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elwoodblues
Fireman
Canada
4876 Posts |
 Posted - 05/05/2008 : 11:31:22 PM
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Rick,
Looks like you got a lot accomplished in a short time. Nice job on the facia. Looks like the steel industry is going to generate a lot of traffic.
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Ron Newby
General Manager
Clearwater Valley Railway Co.
http://www.cvry.ca |
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MarkF
Engineer
USA
9276 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2008 : 12:49:49 AM
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Ron, you have no idea!!! Between work sessions, I have been trying to put together some sort of operating scheme for Rick's layout. In the process, I am learning a lot about the steel industry. I had NO IDEA what was involved. To Rick's credit, over the years, he has done an immense amount of research. Rick is carefully modeling just about all of the elements of this industry. What's more interesting is that while many of us build larger layouts representing an area of many many miles selectively compressed, Rick has concentrated his efforts to modeling an area that is only a few miles long (see page 1 of this thread for the map of the area he is modeling), about 70% of it devoted to the steel industry, with the rest being many miscellaneous linesides business served by the railroad in the Harrisburg area.
In addition to the normal through freights and way freights, there will be many movements of mineral trains feeding the steel industry, outbound empties and by products from the various plants, as well as 'hot movements' of hot metal cars and slag cars, as Rick illustrated earlier. Many of these movements are time sensitive, since we are dealing with blast furnances and the movement of hot metal, which must be moved in minimal time! For that reason, we will employ the use of a fast clock, which is new to most of us in this area.
Rick gives too much credit to Bruce and I. What is not coming across here is his vast knowledge of this industry, nor his own modeling efforts. Rick is an accomplished modeler as the finished portion of his layout clearly shows. He also serves a great cup of coffee!  |
Mark
See my homepage at http://home.comcast.net/~prrndiv/
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Steam Nut
Fireman
USA
1277 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2008 : 07:35:04 AM
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| I hope the turnouts come in soon, June first is comming fast. [ June first is the first rough opps to see if this all works.] We just need to tell Rick it is going to happen. |
Steam Lives! |
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Dutchman
Administrator
USA
23234 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2008 : 08:57:27 AM
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Rick, the fascia really does look good. Have you chosen a color to paint it yet? BTW, I really like the shot with the dueling power drills.
In terms of closeup photos, I think I get better closeups by backing the camera up a bit and then cropping the photo later on.
In this shot, am I looking at a conveyor or a florescent lamp box? If a conveyor how long is it? Is it from a kit, or scratchbuilt? It it styrene?
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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 - 05/06/2008 : 12:05:24 PM
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LOL...it's a conveyor...from the Walter's Coke Works kit....I might have combined two of them together to get that length (it's been so long I can't remember). As far as the fascia goes, it will be painted flat black to minimize any distraction. As far as the turnouts go, Steam...cross your fingers (no delivery date yet).
Steam's blatant attempt to spur me on is one of the chief reasons why we've made such amazing progress in the relatively short time period of five months. Last November, all I had (in addition to the mostly finished mill area) was two framed out penisulas and an array of ideas with little action. I knew I wanted something...but getting there was more than half the battle. Fast-forward to this latest posting and it's mind-boggling sometimes, especially if you're Mrs. Harsco who has watched this project fossilize over a 22 year period. I think more than anything else, a well conceived and executed layout needs a combination of ideas, prodding, willingness to make mistakes, stubborness, and no little amount of personal resolve to achieve some reasonable benchmarks. Oh yeah...and financing for all those turnouts... |
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MarkF
Engineer
USA
9276 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2008 : 8:05:38 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Steam Nut
I hope the turnouts come in soon, June first is comming fast. [ June first is the first rough opps to see if this all works.] We just need to tell Rick it is going to happen.
