Sunday Scenic Showcase April 18, 2021

I think the "laundry line" completes the scene.....

Have a great Sunday, everyone!

Peter

Union Pacific GP60 #5819 rolls by Tower "B" and gets a green signal to proceed to the yard.

Donald

Both of my layouts are complete and there is nothing to change on either. Consequently, I hadn’t built any models lately because there’s no room for them on the layouts. However, I had a small kit from which to build a fish cart and two storage boxes so, on a recent rainy day, I kept myself busy by putting it together. The cart is not something that is needed on a model railroad but I have a dead-end street behind the station on my 10’-by-5’ layout with several pushcart vendors. So, another cart might fit the scene.

The first photo shows the contents of the kit. Just three thin sheets of plywood with numerous very small parts. First step was to stain the wood with a mixture of India Ink and alcohol to give the model a weathered look as recommended in the instructions. I  assembled the wheels (7 pieces each), the cart sides and floor (28 pieces) using tweezers to hold and apply the tiny parts, and a pin to apply glue. If you look closely, the parts have miniscule nail heads embossed into the wood. From there it was a simple step to add the cart handle frames, slip the brass axle and handle (2 pieces) through the pre-cut holes in the frame, and complete the assembly of the cart. The last step was to assemble the two boxes (9 pieces each) that go with the cart. Sixty-two pieces total in a simple model of a cart…

The cart is rather large, with a wheel diameter of 72 inches. The instructions describe it as a “hand cart.” It couldn’t have been easy to move by hand.

Here are some photos of the assembly process and the model on the layout. The last picture shows the cart at the end of the street, behind the bus. Does it add anything to the model railroad? I’m not sure.

MELGAR

Looks great Mel. Lot's of parts for such a simple model.

@MELGAR posted:

Nice build Mel.
Lots and lots of tiny frail pieces that look like they will break at any second if on my workbench. It looks good with the alcohol wash. That is indeed a big cart. I am 6’ and those are really big wheels. I guess the bigger the wheel, the easier it is to push around. Since you asked opinions, I am not sure I like the cart at its current location. It does not seem to serve a purpose and is such a large cart to just get abandoned in place. Please no offense.

That is a cool bus!

Donald

This post is for beginners because, IMO, it is very elementary.

Cork roadbed, if done reasonably well, can greatly enhance the appearance of a layout.

First photo shows my farm siding before recent renovations:

Notice that there are pieces of cork roadbed, used more like shims, beneath the track. These cork pieces are remnants of the cork roadbed I had on my prior layout.

Now, look at the cork roadbed i installed this morning, under the same curved track in the photo below:

Although I still need to add ballast and this project is not yet complete, I think the continuous curved cork roadbed beneath the same curved track is an improvement. Not only does it look better, but the trains run better on the track screwed through the roadbed and into the plywood board.

I also think this Midwest Cork Roadbed from Scenic Expeess is a very good product.

I had to decide how to affix this curved cork roadbed to the plywood table. I could have glued it, screwed it or nailed it to the table. I decided to use #4 one half inch wood screws to fasten it to the table.

This project may take me years to complete if I decide to put continuous cork roadbed beneath all of the track on my moderate sized layout. My plan is to start with the sidings in the foreground of the layout.

Arnold

Don,

According to the kit documentation, these carts were used to unload fish from boats docked at the Boston fish piers. If you look closely and enlarge the instruction sheet in my first photo, it includes an image of a market with large fish carts. The length of the vendor cart in my last photo is exactly the same as the fish cart model (6 feet), although the new model is wider (3-1/2 feet) than the vendor cart (2-1/2 feet). The wheels are 6 feet in diameter and therefore the cart sits high. I agree that the model is not realistic on my layout and the scaling may be open to question, although the kit is labelled as 1:48.

MELGAR

@MELGAR posted:

Don,

I agree that the model is not realistic on my layout and the scaling is open to question, although the kit is labelled as 1:48.

