Layout Progress...Never too late!!! "Steel Mill Painted and Weathered" 6/25/24

Thank you kindly Tom and Jay!

Dave

Excellent work Dave, adds another layer of realism. I also like how you painted weathered the towers, wires, and substation. The video is great too, provides overview and detail of the project.

Andy

Here's a version of it. This is inside Mines and Meadows ATV park. (attached)

It's not a great picture but there goes the power lines...right up the hill!

There's also this spot along the Stavich Bike Trail in Lowellville. There goes some more power lines right up the hill haha I think this bike trail was even an old trolley shortline or something.

Andy-Thank you kindly man!

Bill-Thanks for the photos. Those type of scenes are exactly what I was trying to represent.

Dave

@luvindemtrains posted:

Bill-Thanks for the photos. Those type of scenes are exactly what I was trying to represent.

You see in all the time on route 7 and route 2 there along the Ohio river. You are crushingly accurate!

Bill,

That's right! It's very prevalent there. I have seen that scene so many times it was all in my head when doing this project.

Dave

@luvindemtrains posted:

George-You're killing me, lol!

Bill-Thanks man! If you can find a photo of the area I would like to see it. I guess the scene is pretty common around the country but that would be interesting to see considering I didn't use any photos.

Dave

Dave, they send their regards as well...

George

George,

Now that's funny. Tell them there are no worries...at least for now.

Dave

Hi Everyone,

Here's a project I just completed...well at least 95% completed. This is a background industrial building from modeltechstudios. I had been eyeing this building to go with its "sister" structure but hadn't pulled the trigger. An opportunity came to acquire a lot of background facades and flats. All of the others were from the same company but this was the oddball included in the lot. As soon as I received it I knew exactly where it was going to go on the layout.

Here are several photos that detail the different phases of the build. Also please check my YouTube video of project. I certainly would appreciate that, though you may need some coffee, beverage, or popcorn depending on when you watch it.

Thanks,

Dave

Guys...we have moved this thread over to the scenery and structures forum because that seems to be the focus of the discussion on this excellent layout build.

That’s an excellent job on that kit, Dave!  Thank you for the great video!

I can't wait to watch the video when I get some free time!!

Did that sign come with the kit? It looks really well done. The weathering is superb.

Mark-Thank you x 2!

Bill-Thank you and yes all the signs came with the kit.

Dave

Excellent work Dave. Nice detail for a background building.
Andy

Great work Dave! Also thank you for posting the video!

Hi Everyone,

A few weeks back I posted a block of concrete in the "What did you do on your Layout" thread. Well here's what I did with that insert. Instead of plopping a building in the space I created a small yard area between the two buildings. The only thing in the the yard right now is some piping coming out of each building. I have some ideas of what I could add later but this is enough for me to step away for now.

My latest YouTube video documenting the process is below as well. Take a look see!

Dave

Here I am thinking "rail yard", but you meant an actual yard (with grass, weeds, etc.).

Looks great!  Very inventive.

George

George,

Thank you. I thought about that as I was composing the post. It's funny how in model railroading when we hear the word "yard" only one thing comes to mind.

Dave

@luvindemtrains posted:

Hi Everyone,

A few weeks back I posted a block of concrete in the "What did you do on your Layout" thread. Well here's what I did with that insert. Instead of plopping a building in the space I created a small yard area between the two buildings. The only thing in the the yard right now is some piping coming out of each building. I have some ideas of what I could add later but this is enough for me to step away for now.

My latest YouTube video documenting the process is below as well. Take a look see!

Dave

Magnificent!

Peter

Thanks Peter!

Awesome work on the details @luvindemtrains! It’s amazing how a few pipes will take a small scene to a whole new level. @G3750 I was thinking the same thing with the yard! 😂

Thanks Rich! I agree. It definitely helps with achieving the "industrial" look.

Another well done segment!!

Thanks Mark!

Dave, wonderful work and I always love reading your post and checking out your videos as there is so much that can be learned from you!

Thank you sir!

Mike,

I always appreciate your complimentary words and encouragement.

Dave

Dave, I know you mentioned in the video that you put a lot more time into this area than you expected to, but it was worth it! Great scene that most folks wouldn’t have taken the time to address. I really enjoy your approach of trying an option and letting it sit for a few days or so. The level of detail is top notch as always.

Andy

Thanks Andy! This section of the layout is not very big so it's easier to concentrate on details. As far as "sitting" on an idea. I have changed so many things on the layout because I just wanted to get it done. So now I take this approach along with taking photos, so that there is much less of a chance that I will change it later.

Here are a few photos of some Downtown Deco kits I'm constructing. Over the last year and a half I have been collecting older D.D. kits. I like the newer ones as well and may add a few, but the older ones have a unique character that I really like. I'm kind of on a building binge, ala Peter(Putnam Division). I'm experimenting with an idea I discovered online. I'm assembling the walls of each structure first, which will give me a footprint in real time. I will then experiment with building  placement. I'm obviously assembling them one at a time starting with the larger ones. As I construct the four walls I can begin placing them on the layout and determine which one I want to construct and add next. Using this process I can also determine how much real estate I have so that I either continue constructing or stop. Besides that benefit, I can also use this process to create a bit of uniformity from one building to the next when I begin to paint and detail the buildings. I suppose I could fully construct and detail each building initially and accomplish the same thing but this way will give me a faster sense of satisfaction and motivate me to want to get to the next step when I see the potential. For a person like me who loses interest rather quickly, this might be the way to go.