Hmm, June 1 is a Sunday. That works for me! |
Mark
See my homepage at http://home.comcast.net/~prrndiv/
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Harsco
Fireman
USA
1101 Posts |
Posted - 05/09/2008 : 9:35:43 PM
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Just to prove that I actually DO something on this layout beside serve soft drinks and cookies, I've continued arranging the Maclay Street overpass and residential/commercial area. Foamcore will be used to elevate the street and buildings; I will then borrow the John R technique (at least that's where I saw it) of using illustration board to model a concrete retaining wall with pilasters. Here's an overall shot of the "final decision"; being naturally "frugal" (ie: cheap), I used a grand total of three DPM Townshouse kits: the fronts are on Maclay Street and the backs and sides arranged on the left to represent the back of a medium-sized apartment house:
A side view of the street itself which will have stores on the left and residences on the right:
A track walker's view of the underpass and area; you will notice that my frugality is once again at work with the non-standard wall section on the Maintenance Shops so I could use the original to extend the building's length. This wall will not be seen unless you're HO scaled:
A slightly elevated version of the same perspective:
Since everything on my layout tends to be heavy industry, I wanted this scene to accomplish two things: first to not be industrial and secondly, to disguise the opening in the wall for the mainline. From an operators's view point, the opening isn't visible except the tiniest glimpse for the tallest operator.
Everything in the scene is temporarily double-taped together; after I put in the vertical walls and glue in the bridge sides, then each building will come off the layout for finishing as the time becomes available. |
Edited by - Harsco on 05/09/2008 9:39:08 PM |
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MarkF
Engineer
USA
9276 Posts |
Posted - 05/09/2008 : 10:48:03 PM
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| I like it Rick! You had mentioned that the bridge over the tracks reveals the opening in the wall, but I don't think it will be that noticable. One things for sure... you have A LOT of buildings to build! |
Mark
See my homepage at http://home.comcast.net/~prrndiv/
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Harsco
Fireman
USA
1101 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2008 : 05:33:36 AM
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| I agree...but looking forward to that part of the process. You may have noticed I turned things around on Maclay Street so I could manuever the bridge closer to the opening and cover it up. The other thing I like about doing this is that with mock-ups and temporary buildings, I can get a sense of space and how something will look before investing time and money. Besides, the operators will need something to look at next month, right??? |
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belg
Fireman
USA
4380 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2008 : 06:50:54 AM
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Rick, are those your weathering powder container holding up all the structures? I was wondering where do you get the drawing to paste onto the foamcore, is it from the library of congress website? The trackwork with the brown tint to it is that the code 83 rail? I reread almost all the post in your thread and see you have a mix of 83 and 100 code track are there any problems at the transitions from one to the other? How does one blend w/ the other in terms of the color and spacing on the ties? So now that you need the extra turnouts does that mean the cost average would be better to have bought the turnout jigs after all? On page 5 I missed this update and you have a double crossover with still two legs empty, where will they wind up? You said that you are new to the steel modeling aspect, do you have one favorite reference book and/or website that has really been helpful?
Now on the lighter side, not that the first part was all that dark, but I want to know do you guys come North because it looks like an excellent group of workers and brainstorming potential could be put to good use at my layout as well. I'm at least in the same state! I'll provide the refreshment and food! Enjoyed your latest progress shots tremendously and the work all looks topnotch. Pat |
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Harsco
Fireman
USA
1101 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2008 : 5:28:36 PM
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Whew, Pat....have you been saving these up? Let me give it a shot...
1) Yes, they are my weathering powders...actually dye powders for concrete if memory serves me right. Myself and another person split a bag, which means I have enough for all South Jersey layouts! Some of the containers hold different colored ballast too.
2)The drawings on the foamcore are from DPM (Design Preservation Models)...they're downloadable from their webside: http://www.dpmkits.com/items.cfm/HOModularSystem
3) Yes, the brown tied track is Code 83 and Atlas makes transition joiners for Code 100 to 83.As far as blending, it really shouldn't be a problem since I will eventually paint the ties and rail. Most of the Code 100 is either buried under dirt or hidden.
4) I'm not sure which picture or area you're referring to on the crossovers....