MELGAR

Hello Mel. That is interesting. I can only imagine how much those carts weigh filled to the top with fish! But boats coming into Boston Harbor were out in the Atlantic so they were filled “to the gills” with the catch. I am sure the scale must be right.

Would the cart work better over by your factories?

Don

Nice build, Mel. Sometimes it’s relaxing to put together a small kit to enhance a scene.

Mel, your work on this kit is masterful, as usual. I have a suggestion based on your comment: maybe add some O Scale fish to lay on your hand cart, including a whopper,  which should fit. Arnold

@Alan Graziano posted:

I will start off with a couple more progress pictures of the Methane Gas Holder.

Alan,

This tank is a masterpiece of engineering, design and model construction - and usually taken for granted in the world today. Even simple shapes, such as a cylinder in this case, require the shell and internal components to safely carry the loads and stresses due to gas pressure in the tank and wind. I worked with computerized structural analysis for years. This structure would be interesting to analyze. What would the gas pressure be? Beautiful model construction. From drawings?

MELGAR

It's been quite a while since I've posted anything to the showcase so here are a couple shots of a Union RR switcher and coke rack. The switcher is a Railking MP15 that has been modified for 3 rail scale with scratchbuilt fixed pilots and Kadee couplers. I also used a few commercial detail parts as well as some scratchbuilt ones to complete the build.

The coke rack started life as a Lionscale 9 panel hopper and has been heavily kitbashed to represent those used by the Union RR. I had custom decals made by Highball Graphics.

This layout no longer exists. I started building it in an unfinished basement room and shortly after getting trains running I knew I made a mistake. After four years I decided I had to finish the room and consequently the layout had to come down. So last fall I started dismantling everything and getting ready for the remodel. The room is now finished and a new layout is underway. Bench work is built, track is down and wired, and I'm looking forward to getting started on scenery.

Joe Shipbaugh

Joe,

You do some wonderful work. The engine looks great! Please show us your layout progress. Where did you get your figures?

Dave

Some structures for various customers

Customer has a shelf layout - specification was max height = 7.5 inches so I had to truncate structures. On the left is a farm silo, then a loading platform followed by an elevated storage tank.

Below is another elevated storage tank and a fuel loading platform.

@luvindemtrains posted:

Joe,

You do some wonderful work. The engine looks great! Please show us your layout progress. Where did you get your figures?

Dave

Dave,

Thanks! Those figures are 3D prints that I got from Shapeways. Here are a few crappy phone pics of my new layout so far. I’ve added an additional crossover in the yard since these pics were taken. The first pic shows what the room was originally like and why I had to fix it.

Joe Shipbaugh

@joedaddy posted:

It's been quite a while since I've posted anything to the showcase so here are a couple shots of a Union RR switcher and coke rack. The switcher is a Railking MP15 that has been modified for 3 rail scale with scratchbuilt fixed pilots and Kadee couplers. I also used a few commercial detail parts as well as some scratchbuilt ones to complete the build.

I'd love to see more photos of that switcher, Joe. Bravo!

@Alan Graziano posted:

Good Morning Everyone,

I will start off with a couple more progress pictures of the Methane Gas Holder. Let's see what you have been working on.

This is awesome modeling.  NH Joe

@CNJ Jim posted:

I'd love to see more photos of that switcher, Joe. Bravo!

Thanks! Here are a couple more shots. I'm really going to miss these Railking scale engines (if no one picks up the line) because they are great for kitbashing and super detailing.

Joe Shipbaugh

Joe, whatever you have done to that Railking model. It looks like a high end piece. GREAT job.

Once upon a time, many human beings worshiped God on Sunday.  My, how times have changed.  How many modelers have included a church on their layout?   Not intended to be a soap box sermon, just wondering during the Corona Crap lockdown is all.

Perhaps it's time to plan on adding the Plasticville hospital along with the house of worship for inspiration?  Certainly wouldn't hurt the overall look of a layout, right?

