Progress on the layout!!..."The Silver Tower"..

Alan is a master of towers.

 

By the power divested from me by the State University of New York . . .

I confer upon you an MT !

 

Master of Towers

Thank you "Professor Scher" of the "SUNY School of Tower Design"!!

 

Alan

 Nice addition to your lay-out city. I know we have to say the ceilings the limit Allen you still need to be running out of room..

 

I had the Kenner monorail building and panel set when I was young. The monorail gave out long ago but kept all but some how the Kenner set never made it up to our house from the old house, my son said it should be there but I haven'the found it and I've gone through everything, as far as I know.

You're very welcome,

From what I've read, it's the same system as the formerly-Kenner Girder and Panel toys that you had then.  At some point in the past Kenner switched the from hard plastic (either ABS or Styrene)girders to the "softer" Polystyrene they are in now and I don't know if the two are compatible, but I've read that the panels are compatible across both.

 

Hope I'm not tanget'ing this too far away from Alan's great buildings.

Very nice ALAN!  What building are you gonna have King Kong on?  Keep up the good work.

Thanks Redball....I'm with Mark, I like the extra info about the girder and panel sets because these can greatly enhance the enjoyment of the train layout...thanks!

 

Alan

Thank you Laz!!  King Kong may be the next "model" on the layout!

 

Alan

Hi Allan

     Always enjoy seeing your layout. Your Skyscrapers, are fantastic. 

You may want to check out this link and the Forum Members

http://www.skyscraper.org/

     Skyscraper Museum, New York City.

Gary

Thanks Gary...I am part of that group but thanks for the link.  A really interesting place to visit!

 

Alan

Simply fantastic!! Always look forward to seeing new pictures of your great layout!!

 

Jeff

Thanks Jeff....good to hear from you my friend!!

 

Alan

I looked up the Kenner sets, and that is what we had.  I enlarged a photo of the girders, and they fit together just as i remember.  I see they came in red too.  It says they stopped making them in 1968.  That would fit.  I was 12 in 1968, and I know we had them before that, maybe 1965 or so.  Thanks for bringing back old memories!!

 

I think this fits right in Alan's topic.  Since they are still around, he may want to use them for some more variety!

Mark....if you take a look at some of the pictures I posted above, you will enjoy seeing that I use the girder and panels set extensively.  Back in the early 1990's through about 2000 I collected about a hundred sets...  Except for the most recent production, I have multiples of everything produced by all owners of the company.  To build large structures takes a lot!!  Right now I have probably 20 number 8 sets from the early 1960's that I will not be using so sometime soon someone else will get to enjoy them. 

 

Thanks,

Alan

Alan,

Yes, now that I am looking for them, I see several just in the photos surrounding the new silver tower.  Why would I think that you weren't already on top of it!  I'm glad they worked for your city.  Thank you for pointing this out.  Who ever thought back in the 1960s that these toy sets would be making their way onto fine model railroads!

Love it Alan!

That is COOL!!!

Great job Alan! can't wait to see it lit up!

Alan,

 

Another excellent job and addition to your beautiful city of skyscrapers.

 

One of these days, please consider writing a book with the construction details and history behind each of your marvelous creations. You have shared many of these with me, but there are many more. I know that the book would be a hit and an instant best-seller. And yes, I am serious.

 

Alex

Alexander Müller

First impression was, a bit of overkill, eh?

 

But seriously, man, I love what you've done.  Growing up in NJ across the bay from NYC, it brings back fond memories.  On the comment above? I'm just jealous....

 

Very nice job.

Wow, Alan, This is a Really Awesome Scene. Your building Iminagation is so very Realistic and True to life, It's just Amazing. I would really like to see this layout in person. You and Modeler Dr. Bill Bramlage take Your Layouts through The Roof, so to speak. I love the Sky Scraper Scenes, truly a Sight to behold. The lighting will be so Cool!!! Thanks for your pictures. Happy Railroading.....WOW!!!

Alan. I just now finally getting to post a comment. I have always looked forward to seeing pics of you layout and as always their great. Your new tower is great and its location make all the other buildings pop out and in addition to the increasing of depth to you city. To me it also enhances the look of the EL and the buildings around it. Of course the first thing came to mind was downtown Chicago and the Loop running above Wells street with the Sears/Willis tower in the background. The building next to your new tower is of similar construction. Bottom line I love it and for a quick moment it took me back to Chicago. 

 

 Willis/Sears Tower below.

 

Alan - Small complaint.....I got a sore neck looking up at all the tall buildings. 

 

Art

Thanks Johnny!!

 

Alan

Thank you Henry....I am working on the lighting of the city and hopefully I will be able to show night time pictures sometime this year ( I have been saying that for two years now!).

 

Alan

Alex my Friend....I thank you so much...but...I think the only way a book about layout skyscrapers would be a best seller is if you and I made up 99 percent of the sales!..LOL.  It seems that most folks enjoy a more rural layout even though it does seem that more people are modeling city scenes....

 

Tell Judy we said HI!!

