Re: Sierra West Foundry Scratchbuild

[Jerry]

Hey Rich it looks great!  Nice update and I really like that wood coloring.

Jerry

[Pennman]

Great modeling Rich. You have started me thinking about the crane and supports for my kit through the discussion here.

Thanks for your comments Curt. Since you have the kit, just follow the directions and you should be ok.
It was noted on the Sierra West Forums, that modelers found the decal for the 10 Ton load limit was
printed upside down. You may want to check that out when the time comes to use it.

Rich

[Pennman]

Thanks for the nice comments, Mike, Tom, Rick and Jerry.
Looking back at my close-up pictures makes me want to re-do
some of the shiney painted doors and window edges. The two doors
on the front of the Blacksmith's Shop look like I painted them
without any primer. I will paint the hinges though. Funny how
pictures show imperfections...

Rich

[Larry C]

Rich everything is really looking good and it's nice to see someone else scratch building. Enjoy the process.

[Pennman]

Rich everything is really looking good and it's nice to see someone else scratch building. Enjoy the process.

Thanks very much Larry.  Indeed I am and now that the cold & white stuff is chasing us down,
I'm sure I will find the necessary time to finish this.

Rich

[GregCassidy]

Hey Rich, I'll be following along on this now.

[Pennman]

Hey Rich, I'll be following along on this now.

Greg,

I'm glad you found us again and I am glad to have you come along for the ride.

Rich

[Pennman]

Thank you to everyone following my thread.
A few days ago I learned of the death of a long time family friend. Since, I have done no modeling
and can think of nothing else. I'm sure these feelings will come to pass, just not very soon. Sorry.

When my Mom was a young gal, she grew up with two other girls in her country neighborhood. It was in
the late 1920's, about the time when John Dillinger was roaming the countryside. As the three of them
played outside during those early years, my Grandmother always ushered them inside to play instead. The
three girls formed a special bond, and vowed to stay friends throughout their lives. These two other
friends of my Mom's were like my 2nd and 3rd Mom's to me, growing up. Now that they all have been
called "home", including my Mom, all three of them are together once again. And, all of the offspring
from these families have carried on their tradition.

Rich

[Bernd]

Stay strong Rich. There is light at the en of the tunnel and it's not a locomotive headlight!

Bernd

[Dave Buchholz]

We are with you in spirit, my friend.

Dave

[PRR Modeler]

Rich condolences on the loss of the close family friend.

[Pennman]

Thank you, Bernd, Dave and Curt, your heartfelt wishes have helped considerably, and I will
get through this time once again. Life goes on and we all have had similar instances where
friends come forward to help, it is much appreciated.
I will be back online later this evening with a short update.

Rich

[Ensign]

Rich, I'm sorry to read of your loss of a family friend.
Please take some comfort in knowing that my thoughts & prayers are with you.

Greg

[Pennman]

Thank you Greg. It's nice to know that friends care.
I'm better today, and your heartfelt wishes are soothing.

Rich

[Pennman]

Now that the toilet dilemma is behind us  , please beware that if you frequent Jerry's Pattern Shop
work area, there's a new sign "closed for toilet repairs", hanging by the door. No one is allowed to use it
going forward! Also there were too many newspaper reporters trying to cop a story before the next flush. 

I am currently working on getting a base established for this diorama. I had a base I made previously
for another project, didn't use it, but it was covered entirely with grout. I had also glued a strip
of thin cork along one edge as a place to glue ballast and attach a RR track. I decided to use it this
time, but I want to scenic it with some vegetation rather than just a dirt ground. This is what it looks
like.  See first picture.

So, this time I am using the base that was already constructed, and I am adding a one-inch layer of new pink foam. I have decided to drop in another already constructed model on one corner of the base. The model was built on a 1/4th inch thickness of plywood with a 3/16th inch layer of black foam board.
To do this I cut another 1/2 inch thickness of plywood to place underneath the diorama, including two thin pieces of clear styrene sheets for spacers to bring the top of the diorama up to the top of the newly added surrounding, pink foam insulation board. This makes it easy to scenic around the buildings when they are on the same level. I also put three screws into the added plywood to hold it in place (to forestall someone bumping it) before adding the diorama. To complete the diorama corner, I added two lengths of wood on both sides and painted them a soft brown earthy color to match the surrounding earthen ground. See pictures.

The total thickness of the pre-constructed drop-in diorama (including the diorama) is about one inch which matches the rest of the real estate.

The base construction mentioned here coincides with my pinning of built structures to a place of final placement. Rather than gluing them to foam I pin them because I can fit more buildings into one location. If they were glued, (onto separate bases), there would be greater spaces of earth between buildings than need be.

Some of you may be wondering why I am building on bases. These models I am making are not all planned on going on shelves. I have been contemplating for some time how I can either make a switching layout along one or two walls in my room or some modules that can be bolted together and eventually be pushed out of the way to regain the space they take up. My room is small and both sides of the room (lengthwise) have short knee walls
that are only 45 inches measured vertically from the floor upward. Along those walls (into the knee wall area) are cupboard doors where my wife has stored her Holiday decorations.
I must have open spacing to allow access to those doors when each holiday arises. And I must leave the spaces empty so when the holiday is over, she can put her decorations away again. Now this has caused a major concern and lengthy deliberations in my home ever since they were established. And if you're wondering, NO, I didn't win. Anyway, it is what it is. 

Rich