5) The cost per turnout no doubt did go down with the extras I had to purchase, but truthfully I'm just as happy with the Atlas. If I were constructing the turnouts, due to the normal constraints of time, work, family, and other committments, I would never be this far so quickly. I'm not a huge trackwork fan...I like handlaid stuff, but quite honestly have to admit that with everything else going on in my life, progress would be painfully slow.
6)I'm "new" to steel modeing only in the sense that I've finally gotten off my butt and moved forward with the layout; the "finished" area is probably 15 years old at this point. One of the HUGHEST differences between then and now is the wealth of information that's now available...Internet based mostly. In the short expanse of two years, I've accumulated more valuable data then the ten years prior. If there's one reference book I'd recommend (aside from Dean Freytag's), it a copy of the industry book "The Making, Shaping, and Treating of Steel" which was published (I think) every year by United States Steel. Nothing else comes close to describing every conceivable process involved. I bought mine second-hand through a used book dealer (1964 edition since that was the closest one avaliable to my modeling year, 1966). I would also recommend visiting www.steelheritage.org for additional resources and information.
7) as far as taking this on the road, the last person you want is me....unless you enjoy watching paint dry! I mean, it took me 23 years and a lot of butt kicking just to get to this point.... Steam and Mark get the major kudos..their knowledge and skills for all the foundation items like benchwork, wiring, control, operations, tracklaying, track schematics is awesomely impressive. IF I do indeed have a "specialty", it would tend more towards structures, detailing, and maybe a little scratchbuilding. Mark and Steam deserve the lion's share of the credit for what I've been chronicling these past few months.
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Edited by - Harsco on 05/10/2008 5:32:30 PM |
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belg
Fireman
USA
4380 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2008 : 7:24:00 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Harsco
This was the pic I was talking about.
The info about DPM is much appreciated, will definitely go and check it out.
I have looked several times for Dean's book but the prices are just rediculous. I will check out
the others.
I was really only interested in the working part of the crew coming over but if they find it necessary to bring you along that would be ok too!! [:-devil]
I've learned over the the time that Mark and Steam Nut have been here they a have a great sense of humor I hope you do too!! |
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railbuilderdhd
Engine Wiper
USA
324 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2008 : 10:18:43 PM
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| WOW, great work on that layout... Makes me want to get a home with the room to do that. Keep the posting the photos of your progress, it's great to see. |
Dave
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http://zhifusteelmill.blogspot.com/ |
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MarkF
Engineer
USA
9276 Posts |
Posted - 05/11/2008 : 12:38:32 AM
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Hey Pat! Thanks for the compliments. The area you are looking at is known as Capital Street on Rick's layout. It is basically a large industrial area with a lead coming off the main, which you can see towards the rear of the picture. The turnouts are simply proposed industry sidings. Bruce (SteamNut) and Rick played around with a few configurations to optimize the switching capabilities and arrived with this configuration. Of course, as Rick is learning, everything is subject to change, and while those turnouts are in their rough locations, final locations will be determined down the road once Rick figures out what buildings to place where.
As for helping out on people's layouts, yeah, we love it! Since I'm between layouts right now, I have to get my fix somewhere. I knew Rick was sitting on this project for way too long, so I gathered my partner in crime (SteamNut) and we took over his basement. Rick's a good egg though, and with a sense of humor as well. Heck, you have to have a sense of humor to work with us! And he's way to modest as well! |
Mark
See my homepage at http://home.comcast.net/~prrndiv/
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Harsco
Fireman
USA
1101 Posts |
Posted - 05/11/2008 : 05:13:35 AM
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| Pat...thanks for replying; as Mark indicated, Capital Street is the next "frontier" to be conquered before we can begin benchmarking operations. There is one smaller section in my workshop called "State Street" left which will feature another large-ish industry such as a pipe mill or large foundry, but that's not essential to the operational sequence yet. Capital Steet will attempt to represent a typical city warehouse district, with track in the street runing at sharp angles into delivery points (sorta like Delaware Avenue in Philly). |
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Harrisburg Terminal Railroad (HTRR)
