Left Hand Short Radius Peco Switch: $19.99
Strip of balsa wood the rough dimensions of an HO railroad tie: 25¢
Foam paintbrush: 40¢
Spending five hours laying, soldering, and ballasting track, adding details to a dock and running in a new locomotive? Priceless
I discovered that last night my track had wandered left. I'm not sure how, but wander it did. I'm using Locktite adhesive to keep my track in place, as suggested here. Maybe that has something to do with it. So I vacuumed what I could and re-laid and re-ballasted the track.
I'm laying track on the fly because I've discovered my nice little plan I had sketched out is simply not going to work. But all the industries in Salmon Bay will have rail service. I laid and ballasted the track toward East Ballard. Due to the fact the fiddle yard is not going to be built in my time in Missoula, nor is East Ballard itself, I've added a bumper modeled after the ones used at Fort Missoula.
I grabbed the medium ballast as opposed to the fine so it looks chunkier then that seen on the real SBT, but it looks wonderfully like that seen at the fort. Just dumped in place and enough to get the job done. This is fine because the SBT uses 152lb rail.
I also added some detail to the dock. Mainly a railroad tie at the end of the dock so my trains don't just keep going. That new tank car rolls like nothing and after one near miss I decided it was time. I added some more dowels to make it look more "docky". Still have no idea what I'm going to put under it. It's amazing how the Dark Walnut stain I'm using looks like cresote though.
My next job is getting the cannery spur in place. The cannery is built at the other end of Salmon Bay and included the run around track. Space keeps getting tighter and tighter on the layout, but it will be done.
The Davenport arrived today, and after running for about an hour has started giving me fits. Not sure why. Look good though!
I'll get pics up tomorrow.
Showing posts with label Scenery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Scenery. Show all posts
May 30, 2008
May 29, 2008
Pictures
This sign hangs above the layout. Fits me to a "T".
Here we have a shot of the whole layout as it stands currently. East Ballard would be to your left, 62nd Ave NE and the ferry slip to your right.
The Salmon Bay Pier. Not the prettiest pier but it does work. And I'm rather pleased how it turned out. That is partialy completed boxcab #12 near the pier. No locomotives are allowed on this structure. The Salmon Bay station will reside here.
I ballasted all the track I had today. Here is a long shot. Notice my strip wood crossing. Why buy it when you can build it? To a point that is.
My Peco switches I ballested. All joints will be soldered.
My railroad in exile. The Temporary & Carpet Southern. That's the 3-spot on the spur. Built a tank car today too.
And here is a forlorn shot of #10 after a painting, er, accident. Incident? Well a painting someting. I'll strip it and start over.
May 28, 2008
Dock
The Salmon Bay Terminal now has a terminal. Having never scratchbuilt something in my life I completed a dock today. It's not perfect but servicable and will hold the Salmon Bay depot and freight house. And the whole layout is brown now. I'll get some pictures up later tommorow.
May 27, 2008
If Whipped Cream Went on Strike, The Result Would Be Drywall Cement
It's been a very busy day in Salmon Bay, my hometown. The first rails were laid at the Port of Salmon Bay Pier. Now all they need to do is build the pier. They finally fired up that box cab and ran it around for a bit. Needs paint and decals but by God she runs if in fits and starts and with a wonderous amount of noise. She runs and that is half he battle. Doesn't gaurenntee victory however. Of course tommorow it'll be front page news. The Plymouth #10 had a bit of a fit and was put into the shop, while the GN boxcar fell off the edge of the world. They are trying to salvage what they can but it looks to be a loss. Maybe it'll decorate the yard as a storage barn. It's beginning to look and feel like a proper railroad.
For some of you who may not have been in Salmon Bay, let me tell you a bit about it. It's a very sleepy town, nestled in the crook of Lake Union, just down the ship canal from the locks. They tried to drag it into the city in the 30's but it just didn't happen. Salmonites are fiercly independant. It's almost as if the town is all by itself there. There is one general store and one church. A bakery and a fishing shop. The milk is still carried by hand and the newspaper boy has the best arm in town.
The railroad is the life blood of this town. Sure there's a road but it's for it's for plasure not buisness. And almost everyone has a boat. You learn to sail before you drvie. But it's the railroad that makes Salmon Bay what it is.
The wail of a M5 horn in the mnornin wakes people up in the morning and is their companion throughout the day. Loads in empties out. Interchange traffic to work, blowing for the Coates crossing on every move, the crash and bang of couplers. Almost all the switching is done by noon, at which point the coastal fog lifts and glorious sunshine fills the town. The local is assembled and rumbles out and the town gets quite again. It's not uncommon for a fishing boat or small cargo vessel to pull up in need of unloading after the local has left. Even still they'll fire up another engine and get done what needs to get done. Because that's how things are done in Salmon Bay. Come dusk the local will creep back into town, it's horn muted in deference to the quiet and shuttered hamlet.
