The Modeler's Forum

Station Stop => Layout Tours => Topic started by: CVSNE on November 26, 2018, 02:12:48 PM

Title: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: CVSNE on November 26, 2018, 02:12:48 PM
A little more than a year ago I posted a photo showing the scraps of my former layout heading down the street in a truck on the way to the recycling center.
After we moved into our new home earlier this year I spent several months dealing with outside and inside chores - but have found time to start my newest version of my Southern New England Railway - this one I'm calling the "Bowes Creek Division" until a better name suggests itself since (1) Bowe's Creek is the name of our street and (2) Numbering these fool things was getting depressing....
We plan to retire in this home, but I'm still working a more than fulltime job so the layout is designed to be simple and straightforward to build.
As proof of that, I'm using IKEA Ivar shelving for the legs and under layout shelves and cabinets.
I always regretted that I never got the underside of the last couple of layouts looking finished - so I made sure to paint the legs and stain the shelves before installing them in the room.
(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/112-200918080421.jpeg)

Marty
Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: Jerry on November 26, 2018, 02:52:18 PM
Nice looking room!

Jerry
Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: GPdemayo on November 26, 2018, 03:04:28 PM
Looking forward to following along on your journey with the new layout Marty..... :)
Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: ReadingBob on November 26, 2018, 03:08:06 PM
Nice - a clean palette for a fresh start.  Count me in as looking forward to seeing where this goes.   ;)
Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: ACL1504 on November 26, 2018, 03:19:29 PM
Marty,

Great room for the layout, looks wonderful. I'll be following along on the new adventure.

Happy to see you back at the layout building, even better a new one.

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: Lynnb on November 26, 2018, 04:24:07 PM
Very nice room for layout , will you be putting a valance from the ceiling?
Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: Janbouli on November 26, 2018, 05:13:31 PM
Wow , pristine , wonder how long it will look that way , well I'll just have to follow along , won't I.
Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: Zephyrus52246 on November 26, 2018, 06:03:16 PM
That room is too clean for a layout room.  Must have been photoshopped!  :)


Jeff

Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: ndwolf68 on November 26, 2018, 06:16:00 PM
Marty,
Looking great, so far.  I'll definitely be following along!  This is quite a fine start.  Query: Are you closer or further from Bernie?  Is this going to cost you more for his backdrop painting services? LOL!  :o

R/,
Norm
Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: CVSNE on November 27, 2018, 07:56:14 AM
Quote from: ndwolf68 on November 26, 2018, 06:16:00 PM
Marty,
Looking great, so far.  I'll definitely be following along!  This is quite a fine start.  Query: Are you closer or further from Bernie?  Is this going to cost you more for his backdrop painting services? LOL!  :o

R/,
Norm
We're in Gainesville, just west of the Manassas battlefield. In fact, we're not all that far from the location of the 150th reenactments I was involved in planning a few years ago.


I think we're about the same distance from Bernie but don't have the "joy" of driving on Va. 28 for 5 miles...


I don't plan to have Bernie paint any backdrops for me this time - there was always a mismatch between the 6 feet or so he painted and the rest of the backdrop on the old layout. I'm also planning to use photos for the most part this time around and not have any backdrops other than around a couple of the exterior walls of the layout - no backdrops running down the center of peninsulas etc... they break the space up far too much and cause all kinds of issues with lighting and the like.


In fact, trying to host work sessions on the last couple of layouts has convinced me that they're far more trouble than they're worth - other than Stic coming by to help out from time to time, I'm planning on flying solo on this layout for the most part.





Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: CVSNE on November 27, 2018, 08:06:20 AM
Quote from: Zephyrus52246 on November 26, 2018, 06:03:16 PM
That room is too clean for a layout room.  Must have been photoshopped!  :)


Jeff
No, no  Photoshop involved! :)  Christine's marching orders were "make it look like part of the family room and not a perpetual construction site" - so that's what I've been trying to do.

My inspiration is Paul Dolkos - when Andy Sperandeo needed a photo for Great Model Railroads showing the underpinnings of a layout for something or another he called Paul, who hung up the phone, went down to his layout room, put the camera on the floor and took a photo and sent it to Andy within minutes.

