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LandNnut
Fireman
USA
1495 Posts |
 Posted - 12/07/2008 : 8:43:29 PM
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Rick, your pictures are not bad. The buildings in the top couple of photos look 3d to me.
L&N nut
Jon |
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MIKE0659
Engine Wiper
USA
160 Posts |
Posted - 12/07/2008 : 9:59:40 PM
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Hi all, I've seen this photo backdrop stuff here and on the Jim Six Layout Yahoo Group. They look great, but I'm wondering about their longevity.
A friend of mine was just commenting that he printed out a photo on good photo paper with good photo inks and had it on his refrigerator at home. The fridge doesn't get direct sunlight, in fact it gets very little indirect sunlight. So we are talking about normal room lighting (Incandescent or CFL's). In less than 6 months, he has gotten extreme fading in this picture, and others he has printed.
It could be an isolated problem due to some local condition or his choice of paper/ink/printer.
I'm wondering how these photo backdrops will hold up under layout lighting? Has anyone had any up for any length of time? Noticed any fading or color shift? Has the paper yellowed at all?
I'm thinking of a spot or two where we might try them on the R&W, but I don't want to be trying to remove them later if they fade when the scenery is finished.
Any thoughts?
Mike
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Harsco
Fireman
USA
1101 Posts |
Posted - 12/07/2008 : 10:21:17 PM
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Mike - good question...unfortunately, I haven't a clue as to a viable answer. I would have no trouble believing that some degree of fading would occur, regardless of what medium is being used...paper or paint. There might be a clear overcoat that can be applied to paint that would provide some degree of protection, like a matte medium. One of the features of the product I'm using is that the images are on a CD, which would allow for reprinting in the future should the need arise. If the backdrop was put up using a rubber based cement, it could maybe be peeled off at a later date and renewed.
Having spent the better part of the afternoon trimming, fussing, cussing, and running out for Scotch tape (arrggghhh!), I finally put most of the pre-printed scenes together, then began taping them up in different spots to start getting the effect. As always, here on the "Seven Miles of Sheer Operational Terror", nothing is ever really "permanent", hence the judicious use of obnoxious blue masking tape (another thing I ran out of unexpectantly). Here's Lucknow again with some additional fiddling and another scene:
A closer view reveals a HUGE evergreen sticking up unappropriately....which will eventually be covered by a foreground hill mass:
Commonwealth got a long section to stare at:
And finally, a low level shot of Front Street in Lucknow, looking "north" with the autumn hillside in the distance:
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Edited by - Harsco on 12/07/2008 10:23:21 PM |
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Harsco
Fireman
USA
1101 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2008 : 09:46:29 AM
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Thought an update might be in order, so I cleaned up all the tools and took a few pictures to illustrate what's been happening. Admittedly, the "construction" phase for all intents and purposes is over,so I'm not certain what the interest level will be from this point onward. I mean, how many times can you look at the same semi-finished scene? One thing that still amazes me is the interest generated so far; 20,241 hits since I started posting in a little less than a year, a VERY humbling statistic.
Being afflicted with a severe case of "modeler ADD", I've been happily flitting back and forth between whatever project happens to strike my interest. Here's a compendium of things that have been going on, some in anticipation of the next operating session, some just flagrantly self-indulgent:
First up is the Commonwealth Coke and Chemical area. Mark F convinced me to deep six the refinery portion and instead install two more sidings to make the work there a bit more "interesting" (ie: frustrating). I finally got around to installing the coke pusher track and spreading a little ground cover around it:
Here's the area that will have an additional two sidings installed in the foreground; I figure one for ammonium sulphate loading and another for a warehouse/storehouse. the building in the background is one of the Radical Flats background/low relief buildings; the storage tanks were made by sawing a Walther's kit in half and placing them against he backdrop:
Over in North Harrisburg, the future Hoover Furniture or Mock & Hartman building (Walther's Furniture Factory) has been semi-assembled and placed in location to undergo the usual "ponder and procrastination" phase of my modeling. As you can see, it's been semi-bashed to fit the location as well as tighten things up in this urbanized setting:
The former Mock and Hartman siding has been re-arranged to better suit the topography; this will be asomething of a flange squealer to switch:
I seem to have an insatiable need to constantly tweak/rearrange things, which is why nothing on this layout is ever glued down if at all possible. Here's a low-level shot of Harrisburg Machinery, which has been slightly altered to sit flat against the backdrop, freeing up room for other structures. To the right is a Radical Flat building:
Lastly, a ground level shot of Maclay Street...with the new backdrop buildings taped in place to judge their suitability.
