Blackwater Canyon Line - September 8, 2024 - Town and Scratchbuild Planning

@CSX Al posted:

Mark, Layout is really nice. Jeff, thank you for the mention about our custom signage. Here is a photo of a couple signs we did for a forum member an one of our customers. They sent us the sign art and we made the vector file and laser cut them. They will be painted in the end. We wanted to offer a low cost for people to customize industries on their layouts.

Here is a 3D one we did on our flood loader demo at York.

@CSX Al how do we go about having signs made? I went to the Millhouse website but didn't see anything about signage??

Mark yes Dennis makes a really great kit. I have one that needs to be done and just haven’t started yet. Just like others I haven’t started yet. Oh and before I forget which I probably will, Happy Birthday. Hope you enjoy the present your wife is giving you.

Poconotrain,Your reference to unfinished kits gave me a laugh because it reminded me of the large box of SSLTD, Fine Scale Miniatures and other “must have” kits from my HO days that somehow never got built. And that doesn’t touch on the O Gauge kits that I’ve not gotten to( yet!).  

Sigh…

Thank you Poconotrain, Rubin!!

Yes my birthday is tomorrow.  Our daughters' friend who is a teacher in South Korea has already wished me a FB happy birthday, since it is morning there.    I briefly checked in on the New Tracks Modeling Zoom call yesterday evening, but it wasn't Dennis' turn to present on a 2+ hour call.  I checked just a few minutes ago, but the segments haven't been posted on the New Tracks Modeling YouTube site yet.  The extra clamps Dennis recommended in the instructions arrived today.

I'm with both of you on having extra kits.  I still have a couple N-scale kits from 30 years ago that I could possibly build for forced perspective background buildings, but they will probably still be in the box when I can no longer build anything.  I have a partially built scratchbuilt station in HO that stands a higher chance of being built. 

Here are a couple of photographs of the fully dried Sculptamold base with the Idaho Hotel sitting in place.  I need to add Sculptamold in some places, but this was a good start.

The Sculptamold is a little rough along this end of the front.

Back to the discussion on signs.  A sign on a large post at the top of the hill to the right may be a possibility. The small sign on the side of the hotel is the only one naming the hotel.  You can see some advertising signs farther along the front. 

I think that is a great start Mark!

@LT1Poncho posted:

@CSX Al how do we go about having signs made? I went to the Millhouse website but didn't see anything about signage??

Good morning LT1Poncho, sorry I haven’t been on in a couple days. Been busy in the shop. I haven’t put anything up on the website yet. If you have a sign idea, best way is to call and I can discuss it with you. Signs can be as small or large as you need, up to 30” wide.

Happy birthday Mark 🎂 🥳 🎉

Happy Birthday Mark!

Bob

Happy Birthday Mark

Hi Mark, happy birthday and many more, glad you've made such a beautiful layout with many features! missed you at York were you there!

do you still have your shay Maryland engine!

Alan

Mark,

Happy Birthday and nice start to the scenery work.

Dave

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARK !!!!!

Happy Birthday Mark!

Happy birthday Mark!!  Wishing you clear tracks and green signals ahead!  Enjoy your special day and may it include running trains and working on your wonderful layout!

Happy birthday Mark! Enjoy your day with the family. The scene looks great! Keep up the good work.
Andy

Many happy returns, Mark!

George

One of the best birthday things is working on your model railroad. So I'm supposing you're having a nice one. Happy birthday!

Scultamold is fun… not! The plaster part cures in minutes. The fiber part can take days to fully dry out. It's best to paint when it's totally dry.

@Mark Boyce posted:

Thank you Poconotrain, Rubin!!

Yes my birthday is tomorrow.  Our daughters' friend who is a teacher in South Korea has already wished me a FB happy birthday, since it is morning there.    I briefly checked in on the New Tracks Modeling Zoom call yesterday evening, but it wasn't Dennis' turn to present on a 2+ hour call.  I checked just a few minutes ago, but the segments haven't been posted on the New Tracks Modeling YouTube site yet.  The extra clamps Dennis recommended in the instructions arrived today.

I'm with both of you on having extra kits.  I still have a couple N-scale kits from 30 years ago that I could possibly build for forced perspective background buildings, but they will probably still be in the box when I can no longer build anything.  I have a partially built scratchbuilt station in HO that stands a higher chance of being built. 

Here are a couple of photographs of the fully dried Sculptamold base with the Idaho Hotel sitting in place.  I need to add Sculptamold in some places, but this was a good start.

The Sculptamold is a little rough along this end of the front.

Back to the discussion on signs.  A sign on a large post at the top of the hill to the right may be a possibility. The small sign on the side of the hotel is the only one naming the hotel.  You can see some advertising signs farther along the front.

And next year Mark turns 40😮

Thank you, Darrell, Jeff, Bob, Al, Alan, Dave, John, Pat, Andy, George, Myles, Jay!