 

Alan

Thanks Carl....just last night I was watching a movie and the scene was looking across from Newark to NYC....it was very impressive!

 

Alan

Hi Larry...thanks!!  Bill has much deeper pockets than I do plus he is many times more talented so there is no comparison...he is number one in my book!  I would love to have you as a guest so you are welcome anytime to visit...just give me a heads up call and spend a weekend in our guest loft which has a postwar military layout for you to enjoy!!

 

Alan

Thank you Doug!!  It is neat that you mention Chicago because even though I am not modeling any particular city, I tried to give visitors a feeling that they are on a boat in the Chicago river with the skyscrapers towering on either side...like a canyon.  The Silver tower in the pictures is part of an almost 30 foot wall of skyscrapers on one side of the aisle and then on the other side is the main group of skyscrapers with the downtown "EL".  We had guests at our open house on June 13th and one of them was from Chicago...she said the same thing you did!!  Made me feel good making her and now you some good memories....

 

Alan

Sorry Art.....  Hope you have some Vicks to rub on that sore neck my friend!!..LOL

 

Alan

Alan, love the tower, but I need to tell you, there's one in Dubai that you missed. Might have to raise your ceiling by 4 or 5 feet on that one. Keep on building.
Ray.

Alan you gave me a good idea for a support column I have protruding from my layout, I think it will have a tall building surrounding it.

Thanks Ray!!  By the way, the Burj Khalifa in Dubi is unbelievable...you have to just be there to experience it...  Makes the new Freedom tower look very small in comparison.  I sure wish the U.S. would reclaim the title but I don't think that is going to happen anytime soon if ever....

 

Alan

John...that is a great idea.  You may want to check some of the pictures here on the forum of Alex's (Ingeniero No1) layout.  He did the same thing and it worked like a charm...very nicely done.

 

Alan

Originally Posted by leavingtracks:

Thank you Doug!!  It is neat that you mention Chicago because even though I am not modeling any particular city, I tried to give visitors a feeling that they are on a boat in the Chicago river with the skyscrapers towering on either side...like a canyon.  

 

From what I can see you certainly accomplished that.  Even with the notable inclusions from other cities, the overall effect feels like home to me!

Thanks Karl....!!

 

Alan

Alan,as a relative newcomer to the forum I am constantly amazed at what you guys accomplish on your layouts! Those pictures are amazing! I go back and forth between intimidated and inspired! Terrific!

Ted....you are the Fire Chief so whatever you say is gold!!  You need to get over here and make a plea to the city council..!!

 

Alan

 

We will have to have a presentation ready for the 2016 budget hearing.  The fire protection needs for a high value area like your downtown are quite extensive.  A bond issue may be necessary. 

 

The needs of your city include:

 

1. An ordinance requiring sprinklers and standpipes on all high rise buildings with appropriate street level fire department connections.

 

2. A municipal water system capable of supplying up to 12,000 gpm fire flows.  This will include a grid distribution system with 8", 12" and 16" water mains and two hydrants at every intersection in the high value district.

 

3.  Fire stations located in the high value district to provide for the arrival of the first fire company within 2 minutes of travel time and the arrival of the balance of the first alarm within 6 minutes of travel time.

 

4. A complete Gamewell fire alarm system including an alarm office fully equipped for telegraph, telephone and radio communications.

 

5. A box alarm system with four engines a two trucks assigned to the first alarm for every box in the high value district.  Alarm assignments and move ups will be preplanned to at least the third alarm level.

 

6.  Additional fire apparatus and stations to fulfill the requirements of the three alarm system.  All engines will be at least 1000 gpm capacity.  Engines with centrifugal pumps will be two stage.  All trucks will have at least 75' aerials with 100' foot aerials preferred.

 

7.  Staffing with a minimum of one officer and three firefighters on each fire company.  Truck companies in the high value district will be staffed with a minimum of one officer and four firefighters.

 

8.  An interlocal agreement for a regional automatic and/or mutual aid system.

 

When does the City Council meet?

 

 

 

 

Play Trains...Don't ever by intimidated by what you see on this forum.  I can tell you that I have learned a lot from folks here and my modeling has improved because of what inspired me here.  So....you have the ability to do the same thing my friend!!

 

Alan

HOLY COW Ted!!....I am sure glad I am not on the city council...LOL!!  Thanks for making it fun buddy!!

 

Alan

Alan ,thanks for the kind words! I must say I am mostly inspired and encouraged by this forum! I originally joined last year just before Christmas when I was setting up my Christmas layout which is my only layout right now! I was having a derailment problem in one spot and after a few hours I was frustrated and contemplating  some hammer management! In desperation I joined the forum to present the problem for suggestions. Before I got the chance I saw a thread where someone was having a similar problem! Followed the suggestions and in 5 minutes life was good again! Been sold on this forum ever since! This group has opened up a whole new world of possibilities for me and I appreciate it!  Bill

Bill....as you have already found, just like I did many years ago, this forum is the place to be!!  Thanks for being one of the members..

 

Alan