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mainetrains
Fireman
USA
1373 Posts |
 Posted - 04/21/2010 : 3:12:43 PM
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Cliff, I don't know what to say - again. You're work is so very impressive. Everytime I check out your work I wonder why I don't take up needlepoint. 
Dave [:-banghead] |
"there's something happening here, what it is ain't exactly clear"
Check out the Hard Knox Valley Railroad at -
http://www.mainetrains.webs.com/ |
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Frederic Testard
Engineer
France
16457 Posts |
Posted - 04/21/2010 : 3:56:26 PM
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This new building is really impressive, Cliff. But what is not impressive on your layout? Great work!
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Frederic Testard |
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LVN
Fireman
Canada
5023 Posts |
Posted - 04/21/2010 : 4:54:32 PM
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| Always fun to watch and learn from your builds. I like the flow from the station to the express to the servicing then industry. Very nice indeed. |
Chris Lyon
http://www.lyonvalleynorthern.blogspot.com |
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maandg
Engine Wiper
363 Posts |
Posted - 04/28/2010 : 11:23:05 PM
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This installment will be fairly short, but I wanted to share the progress I have made in a relatively short period of time.
The first step involved painting the entire structure with flat white paint from a not-so-cheap spray can. The paint is made for plastic and adhered well. The weathering was then done with an airbrush. Here is the overall building.
I had mentioned in my last posting that I was torn between the two incarnations of the signage. In the end, I decided to go with the backdated version. It turned out so well that I couldn’t bring myself to paint over it to create the updated effect. To achieve this, I first painted the masked area black with my airbrush. The decals themselves were created on my ALPS printer (confidentially, I consider it to be one of the best investments I have ever made in the layout). Originally I tried to apply the lettering in one large piece, but it proved too difficult to apply and adjust. After this false start, I cut a second decal into separate lines of text. Using the printed copy I had taped to the building initially as a guide, I was able to create the proper spacing between the lines of text. I think the resulting signage really makes the structure an eye-catcher. To weather the sign, I lightly over-sprayed the white lettering with black paint. Then, to fade the black background, I applied a light concrete color. Both of these applications were made with an airbrush. Here are several close-up shots of the finished signs. I am extremely pleased with the results.
Lastly, all but 14 of the windows were weathered and installed. The “glass” and freight doors have yet to be added. You can see from the following photos that the building is really beginning to take shape.
My next episode should see the building itself completed. The surrounding scenery will most likely be put on hold so that I can prepare for my May 21st clinic. Hopefully I’ll have some more photos for you before then. Thanks for the continued positive feedback – I appreciate it very much.
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Cliff Powers
The Mississippi Alabama & Gulf
Please visit my layout website at
www.magnoliaroute.com
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MarkF
Engineer
USA
9278 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2010 : 12:26:49 AM
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Cliff, the sign looks GREAT! I'm glad you chose the older version as I agree, it looks much better and I think adds character.
Painting must have been difficult, considering the size of the structure! That thing is huge! It must be tricky moving it around to work on, right?
Great work. I can't wait to see the next installment. |
Mark
See my homepage at http://home.comcast.net/~prrndiv/
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k27rgs
Fireman
Australia
4260 Posts |
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Grubes
Engine Wiper
USA
353 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2010 : 06:43:18 AM
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Cliff,
The subtlety of the weathering adds a lot of realism and, in my mind, contributes as much to the impressiveness of the building as the structure itself.
Dave
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maandg
Engine Wiper
363 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2010 : 6:50:00 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by MarkF
That thing is huge! It must be tricky moving it around to work on, right?
Thanks Mark, K27 and Dave! Actually, Mark, the structure in its current state exists in three separate sub-assemblies. Even so, it is still big and cumbersome to work with. The three sections will more or less be built in place once all of the windows, doors and canopies are added. I also need to lay the track prior to final building installation.
Thanks, everyone, for the very nice comments and expressed interest in this project. |
Cliff Powers
The Mississippi Alabama & Gulf
Please visit my layout website at
www.magnoliaroute.com
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Orionvp17
Fireman
USA
2808 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2010 : 9:30:39 PM
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Cliff,
Since my own progress is stuck at a glacial pace (before "climate change!"), I do a lot of "Vicarious Modeling." I don't throw in a lot of comments on the MA&G, but I sure follow it closely. Thanks for an enlightening, uplifting and inspiring experience. I'm really enjoying this build!
