The Outskirts

Norm, that alley substation complements that scene.  Just what you would find.  Superb job.  I love it!

Norm,

 

That is simply superb!!!!!!!

 

 

Alex

Great !!  As usual.

The first image is so real looking, I cannot tell it is a model.  What a great scene!

very impressive, Norm!

Nice work.

 

Only I don't see any signs... COMPANY NAME - OFFICE - NO SMOKING - ADDRESS #

Incredible realism. 

That is good!  Rally good!  I second wmtrainnut09's comment, the electric utility equipment - wood rack, transformers, etc., is superbly done.  I also love the truck, nicely weathered and positioned -- with an artists eye.  This is just superb.  

Fantastic scenery.

Fantastic Norm.  Probably a 2 day drive for me. But this layouts on my bucket list. Your work reminds me so much of George Selio's. A layout I have visited. Great attention to detail but yours seems so much more natural. Not overly detailed. Just what's suppose to be there.

Outstanding NORM, keep em coming!!!

Norm, you work never ceases to amaze!

 

Looking at your pictures, the cement color struck me as exceptional.  What did you do to realize such a perfect color?  What did you use for the base color?

Great work Norm on the scene. Is that the Starbuck's Xmas Tree truck from a few years back you've re done?

Norm, that is so realistic. Even the glint of light on the window looks like the sun is coming out. Outstanding as usual.

AWESOME, Norm!

 

Peter

Beautiful work, Norm (as usual).

Hard to tell that is a model. Some of the most realistic modeling I've seen in a while. Excellent work!!!

Norm

'another fine addition

Norm it looks great.  I love all the texture in that back wall.  The cracks, boarded up window and rough brick to the right really catches the eye.....awesome work. 

 

I also like that ventilator and ductwork on the left of the bldg....very cool. 

Really excellent work, Norm.

 

I like that substation - it's perfect!

 

George

Great job, have to look twice to see if it is real or....!

Superb!

 

The goose neck lamp above the door in the center building.... who makes that and does it light up?

Thanks for the kinds everyone! Marker, most of my concrete work anymore is done with Krylon Khaki Camo then weathered with latex and acrylic rubs and washes.

 

Lima, that isn't the Starbuck's one, I think it might have been a Corgi Lionelville Mack I got a few years ago at one of those Tuesday Morning stores when they were around. Funny you mention it though, I just snagged the Starbuck's one off eBay a couple weeks ago.

 

LOS, the lamps are Tichy shades (I think) with bent straight pins for the conduit. They don't light up. Someday I may get around to doing lights if I can find the right ones...the best I've seen were the Walthers ones but even those had 2" conduits.

 

 

Dave, those are Rusty Stumps D4534s, some were cut down for the smaller windows:

 

http://www.rustystumps.com/pro...s.asp?cat=4&pg=4

 

They come with nice tilt-out sections but I didn't use them.

 

I use hot glue quite a bit and household goop for putting things together. This building, like most of the ones on the layout, is a foam core and MDF frame, skinned over with Plastruct O scale brick and basswood. I slather lightweight spackle over the basswood to fill gaps and provide a texture base.

Norm, you better get a bricklayer on that wall before it falls! I might have to come out of retirement. Excellent work.

Don

Very impressive!

 

--Greg

Norm - Thank you, I'll have to experiment with it.  You have it down to the best looking concrete I've seen.

Norm,

I agree with Mikes' previous comment about how real the first picture looks. If you had a modern diesel in that picture, I would have taken it for real for sure. Excellent modeling.

 

Alan Graziano

When you put the weeds and growth down over the concrete, do you spray everything with glue to secure everything..... or do you use a tacky glue 1st, and then push the weeds down into the glue?

Do you glue all your details down, like tires, junk, bins etc etc or are they just sat in place so you can move them later?

Norm,

 

I second and third all the other comments ! Awesome job.

 

It looks so real.

 

Hope you can share the process with us in the future.

 

Thanks for inspiring.

 

Tom

Norm, your scene is totally awe-inspiring. For the time period, does the sub need a fence to be legal?

Excellent work.  The retaining wall draws my attention in particular because I am wrestling with what to do on my layout.  Inspiring.

That's beyond craft-work. It's art. Wow. Beautiful. Because it tells the truth.

FrankM

Excellent modeling skills.

LOS, I just pushed a bit of dirt mixed with ground cover against the building foundations and detail castings then sprayed it with wet water. I then used a pipette to wet things further where needed and to apply a 50/50 mix of glue and water. I used a small brush to apply glue along the concrete joints and cracks to hold down a bit of dirt and weeds. I will probably add a few more things in time such as more weed clumps, pallets, scrap wood, rats, etc.

 

I started working on this h-pole (or x-fixture?) to place by NB tower last night:

 

Another home run!

Nice job as usual and very inspirational.

thank you for sharing.

Andre.

Norm:  What is the purpose of the foam core?  If you have an mdf frame?  It seems like you could just cut it all from MDF.

 

What tools and how do you cut the MDF to size?  I have a lot of trouble getting straight lines and square corners when I cut out stuff, but I am no carpenter!  I need three or four warehouse backs so I will be trying something like this soon.

I get depressed every time I see Norm's work!  How can I possibly ever make something that looks that good? Norm...it looks like a photo of real buildings!! Awesome!!

I finished a few details for NB tower and planted them tonight. I still have to do a little more touch-up around this scene but this is how it will stay for a while.