| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| AVRR-PA |
Posted - 08/19/2010 : 09:51:03 AM
I'm ready to start actual benchwork construction on this project and I want to cover that in a thread separate from the "Rail-Marine Layout Plans" thread. So here goes...
Moving to a new window so I'll be able to edit.
Don |
| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| jbvb |
Posted - 06/17/2013 : 8:49:28 PM
I've seen enough "spackle/putty/plaster or the like cracks and comes loose when the substrate flexes" problems that I am now putting down windowscreen most places I'm going to cover that way. I might even on well-supported 3/4" plywood if I was going to carve individual bricks into a substantial area. Fibreglass screen eventually deteriorates and has to be replaced, but it still makes a decent reinforcing mesh, if that helps you stick to your budget. There are pictures of mine, hot-glued to vertical hardboard, in the last page or two of my Eastern Route thread. |
| AVRR-PA |
Posted - 06/17/2013 : 5:37:26 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Tabooma County Rwy
Hey Don,
Great progress! Regarding the brick pavement, one suggestion I might offer: I use lightweight patching spackle for my brickwork in streets - the kind that is really light, light cake frosting. It carves very easily. The trick is to let is dry thoroughly. It is meant to be put on very thin, of course, so when I put it on in a 1/4 inch thickness, I found I had to wait several days for it to dry all the way through. Trying to carve it before it is dry just won't work. I used some sort of ceramic carving tool, which has a thicker blade than an Xacto knife - and a straight edge and just went by eye. Some of the "bricks" will break when using this method, which is what one wants for a street scene, I think. The result is a pretty convincing (in my mind, anyway) brick pattern. I could send you a photo or two if you want. Not real close up, unfortunately.
Al Carter
Hi, Al - sounds interesting. I know the product you're talking about - I think one brand name is "Fast and Final."
-- You're putting it down 1/4" thick? That definitely would require some drying time.
-- What are you putting it down on - is it going on plywood or some other substrate?
I bet it would carve well.
Please feel free to post pictures in this thread if you want to.
I realize carving my own stuff would be more time consuming (maybe) than cutting up Walter's street system materials - but would have the advantage of giving a more realistic edge where it meets the rails.
Don |
| Tabooma County Rwy |
Posted - 06/17/2013 : 10:11:19 AM
Hey Don,
Great progress! Regarding the brick pavement, one suggestion I might offer: I use lightweight patching spackle for my brickwork in streets - the kind that is really light, light cake frosting. It carves very easily. The trick is to let is dry thoroughly. It is meant to be put on very thin, of course, so when I put it on in a 1/4 inch thickness, I found I had to wait several days for it to dry all the way through. Trying to carve it before it is dry just won't work. I used some sort of ceramic carving tool, which has a thicker blade than an Xacto knife - and a straight edge and just went by eye. Some of the "bricks" will break when using this method, which is what one wants for a street scene, I think. The result is a pretty convincing (in my mind, anyway) brick pattern. I could send you a photo or two if you want. Not real close up, unfortunately.
Al Carter |
| Orionvp17 |
Posted - 06/16/2013 : 9:50:02 PM
Lookin' good, Don!
I think you're going to be a lot happier using the cork instead of the Fomecore!
Pete
in Michigan |
| AVRR-PA |
Posted - 06/16/2013 : 9:29:55 PM
Thanks, Robert.
Pete Magoun reminded me that Foamcore is very much not waterproof. This isn't an issue on the landward end of the layout where all the paving will be styrene. It could be a problem at the Gowanus River end, where I'll be putting down sanded grout to represent cinder ballast and also be using other wet scenery materials.
To avoid problems, I did all the fill-in work at that end of the layout with scrap cork.
Here I'm piecing in cork, gluing it to the plywood with Dap adhesive caulk, which holds pretty well and is, of course, waterproof once cured.
The cork still left a lot of gaps and voids which I did not want to fill with wet grout - I didn't want to waste the material and I didn't want all that wet stuff sitting on the plywood. So I filled and leveled with ordinary (not adhesive) siliconized latex caulk. I worked it with palette knives dipped in water. The result was fairly smooth:
After the caulk had cured for a couple of hours, I painted the entire layout with the custom-mixed Home Depot latex earth color. Partly, I wanted to seal and waterproof the Foamcore and the cork/caulk combination. Partly, I just wanted things to look good as I continued to play with the layout while working on it.
