The Pennsy - Six Miles West of Altoona and More

[ReadingBob]

Bill and Kris,

The signals are amazing.       They certainly give the layout a real Pennsy feel (not that it didn't already have it    ).  I hope to get up to see them in person one of these days.

I'm sure you're well aware that the EXPO is being held in Altoona in November.  I think I'm going to go.  I'd like to visit the Horseshoe Curve and some of the other rail fan hot spots around the area.  It's been close to twenty years since my last visit. 

[ReadingBob]

Bill,
Thank you for the invitation to see your layout today. It was incredible and everything about it is professionally done. It's definitely a layout to be proud of. Thanks again.

Curt Webb

Welcome to the forum Curt!   

[ACL1504]

Curt,

Welcome to the forum. We all would love to see and hear what you've been doing layout related. We love pictures.

Again, welcome to the forum.

Tom

[GPdemayo]

Welcome Curt.....

[PennsyJ1]

Bill and Kris,

The signals are amazing.       They certainly give the layout a real Pennsy feel (not that it didn't already have it    ).  I hope to get up to see them in person one of these days.

I'm sure you're well aware that the EXPO is being held in Altoona in November.  I think I'm going to go.  I'd like to visit the Horseshoe Curve and some of the other rail fan hot spots around the area.  It's been close to twenty years since my last visit.

Thanks Bob, you know you are all ways welcome here. Yes the EXPO, not sure if we will be able  make that trip. I sure do want to see that area in person some time.
Bill

[ACL1504]

I was visiting Bill and Kris Cutler and we have been doing quite a bit of bartering lately. I build a structure for the Pennsy and Kris builds me some of her wonderful trees.

There is an area on the Pennsy where they have the Ed Fulasz three story apartment. I mentioned on one of my visits that the area needed a front side walk and lamp posts. This was before I started making the brass lamp posts. I told Bill this would be a great start for lighting some areas of the layout.

He graciously agreed to let me experiment with this one block area. I forgot to take a picture of the area so I'll just promise to get one on the next visit.

This area is about 9 X 10 inches.

The photo below shows the two pieces of Masonite used as the base.



The two pieces are slightly offset to fit the area. I glued the two pieces together and you can see the offset in the next photo.



More in a few.

[ACL1504]

Bill had some Bar Mills sidewalks he was going to use. I didn't care much for them as they were a paper product and told Bill I'd make the sidewalks out of strip wood.

I found a piece in my strip wood stash. I can't tell you the original length but it is an HO scale 5 1/2 ft wide and 6 HO scale ft. thick, meaning it is 3/4 inch wide and 1/16 inch thick.

I cut a piece 9 inches long. I cut a curb line in on one side about 3 HO scale inches wide.



I cut two pieces and made a driveway for one vehicle.



I glued these three pieces to the Masonite and let dry overnight.

More in a few.

[ACL1504]

After the glue dried, I cut expansion joint lines in every HO scale 5 feet. I sanded the driveway curb and sidewalk area to be flush with the road. 

I wanted the walkways from the front sidewalk to be old and broken. I remembered I made a rubber mold from one of the FSM kits of such a sidewalk. Don't remember what kit they came from but it was at least 16+ years ago I made the mold.



I mixed the two part resin in paper cups, stirred the mix and poured it into the mold.



More in a few.

[ACL1504]

I let the resin cure for a few hours and then removed the sidewalks from the mold.



Back in a flash, need a cold Diet Pepsi.

[ACL1504]

I then glued the broken sidewalks in place and when dry painted them with Floquil Aged Concrete.

I'll weather the sidewalks and driveway with A&I and Pan Pastels.

The black cut out is the shape and size of the apartment building.





One more photo to follow. I forgot to load and crop it for publication.

Back in a few.

[ACL1504]

Here is the possible location of the two lamp posts.



Looking at the photo, I think they need to be moved in towards the center a few scale feet.

[PRR Modeler]

Looking good Tom.

[BandOGuy]

If possible, I'd move the posts out closer to the curb.
Where they are now, you'd never hit them while opening a car door while parked near the curb. That's where they are in real life. Right where you don't want/need them.

[vinceg]

If possible, I'd move the posts out closer to the curb.
Where they are now, you'd never hit them while opening a car door while parked near the curb. That's where they are in real life. Right where you don't want/need them.

oh man....that is so true.

[ACL1504]

Looking good Tom.

Thank you Curt, much appreciated.