, Rich!  Always look forward to your posts.

Art

Here are some others photos of progress I realized I had not posted yet - mostly in the large city section of the layout

Here are some more photos of progress in the large city area - I didn’t realize I had not posted any of these.

Here are some more