So - after all this work - the final result looks exactly like it did before we added this first layer of scenery. 
I also added the final ground throw, at the top of the ramp. I added a block of foam with a piece of cork glued to the top of it (to hold spikes). I forgot to photograph it - I'll do that on the next posting.
Right now, I'm working on getting three more cars ready to go - two hoppers (Bowser and P2K) and an F&C gondola which will become a cement car placeholder.
I got some Titebond III (waterproof below the waterline) for gluing down the grid that will raise the pavement material to just below railhead height. Now I need to mill a bunch of sticks.
I'm getting the urge to finish that huge barge. [:-dopey]
Don
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| railman28 |
Posted - 06/12/2013 : 6:26:57 PM
I think it photographs very well.
You're making fine progress. |
| AVRR-PA |
Posted - 06/12/2013 : 5:32:35 PM
Hi, everyone --
I got a lot of work done on the layout today - but it doesn't photograph very well.
Instead of my going over to Vagel's and helping with the B&SGE, Vagel and John came over to my place and helped with my (nameless, so far) layout.
As I've mentioned, almost all of the track is either in pavement - brick, concrete or stone - or buried in cinders, dirt and weeds. To create that effect, I'm following the techniques in John Pryke's book on urban modeling.
The first task is to fill in all the spaces between the cork roadbed with Foamcore - which I got for free and which is the same thickness as the cork. That's what we did today.
after adding Foamcore
Not very exciting but a huge help to me because it took a lot of hours.
Next step is to glue down a supporting grid of wood or styrene at the paved end to bring everything up to the height of the top of the ties. Then I have the pleasure of cutting many pieces of styrene brick/stone/concrete - the parts that go between the rails will be especially challenging.
Fortunately, I can take a break from paving to build interesting structures. 
Also, there's still plenty of rolling stock to be made ready to use.
Thanks, Vagel & John!
Don |
| AVRR-PA |
Posted - 06/05/2013 : 10:01:37 PM
quote:
Originally posted by MarkF
Just checking in Don and wow, you've made great progress! Very nice. And I too like your weathering. Just enough and not overdone.
Thanks, Mark. I definitely appreciate the feedback on the weathering. I have some other cars that are going on the layout with no weathering at this point but I will take them off one at a time and lightly weather them. I might even use my new air-brushing "skills" for some of the work.
Don |
| AVRR-PA |
Posted - 06/05/2013 : 9:58:57 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Twist67
Hi there,
looking good so far,nice progress and a lot of rolling stock to work on....
Regards,Chris
Thanks, Chris! |
| AVRR-PA |
Posted - 06/05/2013 : 9:58:02 PM
quote:
Originally posted by jbvb
Don, if you ever find yourself wanting to improve the detailing on that fishbelly hopper, I still have the photos & text from my 6/2004 Scale Rails article.
Thanks, James -- yes, I do plan to improve these cars as time permits, and anything you could send me or post would be great!
Don |
| AVRR-PA |
Posted - 06/05/2013 : 9:55:29 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Tyson Rayles
Your car weathering is very realistic Don! [:-thumbu]
Thanks, Mike! |
| wesleybeks |
Posted - 06/04/2013 : 12:07:29 PM
Great idea Don. Those containers look good.
Nice lot of cars you building up too. |
| MarkF |
Posted - 06/04/2013 : 11:50:45 AM
Just checking in Don and wow, you've made great progress! Very nice. And I too like your weathering. Just enough and not overdone. |
| Twist67 |
Posted - 06/04/2013 : 10:16:15 AM
Hi there,
looking good so far,nice progress and a lot of rolling stock to work on....
Regards,Chris |
| jbvb |
Posted - 06/01/2013 : 7:42:08 PM
Don, if you ever find yourself wanting to improve the detailing on that fishbelly hopper, I still have the photos & text from my 6/2004 Scale Rails article. |
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