I recently read an article in MR where the author noted he attaches his photo backdrops with double-sided tape, an enticing idea to consider, especially since I'm not looking forward to smearing rubber cement onto six and eight foot pieces of paper, then trying to accurately place them on the backdrop. Spray cement is a definite "no-no" around here....Mrs. Harsco's lawyer would be on the phone before I could finish spraying!
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Edited by - Harsco on 12/21/2008 09:51:43 AM |
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Dutchman
Administrator
USA
23230 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2008 : 12:51:01 PM
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Rick,
You certainly have no shortage of great winter modeling projects to choose from! |
Bruce
Modeling the railroads of the Jersey Highlands in HO and the logging railroads of Pennsylvania in HOn3 |
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MarkF
Engineer
USA
9272 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2008 : 5:19:49 PM
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Rick, the flats at Maclay Street look fantastic! Don't worry, you've already proven that having the ability to move things around and 'tweak' things is beneficial. Seems each time we do that, we find a combination that looks even better.
Good progress. One of these days, I'll make it back over to do more scenery work, which reminds me, you didn't take any pics of that progress! |
Mark
See my homepage at http://home.comcast.net/~prrndiv/
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Diamond Bill
New Hire
USA
34 Posts |
Posted - 12/23/2008 : 10:32:18 AM
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I have scanned the beautiful work and comments from pages 30 and 31. I would like to make a few suggestions in case they have not already been made. When printing photo media do it on a laser copier not an ink jet. The laser print will outlast most of us and keep it's color without the need of a coating. When creating a backdrop you might want to consider relief to the images. I am suggesting mounting every other image on either 3/16 or 1/2 inch Black Foam Core. This creates for you a variation in depth and the black Foam Core makes a nice and less noticable break between images.
Just a thought. |
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Harsco
Fireman
USA
1101 Posts |
Posted - 12/23/2008 : 2:23:25 PM
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Bill...excellent idea! I hadn't thought of using Foamcore intermittently on the backdrop as you suggested...since nothing's been permanently fastened yet, I'll give it a try. I was planning on using the Foamcore for hills between the foreground and background, but your suggestion would provide another layer. Luckily, the backdrops were laser printed, so hopefully that won't ever be an issue.
I must apologize to Mark and Steam; the lack of pictures of their work was due to #$%^&@# dead batteries - my camera seems to go through a set every ten photos or so lately, even the lithium ones.
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Harsco
Fireman
USA
1101 Posts |
Posted - 12/27/2008 : 09:21:06 AM
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Well, we managed to gather up the troops last evening and continued the process of "tweaking" the operational schedule, this time finding out that sometimes less can be more. Being a crew member short, we figured we'd have to annul some movements in order to keep chaos at bay, but curiously enough only one train was cancelled and everything ran fairly smoothly. By dividing up the work a little more, as well as assigning dual responsibilties, Mark F functioned as dispatcher and was able to run a train or two, while Diamond Bill handled a local and a through freight in between shuttling cars at Division Street - a welcome break from just sitting at a desk or waiting around for the next local or through freight. With Steam holding down the critical Herr Street Yard job and me further refining the movements needed at the Basic Oxygen Furnace at Maclay Street, John R, Joe H, and PJ handled the road jobs in their usual excellent fashion. Here's a few shots of the action:
PJ picking up his train in staging:
Steam getting his work space organized before the wheels begin to turn:
Joe H and Diamond Bill engaging in favorite pastime: breaking the dispatcher's chops:
John R and I swapping slag cars at Maclay Street. We managed to add in another operational layer last evening and ship molten iron and steel to our on-line customers, which required a little bit of thought and pre-planning to pull it off. Cooperation between the Herr Street operator (Steam) and the Maclay Street foreman (me) made what we thought would be a nightmare really not a bad experience at all, a testament to the crew's coping skills:
Using trackage rights over the PRR, the HARSCO Maclay Street switcher 1329 shuttles just-pulled steel slabs the short distance from Herr Street to the soaking pits at Maclay:
An illustration of why wide aisles are a necessity; the gang gathering around Division Street to swap cars and adminster a few verbal slaps to the poor dispatcher....