This small town will not only be comprised of D.D. kits solely. I'm starting out with them because of their fragility and the time I know I will need to spend detailing them. Here's a few shots of what I have so far. My goal is to have two assembled per week. With these crazy work hours, that might be a stretch, as it's taking everything I have in me now just to post this, lol.

Dave

I have 20 or 30 DD structures on my pike, really like them. In the early days of developing the pike (pretty large, 25 x 55) I made foam board mock ups of the DD kits in order to develop the scenes on the pike.

I found that developing stylistic consistency among the buildings pretty much takes care of itself once you develop your techniques for dealing with plaster walls, etc. Just stick with what works for you. The literature abounds with discussions of priming vs no priming...  I always prime my plaster walls, have been delighted with the results. Others disagree.  The key is, when you figure out what works for you, therein lies your consistency.

I just wish I had more real estate for some DD buildings...

Jan

@luvindemtrains posted:

My goal is to have two assembled per week. With these crazy work hours, that might be a stretch, as it's taking everything I have in me now just to post this, lol.

Dave

If you mean 4 walls up, then maybe. If you mean fully built, then 2 a week is a bit ambitious IMO.  I’ve got a few sitting in various states of completion, and I work on them here and there as I get ideas or figure out what to do with them.  A lot are built and just need signs, but there’s others that are painted and nothing else, etc…

If you just slam em together like the directions say, you can build the small kits in a few nights. But, especially with the big ones, the details take time. I think the pillow factory took a few weeks to build and detail (the more windows there are in the building will increase build time exponentially). Don’t rush, but also don’t move em around too much, you’ll pick up little chips and nicks that way, and it’s annoying to try and blend the finish after you’ve painted and weathered it.

Jan,

Thanks for your input. I agree. My plan is to get a routine and consistency going as I address these kits. This is not to say I want the kits to look the same but I want it to look like the engineers planned the town out well.

Boilermaker,

When I say 2 a week I mean four walls. As I stated I know the kits will take some time to detail which is one reason I have chosen this process. I will feel better about detailing a kit I know is actually going on the layout not to mention getting ideas from one kit to the next. I'm also in the process of a kitbash with another D.D. kit similar to the pillow factory and it's been over 6 months since I started it. Once you get that thing going it's very fragile.

Dave

Here's the series of stages to building the Woolworth building from River Leaf Models. The kit was relatively straight forward construction and that left a lot of room for detailing. I didn't want to overdo it but added a few things not included with the kit. The building will not necessarily be a feature piece on the layout but when spotted it will certainly garner memories from viewers as it does for me. I'm not sure what is going on with Andre because there's another building I would like to get from him. Most of the items on the site show on backorder and he hasn't been responding to emails. Hope he is ok.

First several pics show parts and assembly steps. Then there are photos with the building completely assembled. I show both sides and the front of the building. Nothing happening with the back, at least for now. Lastly, I have a photo of it on the layout. Not sure if this will be its home but I needed to get it off the workbench.

Lastly, you can watch the build on my latest YouTube video.

Thanks for stopping by.

Dave

Dave, Wow, Awesome job on the River Leaf Woolworth building. Thanks for the instructive pictures and your video. Colors, signs and details just so realistic.

Tom

Great build! Am in process of building a Woolworth for Port Colborne on my layout. JohnA

Tom-Much appreciated and thank you for checking out the video.

John A-Thank you as well. Please share photos of your Woolworth when completed.

Dave

Very nice job on the Woolworths building, Dave.  We had one here I always remembered when we came to town; we lived 15 miles outside of town.

@luvindemtrains posted:

Here's the series of stages to building the Woolworth building from River Leaf Models. The kit was relatively straight forward construction and that left a lot of room for detailing. I didn't want to overdo it but added a few things not included with the kit. The building will not necessarily be a feature piece on the layout but when spotted it will certainly garner memories from viewers as it does for me. I'm not sure what is going on with Andre because there's another building I would like to get from him. Most of the items on the site show on backorder and he hasn't been responding to emails. Hope he is ok.

First several pics show parts and assembly steps. Then there are photos with the building completely assembled. I show both sides and the front of the building. Nothing happening with the back, at least for now. Lastly, I have a photo of it on the layout. Not sure if this will be its home but I needed to get it off the workbench.

Lastly, you can watch the build on my latest YouTube video.

Thanks for stopping by.

Dave

Dave, I really like what you did with the colors…..and, I too worry about what happened to Andre……I hope he is well and I hope the business starts up again. He has a true talent!

Peter

Dave I love this project and the way the building came out.

Brings back many memories.

Thanks - great job

@Mark Boyce posted:

Very nice job on the Woolworths building, Dave.  We had one here I always remembered when we came to town; we lived 15 miles outside of town.

I second Mark's comments. We had one next town over and always a treat to go to Woolworths. You project brings back fond memories and is so nicely done.

Tom