07/02/13 SCRATCH BUILT CAR FERRY FINISHED

Holy Cow Alex....that is really coming along nicely.  I like the way the port holes show up with the white inside border.  I am interested in seeing how Jim is going to use it and how neat it is going to look with the tracks and cars inside!!!

 

Alan

I'm a little late to the party but WOW   That looks great Alex! The tool man cave looks cool to!

Thanks Alan and Chris for the nice words!!!!

 

Alan there will be three tracks inside and I will put walkways in the entire interior so you will only see the rails

 

Chris it's been a lot of fun building this ferry, I'm learning a lot about ships

 

Thanks, Alex

Wow Alex amazing!

very very Nice!    Great Job Alex.

Alex:

 

Very nice.  If you are able to commit to consistent power on board that ship, Carnival might be asking you to build some for them very soon.

Thanks Jim, Patrick and, John for the nice words

 

Here's a few updated photo's of the upper deck and the start of the bridge.The bridge will be a total of three levels. 

 

Thanks, Alex

 

Good evening all,

 

  Here's a few updated photos of the car ferry, not to much done but I was able to get the lighting done in the cargo area. I was also able to lay the tracks down. There will be walkways between all the tracks so you will only see the rails. Well still lots to do and I will post more updated photos soon.

 

Thanks for looking,

Alex

 

 

Very nice, looks great and it is huge.

That is huge, is that going on the club layout or does someone out there have a layout big enough to hold that.

I suggest you double check the clearance using two Weaver modern 50' PD cars side by side. They are the widest in the industry. The PLUG doors extend away from the car body more than I expected. They scrape the edge of the platform causing them to open.

 

Why are you using 3R tracks?

Diesels used reach cars with (gondolas or custom flats) for that operation.

2R would look even better.

Just an observation.

 

Someone on the scenic forum made a Lackawanna car float and lift bridge in O awhile back. Can't remember who it was. Wish they would post final photos of it.

 

Nice work Alex, it should look great on the NJHR's layout.

 

Thanks Dave

 

Sean it's for a fellow forum member, it's going to be on a rolling cart so it will be rolled

up to the layout when in use.

 

Steve Thanks for the nice words, and I'm glad you brought up the two rail track. I would never thought of that. Awesome Idea!!!!!!!!. I will have to talk to Jim and see if he says I can use 2 rail track. I originally was going to put 3 tracks inside so there would be more room. I will have to see what Jim says about that too.

 

Thanks, Alex

Check the Weaver PD's also. When operating trains I kept seeing open doors and it caught my attention. PD's really stick out skimming the platforms.

Pecos River cars are quite large as well.

The highest car is the MTH HI CUBE. Those cars don't fit under my SIRT bridges. (HUGH cars) never designed the layout for big modern Berwicks.

Should only be a car width concern on that ferry only.

Steve

 

I'm thinking I can just release the middle rail on this track and I would net 2 rail track

as long as Jim agrees.

 

Thanks, Alex

Alex it sure is looking good.

Beautiful Alex!!! 

 

Alan

Alex, That is a hull of a ship!!!!! JohnB

That is one fantastic looking ship! Terry

Amazing Alex, I can not  wait to get it on my layout!

Thanks Pops, Alan, John B, Terry, and Jim for the kind words!!!!!!!!!!!

 

In about a week or two there will be updated photos of the upper portion of the ferry

Thanks for looking.

 

Alex

Alex The ship is looking great !!!

 That is a neat way to store those extra fright cars.

 Cant wait to see the rest.

 

Thanks Harry for the nice words.

 

Soon there will be much more progress on this ferry, I'm going to try to finish it within a month

 

Thanks, Alex

Jim....Alex and I decided that your new ferry will need to be tested on my layout before you get it....  I will let you know how the tests go but it will take a while...like, lets say, 5 or 10 years...!!!

 

Had to raze you a little!!  Beautiful idea you are going to have!!  Very unique!

 

Alan

You can test it out until July when I pick it up from Alex.

Good one Alan LOL LOL Alan Can you imagine the shipping cost getting it to your house it would be a fortune LOL LOL

 

Alex

You are right Alex....probably would be cheaper for me to buy the real thing!!

 

Alan

It looks great now, can't wait to see the finished product.

 

As far as the test run, it looks too big Alan for your waterway, but I have plenty of room to test it on my waterfront.

That looks so cool. Your scratch building skills are incredible Alex.

Alex great job on this project. I think Alan and Briam should meet me at Lake Michigan and we could really test it out

Alex,

 

It looks fantastic! Can't wait to see the final product. It's a pleasure to watch your progress.

 

Andy

Wow Alex that is coming out great! Mike R

Alex,

Bring it over on Friday and we'll pose it behind the bridge . . . .

 

  

Brian....you haven't heard????......I am expanding the water front so the ferry may actually be too small!!!

 

Alan

Thanks Alan, Brian, Doug,Pops, Andy, Mike.R, and Eliot for the wonderful words

 

Eliot I would need a boat trailer to get it to your house LOL LOL

 

 

Thanks again to all, Alex

Good evening everyone,

 

 Just another update on the progress of the car ferry. For the last few days I was able to start working on the upper deck and bridge, I also was able to get some of the lighting done.You will see some weathering but that's just the beginning of it,

there's still plenty of work and touch up on the weathering process. Put a few sections of railing to see how it's going to look, but on the still to do list is trim, railings, stairs, ladders, weathering, touch ups, and all the ship details.

 

Thanks for looking

Alex

 

Very nice my friend!!!  Next thing you know, Carnival Cruises will be calling you!!

 

Alan

Very impressive. It"s been fun watching your progress. Great work.

 

Jay

Very cool!!!

I see you did go to two rail for the deck, as switchers would use flats or gons to reach

in for loaded cars.....and that is a better idea here where you don't need center rail power than Scale Trax, which I was going to suggest, as I use it where the track is under close scrutiny, like on a high coal trestle, etc.  I might have suggested using two rail scale rail, too, but that could be used on a coal trestle where you are not going to run the engine up the ramp but switch with idler cars.

Very nice Alex!!!!