While all this is going on, Steam quietly continues multi-tasking at Herr Street, shuttling minerals, hot pulls, and general freight...often at the same time. Using a DT-400 throttle, he often runs two switchers simultaneously...
As a pretty substantial customer, HARSCO rates having two PRR crews on standby for hot movements between the plant and customers as well as the three times/shift slag run to Susquehanna Aggregate. Here, two switchers idle in the October sun on a ready track beside the plant's waste oil facility:
Here's Joe H reassembling P-81 in Lucknow after finishing up a run to Commonwealth to exchange tank cars of molten suphur:
After exchanging cars at Division Street, through freight WPD-2 (Enola to Potomac Yard) blasts out the tunnel at the west end of Herr on it's way to the C&PD and points south:
Overall, the session went (IMHO) extremely well; everyone appeared to be busy yet not hassled. Although technically short-handed, the reassignment of certain movements to existing oeprators more evenly distributed the work load and hopefully made things enjoyable for everyone involved. Having received a twelve-pack of Tortise switch machines for Christmas, we'll start the process of installing them on all the mail line turnouts so that the dispatcher will have more control over movements during future sessions. I did notice Mark F snapping off a few pictures with his cell phone during the session, so maybe he'll post a few later in a follow up post.
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Edited by - Harsco on 12/27/2008 09:35:26 AM |
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Dutchman
Administrator
USA
23230 Posts |
Posted - 12/27/2008 : 10:03:27 AM
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| It is great to see the layout in action, Rick. |
Bruce
Modeling the railroads of the Jersey Highlands in HO and the logging railroads of Pennsylvania in HOn3 |
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MarkF
Engineer
USA
9272 Posts |
Posted - 12/27/2008 : 10:30:49 AM
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Rick, we had a great time last night! Everything ran well and I found the 'Hot Crew' assignments enjoyable now that the BOF is online and shipping to customers as well. It created a variety of movements that lasted for quite a while!
Yes, I did take pics myself and will post them a little later on. |
Mark
See my homepage at http://home.comcast.net/~prrndiv/
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Diamond Bill
New Hire
USA
34 Posts |
Posted - 12/27/2008 : 11:17:46 AM
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| Rick and crew: I thought the RR ran very well. Being short an operator there certainly was no time available to goof off. It was a great session (lot of fun) and haveing the Division Street operator (me) run the local and the yard worked out wonderfully. |
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Harsco
Fireman
USA
1101 Posts |
Posted - 12/27/2008 : 11:20:37 AM
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I've neglected updating the Vernon Cold Storage project I started some time ago and wanted to post a few pictures of the still semi-finished building:
Since the building itself is rather plain, I wanted to make certain that the rooftop area - with all it's piping, condensors, coolers, and associated equipment, appeared appropriately "busy" enough even though I know absoultely nothing about HVAC installations. Using a combination of scratchbuilding, kitbashing, and commercial parts, here's a overal shot of the building's roof area:
The main portion - the actual storage area - is where the heavier items are located: cooling towers, pumps, electrical panels, and piping. The towers were scratchbuilt using O scale clapboard siding with framing; the piping is Walthers', along with the small equipment shed. Ventilators and smaller condensors are Walther's kits as well. The "detailing" will continue as I notice things that should be added, such as ladders and catwalks on the cooling towers as well as electrical conduits, floodlights, etc.
