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Brunton
Engine Wiper
USA
386 Posts |
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Dave S
Engine Wiper
USA
315 Posts |
 Posted - 03/08/2010 : 2:14:09 PM
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Cliff,
The night scenes have tremendous visual appeal and impact. You do a great job with your photographs and your structure building is magnificent as always. What size brass wire do you use as feed wires to the LED's? Can you re-post a link to the original station build?
Later, Dave S. Tucson, AZ |
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maandg
Engine Wiper
363 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2010 : 07:35:40 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Dave S.
What size brass wire do you use as feed wires to the LED's? Can you re-post a link to the original station build?
Later, Dave S. Tucson, AZ
Thanks, guys! Dave, I use .032 brass wire I order from Micro-Mark. I have used a smaller size before, but find .032 is better for long runs. The original station build can be found here:
http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=21008
I'm glad you guys have enjoyed the night shots. I have already finished half of the roof. The main building should be complete by this weekend with only the platform sheds left to build. I think I have a rather innovative - or at least cool - way of making the skylights. Stay tuned!
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Cliff Powers
The Mississippi Alabama & Gulf
Please visit my layout website at
www.magnoliaroute.com
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LVN
Fireman
Canada
5021 Posts |
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simon1966
Fireman
USA
2861 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2010 : 10:56:52 AM
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| Cliff I love your use of wire for the LED lighting. Great idea, and one that I can see having several application on some of my upcoming projects. Thanks for posting these great solutions. I also want to echo the comments of all the others. It is just wonderful to see such well executed modelling. |
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George D
Moderator
USA
9901 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2010 : 11:05:46 AM
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Cliff,
Beautiful work, as usual. Thanks for the information on the brass wire system you use for lighting.
George
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B_A_R
Engine Wiper
122 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2010 : 11:07:06 AM
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| Cliff, you've really struck gold, I am amazed how the whole lighting system looks just as good unlighted with the roof off as it does lit up. No jumble of wires, no huge bulbs, just a beautiful scale model. |
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Grubes
Engine Wiper
USA
353 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2010 : 7:47:07 PM
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Cliff,
Amazing as always. I was particular struck by the sense of space when looking inside the REA building. It's rare that a model conveys the size of the original but your detailing and your construction capture this effect.
Have to agree that the night shot is a favorite. Beautiful
Dave
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Dave S
Engine Wiper
USA
315 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2010 : 10:11:50 PM
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Cliff,
Thanks for the response regarding the size of the brass rod/wire you use for your electrical feeds. I'll see if my LHS has the wire in stock and if not place an order for some. I think I'd better get some plastic rail jointers while I'm at it to keep the brass leads isolated from eachother. Are you using track power, a separate transformer, or batteries to power the lights in the latest structure? Thanks for sharing all the great ideas and methods you've been using here. Thanks also for the link to the original NOUPT build. Now I have it saved for future reference.
Later, Dave S. Tucson, AZ |
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maandg
Engine Wiper
363 Posts |
Posted - 03/30/2010 : 7:58:13 PM
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Greetings! I have to say up front that this is probably one of my more photo-intense updates. Since my last post, I have completed work on the Railway Express Agency building. This includes adding ballast, scenery, and concrete pavement to the area. I didn’t take any more construction photos, so I’ll just point out the steps and details through these final shots. To begin with, here are a few overall views of the finished structure.
After the interior lighting was installed, I added the roof which was made from large sheets of “corrugated metal” styrene. There were two details that added interest to the prototype roof. These were cap vents and skylights. The roof caps were made from numerous Pikestuff roof ridge ventilators. The skylight panels proved to be more of a challenge. In the end, I used Plastruct G-scale 1:24 ladders. To make the glass, I first laid a long strip of Scotch tape in between the rails of the ladder. Gallery Glass glazing was applied over the tape. The tape acts as a foundation to hold the clear glaze in place between the rungs. The ladder strips very nicely convey the design and scale of the prototype windows. Both details can be seen in this photo.
Once the roof was in place, the suspended perimeter canopies were added. These were built from Plastruct I-beams, styrene, and Campbell metal siding material. To make the support cables, I stretched rust-colored EZ-Line filament between JV Models eye bolts.
The large black and white sign was made on the computer and printed on card stock. The REA diamond is a decal from a Walthers kit. Both signs are on each end wall and can be seen in the following prototype photo.
In this second photo, only the diamond has been put in place. Notice the overall fidelity to the prototype.
Next I turned my attention to the loading platforms. As on the NOUPT, I utilized Walthers butterfly sheds; but this time only the posts required similar modification. Since the roof didn’t need to be widened, it was more or less used as is. However, I did add Campbell metal sheets and styrene strip detailing to the top to duplicate the look of the prototype. My tried and true system of brass wire and LEDs was used to create the lighting.
Here are the platform sheds in place along with a prototype photo for comparison.
On the ends of the platforms were lamp posts. These matched the ones at the end of the NOUPT platforms, so the same methods were used to create them. The grain of wheat bulbs in them contrast nicely to the LEDs. Silflor prairie tufts were used in this area to create the weeds. Although they can’t be seen from these angles, Walthers bumper posts are located at the end of the stub tracks.
The last element I added was the concrete pavement. This was made by first pouring a layer of plaster in the area. Later, spackle was spread and smoothed to give a more even surface. After expansion joints were scribed, an alcohol/India ink mixture was airbrushed to the area to create the color. Weathering chalks were applied before spraying the area with Dullcote. Lastly, glue was placed in the expansion joints to adhere lines of ground foam and more prairie tufts.
And here are several night photos with the building illuminated.
These final three are my favorites. I especially like the skylights in the last photo.
I hope you have enjoyed the REA project. During my 4-day Easter weekend, I will begin on one of my largest structures, the Gibbons Feed Mill. Even though it is not a part of the NOUPT complex, it did reside on the property and can be seen in nearly every period photo of the terminal. Here is a sneak preview.
I will be using Walthers Modulars components, which should simplify construction. This will be the subject of my next update on this thread. Hope to see you all then!
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Cliff Powers
The Mississippi Alabama & Gulf
Please visit my layout website at
www.magnoliaroute.com
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Edited by - maandg on 03/31/2010 8:40:06 PM |
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MarkF
Engineer
USA
9270 Posts |
Posted - 03/30/2010 : 11:57:29 PM
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| The REA building turned out beautifully Cliff! Another fantastic effort with fantastic results. I particularly like your weathering. It looks just right! And your photography is top notch as well. I also like the last three shots. All three are great, but I think my favorite is the second of the three. |
Mark
See my homepage at http://home.comcast.net/~prrndiv/
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George D
Moderator
USA
9901 Posts |
Posted - 03/31/2010 : 08:10:01 AM
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Great model, Cliff. Those night shots are fantastic!
George
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Tabooma County Rwy
Fireman
USA
4192 Posts |
Posted - 03/31/2010 : 09:41:32 AM
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| Cliff, your modeling continues to shine (pun intended)! Very, very nice work! |
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Neil M
Fireman
Australia
2173 Posts |
Posted - 03/31/2010 : 10:43:14 AM
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Spectacular!
Are you not a bit concerned that the awnings on the road side of the structure are a bit vulnerable, hanging over the edge like that? |
Built a waterfront HO layout in Ireland http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=22161 but now making a start in On30 in Australia |
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LVN
Fireman
Canada
5021 Posts |
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Constructing the NOUPT Support Facilities