Every other day the noon turn is going in a different direction. Even days it's headed northwest to the industrial doldrums of East Ballard, with it's grimy streets and never ending noise and bustle. Odd days it's southeast towards 62nd Ave NE and the ferry slip, where a buck and a quarter will get you a ride to to downtown Seattle, if that's where the cargo is headed. And if the ferry is running that day.
It's not a bad place to grow up, Salmon Bay. I know because I did.
For some of you who may not have been in Salmon Bay, let me tell you a bit about it. It's a very sleepy town, nestled in the crook of Lake Union, just down the ship canal from the locks. They tried to drag it into the city in the 30's but it just didn't happen. Salmonites are fiercly independant. It's almost as if the town is all by itself there. There is one general store and one church. A bakery and a fishing shop. The milk is still carried by hand and the newspaper boy has the best arm in town.
The railroad is the life blood of this town. Sure there's a road but it's for it's for plasure not buisness. And almost everyone has a boat. You learn to sail before you drvie. But it's the railroad that makes Salmon Bay what it is.
The wail of a M5 horn in the mnornin wakes people up in the morning and is their companion throughout the day. Loads in empties out. Interchange traffic to work, blowing for the Coates crossing on every move, the crash and bang of couplers. Almost all the switching is done by noon, at which point the coastal fog lifts and glorious sunshine fills the town. The local is assembled and rumbles out and the town gets quite again. It's not uncommon for a fishing boat or small cargo vessel to pull up in need of unloading after the local has left. Even still they'll fire up another engine and get done what needs to get done. Because that's how things are done in Salmon Bay. Come dusk the local will creep back into town, it's horn muted in deference to the quiet and shuttered hamlet.
Every other day the noon turn is going in a different direction. Even days it's headed northwest to the industrial doldrums of East Ballard, with it's grimy streets and never ending noise and bustle. Odd days it's southeast towards 62nd Ave NE and the ferry slip, where a buck and a quarter will get you a ride to to downtown Seattle, if that's where the cargo is headed. And if the ferry is running that day.
It's not a bad place to grow up, Salmon Bay. I know because I did.
May 16, 2008
Layout Blues
Currently the SBT is a route without a home. I've made it as two pieces and right now it's just to big to set up as one piece. But here it is on the floor of my mom's house. East Ballard is on the back wall, and Salmon Bay is camera side.
I've got a pretty good layout going. Plenty of operation options and a reason for the route to exist. Much of what I've designed could quality the layout as a "Micro-Layout" as seen at the Micro-Layout Web page. Here is a short tour of the layout. Starting in the town of Salmon Bay and the interchange with the Northern Pacific.
This small coastal town is home to several major points of operation for the Salmon Bay Terminal. Hansen Lumber, which mills the lumber from the Barret Sawmill in East Ballard and ships furniture all over the country. And the Port of Salmon Bay Terminal, where ships of all kind load and unload their cargo.
Heading geographically northwest we head toward the "Big Cut". This was blasted through the rock by workers left over from building the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks. The spur to the Salmon Bay Terminal is seen at the bottom of this photo.
Now heading due north we enter the seaside community of East Ballard. This area is heavy industry, most of it open ocean based. This represents a massive port and all that go along with it.
In this photo you see the Great Northern interchange, WESCO oil (With my storage facility in for a test fit), Freemont Cement, Barret's Sawmill, and the East Ballard Port Authority. The Port Authority also ships and receives various cargo destined for local and interstate business.
In my ideal world, a two or three track fiddle yard would be at each end of the layout, representing the GN and NP. In addition, the way bill system will support ships docked in port show the manifest and where it needs to go.
I'm also preparing my back drop. Right now it's some tag board. I cut it with a power saw and am joining it together with glue and weight.
I've got a pretty good layout going. Plenty of operation options and a reason for the route to exist. Much of what I've designed could quality the layout as a "Micro-Layout" as seen at the Micro-Layout Web page. Here is a short tour of the layout. Starting in the town of Salmon Bay and the interchange with the Northern Pacific.
This small coastal town is home to several major points of operation for the Salmon Bay Terminal. Hansen Lumber, which mills the lumber from the Barret Sawmill in East Ballard and ships furniture all over the country. And the Port of Salmon Bay Terminal, where ships of all kind load and unload their cargo.
Heading geographically northwest we head toward the "Big Cut". This was blasted through the rock by workers left over from building the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks. The spur to the Salmon Bay Terminal is seen at the bottom of this photo.
Now heading due north we enter the seaside community of East Ballard. This area is heavy industry, most of it open ocean based. This represents a massive port and all that go along with it.
In this photo you see the Great Northern interchange, WESCO oil (With my storage facility in for a test fit), Freemont Cement, Barret's Sawmill, and the East Ballard Port Authority. The Port Authority also ships and receives various cargo destined for local and interstate business.
In my ideal world, a two or three track fiddle yard would be at each end of the layout, representing the GN and NP. In addition, the way bill system will support ships docked in port show the manifest and where it needs to go.