Trinity River Bottoms Boomer, below is one of my 2 Plasticville Churches. I also have the Plaaticville Hospital with furniture, but it's not on my layout. I use it as a doll house for my 2 granddaughters when they visit.

Joe,

I think  you made the right move with finishing the room. It will certainly help to capture your wonderful modeling with a more professional and clean look. Thank you kindly for providing the photos of the current state of your layout. Please keep the progress coming. I can tell we will all be in for a treat.

Dave

@joedaddy posted:

Thanks! Here are a couple more shots. I'm really going to miss these Railking scale engines (if no one picks up the line) because they are great for kitbashing and super detailing.

Joe Shipbaugh

Hey Joe. My mind tends to wonder but somehow I remember an article in the magazine years ago about that engine. The red cooler is the part that really sticks in my mind.

Thanks.

Donald

@Putnam Division posted:

I think the "laundry line" completes the scene.....

Have a great Sunday, everyone!

Peter

BEAUTFUL SCENE!!!  Where did you get the clothes on the line?  Or did you make them?

I originally had clothes on my line that weren't too realistic looking:

So I replaced them with "quilts":

But I would definitely upgrade with yours if they were commercially available!

@MELGAR posted:

Hi Melgar, maybe off topic but as I read that fish cart is based on T Warf in Boston, which i plan to model at some point and thus have some reference photos showing the carts.  These are from the Boston public library online database.

Dave,

Thanks for posting these fascinating pictures of the fish pier. Are they public domain? Seeing these historic photos of the chaotic scene at the waterfront is more important than questions about the model. Some of the carts are quite large, but I think the model may be too large for 1:48. None of the cart wheels in the photos appears to be 6 feet in diameter. Your model of T Wharf will be of interest to me. Will it include a railroad? You may be interested in the Union Freight Railroad which ran on Atlantic Avenue and Commercial Street in Boston as recently as the 1970s.

The more important lesson from the photos is the amazing bounty drawn from the sea a century ago, and whether it has been depleted or destroyed through overfishing.

MELGAR

Hi Melgar, yes, the photos are public domain from Boston Public library.
Source Site:  fish pier / Collection:Leslie Jones Collection / Institution:Boston Public Library - Digital Commonwealth Search Results

I agree your model, while very nicely detailed, looks a little out of scale.  If we could find a source for wheels I think the rest could be scratchbuilt.

I am slowly working on a large section of the layout modeling Boston, including the Union Freight RR and South Station.  I have tons of historic public domain photos covering far more than I could ever model.  I have also been referencing John Pryke's excellent book on modeling Boston.

Very nice showcase. Beautiful work by all.

Mel,

I thought I responded to your questions but I must not have sent it. The methane gas holder only operates at 8 inches of water column. The concrete blocks stabilize the piston deck as it rises on the methane gas. The company I work for in real life builds and repairs steel storage tanks. Our firm completed the rehabilitation of this tank. It included replacing the entire piston structure and lining part of the shell with stainless steel plates. The tank is located in New York City. I am told the model will be placed in the foyer of the administration building.

@Brad Trout posted:

BEAUTFUL SCENE!!!  Where did you get the clothes on the line?  Or did you make them?

I originally had clothes on my line that weren't too realistic looking:

So I replaced them with "quilts":

But I would definitely upgrade with yours if they were commercially available!

Brad......I bought it from another Forum member about 3 years ago......I believe it is sold by Arttista Accessories....

Peter

@Putnam Division posted:

Brad......I bought it from another Forum member about 3 years ago......I believe it is sold by Arttista Accessories....

Peter

Thanks, Peter!  I'll check out Arttista!

@Putnam Division posted:

Brad......I bought it from another Forum member about 3 years ago......I believe it is sold by Arttista Accessories....

Peter

It is Arrtista #1478.  It's a bit pricey at $45 (painted)... but I really do like it!