MORRISTOWN & ERIE RAILROAD - WESTERN DIVISION

tct855 · July 19, 2018, 11:56:31 AM

Frankie,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVOZ2WrQVWg

Thanx Thom...

Erieman · July 19, 2018, 12:27:30 PM

Thom, Tom, Steve and Greg and other followers of my thread.

After a couple of false starts this morning trying to create the illusion of rain below the clouds, I think I have found the solution. A bit of a dark blue/ black wash followed by a rag wiping the paint at an angle. The rag removes just enough paint to create the driving rain. About three feet done, a whole bunch more. I think i will have to go back to the hobby store for more spray paint as well. Looks like another fun day here on the layout. Enjoy the pic.

Frank / Erieman

ACL1504 · July 19, 2018, 01:03:47 PM

Frank,
The rain looks perfect.

Tom

tct855 · July 19, 2018, 02:45:17 PM

Frank,

You are a genius, just like Wile E Coyote. Just don't get hit by the lightning. Thanx Thom...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txG_QEoNwSA

PRR Modeler · July 19, 2018, 03:04:32 PM

Great looking storm clouds and rain Frank.

Zephyrus52246 · July 19, 2018, 08:02:05 PM

Your clouds are looking even better, Frank. Nice storm. I did mine only in white, airbrushed with Badger Modelflex white paint. My first experiment with the clouds was with cheap spray cans, but they tended to splotch paint at times, so I went with the airbrush.

Jeff

Erieman · July 20, 2018, 10:50:13 AM

Quote from: Zephyrus52246 on July 19, 2018, 08:02:05 PM
Your clouds are looking even better, Frank. Nice storm. I did mine only in white, airbrushed with Badger Modelflex white paint. My first experiment with the clouds was with cheap spray cans, but they tended to splotch paint at times, so I went with the airbrush.

Jeff

Good Morning Dr.

I started my clouds with a piece of blue foamboard that i purchased at Michael's. Actually two pieces because i never get it right the first time. I also tried the typical rattle can and found that the pigments are too course and the spray also two course. The spitting was the worse. I then tried rattle cans from Tamiya. Over the past few years, I have been using this paint for painting vehicles and have found that the pigment is much finer resulting in a very smooth appearance. With the rattle can dilemma resolved, i now referred back to my library for clouds. Yes, i do have clouds in my reference library. Among them was a Trackside Photos in an old issue of Model Railroader of a S scale layout from New York. The sky was awesome. Heavy dark clouds with the hint of rain. Awesome.
With that in hand, i started on the second piece of colored foamboard to check out my technique. With a little practice, voila, i thought I had it. It has started out beautifully, but as i progressed on the real wall, i have lost some of the flavor. While structures will hide most, i still want to understand what I did and what I did wrong. Probable the placement of the templates. I should have kept a better record of which template was used when.

Looking at your photo of your clouds ( if I may comment), there is no definition. Clouds typically appear a bit heavier on the bottom. I would have added a bit of warm grey to your pigment when painting the bottom of the clouds. It would make the clouds stand our more. Another issue is the arrangement of the clouds. You have a large lower level, a medium middle level and a small upper lever. I would have only added the lower lever to keep the eye focused on the most important part, the railroad. All in all, your cloud definition is quite good, there is just two too many.

The biggest hurdle with clouds is that once you start, you are committed. There is not turning back. There is no painting over. You can add buildings, trees, etc. to hide it somewhat, but you know the issues. All in all, your clouds look like a typical mid western sky. Painting clouds is no fun and if done right, do not detract from the railroad. Then there is lighting which be directed to the layout and not the sky.

Frank / Erieman

jbvb · July 25, 2018, 11:15:14 AM

The falling rain came out nicely, though living in the land of trees I mostly see it when I'm out in a field or near the ocean. I expect you practiced a bit before taking it to your carefully painted clouds?

Erieman · July 26, 2018, 11:48:37 PM

Quote from: jbvb on July 25, 2018, 11:15:14 AM
The falling rain came out nicely, though living in the land of trees I mostly see it when I'm out in a field or near the ocean. I expect you practiced a bit before taking it to your carefully painted clouds?

Jim,

Thank you for stopping by. Glad you like the scene. Actually, the clouds and rain were easier than I thought. Yes, I did have a test panel to experiment before the commitment on "the wall". Always a bit scary, to say the least. The test panel made it some much easier.

Yesterday, I installed the Broadway Limited Lightning and Thunder. Had a bit of a problem on the poor quality Chinese connector that is on the device. After a bit of review and an even better tightening, Voila We had lightning and Thunder. Pretty cool actually. I ordered a 16 ft LED spool so I can lengthen the lightning effect.

Frank / Erieman

ACL1504 · July 27, 2018, 11:47:13 AM

Frank,

Good to hear you got it working correctly.

Tom

tom.boyd.125 · July 27, 2018, 02:57:07 PM

Frank,
I hear the sounds here...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AqjqOqNrjw
Tommy

Erieman · October 30, 2018, 04:58:23 PM

Good Afternoon All,

I have been away from my layout for a bit of time, but have returned to work on the steel mill complex. I am detailing the blast furnace and thought i had a crane to detail in inside of the casting floor. I guess i was wrong. The box was empty, except for a few details. So, I am checking with my forum friends to see who might have and would be willing to sell me the following: Model Masterpieces NBR #514 - ho scale, 120 tone overhead crane. If anyone has a spare or wants to depart with the crane, please send me a PM. I looked on Ebay and did not find one. Any help is appreciated.

Frank / Erieman

jerryrbeach · October 30, 2018, 06:46:08 PM

Frank,

I found one listed at Deben LLC, link below. I have no idea what the original list price was, so cannot tell if this is a reasonable price.

http://www.debenllc.com/CBQ-120-TON-OVERHEAD-CRANE-KIT-fsm-MODEL-MASTERPIECES-HOHON30HOn3_p_526.html

HTH,

Erieman · October 30, 2018, 07:45:31 PM

Jerry,
Thanks for looking. The model i am looking for is NBR 514 is a bit different that the one illustrated The bridge crane sides are sloped towards the ends. This might be the right one, but i would have to see the actual model. The assembly diagram I have shows the same picture as in the ad, but is different on the inside. I'll keep looking and maybe get lucky at a swap meet. Appreciate your help. I'm a bit fussy on what I want.

Frank / Erieman

Erieman · November 06, 2018, 09:38:34 AM

Good Morning All,

I have been occupied with many household items of recent and only recently gotten back to the layout. I have started the modified blast furnace about a week ago. The building casting floor has been lengthened to make a more impressive building. /many building details have been added and more are planned. somehow, I would up with a couple of kits, so i can enlarge the areas I am considering. A friend was over yesterday and mentioned he had seen a blast furnace with lighting in the troughs to simulate running molten metal. Sweet, Now to figure how to make that happen.

The blast furnace is well underway and the open hearth furnace is still in design. The rolling mill is complete. These three major structures along with several smaller ancillary structures will make up the steel mill complex. Stay tuned

Frank / Erieman