Andy was shocked Paul got the photo to him so fast - since like most of us would Andy would have spent several days shoveling enough  crap out from under the layout to get a picture. In Paul's case there simply is never anything - nothing - under the layout but legs and carpet.

The first time Christine saw Paul's layout room her comment was "See, this is how they should look."

Frankly I got pretty brutal about what we moved - a LOT of stuff went into the dumpster before we moved - and more has joined it since we moved into the house.

I'm currently arranging the finished buildings and the like on the layout to see what fits, and what doesn't. Some models that don't find a home on the railroad will be kept as photo dioramas that I will display on the shelves under the layout. I also have some things I plan to use on future projects (different themes and even scales - but that amounts to less than a copier paper box of kit boxes at this point. If it doesn't find a home in one of those places it's going out the door.


Marty





Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: CVSNE on November 27, 2018, 08:20:03 AM
Quote from: Lynnb on November 26, 2018, 04:24:07 PM
Very nice room for layout , will you be putting a valance from the ceiling?
Thanks Lynn,


At this point no, I don't plan to drop a valence from the ceiling.


I had the builder install junction boxes in the ceiling over what I thought would be the aisles to include track lighting or perhaps tube fixtures. Honestly, I haven't gotten the lighting issue completely licked at this point - high ceilings are wonderful until you realize you loose a LOT of light in the six feet or so between the top of the layout and ceiling.



Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: CVSNE on November 27, 2018, 08:21:42 AM
Quote from: ACL1504 on November 26, 2018, 03:19:29 PM
Marty,

Great room for the layout, looks wonderful. I'll be following along on the new adventure.

Happy to see you back at the layout building, even better a new one.

Tom  ;D
Thanks Tom,


I find I'm more productive ("inspired") when I have a layout - I never seem to get as much done when I'm just buildings models for the sake of building models - guess they have to have a purpose.
Besides, this is a LOT more fun than stacking stone for retaining walls.



Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: Blazeman on November 27, 2018, 08:25:49 AM
Marty:  What is the width of the Ikea shelving?  Are you planning to keep that depth consistent, or will you widen as you see fit?

Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: Jim Donovan on November 27, 2018, 08:49:45 AM
Hi Marty;

Wife and I are retired and have a home up north and a second in Florida. I am planning a southern 'branch' of railroad. I too need to have the layout neat, it will be in an enclosed Florida room, I negotiated 8 by 12 along the walls. Looking forward to seeing how you do it. Going to check out the shelving your using.

Jim D
Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: CVSNE on November 27, 2018, 12:47:37 PM
Quote from: Blazeman on November 27, 2018, 08:25:49 AM
Marty:  What is the width of the Ikea shelving?  Are you planning to keep that depth consistent, or will you widen as you see fit?


Here's the IKEA system I used - it's called "Ivar" -


https://www.ikea.com/ms/en_US/usearch/?query=Ivar (https://www.ikea.com/ms/en_US/usearch/?query=Ivar)

The side units - basically the legs - come in two depths - 12" and 20" - and various heights - I used the 49" tall versions.
I also used a couple of cabinets to add storage.

Most of my layout is 24" deep - I used some 12" Ivars - overhanging the legs by 6" on each side of the legs.
One section of the layout is 30" deep - I used the 20" deep shelves there.

I don't know if it's clear from the photos but I didn't put the Ivar under the entire length of the layout - I created bases for the layout sections and then bridged the span between them with conventional benchwork or attached L-girders depending on how much depth I wanted below track "0" level.

These are 20" wide Ivar with 33" long shelves with 30" deep open grid benchwork -
(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/112-271118085347.jpeg)

On this peninsula, I've attached L-girder to the Ivar legs. That's one of the Ivar cabinets mounted to the legs.

(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/112-271118085427.jpeg)

Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: CVSNE on November 27, 2018, 12:56:19 PM
And, for reference, here's a photo of a printed version of the trackplan (sorry for the weird shadow!)


(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/112-271118085311.jpeg)
Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: GPdemayo on November 27, 2018, 02:00:08 PM
Neat benchwork system Marty.....great progress.  8)
Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: CVSNE on August 23, 2019, 01:28:02 PM
Realize it's been a while since I posted anything to this thread.