Sorry it took until now to say thank you!!  Yesterday evening I watched Dennis Brennan's first segment on building the Sanky Wanky building.  His instruction sheets are phenomenal with wonderful photographs of every step.  He used these as PowerPoint slides, but added in additional comments concerning his choices of glues, paint, tools, and methods.  So I am ready to start the first step, the 'concrete' base.

Today, I drove down to the Monroeville Greenberg show for the first time in a couple years.  My back and sciatic nerve didn't give me any trouble.

Alan, I was not at York.  I have missed before, even after I had registered and reserved a room (I didn't have to pay).  This time, I knew I was going to be recovering from another surgery.  Hopefully, I will be able to attend next year.  I do not have the Shay.  I sold it to a younger modeler.  He and his son were enamored with it.  I have more engines than I need anyway. 

Myles, Yes Sculptamold is messy and doesn't smooth out easy, but it is inexpensive and will be covered with scenery.  I'll save the better stuff for rock faces.

Jay, Next year - 40!  I don't know about that!  I may think that I will be Jack Benny's age...

Thank you again to all who comment and send 'likes'!

Sorry I missed you at the show! I went yesterday when it opened and stayed till 12pm

I’m sorry too, John!  I got there at 12 and stayed almost until closing.  We could have passed each other in the parking lot!  I did see 5 other forum members, three with the Pittsburgh Independent HiRailers and two others.  The only thing I bought was a drink because I got thirsty!  

John, next time you are going, let me know.

Hi Mark, first off Happy Birthday! I am sorry I haven't been around much, but life has been busy. I really like what you have done with the hotel area and can't wait to see what happens with your new build!

Thank you for all the information about the build and the YouTube video's by Dennis!

Thank you, Mike!  I know you have been really busy with fall chores besides taking the layout down and packing everything up.  I'm a little slow on the layout build and kit build with leaf cleanup. 

@Mark Boyce posted:

Thank you, Mike!  I know you have been really busy with fall chores besides taking the layout down and packing everything up.  I'm a little slow on the layout build and kit build with leaf cleanup.

I'm sure when you get back to it you will be nice enough to keep us all up to date on the build!

@Mark Boyce posted:

...snip... Jay, Next year - 40!  I don't know about that!  I may think that I will be Jack Benny's age...

Yes, but do you still drive the '38 Maxwell?

A belated Happy Birthday to you. I was in Springfield, Ohio for the past few days at a hobby show and just now got back to the forum.

Thank you, Mike, Dave!

The haircut lady asked what we were going to do today.  I told her we would try to corral some more leaves!!

Dave, I let Rochester have the Maxwell as a retirement gift!  😉  I see from @samparfitt they have a lot of great shows in that part of Ohio.  I bought nothing but a cold pop at the Monroeville Pennsylvania show on Saturday.  It was good to be able to go.  I saw 5 forum members.

@Mark Boyce posted:

Thank you, Mike, Dave!

The haircut lady asked what we were going to do today.  I told her we would try to corral some more leaves!!

Dave, I let Rochester have the Maxwell as a retirement gift!  😉  I see from @samparfitt they have a lot of great shows in that part of Ohio.  I bought nothing but a cold pop at the Monroeville Pennsylvania show on Saturday.  It was good to be able to go.  I saw 5 forum members.

I hope that Rochester is enjoying the car! EDIT: I had an uncle that had a '39 Maxwell that he gave up when the Army sent him off to Korea.

It was a show for my insulator hobby, not trains.

Dave, I should have brought all my dad’s insulators home, but I only saved a few.  You can only have so much stuff, especially when you’re trying to downsize.  😄

I have done a little on the layout and kit since I last posted.

First the scenery on the lift up section.  I realized that the plaster cloth did not adhere well to the foamboard I placed under it to allow the hinge under the hotel to not make it cockeyed, so I removed all the plaster cloth with Sculptamold.  I decided it wasn't wort saving, so I broke it up and put it in the garbage can.  I may just paint the top of the foamboard with acrylic paint and attach the scenic foam, etc right to that.  I'll see.

I did take the backdrop down that needs finished and my daughter brought over a bunch of acrylic paint colors for me to finish the part that was never done.  When I reattach the backdrop, I'm going to place it about 6" higher since I hadn't originally planned for the upper scenic level.

This makes it clear how much still needs to be painted.

I started gluing the parts together for the Sanky Wanky Coffee Company.  I finished gluing the foundation and the chimneys to the end walls as Dennis Brennan suggested in his excellent instruction sheet and his first two YouTube segments on the New Tracks Modeling channel.  I was going to spray paint the foundation Saturday, but it was too cold.  Today, it went up to the 50s and I was going to spray the foundation and all walls after cleaning up yet more leaves, but it got too windy by the time it was over 50 degrees.  They are forecasting similar dry weather through Thursday, so hopefully I will be able to get a chance to do some painting.  Here are the parts I glued following Dennis' advice.

This one shows how Dennis designed the building for the bricks to be spaced right on the roof side of the top of the walls.  The side walls will have similar spacing.

That's all I have for now.  Thank you for looking!!!

