@West Side Joe posted:I bought the MM figure from an Ebay vendor in Belarus named "43figure". They make some interesting Russian-outline figures as well.
I'm always looking at new sources for figs, but, when I put "43figure" into the eBay search, it came up dry. No longer there, maybe?
Try putting this into the ebay search box:
seller:43figures
Absolutely beautiful work Joe.
Regards,
John
@CBQ_Bill posted:...a subway layout is really "bottom shelf", just below the street & surface RRs.
😀
Bill
Indeed, to me, that is the challenge of modeling a subway: the fact that by definition it is underground, making it hard to add a lot of detail and still keep it visible. But the many subway layouts on this forum show modelers can rise to the challenge in diverse ways. 😀
Installation of platform "fluorescent" light fixtures continues. Units consist of a white LED light strip inserted within a white plastic IKEA straw, attached to a Plastruct channel with wire strands, suspended from the columns by brass wires.
Sometimes CA glue just doesn't cut it when dealing with stubborn plastic pieces. I dug deep and re-used tiny nuts and bolts left over from a Pocher kit I built eons ago.
Station platform lighting contract complete. Some punchlist items remain, but it's time to move on to the next phase: installing the station wall along the track.
Magnificent!
Peter
Zebra boards installed.
@West Side Joe posted:Sometimes CA glue just doesn't cut it when dealing with stubborn plastic pieces. I dug deep and re-used tiny nuts and bolts left over from a Pocher kit I built eons ago.
Joe, This is great. Where did you get the plastic for the white and green girders?
All are gray ABS Plastruct items, painted with Rustoleum. I understand you can order directly from Plastruct, but I usually look on Ebay, although I could probably pay less if I ordered direct from Plastruct. There is another thread on the forum talking about the change in ownership and location of Plastruct.
@West Side Joe posted:Station platform lighting contract complete. Some punchlist items remain, but it's time to move on to the next phase: installing the station wall along the track.
W. Side Joe --- EXCELLENT first class looking work. Neat, realistic, very straight columns and fabricated "plastruct" steelwork authentically replicated. And the platform and details and signage -- stairway -- newstand, etc. Outstanding - especially the "lighting" system. Great Work !
Joe F
Thank you! Lots still to do: station wall with "mosaic" "42" strip, benches, vending machines, wayfinding and informational signs, mezzanine lunch counter...and having fun doing it. 😊
I ALWAYS used to lean over the edge to see if the train is coming. But now with the countdown clocks telling you when the next train is coming, there's no excuse anymore... 😛
@Joseph Frank posted:W. Side Joe --- EXCELLENT first class looking work. Neat, realistic, very straight columns and fabricated "plastruct" steelwork authentically replicated. And the platform and details and signage -- stairway -- newstand, etc. Outstanding - especially the "lighting" system. Great Work !
Joe F
Nice to see another subway modeler! 
My tunnel modules just passed the twenty year mark.
I never knew what the Zebra boards were for.
They tell the conductor that he / she is at the center of the station and ensures the front and the back of the train are not in the tunnel.
Installing a Wayintop 8mb mp3 sound module in my subway tunnel module with the streetscape on top. Downloaded a 2 minute clip of NYC street sounds from Soundsnap, copied the file onto the Wayintop, and configured it to play the clip continuously until the play button is pressed again. Now creating a box to mount everything under the layout.
Board screwed into place and speaker glued to silicone gasket to cut down on vibration noise. Holes drilled on other side to serve as a speaker "grille". Speaker box will be under layout module, and battery box and play button on top of layout surface. The sound clip is actually 2 minutes long, but 7 seconds is all I could load (5 mb attachment limit). Nonetheless, placing the speaker inside the box improves the loudness and sound quality due to the echoing inside.
@SIRT posted:My tunnel modules just passed the twenty year mark.
I have admired your work as I researched my layout.
Battery box on top, speaker box and play button underneath (couldn't find room on top for the button). Sound quality loud and clear. Glad I did it. 😁
Testing appearance of station wall tiles and mosaic band.
@West Side Joe posted:Station platform lighting contract complete. Some punchlist items remain, but it's time to move on to the next phase: installing the station wall along the track.
Outstanding modeling. I really like the green you chose for the columns and the framework. Rustoleum was a good choice it has the right old school look to it . Those columns were usually re- painted so many times the paint was 1/4" thick on them.
.
Don't want any rust forming on that "steel". 😄
Modular is the way to go. I have 15 modules all electrically isolated, but I cannot lift them to work under. I use Conch Jones connectors for electrical connections between modules. The problem is isolating the track. I have totally disconnected inter-track connections in the past and have had alignment issues, so now I use plastic rail joiners.
Slowly assembling the station wall panels. Not yet half way done. 
@West Side Joe posted:Zebra boards installed.
Being a former conductor, I appreciate the detail of you adding this board. Your layout looks amazing!
Station walls starting to be installed. Station stop markings added to mark stopping point for 4, 6 and 8 car trains (in theory, of course! 😁 I can't run more than 4 car trains on these modules.)
Hello W. Side Joe
Well, I have been following your thread pages - and I pronounce your subway-modeling work as top notch, top shelf, first class detailed and clean, neat and non- rushed, non-sloppy, construction !!!! Very impressive !!! I much enjoy it ! Regards - Joe F
"non-rushed", certainly. More than half the fun for me is the making of the thing. When it's finished, well, it's over, you know? ☺
And, by the way, Joe, your kind words about my efforts are much appreciated, especially when I look at the gems you've created. Thanks very much.
