Progress on the layout!!!.... Photos added 3/9/13

Alan, WOW!!!! FABULOUS!!!! Your posting pictures of your work is very much appreciated. Thank you for sharing with us all.

 

Question: Is your lift bridge operational or a static model?

 

I have a static model on my layout, but your's is much nicer.

 

Paul Goodness

Beautiful scenes!  I love when non railroad items can be modeled on a layout...very interesting and great extra details.

Fantastic layout, craftsmanship, & pictures.

Great work and pictures, Alan!

 

I specifically liked how you did the bridge support; and the boat in picture 14, which really seems to be in the water.

 

The hooks that appear in the upper right of picture 17, from where are they hanging?

 

Thanks for sharing!

 

Alex

Nice work Alan. Don't you need a few more tugboats?

Good morning my good friend Alan,

 

Thank you for sharing these wonderful photo's of your hard work and efforts. These scene's are beautiful. I love all the action in the harbor with all the tugboats, and the background scene's are incredible.

 

Thanks, Alex

Wow!  Great modeling, really nice water effects, and great boats.  Very cool, thanks for the pics.  Would make a great OGR article.    -Ken

Like always, a pleasure to view your progress.

Dan

Wow, great work Alan! I'd love to have a harbor scene on my layout!

Nice work.  You called it a harbor, so I'm sure this wasn't your intent, but the pictures have a very Chicago River feel to them.  Water level far below street level, skyscrapers in the background, elevated trains, etc.  Now see if you can dye the water green for the upcoming St. Patty's Day!

Nice work....Thanks for sharing.

 

Alan,

   That is an absolutely great layout, congrats on some real fine work.

PCRR/Dave

Thanks Paul!!  The lift bridge is operational and is the large Lionel model that was produced in the 90's.

 

Chris...I appreciate your nice comment.  I enjoy the details and there will be more as I get into the actually scenery.

 

Thank you Spence!

 

Alex (Ingeniero No1)...thank you!...I am not sure about your question as I don't see the hook to which you are referring...could it be in another picture?? 

 

Brian...thanks....Alex Malliae knows the story behind those tugboats.  Up until this past week or so, I only had one but you might say I hit the jackpot!!

 

Alex M....thank you so much for your nice comments and your friendship!! 

 

Thank you Ken...we are about ready for the article.  Allan Miller has been very patient with me!!

 

Dan...I appreciate you enjoying the pictures and following my progress.

 

Bobby...thank you and just let me know if I can help get that harbor scene on your layout!

 

Mike....yeah, you are probably correct.  It does look more like a river way scene.  The green colored water is actually the harbor area and the bluer water is the deep water area on the east side of the city.  I sure remember those days when the Chicago river was turned green for St. Patty day!!

 

Thank you Jim...and you are welcome!!

 

Thanks Dave...I have admired your work too and follow your posts!

 

Alan

 

Your layout is on top of my list of layouts to see before I go to the roundhouse and drop steam.  Your work is beautiful and I love looking at the pictures you post.

I'm with you Marty, this is a sensational layout Alan, you can be very proud of this.

The variety of vessels is great, and that passenger liner fits, it really works nicely.

What a fantastically composed scene, as always.  Lots of great details to seek out.  I always enjoy seeing photos of your layout progress.

Alan,

 

No big deal, but these were the hooks to which I was referring:

  

 

Thx!

 

Alex

Thanks Marty for the kind words.  I bet it will be a long time before you go to that roundhouse!!  You and Dotty have a place here waiting for your visit!!!

 

Thank you Dave...I am hoping that the next time you are over on this side of the big pond that you make it to the "interior" (Arkansas!).

 

FCMR 21....Glad you like the scenes!!  Thanks...

 

Alex...sorry about that....you had mentioned the hooks in picture 17....but now I see you meant picture 12!!  Those hooks are part of two gantry cranes I have on an elevated track along the harbor shore for loading and unloading.

 

I will post a picture of that area tonight for you...

 

Thanks,

Alan

Here you go Alex....a couple of pictures of the gantry cranes for loading and unloading in the harbor.

 

Thanks,

Alan

 

 

 

Lookin Good Alan, now you need to add a RR car ferry or barges for the tugs to pull across the channel and some Homies on the lemax boats for those out on the water parties.