Vernon Cold Storage functions as a short and long term warehouse for perishable foods as well as operating a small packaging operation for area farmers. A cold storage facility can be a good generator of traffic, taking in vegetables for storage until released for local distribution via truck or as a holding area for local goods being shipped out. The smaller portion of the building functions as an office and loading/unloading/packaging area.
In keeping with my modeling habits, I'll continually go back and change and add things on the building as I gather more information or ideas. One thing I'm pondering now is the best way to letter it: decals, dry transfers, or a signboard with printed lettering....I may try the easiest way first, then move on if unsatisfied.
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Edited by - Harsco on 12/27/2008 4:12:29 PM |
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Dutchman
Administrator
USA
23230 Posts |
Posted - 12/27/2008 : 12:58:40 PM
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Good looking rooftop equipment, Rick.
If I had the walls laying flat on my bench, I would probably go with dry transfers. With the walls erected, I think I'd go with a sign board. |
Bruce
Modeling the railroads of the Jersey Highlands in HO and the logging railroads of Pennsylvania in HOn3 |
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Harsco
Fireman
USA
1101 Posts |
Posted - 12/27/2008 : 4:06:05 PM
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I'm in agreement with your choice Bruce; never having had much luck with dry transfers, I tend to lean towards printed signboards or decals, which I don't think would work very well with the rough wall texture. Will have to start noodling around on the computer to come up with something appropriate.
Odds and ends time: I mentioned not showing what Mark F and Steam have been up to; here's a shot of the first real, honest-to-goodness scenery being done on the layout, a hillside in Lucknow courtesy of Mark F:
Steam "lent" me a Blue Point manual turnout control, then devised a convenient and simple method of controlling it remotely via a wood dowel that protrudes through the fascia. Here's the set up under the layout:
And what it looks like on the outside:
The Blue Points are very nice, offering a positive lock as well as additional electrical contacts for powering the frog or even signals. In this case, they eliminate the operators having to reach over a lot of benchwork and cars to throw a switch. The downside is minimal if you're proactive about cutting in a slot in the surface under the turnout beforehand. Unfortunately I have four or five turnouts in the Herr Street yard that need to be remotely controlled but are already buried under a lot of dirt and chalk....we've had some luck with the old Eschelman turnout links which (to the best of my knowledge) are no longer available. Hindsight being 20/20, I wish I had taken the time to cut the slots back then...on a shelf style layout, Steam's control linkage is easy and painless to install. One other possible drawback is the need to be 90 degrees to the layout edge - or close. Steam was able to bend the conneting wire attached to the end of the dowel to allow it to reliably activate a slightly offset turnout.
Having adjusted things with each ops session, I prepared a "dispatchers" desk for Mark that, as events unfolded, he didn't sit at for most of the evening. Tucked away in one corner of the workshop, the hot water heater's close proximity ensures warm feet while he sips coffee and barks out orders to the hapless road crews. As HARSCO employees as well as a important PRR customers, he needs to treat Steam and I with a little more deference or else we're taking our business to the Reading:
Future plans call for a CTC board and remote turnout control by the dispatcher; my Christmas present was the first of many steps in that direction, although it's not going to happen any time real soon.
Lastly, an example of the operational paperwork created by Mark F; the first is the Crew Call sheet showing the scheduled train movements, crew, time on and time off:
And the second is the Train Procedure or "header" card that details everything you need to know about your run...where to pick it up, what engines are assigned, work that must be performed, limitations, etc. The card uses the same color coding system used at John R's layout: green for easy (little switching), yellow for some switching, and red for "pack a lunch - we'll see you at the end of the session"
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Edited by - Harsco on 12/27/2008 4:19:04 PM |
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Harrisburg Terminal Railroad (HTRR)