For starters, I've been doing somewhat regular, short video updates on the layout and posting them to YouTube -


You can view the latest here:


https://youtu.be/8Ey7OPukxOc


I'll try and follow up with some posts and photos in this thread over the weekend.


Marty

Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: jerryrbeach on August 23, 2019, 06:28:47 PM
If anyone hasn't seen Marty's YouTube channel, you need to check it out.  His layout is really starting to take shape, and his commentary is both enlightening and entertaining.
Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: postalkarl on August 25, 2019, 12:39:01 PM
Hey Marty:

Looks just great sofdar. Will be following along.

Karl
Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: CVSNE on August 26, 2019, 08:19:48 AM
Jerry and Karl,


Thanks for the kind words!


Marty
Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: CVSNE on August 26, 2019, 10:47:24 AM
This is one of two possibilities for the first new structure built specifically for this layout:


(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/112-260819085134.jpeg)

Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: CVSNE on August 26, 2019, 10:48:36 AM
But I might build it with a more retro look!:


(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/112-260819084226.jpeg)

Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: deemery on August 26, 2019, 10:58:02 AM
I definitely like the 'retro' building better!  What do you make of those striped bars at the top of the loading dock stairs?


dave
Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: CVSNE on August 26, 2019, 11:06:19 AM
Quote from: deemery on August 26, 2019, 10:58:02 AM
I definitely like the 'retro' building better!  What do you make of those striped bars at the top of the loading dock stairs?


dave


Dave,


The "striped bars" are the sides of a can roller - in the case of the shot of the trackside view, one section of roller on the loading dock is folded out of the way.


This shot, taken at the "other end" of the process - where the cans are being delivered - may clear it up. In  this case it looks like a powered conveyer belt since the cans are going into the building and moving up hill. The shot with the milk car to the right shows how the cans would move down a slope - and those "stripes" you pointed out are the ends of the rollers visible on the sides of the roller assembly.   
(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/112-260819110407.jpeg)


Note the small milk can sized door on the side of the building in both shots.


Marty
Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: Jerry on August 26, 2019, 07:21:07 PM
The RETRO for sure.  What a great scene that will make!!


Jerry
Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: jerryrbeach on August 27, 2019, 07:55:57 AM
Marty,

The last photo takes me back to the mid-60's.  I worked on a dairy farm where the milk was shipped to the creamery in cans loaded on a stake rack truck.  At that time some of the farmers in the area (upstate NY) were just starting to change over to bulk tanks. 
Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: postalkarl on August 27, 2019, 10:28:31 AM
Hey Marty:

I'd go with the retro also. Can't wait to see what you do.


Karl
Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: Raymo on August 27, 2019, 04:05:50 PM
Marty, watched the last video, Ben's Mill came out great! Unfortunately George Barrett has sold off his vehicle business and I talked to the new owner and it's going to be a slow process getting vehicles and bodies back out on the market. He made some different tanks and a newer milk body. Might have to scratch build that body.
Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: CVSNE on August 28, 2019, 07:11:43 AM
Quote from: Raymo on August 27, 2019, 04:05:50 PM
Marty, watched the last video, Ben's Mill came out great! Unfortunately George Barrett has sold off his vehicle business and I talked to the new owner and it's going to be a slow process getting vehicles and bodies back out on the market. He made some different tanks and a newer milk body. Might have to scratch build that body.


Thanks Dan - reminds me I need to post photos of the finished mill on this thread!


Soooo, does that mean you're volunteering to build the milk truck? ;D
Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: Raymo on August 28, 2019, 08:37:06 AM
I'll add you to the list..🙃🙃
Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: CVSNE on September 03, 2019, 12:16:43 PM
Photos of Ben's Mill - next step is to plant it in a base that includes the mill falls, dam, etc...


(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/112-290819095156.jpeg)


(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/112-290819095113.jpeg)


Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: ACL1504 on September 03, 2019, 01:01:48 PM
Marty,

Getting caught up on all your progress. Looking very good. Update video was wonderful. No thumbs down from here.