Pete
in Michigan |
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Tabooma County Rwy
Fireman
USA
4195 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2010 : 10:15:05 PM
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| Cliff, good choice on the older sign - it looks awesome! |
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Frederic Testard
Engineer
France
16457 Posts |
Posted - 05/01/2010 : 6:55:46 PM
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Fabulous job, as always, Cliff. My English vocabulary is not rich enough to stress the outstanding features of your extensive rendition of the New Orleans station and surrounding facilities. It's a wonderful and huge project!
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Frederic Testard |
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maandg
Engine Wiper
363 Posts |
Posted - 12/05/2011 : 11:03:51 PM
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Hello Everyone! It’s been a year and a half since my last post to this thread. As most of you know, I shifted my efforts to my Peoples Avenue freight yard and have been working on it for the past year. However, work is nearing completion on that major project and approaching this final area of the layout. Updates will be much more frequent now that I am returning to the NOUPT support facilities. As luck would have it, I actually needed to stop where I was on the Gibbons Feed Mill, because it would impede access to the coach yard located along the back wall. It will be removed during this phase of construction and probably be the very last project of the entire layout.
I have now begun work on the coach yard and Pullman building as these areas need to be finished before I can complete the ice house and freight terminal (see http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=31910). Let’s look first at the coach yard tracks. These were first weathered with Floquil markers. Then platforms were added made from sheets of balsa. Woodland Scenics concrete pigment was used to paint the surfaces. Ballast was added, concentrating only on the area that was blocked by the freight terminal. These have yet to be weathered. Wooden crosswalks were added based on prototype photos.
Two small ancillary structures are located on the blacktop surface. The white building will be modeled as the prototype metal utility structure that stood alongside the Pullman building. A large overhead steam pipe which crossed all of the service tracks originated here. I have a couple of really nice photos which I will scan and post in my next update showing this arrangement. The smaller brick building helps conceal the beginning of the curved backdrop. It will be built from modified parts from a Walthers kit.
The majority of work has focused on constructing the Pullman building itself. Here is a photo of the prototype structure. You can see some of the overhead pipes that connect back to the utility building.
To create this structure, I began with a Rix Products “Vicki’s” kit. This modular downtown-style kit had window units which were very close to the prototype. The walls consist of styrene strips, sheets and window components layered together. I will be changing the vertical sills of the windows to more accurately match the prototype. Here is the Pullman building in its current state of completion. Side walls have yet to be constructed.
The backdrop photos are a combination of KingMill Radical Flats prints and ones that I have designed with Model Builder software. These two close-ups show ones that I created myself. The faded signs were imported from finds on Google Images.
Even though this was a fairly short update, work will become more concentrated in this area of the next several weeks. Look for a fairly significant update in early January, following my 2-week Christmas break. Thanks for checking out my progress!
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Cliff Powers
The Mississippi Alabama & Gulf
Please visit my layout website at
www.magnoliaroute.com
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Frederic Testard
Engineer
France
16457 Posts |
Posted - 12/06/2011 : 03:08:21 AM
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| What kind of paper do you use to print these backdrop pictures, Cliff? |
Frederic Testard |
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SNCF_Fan
New Hire
Canada
39 Posts |
Posted - 12/06/2011 : 09:53:49 AM
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Cliff,
Wow, that pullman building wall is as close to a "dead ringer" as you can get without using a 3-D printer!! Even then I wonder how much of a difference could be noticed without refering to calipers and original drawings - needless to say very nicely done. You have quite the 'knack" for building the atmosphere into the scene as demonstrated in the NOUPT, its already completed support facilities and the People Avenue Yard. This one is already showing the beginnings of that atmosphere and I look forward to seeing it develop in upcoming thereads. As ever Cliff, exceptional work, thanks for sharing and have a great holiday season. I consider your posts as a gift to the entire model railroading family.
Thansk and Best Cheers
Carl
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Carl
carl.lindon@videotron.ca
Gatineau, Quebec. |
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dlwrailfan1
Crew Chief
USA
574 Posts |
Posted - 12/06/2011 : 10:37:02 AM
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Cliff,
Another fantastic addition to the facilities. I recently read through the whole thread and want to know what kind of magic beans you buy.
Your work is fast and precise. And then you post great pictures and information.
I look forward to your Christmas break and a flurry of activity.
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Topic |
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Constructing the NOUPT Support Facilities
