FSM Westside Auto

[jerryrbeach]

Jeff,


Everything is coming together nicely.  The coloring of the structures give them a really natural family look, IMO.  I really like the storage building and the shed.  I often am as attracted to the outbuildings George designs as the main buildings in the kits.  He has an amazing eye for complimentary outbuildings.  I'd bet this will be a real attention getting scene on your layout.

[ACL1504]

Jeff,

Very nice build and the roof came out great. I like laying track between builds. Breaks up the modeling for me.

Tom

[ReadingBob]

Looks super Jeff!  What a fine addition that will be make the empire.   

Now that you're almost done with this one inquiring minds want to know - What's next? 

[Zephyrus52246]

Thanks for the kind words, gentlemen.  Bob, I'm still a ways from completion, here.  The subroadbed (gatorfoam) is glued down for the track.  I'm going to glue the road bed (1/4 in hardboard) after breakfast.  Then the track goes in (need to add the tortoises for the turnouts as well).  Then cut out the diorama base from the gatorfoam.  I think once the buildings are in place and scenery starts, I'll feel closer to the finish line.  As for next, maybe painting a brass caboose (waycar on the CB&@). 


Jeff

[postalkarl]

Hey Jeff:

Coming along very nicely.

Karl

[Zephyrus52246]

The siding is in place.  I'd forgotten how many tools are required.  One piece of flextrak and three turnouts.  Fifteen feeder wires (perhaps overkill, but I don't want any dead spots).  The tortoises are in, but not powered yet.  That will require actually making a control panel, a hurdle I've yet to clear.  The "test train" went through at Greg Speed ( ) in both directions with no bumps/jolts/derailments. 

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

After all the tools and stuff were put away, I used the diagrams from the instructions to place the structures.  The front edge of the layout is not parallel to the track, so perpendiculars from the mainline needed to be drawn first.  The buildings were placed so that the two turnout throwbars are visible.  I hope to have working switchstands here, but haven't gotten around to trying the Rapido ones yet.  The buildings were placed per the diagram and marked off on the gatorfoam.  The ruler represents where the street edge is.  I used a small pickup here to make sure a vehicle would fit.  George has one on the diorama, but it's a Model T and I wanted to make sure the area wasn't too crowded.  I moved the left storage building back about 1/8" from the instructions to make it a little roomier.  Next the diorama base needs to be cut out of the big sheet, so the diorama can be removed if needed. 

Jeff

[PRR Modeler]

It's going to look great  when it's complete.

[postalkarl]

Hey Z:

It's looking just great. Keep the pic flowing.

Karl

[Raymo]

Looks great!

[vinceg]

I am really enjoying the build, Jeff. Looks excellent. I am expecting that this will be one of the next few kits I also build as I work my way south into Monee. It's really handy to have you blazing the trail ahead of time!

Could you tell me what the depth of that scene is from front to back? That is, from the front of the sidewalk to that front of that boxcar behind it? From the photos, looks like maybe 7 or 8 inches?

[ACL1504]

Jeff,

Looks perfect, well done Doc.

Tom

[Zephyrus52246]

Thanks, guys.  Vince, the depth on my diorama is 5 1/2 inches from the boxcar to the front edge of the sidewalk.  Here's the diorama diagram from the instructions.  Note it's just the main building, there's the life side addition that sticks out (as well as the stairway).  There's about 1/2 inch of space on the sides of the outbuildings to the edges of the diorama.  Still painting the detail parts...


Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

The detail parts are pretty much finished.  Oops, forgot to do the brooms!    The storage building has clapboard under the door.  Since, I'm planning on having a slightly opened door here, I need to eliminate this issue.  If I'd planned ahead, I would have cut it out and made the door trim longer (especially as I made my own doors), but instead, I'm raising the driveway.  The interior piece is just large enough for the car, the rest of the interior won't be visible. 
The other issue is paint changes.  The paint I have used for roads in the past is no longer available.  It was from Lowe's, a somewhat textured paint with subtle other colors in it.  So here I used Woodland scenics "concrete", it's a very light tan color.  I'll have to use some pastels to make it grayer.  I didn't want to open the whole gallon of earth paint I use for scenery, but wanted to make sure all the edges of the building were covered, so some Polly scale Earth (another now unavailable paint) was used.  I'll put some of the earth latex on when it's time to add the dirt over the scene. 


Jeff

[PRR Modeler]

Nice job on the ramp and approach. Being seamless it looks natural.