MORRISTOWN & ERIE RAILROAD - WESTERN DIVISION

[Erieman]

Frank...

Great photos.

The aged copper on the station is particularly cool.

thanx
Bob

Bob,
The copper roof is only acrylic paint. Took a bit of trial and error to achieve it. The copper rooof really does set off the station. Thanks for stopping by.


Frank / Erieman

[Erieman]

Greetings,


The past week and a bit has been very busy for me. Lots of house repairs took time away from working on the layout. A new Heating and Air Conditioning system, a new spa heater, new garage door openers and a new battery for the smart car were among the many items that were replaced. Now that it is over and Christmas is upon us, I can get back to working on a portion of the layout. I have posted an earlier picture of the station at Essex Falls. I have managed to fill in the area with sculptamold, etc. and will be putting down the grass, bushes and trees later this week. This is quite a major scene and it is taking longer than I thought, which is typically the case.  Enjoy.

[ACL1504]

Afternoon Frank,

The scene is looking fine. Land forms sure make a scene look more natural. Yours is looking really good I love the road underpass behind the station.

Great work and yes, scenery takes way more time than planned.

Hope you and Phyllis have a wonderful Christmas and it seems like you spent a sack full of gifts on the house repairs.


Tom

[Erieman]

Afternoon Frank,

The scene is looking fine. Land forms sure make a scene look more natural. Yours is looking really good I love the road underpass behind the station.

Great work and yes, scenery takes way more time than planned.

Hope you and Phyllis have a wonderful Christmas and it seems like you spent a sack full of gifts on the house repairs.


Tom

Good Morning Tom,


Thank you for your kind words. Progress has been a bit slow because of the house repairs, but everyday something gets done on the railroad. I have attached a photo update of Essex Falls station area. Lots of grass was applied today. Glad you like the truck under the bridge. More on order from Sylvan as part of my Christmas present. There is more land surfaces to be worked on tomorrow on the other side of the tracks. Between a top side creeper, a bench and a couple of step stools, I am able to reach most of the layout. There is an area on the other side (Ironia) that needs attention on its land mass. Three or four days should be required to complete them and then I can install ground cover and trees. And I have lots of trees to plant in the center island. There is also a pop up area at the back of Essex Falls with a structure on it that needs to be installed, etc..And here I thought I was almost done with this area. Well, anyway...


Here is a pic of my progress today.


Phyllis and I would like to wish you and Pam a very Merry Christmas and may Santa bring you all the train items on your list. Enjoy the holidays my friend.


Frank / Erieman

[sdrees]

Hi Frank,

It is getting there slowly but surely.  It is looking really good.

[GPdemayo]

Great looking copper roof.....Merry Christmas Frank. 

[Powersteamguy1790]

Looking good Frank. 

Stay cool and run steam..........

[Erieman]

Steve, Greg, Bob and those that follow,


Merry Christmas to you all. We celebrated Christmas with the family earlier in the week because one of the daughters had to work today ( she is a nurse). So I am spending some quality time in the train room. While working in the center island, I noticed a view that I thought might give everyone a feel for a portion of the layout. The two photo attachments cover about 1/3 of the layout and are most complete sections. The next 1/3 of the layout is partially complete and the final 1/3 has track and a few structures. This section has some track modifications currently in planning. If I can figure out how to take a panoramic pic, I will post one of the entire layout. In the meantime. Here you go. Thank you for your king words from your recent visit and I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas.


Frank / Erieman

[MAP]

Some really beautiful work Frank!

[ak-milw]

Some really beautiful work Frank!

Ditto!!

[Erieman]

Good Morning Mark and Andy,


Thanks for stopping by and viewing my progress. Yesterday and early this morning I was able to get a lot of progress with the scenery. Cardboard, sculptamold and plaster wrap and away you go. Later today I can put down the static grass, then its trees, etc.. Slowly the area is filling in. I still have to put in Shrock's meat market and trackage as a drop in. The big areas seem to go fast. Not many details, yet!! Only issue is the backbreaking leaning. It really gets to me by the end of the day.


Frank / Erieman

[tom.boyd.125]

Frank,
The layout photos you have added in the last month really show lots of progress in many areas. Great looking RR ! 
Tommy

[GPdemayo]

Hi Frank.....I forgot to mention earlier, our tin knocker (sheet metal man) related this story this story to me years ago.

When he was just started in the trade, an old journeyman told him, that in his day when a client wanted an older look rather than a new shiny copper roof what they did was go collect some horse urine (don't ask how) and pour it on the new copper roof. After cooking in the sun for a bit, it got a patina that looked like it had been up there for years.

Aren't we lucky to have chemicals that do the same thing today. I'd hate to go chasing a horse around a pasture with a bucket.....

[Erieman]

Frank,
The layout photos you have added in the last month really show lots of progress in many areas. Great looking RR ! 
Tommy

Tom,


Thanks for your kind words and for stopping by. Yes, progress is being made on the railroad. I am spending 8 to 10 hours a day, or almost except for the recent holidays. This appears to keep the piece in the household. It is amazing how so much time produces so little progress. The details are a killer, but I am making progress, albeit slowly but surely.


Frank / Erieman

[Erieman]

Hi Frank.....I forgot to mention earlier, our tin knocker (sheet metal man) related this story this story to me years ago.

When he was just started in the trade, an old journeyman told him, that in his day when a client wanted an older look rather than a new shiny copper roof what they did was go collect some horse urine (don't ask how) and pour it on the new copper roof. After cooking in the sun for a bit, it got a patina that looked like it had been up there for years.

Aren't we lucky to have chemicals that do the same thing today. I'd hate to go chasing a horse around a pasture with a bucket.....

Good Morning Greg,


Thanks for stopping by and your story about using horse pee. Far be it from me to consider using such a stain on a copper roof, but if it works, so be it. The station roof is cardstock, so I just had to find a couple of bottles of acrylic paint. Odorless, of course.


MOre progress posting in a couple of days.


Frank / Erieman