Rugg Manufacturing - SRMW Kit 170

[vinceg]

Wonderful Vince , is the oxidizer the same thing as Patina?

Thanks Janbouli - I hadn't heard of a "Patina" product until you just mentioned it. I looked it up on the web and found this product at Home Depot:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Modern-Masters-Green-Patina-Metal-Effects-Paint-Oxidizing-Finish-Kit-204336/206483628

If that's what you mean, I think the answer is no. That product appear to be a special effect paint kit that you can use on any paintable surface to achieve a faux oxidized copper patina on any paintable surface. Looks like maybe they supply you with a metallic paint for a first coat and then a subsequent coat or two to react with that coat? Not sure. But, they do say you can put the effect on any paintable surface. They have a rust version, too. The stuff I used is an actual acid that reacts with a couple of different metals, including pewter. Actually dangerous stuff. if you don't wash it off, parts will eventually dissolve away (although this doesn't seem to be as harsh as the old Radio Shack etchant that some people use to weather their corrugated roofing...there was no "sizzling" when I used this stuff)

[vinceg]

Great looking build Vince!  That's quite a structure. 

Thank you, Bob. Appreciate you looking in.

[Janbouli]

Wonderful Vince , is the oxidizer the same thing as Patina?

Thanks Janbouli - I hadn't heard of a "Patina" product until you just mentioned it. I looked it up on the web and found this product at Home Depot:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Modern-Masters-Green-Patina-Metal-Effects-Paint-Oxidizing-Finish-Kit-204336/206483628

If that's what you mean, I think the answer is no. That product appear to be a special effect paint kit that you can use on any paintable surface to achieve a faux oxidized copper patina on any paintable surface. Looks like maybe they supply you with a metallic paint for a first coat and then a subsequent coat or two to react with that coat? Not sure. But, they do say you can put the effect on any paintable surface. They have a rust version, too. The stuff I used is an actual acid that reacts with a couple of different metals, including pewter. Actually dangerous stuff. if you don't wash it off, parts will eventually dissolve away (although this doesn't seem to be as harsh as the old Radio Shack etchant that some people use to weather their corrugated roofing...there was no "sizzling" when I used this stuff)

Thank you for the info Vince , I'll have to keep looking what the Oxidizeerr equivalent is here.

[geoawelch]

Coming along very well Vince.

George

[Dave K.]

Beautiful build, Vince, and a very well- thread. I've enjoyed it every step of the way.👍🏻

[vinceg]

As you might have seen in my layout build thread, I'm gutting the minor scenery I had in the town of Monee so that I can put in a proper backdrop and also upgrade the basic scenery techniques. This diorama will ultimately be sited at the north end of that town. Even though I am not finished with Rugg, yet (some stairs, power poles and lines, soil pipes, and some misc detail/clutter to be strewn), I thought I would do a test fit of the dio in the frame I have built for it and shoot a few pictures so that I can think about how I want to portray that in the final scene. These are the last few pics I have of Monee now before everything was ripped up (posting that next on the layout build thread).

Here's a wide shot of the diorama in place:



The land forms that I previously created took into account Rugg's two-tier structure. That will continue with the new scenery as well. Some hills will be necessary on the dio to blend it in with the surrounding area. Here's the blind side of the diorama:



BTW, if anyone is keeping track, I now have east and west reversed. North on the diorama as specified by the orientation of the real building is actually facing south on my layout. So, the real-life west side of the building is now the east side of the building in Monee. It's just the way I placed the kit because of what I wanted to see from the aisle. Probably no one is even thinking about that....shouldn't have even brought it up, but just in case.....

Here's the aisle-facing interface:



Again, a downward sloping hill will need to be brought onto the diorama somehow.  Over the next couple of weeks, I will give some thought about how that will need to look in its final form. Where are the parking areas, paths, roads, etc. I want to make sure I have a plan to make sure it mates with the surroundings believably.

Finally, here's where the diorama is near the rail service:



I would *really* like to get suggestions for this. My original thought is that this would just be a team track type of style - some road from Rugg would lead up to the tracks and things would be loaded and unloaded in very manual way. Since then, I have had the additional thought of perhaps scratch building a loading/unloading dock. The track is curved so this may not be too easy but seemed like it was worth some thought. Again, please offer some pointers, suggestions or, better yet, pictures if anyone out there has some ideas that might fit well.

Those of you that know the Rugg kit know that it comes with some parts to build a small tram -- a mini narrow gauge system of sorts with a turn table and some cars to carry things around the complex. See this URL for a picture on Bob's web site:

http://www.southrivermodelworks.com/page170a.html

I didn't include that because I didn't find it that interesting. At least I didn't when I set aside the real estate for the diorama when I started it a lot of years ago. Not sure what I would do if I started from scratch again today. In any event, it won't be there.