Mark, once you get the coffee business up and running you should pursue the contract with Sheetz.😄

🤔 Jay, I could see if my older son-in-law can help me on that since he is a local shift manager with Sheetz!  He does owe me.  😉

I do want to add that Dennis and Sandy also did a superb job of placing all parts for each assembly with a parts list in separate sealed bags to eliminate confusion over similar shaped and sized parts!  Excellent!!!

Mark:

I don’t know if you view YouTube.  There is a presenter, New Tracks, who does a weekly podcast.  He has Dennis Brennan on each Wednesday building a portion of that kit. Dennis has some good insights on its construction.

I enjoy your posts. Keep it up.

Zac

Zac, thank you!!!  Yes, New Tracks Modeling hosted by Jim Kellow.  I have seen it.  I hadn’t heard of Jim until finding the videos.  For others’ benefit, He gets different modelers showing a variety of topics on modeling.  That is where I first saw the Alton firehouse kit I built a few months ago.  Of course, I was aware of Dennis’ Frank Ellison Tribute kits beforehand from several forum members and Dennis’ advertising.  What wonderful kits!!!  I agree, New Tracks on YouTube is worth others looking up.

Mark, I like to use cotton batting glued to the foam. I takes a LOT of glue but it won't come off unless you pull it off and it stays somewhat flexible so can be used in areas which will move. When painted (with the absolutely cheapest gallon of paint) it provides a decent surface for ground foams, grasses etc.   I was using skim coats of grout over foam. Unless the foam surface was roughed up, the skim coat could flake off if hit. I still like to use it for simulated concrete as it takes color reasonably well.  Jeff

@Mark Boyce posted:

I do want to add that Dennis and Sandy also did a superb job of placing all parts for each assembly with a parts list in separate sealed bags to eliminate confusion over similar shaped and sized parts!  Excellent!!!

Agreed……one of the best aspects of their kits! It makes things much easier……

Peter

Mark, I hope you're going to install a guard rail at the hotel to insure that nobody takes a deadly drop onto the tracks below.

Jim Kellow has invited me to do a build podcast on my next scratch-built building project… probably "Sunday Morning". I'm hoping to get my own laser cutting system before getting into that structure. Whenever I get stuff cut outside, I'm getting a lot of errors that are sometimes mine and sometimes theirs. I'd like to get it so they're just mine. I've got a lot of fancy Victorian stuff I'm thinking about and having a laser cutter in the shop would really help. My work with Kellow will take place next year.

Thank you, Jeff, Peter, Myles!

Jeff, I recall you used the cotton batting method with success.  I believe the first I heard of it was @chris a here on the Forum.  I think I will try that.  The glue should hold fast to whatever is underneath.  Thank you for clueing me in.  I had forgotten all about that method.

Peter,

Myles, you are quite correct.  I was thinking of using the wooden post with cables between the posts as was common mid-century or since it is a private drive, I may try the thick posts with logs between each held fast to the log posts with steel straps around the logs and bolted to the posts.  I recall those in a park near where I grew up that was built in the 1930s.

I saw your name listed a couple of times in Jim's weekly emails that have the links to the Zoom calls, but didn't see any video with you.  I agree, when I make a mistake it is on me, but when you are working with an outside source, you need to find another source or learn to do it yourself.  I'll look forward to watching your work next year.

I got the primer sprayed on the base, brick sides, and window sheets today.  They are drying.  I can't rely on the weather for spray painting this time of year.  Dennis recommends spray painting.  I dug out a spray booth I haven't used since the early '90s.  I need to scrub it up and rig up a new hose to get the air moving to the outside.  As I recall, the fan really moves the air well.  I have a couple new filters and new parts for a decent length hose, so I'll rig that up before any more painting.

The problem was mostly on my end. The date crept up on me, but Jim didn't give me any follow up on what/how/when I should do this. To add to that, I wasn't working on a project that was germane to the podcast. I was originally planning to do the series on building "Sunday Morning", but that project is put off until next year. I got heavily involved in a lot of commission work and that little railroad. Jim and I are going to reconnect early next year and plan it out more completely.

Hey Mark, 

Got an email that you mentioned me...   Actually I used expanding spray foam under the batting.  In my opinion it's easier to apply and use than glue, and provides realistic base that you can actually form gullies in while the foam is setting up.   

It also dries within an hour or two, and you can start painting with latex paint and adding scenic materials, dirt, earth, grass, shrubs, etc immediately after applying the heavy coat of paint as the paint becomes the primary scenery adhesive.   It's about as close as you can get to Instant Gratification in Model Railroading Scenery......

Here's a link to a YouTube Video I did 5 years ago, can't believe its' been 5 years already, ugh....   I did two videos when I first built the coal mine scene (1st photo below), and then I did a 3 part video that shows the whole process from start to finish when I filled in the 9 inch difference in height between the lower level and upper level roadbeds. (2nd photo below).

Message me if you have any questions. 

YouTube Video Links:   1st link is to the Coal Mine Scene build,   The second link is to Part 1  of the grade between levels. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02urEgugzew

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lzhcvqzk6N4&t=1s