The Atlantic and Southern Build Thread Continued, Part 3

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That river scene keeps getting better and better.....

Greg,

Thank you and thank you. 

Tom 

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Everything looks top notch Tom.

Curt,

Thank you, much appreciate the support on the thread.

Tom 

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Some really nice touches going on there, Tom.  Looks great!

Cheers, Mark.

Cheers Mark,

I appreciate the generous comment. This has been fun to do and also fun to think of little details to do in the river.

Tom 

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Wonderful detail, Tom.  I really like the rotted dock.

Jeff

Jeff,

Much appreciate the comment. I think the rotted dock will look more natural when the rater/resin is poured.

Tom 

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Hello Tom, your river scene looks great, love all the details, especially the rotted dock.   Jeff

Jeff,

Thank you as well. The rotted dock is a detail I was going to add the the lagoon area but forgot. Senior month and all that. 

Tom 

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Tom:  Lots in that scene to keep one's eyes busy.  Well done.  Love the dead cypress tree where the pollution is. 

Larry

Larry,

Thank you, yes, lots to look at. John Siekirk said it best, "It's all about the details." My desire is for visitors to see something that has always been there when they say. "Oh, it that new?"

Tom 

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Great looking scene and great 'how to' instructions, thanks. I love the Cypress Trees, they are very realistic. Lots of thought going into this and I appreciate the 'how to' ideas. Sprayed wet water has been an issue for me with the bubbles. Now I think the Judge needs to explain how that broken dock came about.

Jim D

Jim,

Thank you for the nice compliment. Kris did a fantastic job on the cypress trees. She is a master at making trees.

The Judge can explain how the dock was abandoned on his thread and add a story to go with it.

I'll cover how to do the water when i get to it. It won't be sprayed.

Tom 

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Tom - The scene is even better than I thought it would be.  Can't wait for the water to be poured.

Bill,

Thank you, I have a couple of other things I'm considering for the river; however, I'm not committed to them.

The water will change the entire look of the area.

Tom 

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That looks great!  I can tell you right now my 65' Work Boat / Lighter won't fit under those bridges so I'll just have to hang on to that one for myself.   

Bob,

Thanks you very much. Not to worry about your boat in my river. I ordered three small boats form Sea Port Models. Two speed boats and one small tug pulling a small barge.

Tom 

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Tom,
Good to see you working on your layout again after being hit with this virus.
Glad your slowly getting your strength back. Can't wait for more progress photos of this area.
Hope the next reefer train includes a delivery of soda to get those juices flowing again.
Tommy

Tommy,

Thank you, I can assure you I'm very happy to be back. The virus really took a small toll on me. I'm still not 100% but feel 100% better.

I just got a fresh supply of Diet Pepsi for my train building. I'm good for now and well into January 2021.

Tom 

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I forgot to mention in yesterday's post how I got the rotten dock piers.

I was in the yard a few months ago, prior to C-19, and noticed some old cypress mulch pieces. I thought they would be perfect for the rotten dock.

The dock piers started life as a piece of mulch shown below.



I used a single edged razor blade and cut the mulch horizontally into several different pieces. I then cut them to around four HO scale feet in length.

I soaked then in Hunterline Medium Brown A&I and let them air dry on a paper towel.



Glued in place for the rotted dock piers.

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Another aspect of the A&S build I enjoy is getting the right structure to look natural in the right location. I strive to get a consistency in how the layout looks to me and visitors.

Once a structure is built, it may sit in one location for several months and then find a final resting spot in an entirely different location.

Here are two such examples.

Frank Baker (Erieman) made me two beautiful citrus structures a few years ago in exchange for some brass work. For almost a year, I had them on the second level just north of the St. John's River area.



For some unknown reason, I thought they would look and fit better on the Summit (3rd.) level as shown. I was thinking if they were here I could have a double track for loading citrus.



More on this location in a few more posts.

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Now comes Butts Meat Co. This structure, another Reading Bob build, was placed on the Summit (3rd.) level near the north end.




The problem with this is the fact the cattle loading ramp is on the right. So, only one car could be loaded and then moved.



Continued -

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In order to have room to load multiple cars, the meat company needed to be moved two feet+ to the left. This moved the slaughter house closer to the main line passenger station. I can't have "uppity" passengers smelling the cattle pen.




So the most logical location is for Butts Meat Co. to be located where the citrus structures were located on the third level.



This area is 7.5 feet in length and will hold Butts Meat Co. with plenty of room for loading cattle. There is also ample room for two other larger FSM structures.

More in a few.

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Cattle car at Butts loading ramp.