A day's work...
Another day, another few wall panels...
Looks Great. Much nicer and cleaner that the real thing.
@West Side Joe posted:Another day, another few wall panels...
Super amazingly realistic detail and precision modeling work. All uprights perfectly straight -- take away that center 3rd rail and its 100% perfect. The outside 3rd rail modeling is excellent and accurate. And the ballasted track as on early original subway lines,. Again, EXCELLENT !!
Joe F
Thanks. It's an interesting point you make about the ballasted track. When I began the first (cut and cover) module, I followed the original IRT construction. When I began the station module, I began to learn about the differences between the first contract and the Dual Contracts, including the use of a paved concrete roadbed in those stations instead of ballast, and the provision of a walkway along the BMT tunnel walls, and half-height concrete separators between adjacent tracks. So strictly speaking, ballasted track is incorrect in the Times Square station. Nonetheless, I like the way it looks. Modeller's license. 
Hello W S Joe
As far as ballasted track in a Times SQ. Station, likely NOT in the 1917-18 built new Times Square "express" station for the new 1916-18 built southern extension of the old IRT West side mainline from W. 42nd Street south to South Ferry Loop.
But the original built 1904 IRT first mainline from South Ferry to Grand Central Station on what was before 1918, from 1904, an express station, and since 1918 the "Shuttle Line easterly Station" -- and continuing west under 42nd Street to the original Times Square originally LOCAL Station -- (now the west end of the shuttle) -- had ballasted track as built. So "technically" the Times Square original pre-1918 mainline station would have been ballasted, if I recall correctly. The original route from South Ferry loop, north to, and west under/across 42nd street to Broadway, and north on Broadway to Dyckman Street (and east to 149th & 3rd Ave) built between 1902 and 1905, was all ballasted track. See 1954 photo below of ballasted track at Grand Central "shuttle" station with a Deck Roof Hi-V Car with manual operated door (see end control levers). I rode these Hi-V cars on the shuttle a number of times until they were replaced by 1957 and remember the ballasted trackways. "SO", your ballasted track and "Times Square" station model has a -- ummm, authentic precedent ! I really miss the old IRT the way it was back in those long ago times !
Regards - Joe F
BELOW showing a track map and layout of the original Times Square LOCAL STATION of the original 1904 IRT first subway "mainline" where it curves from west under W. 42nd Street to north under Broadway. As originally built BEFORE the 1918 opened southerly west side extension to South Ferry.
Great info, Joe. What is the "platform of lower station" that I see on that drawing?
Your post also now explains to me why the GCT end of the shuttle is so wide: it had two island platforms when it was an express station. Thanks for that insight.
Although my 42nd St. module is trying to keep to BMT practice because my Lionel subway is an R27, I still would like a future module to follow the original 1904 IRT station practice, because that's the line I've ridden since I was a toddler in shorts getting poked by the stray ticking from the straw seats in the Lo-V cars. 😊
The wording is confusing about that 'platform" - it really was an underpass below the 4 tracks between the uptown and downtown local platforms. It ran under the east sidewalk of Broadway and is still there today. It was to be extended to W.41st street but never was done. I believe it was extended to be connected to the (beneath) the West Side IRT new Times Square express station 2 island platforms. It was made redundant as an "underpass" walkway when the shuttle was created -- but remained in use quite a number of years for the westbound (former N/B) platform passengers of the shuttle and its fare paying both area there, to get to the opposite E/B (former S/B) platform and make connection to the new southern west side IRT extension. Because the former N/B local "now shuttle" track was connected to the new northbound local track coming up north from the new Times Square Station of the new south extension mainline tunnel from South Ferry.
In later years and due to passenger rush hour speed, convenience and safety for crossing the 4 tracks, a quickly removable portable wide wooden platform was placed over the former N/B "shuttle" local track, to connect with a newly permanent concrete platform running across the other 3 "bumper ending" tracks of the shuttle at its own Times Square Station. Below are some photos from me of this arrangement.
BELOW -- LEFT - looking west along former N/B local mainline track at Times Square "shuttle" track # 4 back in 1958 showing the portable removable wooden platform placed across it where it connected to the 1918 built west side IRT Mainline local track. Stairway to upper level 1904 opened fare control area is seen still in use at end of platform
BELOW -- RIGHT - looking west in more recent time showing the basic same scene and more clearly is seen the trackway and steel framed and wooden deck portable removable platform across the former uptown local track, now shuttle track former # 4 track. In distance is seen the new 4 track lower west side mainline crossing / passing by / the curving former 1904 opened 4 track R-o-W original mainline which is now part of the shuttle segment. At left edge of photo is shuttle track # 3 which was the former N/B Mainline express track thru this station when it was part of the original 1904 opened original mainline.
ABOVE -- view north along the 1918 opened new northbound local track of the 1918 built lower west side IRT Line from South Ferry. The original northbound local track from the 1904 original built east side mainline, is seen entering westward and connecting to the west side new mainline local track under Broadway, The curving empty spaces between the curving rows of columns indicate where the original 4 tracks from the original 1904 mainline route from the east side curved to turn from W. 42nd Street, northward under Broadway and head north to Harlem and the Bronx.
regards - Joe F
Platform holding lights installed.
"No Smoking / No Spitting" sign placed on station wall.
Access to this requires an OGR Forum Supporting Membership