Alan WOW!! AWESOME work. Funny thing about the impression I had while viewing the pictures and reading the other comments. I felt I was in Chicago on a nice warm sunny day and then I thought about the picture I posted below and I said OHHH ST. PADDY'S DAY.....YESSSSS... and then I saw MichMikeM POST. iT SURE REMINDED ME OF MY TRIPS TO DOWNTOWN CHICAGO FOR SURE. The I think you might need a water cop to keep the boats in their own lanes. Very very nice work Alan. Thanks for sharing with us. I have been busy and not paying as close attention as I normally would to the OGR so I am late posting.

 

 

 

 

 

Alan,

 

Outstanding work on the layout!

 

You have a very unique look that I really enjoy.

 

Thanks for sharing

Great job, i love the backdrop and buildings. Are they custom made? I am looking for skyscrapers to complete my layout.

Don....thank you..and just wanted you to know that I hope some day my city looks as nice as yours!!  I am planning on a barge but with containers situating it next to the intermodal yard with a crane to lift the containers.  I would like some homies...don't know where to get them though....

 

Bill....your comment about how the picture makes you feel really means a lot since that is exactly what I want that area of the layout to do.  When you stand there, you are surrounded by tall buildings and it makes one feel that they are part of the scene....so thank you so much!

 

Thanks Rich....soon I will be working on the east backdrop and will be calling you!!

 

NYC KID....thank you.  The buildings are a combination of completely scratch built to out of the box.  There is little on the market as far as tall buildings so you will have to make most of what you need.  If you want to know more, please feel free to e-mail me through my profile.

 

Thanks,

Alan

Here is another picture that you may enjoy....

 

Alan

 

Alan

 

Simply fabulous, I love your layout. I know we live very far from each other but someday I coming to see your layout!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Thanks, Alex

 

P.S.  KEEP THE PHOTOS COMING!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Alex

Beautiful layout and pictures.  What are those elevated track supports?  Are they custom made or are they from a kit?

Thanks
Scott

Alan, Amazing work! Your going to have to show me how you did the water!

Alan another great picture of the layout. Thanks for posting.

very impressive! I bet a lot of work went into that!

Hi Alan! I see you have been very busy in the boat yard. Really looks nice! Don

Absolutely awesome! Working on the waterfront I certainly appreciate the harbor scenes. Fantastic scenes.

Alan,

You captured it. Very nice job.

 

Alan Graziano

Simply amazing. Beautiful. There are not enough adjectives to describe your work. Heartfelt thanks for sharing with us all. 

Nice.  All the tugboats look really good there - sort of the maritime equivalent of yard switchers.

Alan VERY NICE!!!  Question - They say a layout is never done, what do you have left to do?  keep posting 

Steve

Love the cruise ship. Before I got into trains, I built 1/700 scale ships, so these pics are doubly pleasing.

Alex...Again, thank you for your kind words.  We will figure out how to visit each other's layout sometime soon!!

 

Thanks Scott....the elevated structure was custom made out of plastic sheet and masonite.

 

Rick....thanks and you know you are welcome anytime to come by...glad we live pretty close to one another!

 

Thank you Bill....always nice to read your encouraging words!

 

John....thanks for your much appreciated comment....good to hear from you!

 

Don....the plan worked out better than expected because of you my friend!!  I thank you so much for making the tugboats available at a very fair price!!  Wouldn't have happened without your help....

 

Captain John....thanks so much...the scenes are a tribute to guys like you my friend!

 

Alan...always means a bunch when you make your encouraging comments.  You are the master and I am the student for sure but I really appreciate you...thanks so much.

 

Jeff...thank you!!  Your comments are very much appreciated.

 

Thanks Carl!!   You are invited anytime....just come on down!!

 

Lee...Thank you for your compliments....you are the king of water action on a layout so your post means a lot!

 

Steve...thanks!....there is so much more to do.  I am getting close to most scenes being in place so now the hard work is ahead of me...making it look real through weathering!!  (right "Vulcan"!!)

 

Pelham.....Glad you enjoyed the cruise ship.  It is out of scale of course but I have been considering turning it into a pleasure yacht to make it more believable next to the scale tugboats, etc. 

 

Thanks!

Alan

 

Three more pictures added below....

 

Thanks,

Alan