[postalkarl]

Hey Vince:

Looks just great so far.

Karl

[vinceg]

Thanks, Karl. I'm looking forward to seeing it in the finished environment without some decent scenery around it.

[jerryrbeach]

Vince,

Have you considered removing the stucco building and then cutting the base in a way that would allow you to pivot the diorama at about a 45 degree angle?  Then it would be relatively easy to add a loading dock to the rear of the structure along the existing siding.  I think that would better display the more attractive proportions and elevation changes in the structure than its present orientation.  That's kind of a major change, but you asked...

[vinceg]

Vince,

Have you considered removing the stucco building and then cutting the base in a way that would allow you to pivot the diorama at about a 45 degree angle?  Then it would be relatively easy to add a loading dock to the rear of the structure along the existing siding.  I think that would better display the more attractive proportions and elevation changes in the structure than its present orientation.  That's kind of a major change, but you asked...

That's a really interesting idea, Jerry. The stucco building isn't my favorite part of the diorama, anyway. And, since I just tore up all of Monee to put in a backdrop, this is the best possible time to make such a change. It would be a snap to find a new way to seat the dio. I'm going to think about that seriously.

The only thing that gives me pause is whether I would have to cut the existing base. I remember discussions I have had with George Sellios about sites where he cut "dioramas" out of his finished scenery (with structures attached) and all of the ensuing damage he had to fix up. Not sure I'm up for that. On the other hand, Probably not too hard to just cut out the existing track and turn the existing base as-is and relay track over it.

Very interesting, indeed. Thanks!

[tom.boyd.125]

Vince,
What a journey with this SRMW Rugg construction thread. You started to give us updates in April, and started doing the stucco structure and foundations prior to that.
The 6 or 7 months it takes , give or take 300 or 400 hours plus to put each of these large kits together is well worth the end result.  Great Job Vince !
Thanks for sharing this build and hope you start another one soon for your layout.
Tommy

[ACL1504]

Vince,

I'm in full agreement with Tom. Very good tutorial and build. Looks fantastic in the location.

Tom

[jerryrbeach]

Vince,

Have you considered removing the stucco building and then cutting the base in a way that would allow you to pivot the diorama at about a 45 degree angle?  Then it would be relatively easy to add a loading dock to the rear of the structure along the existing siding.  I think that would better display the more attractive proportions and elevation changes in the structure than its present orientation.  That's kind of a major change, but you asked...

That's a really interesting idea, Jerry. The stucco building isn't my favorite part of the diorama, anyway. And, since I just tore up all of Monee to put in a backdrop, this is the best possible time to make such a change. It would be a snap to find a new way to seat the dio. I'm going to think about that seriously.

The only thing that gives me pause is whether I would have to cut the existing base. I remember discussions I have had with George Sellios about sites where he cut "dioramas" out of his finished scenery (with structures attached) and all of the ensuing damage he had to fix up. Not sure I'm up for that. On the other hand, Probably not too hard to just cut out the existing track and turn the existing base as-is and relay track over it.

Very interesting, indeed. Thanks!

Vince,

I have cut down a couple plywood diarama bases.  I used my table saw and worked the base past the blade slowly.  I also set the blade about double the height of the piece as it seems to cut more smoothly at least IMO.  I have never had any damage to anything except the edge of the base.  I would not dare try cutting a base with any other type of saw.  I think it depends on what tools you have available and your comfort level using them. 

If it seems easier to you to remove and relay the track, I would encourage you to use that approach.  The nice thing is that right now you can adjust the position of the diarama on the layout and live with it for a while before you make your decision.

[Mark Dalrymple]

Hi Vince.

As I said in my last post:
I do think that Rugg has about the best lines of any kit design, ever!  That view of the roof is spectacular!

Your response:
Thanks, Mark. Yeah, I love the "busy" look of the complex with the variety of extensions over time. Bob did a fabulous job capturing the complexity.

So it seems to me that perhaps capturing this view is the most important?  And as it is set now I think this view is not possible?  So I am inclined to agree with Jerry - in particular spinning the diorama anticlockwise to bring this scene down the roof line into view.  I agree also that removing the stucco building would help in opening this view up.  I think the other great view is the stack with all the changes of material in cladding around it - so spinning the diorama so far as to bring the scene down the roof line into view, but not so far that the view of the stack is at too much of an angle for the viewer to clearly differentiate all those material changes.  Also - after spending many months on such a build, I would move heaven and earth to display it at the best possible angle.  In fact to me this would be the single most important thing of the whole build process.  This is why I typically start each build with a complete mock-up before I build the structure.  In this way I can make all these decisions before I start - and also alter the structure slightly (or not so slightly) to compensate for any quirks the site might present.

Cheers, Mark.

[GPdemayo]

Very well done Vince.....a great addition to the layout.