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: CVSNE on September 03, 2019, 01:06:13 PM
Quote from: ACL1504 on September 03, 2019, 01:01:48 PM
Marty,

Getting caught up on all your progress. Looking very good. Update video was wonderful. No thumbs down from here.

Tom  ;D
Thanks Tom!


I planned to record another update this weekend - but frankly the place was a mess. Paul Dolkos came by for a visit and lunch yesterday - which required a clean up session all Monday morning.
Guess I can record an update now!
Marty

Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: Dennis Bourey on September 03, 2019, 07:49:26 PM
Gorgeous Marty........Dennis
Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: CVSNE on September 13, 2019, 07:15:26 AM

I built this feedmill (it's entirely styrene (in case that's relevant) based on this prototype that stood along the CV in Waterbury, Vt.
(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/112-130919065911-399471532.jpeg)
The white (actually, it's very, very light gray) coat of paint you see here is the second. The first time I painted the building I attempted to weather it - tone it down really - with a alcohol wash. IT's the first time I tried this technique on a styrene model and the result was sub-optimal and ended up looking like somebody tried to apply a thin dark wash to a white model.


So I masked the roof and repainted the walls. Now it looks like "day glow" white.
(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/112-130919065911-39996148.jpeg)


Any suggestions on how best weather it so the walls look white/light gray - some paint starting to fail, etc...
(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/112-130919065912-399971787.jpeg)


My inclination is pastel chalks - perhaps darker on the along the sill, with maybe some thin runoff at the windows/doors etc... perhaps some drybrushing of a slightly more grayish white to look like failing paint?

Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: ReadingBob on September 13, 2019, 09:05:27 AM
First off that finish on the stone foundation on the mill is incredible!  I love it.  I really need to practice my stone painting after seeing that.   :D

I have a favorite technique for finishing white walls however I don't think it will work well at this stage of the build.  I'll share it anyway if you'll indulge me.  I do this while the walls are still flat in front of me before the structure has been assembled.  In short it's a layered process. 

1. Stain the walls with Hunterline Light Gray (or A&I). 
2. Paint the walls while (I still have, and use, PollyScale Reefer White).  Depending on how weathered I want the walls I either use it full strength or thin it a bit to let the gray show through). 
3. "Dry sponge" the walls with a cheap craft store light gray acrylic to emulate where the while paint has peeled off an the gray primer is showing (Dove Gray is the color but I forget the brand).   
4. "Dry sponge" the walls with a light brown (Khaki in the case) craft store acrylic to represent bare wood peeking through). 
5. Brush on a very light A&I mix.  The last step also allows me to scrub off any of the gray or brown craft paints where I may have gotten a little heavy handed. 

Of course the degree to which I want the walls weather dictates how heavy I go with any of these steps.  The dry sponging of the gray and brown is barely visible but I really like the way it alters the appearance of the walls.
Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: S&S RR on September 13, 2019, 09:22:32 AM
Marty


Fantastic work. As for the weathering, I find myself going over just about everything with a dry brush of chalk. I just like the way it tones things down and I think the texture helps, too.
Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: deemery on September 13, 2019, 10:26:44 AM
My approach for stone walls is to prime with the mortar color (light grey), then do the sponge-painting techniques like Bob, et.al.  I apply weathering powers/pigments at the end to provide more variation in the rock. 


It's been fun seeing this building project, and that reminds me how I need to get back to doing buildings.  I've been hung up on scenery in Mill Valley.


dave
Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: CVSNE on September 13, 2019, 10:58:23 AM
Quote from: ReadingBob on September 13, 2019, 09:05:27 AM
First off that finish on the stone foundation on the mill is incredible!  I love it.  I really need to practice my stone painting after seeing that.   :D .
Thanks.


I'm of the stain, don't paint, school when it comes to plaster stonework.


The stonework is plaster castings from New England Brownstone. I start with an overall wash of Hunterline Light Gray - then follow up with stains made from Vallejo acrylics in variety of earth and gray tones thinned in acrylic medium. I'll also add a thin wash of green to some of the stones to capture the coloration of moss.
Then after that dries I'll lightly - very very lightly - drybrush an extremely light coat of light gray (actually some white with a few drops of gray added) to highlight the raised surface of the rock faces.

Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: CVSNE on September 13, 2019, 11:12:31 AM
I think I might add a sign to the feedmill - might dress it up a bit?
(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/112-130919071701.jpeg)
Of course it will get weathered along with the building.


Here's a picture of the real mill in an earlier era:
(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/112-130919071725.jpeg)

Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: CVSNE on September 16, 2019, 11:51:11 AM
It dawned on me about a week ago that I really shouldn't start on the Enosburg creamery until I'd at least figured out the basic footprint of the Implement dealer across the street. (I didn't want to make the creamery too large and then have no room for this thing):
(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/112-160919114710.jpeg)


Of course, I'll backdate the building somewhat - a rough - very rough - sketch to get the basic proportions:
(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/112-160919114513-401841720.jpeg)


I ended up starting on the model - kind of just happened once I'd gotten the basic dimensions figured out:
(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/112-160919114513-401831542.jpeg)
Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: ACL1504 on September 16, 2019, 03:44:43 PM
Marty,

I like the day glow white. In the south a great majority of the structures were white with white trim. I'm enjoying following along on this layout build.

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: CVSNE on October 17, 2019, 07:56:51 AM
Just posted a quick video update on the layout on my YouTube Channel -
(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/112-171019081750.jpeg)


You can find it here: https://youtu.be/waevu2eZzs4 (https://youtu.be/waevu2eZzs4)


Stay until the end and you'll get to see how Molly tells me it's time for her walk... no lie, she actually does that!

Enjoy!

Marty
Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: ACL1504 on October 17, 2019, 01:45:50 PM
Marty,

Enjoyed the update and the swing bridge is fantastic. Great job on all.

Tom  ;D
Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: PRR Modeler on October 17, 2019, 05:08:03 PM
Great video Marty. Nice job on the swing bridge.
Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: jbvb on October 17, 2019, 07:47:04 PM
Looks good.
Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: CVSNE on October 18, 2019, 09:54:47 AM
If you looked at Video Update #6 you saw a live demonstration of the swing gate. Actually, the gate in the video wasn't quite complete - so in the interest of full disclosure here are some photos showing that it is indeed more than just a "piece of plywood and a couple of hinges..."
The underside of the plywood "bridge" is braced along most of its length by a plywood brace. Note how the brace gets thinner as it gets further from the hinges - an attempt to minimize sag and at the same time minimize the pressure on the hinges!
(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/112-181019095801.jpeg)


That plywood brace is itself strengthened by a couple of pieces of 1 x 2 arranged in an "L".



Next trick is to figure out how to get the track in place. Stic tells me that's my problem.
Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: CVSNE on November 20, 2019, 09:07:13 AM
I've been working on the layout pretty steadily for the past few weeks, but nothing particularly photogenic (how many pictures of roadbed and track can anybody stand!).
I did take a short break from tracklaying to make some progress on the Implement Dealer and Paint Store - which is rapidly becoming the never-ending scratchbuild.
I first tried to find garage door castings that would work for the front of the building but nothing was the right size to maintain the proportions of the front wall. So I ended up scratchbuilding my own.
I use two techniques to create the garage doors - see http://centralvermontrailway.blogspot.com/2019/11/agricultural-implement-paint-dealer_15.html (http://centralvermontrailway.blogspot.com/2019/11/agricultural-implement-paint-dealer_15.html) for some in-process photos and a description.
Then I test fitted the doors and the large windows above the two shorter garage doors:
(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/112-201119085447-416811891.jpeg)


I assembled the walls using some handy braces from City Classics to help keep things square:
(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/112-201119085447-417471826.jpeg)


Next step is the angled front door into the paint store portion of the building.



Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: CVSNE on December 04, 2019, 10:42:32 AM
Assembled all four walls on the Farm Implement dealer.
(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/112-041219104122.jpeg)

Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: CVSNE on December 04, 2019, 10:46:54 AM

We moved into a new house about 18 months ago. The move meant scrapping SNE# 3(v4).
The layout was designed when we were living in an apartment waiting for the house to be built. I finally came to terms with the fact that I'm really good at some model railroad tasks, I'm okay at some, and stink at others. Layout design and planning fits firmly in the latter category. So I solved the layout design challenge the American way, and commissioned Lance Mindheim to design my new railroad.