I'm also preparing my back drop. Right now it's some tag board. I cut it with a power saw and am joining it together with glue and weight.
Con-Cor Oil Storage Tanks
After more then five years I've decided it's time to attempt a new model. Got some cash, so wandered into our local hobby store and picked up the Con-Cor "Cambria City Storage Tanks". I have an oil transfer point on my layout, the price was good so I picked it up and headed to my workspace.
Looks innocent, doesn't it? The picture is first rate and makes one think "Hey look! A kit someone with my skills can put together and make it look like that!" To a point, yes you can.
So I cracked open the box and found the following:
So far so good. I began following the instructions and discovered to my horror they were terrible! "We'll just put tab A into Slot B...wait, that doesn't work. Let's see, says it should. Hmm. Okay. Nope, doesn't fit. Not at all....wait, whats on the other side? No picture of that side. Okay. Hmm."
The first half wasn't that bad, I"ll admit. When I broke to wash my hands and have a glass of juice I had made it to step three.
I was very excited, but I had forgot a few things. Like the fact the model cement will without fail stick to your hands no matter what you do. That little parts when gluing will then stick to your hands, making precise positioning nigh impossible. I placed one of the tanks to far forward as there were no marks to tell me where to put them. So I couldn't fence the whole platform in. Some of the doodads that hang off the tank were the wrong size.
Now it should be noted at this point earlier in my modeling career I would have stomped off claiming the kit was stupid and how could I do it? I lost quite a few kits that way. But I figured the directions weren't that, just suggestions! So I began to bash the kit to fit what I liked. Dual transfer pipes, different fence placement, and a few minor things. When the dust settled I had a passable oil storage facility.
Not bad, eh? Sure some of the fences are leaning and it's not exactly as seen on the box, but I don't care! I'm not in Cambria City. This is a perfect 1/87th version of the WESTCO Oil storage tank in East Ballard, Washington on the SBT. I'm pleased to see the model is so accurate ;)
So there you have it. Not without some swearing and questioning. But it does deserve a place on my layout and after painting it will take it's place on the WESTCO spur.
Item: Con-Cor Cambria City Storage Tanks
Price: $11.85
Purchased at: Treasure Chest Hobbies and Crafts Missoula, MT
Rating: 6 out of 10
Pros: Not to hard to build. The parts that fit, fit together well. Looks like what it says on the box. Easy to make it your own with parts on hand.
Cons: I'm going to outlaw Master Craftsman putting together these kits for the photographs. Show me the end result of Joe Modelers results. I think the person who made the instructions knew more then they were showing about how to put the kit together. They need to show every step from multiple angles and a completed view as well. Label every piece as an individual, and make sure the fit as pictured!
Looks innocent, doesn't it? The picture is first rate and makes one think "Hey look! A kit someone with my skills can put together and make it look like that!" To a point, yes you can.
So I cracked open the box and found the following:
So far so good. I began following the instructions and discovered to my horror they were terrible! "We'll just put tab A into Slot B...wait, that doesn't work. Let's see, says it should. Hmm. Okay. Nope, doesn't fit. Not at all....wait, whats on the other side? No picture of that side. Okay. Hmm."
The first half wasn't that bad, I"ll admit. When I broke to wash my hands and have a glass of juice I had made it to step three.
I was very excited, but I had forgot a few things. Like the fact the model cement will without fail stick to your hands no matter what you do. That little parts when gluing will then stick to your hands, making precise positioning nigh impossible. I placed one of the tanks to far forward as there were no marks to tell me where to put them. So I couldn't fence the whole platform in. Some of the doodads that hang off the tank were the wrong size.
Now it should be noted at this point earlier in my modeling career I would have stomped off claiming the kit was stupid and how could I do it? I lost quite a few kits that way. But I figured the directions weren't that, just suggestions! So I began to bash the kit to fit what I liked. Dual transfer pipes, different fence placement, and a few minor things. When the dust settled I had a passable oil storage facility.
Not bad, eh? Sure some of the fences are leaning and it's not exactly as seen on the box, but I don't care! I'm not in Cambria City. This is a perfect 1/87th version of the WESTCO Oil storage tank in East Ballard, Washington on the SBT. I'm pleased to see the model is so accurate ;)
So there you have it. Not without some swearing and questioning. But it does deserve a place on my layout and after painting it will take it's place on the WESTCO spur.
Item: Con-Cor Cambria City Storage Tanks
Price: $11.85
Purchased at: Treasure Chest Hobbies and Crafts Missoula, MT
Rating: 6 out of 10
Pros: Not to hard to build. The parts that fit, fit together well. Looks like what it says on the box. Easy to make it your own with parts on hand.
Cons: I'm going to outlaw Master Craftsman putting together these kits for the photographs. Show me the end result of Joe Modelers results. I think the person who made the instructions knew more then they were showing about how to put the kit together. They need to show every step from multiple angles and a completed view as well. Label every piece as an individual, and make sure the fit as pictured!
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