Of course I tried "tweaking" Lance's plan as I was building - some of those tweaks were fairly extensive. Virtually each time I've regretted the tweak and ended up re-doing things according to Lance's original design. As I do so I'm more and more amazed at the amount of thought and consideration he gave to each and every part of the design.  In short, I've learned not to outsmart myself.


I started assembling the benchwork on Veteran's Day weekend of 2018, so construction has been ongoing for just over a year:


Here's the progress report as of today:
1. Benchwork: All the layout framework and fascia are complete. And the fascia has been painted with two coats of "Riverway" - the same dark gray/green that's painted on the walls beneath the layout.
2. Trackwork: The mainline loop is complete, in, and operational - including the track across the swing gate. Roadbed is in place on the paper mill peninsula, and I've been finalizing the track arrangement on the large Richford peninsula.
3. Structures and Scenery: While there's no progress to show on scenery as of yet, I have been positioning some structures, mostly leftovers from my previous layout, in various spots. Some of these will be permanently installed, others will serve as placeholders - helping to get the layout to a "finished" or semi-finished state for our open house later this month.
I'm also hoping to get a small area of scenery completed - for no other reason than to show what the layout will eventually look like at our open house later this month.


Yes, the first public showing of the layout will be later this month. The event is a neighborhood holiday open house. The stated purpose is to show off the Christmas decorations in the houses around the neighborhood, but everyone, and I mean everyone in our community, has heard about the "train set" in our basement.So we fully expect we're going to get a bunch of visitors who won't even glance at the decoration upstairs as they make a beehive for the basement!


I will try to do a photo and/or video update at some point in the near future, but frankly "getting the layout ready for visitors" is the top priority!


Marty
Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: CVSNE on December 05, 2019, 02:08:12 PM

I spent some time playing around with building road/arrangements in the junction scene last night. While the scene is inspired by the crossing of the St. Johnsbury & Lake Champlain and Central Vermont in Sheldon Junction, Vermont, the buildings shown are all placeholders.

There are three spurs in the scene:

One (the spur dead-ending at the edge of the layout in the background) is the St. J interchange track. This is hardly a high-density interchange, and will basically be a weed covered track.

The second served a creamery (the white building in the distance). This an old Branchline laser kit that I have left over from the old layout (it actually goes back further than that). It's a creamery, I need a creamery there, so that's an easy one!

Two down, one to go.

This is where it gets tricky.

The third spur served at various times, a team track, feedmill, and a fertilizer plant.


I tried a finished kit for (Laskey Cabinet is the name on the sign). It looks okay, but while a neat building in its own right, I'm a little concerned that it's a two story building in the foreground of the scene. 
(http://www.modelersforum.com/gallery/112-051219140631.jpeg)

[/size]The second building I tried is the low red building. This is certainly a Vermont building - as it's based on one of the buildings in a baseball bat and ski-manufacturing company in Waterbury (for a photo of the prototype structure see HERE. For even more detail on the Derby & Ball Co. click HERE. 

[/size]I'm strongly leaning toward the red building, perhaps with the addition of a shed or some such to actually serve as a warehouse or lumber storage building. (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/112-270120120317.jpeg)

The final possibility, and one I might chose based on expediency, is to add a gravel/dirt parking area and declare the spur to be a team track.


Thoughts?

Title: Re: SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RAILWAY - BOWES CREEK DIVISION
Post by: CVSNE on January 27, 2020, 01:06:58 PM
I started fitting Threshers Mill into place behind the Williams Creek Bridge. This bridge was the only portion of my old layout that I saved. Here I'm positioning the mill on a few layers of Gatorboard and foamboard to get the relative position correct.


(http://modelersforum.com/gallery/112-270120130338-42708814.jpeg)


My plan is to build the mill dam, and falls onto it's own diorama base, incorporate that into the layout, and then blend into the already existing water.