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Union Station - an HO Diorama


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Having thoroughly enjoyed participating in Round 1 of the 2019 BRM / RMweb Cakebox Challenge, I'm wanting to have a second go at some form of scenic composition.  I've been looking at a larger space this time, inspired by Phil Parker's explorations into the world of IKEA Billy Bookcases.  I had a spare bookcase in the garage: while not an IKEA Bookcase, it's very close - my shelves measure 75cm x 28.5cm (the extra 1" width may prove to be helpful in a confined space).

 

I've space for up to 4 separate scenes - where to start?

 

1703822606_UnionStation0.jpg.65bb9e7e74526b1905236fbb743a31cc.jpg

 

I've always wanted to build a model of a large city passenger terminus, so why not follow my theme from my cakebox: 49th Street Bridge - and stay in the American city?

 

https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/141216-a-late-beginner/

 

Hence: Union Station.  A whole bookshelf gives me plenty of space: my centrepiece will be the Walthers' HO Union Station kit, which I plan to model elevated, with tracks below (New York's Grand Central is the obvious example - the kit actually comes with a "Grand Central Station" transfer, although the prototype is from Omaha, Nebraska).

 

1026651897_UnionStation1.jpg.4e5998d0e684cc372607f2410fe52b6b.jpg

 

As an indication of the scale - the central atrium space in the kit is over 10" across, and 7" tall (ie: bigger than a standard sized cakebox model).  In the test photo I'm just showing one piece of the kit - a PECO (OO) Bookstall is shown for reference 'inside' the station.  Tracks are represented by the two 6" rulers, but playing around on Anyrail suggests I have room for 4 lines - two full length below the station at the front and two shorter ones.  I don't plan to make this model operational, so there's no need for turnouts, or holes in the side of my bookcase: it's for display.  The era is undefined as yet, but 3rd rail electrics have run into New York for over 100 years, so that's planned.

 

1080637546_UnionStation.jpg.4bc5a3ec14e2c06d4390f789c84a8b92.jpg

 

New challenges for me in this model will include modelling the split level station with access from the concourse to the platforms - the Scalescenes escalator and subway kit looks like it could be affordable and useful here - and as a Scalescenes kit, I can try some options.  I was impressed with it in a Cakebox entry by Cornholio:

 

https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/142147-levelsdon/

 

Another challenge will be working to completion without a deadline, so I'm targetting Christmas 2019.  The incentive is perhaps the possibility to move onto future projects once finished - along with American cities, GWR branch lines have always been a big influence, so I'm also seeing this model as the opportunity to practice before moving onto a branchline layout on a lower shelf:

 

1655268418_UnionStation2.jpg.a22531988bcee5e97d74e9acbf8547f5.jpg

 

So, here goes...

 

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On 09/04/2019 at 21:44, luke the train spotter said:

Looks like an interesting project. Any idea for backscenes?

 

Good point - the standard hardboard backing to the bookcase had gone mouldy in the garage over the winter so that's gone.  In his excellent Kalmbach book, Building City Scenery, John Pryke explores layered city backscenes to add the impression of depth (a form of forced perspective) - with the extra inch of width I have on my shelf I could do something along those lines - it may even be possible to see something through the station building itself.  I've lowered the shelf to give extra height for my diorama which will help too.  One idea I've already discounted is to use mirrors to make the tracks look longer / give the impression of extra platforms, because any reflections would pick up the escalators / stairs up to the concourse and give the game away (they'd pop up outside the building).

 

The backscene will be a project in its own right - and a key element in whether the model works or not.

 

847610024_Cakebox18.jpg.85cbaa10e6c7f5a8445757195e383a38.jpg

 

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Although my interest in designing micro-layouts dates back fifteen years, to ideas Carl Arendt kindly included on his website, I never got round to building any of them.  With only a few kits and a Cakebox model behind me, a bookshelf now seems massive - if you've seen videos of Vic Smith's City Edge Layout you'll know what I mean!

 

It therefore seems sensible to follow the approach that worked with the Cakebox, and I've put together the first part of a very rough cardboard mock-up of my diorama.  This will help me work out what I'll need to do at each stage.  The photos just show the lower - trackside - level of the module, with platforms and an escalator.  I now need to add the upper level with the station building, street scene and backdrop to complete the picture.

 

1382299458_UnionStation3.jpg.c2d4d9a4147b7a24ccef85e0de5299a0.jpg

 

1949895924_UnionStation4.jpg.a38eebd3fac7b1eebf5be571e75ba138.jpg

 

112508250_UnionStation5.jpg.9e0780e97731a2510c69dd1f115e48f9.jpg

 

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Funnily enough, when I saw the post about the layout on an Ikea Bookcase, it reminded me of a plan from Iain Rice's book about Urban Layout plans
He uses a bookcase, or rack of 3 narrow shelves, and builds a separate scene of one cohesive design on each shelf. Each "unit" has an entry point at one end,
and using shelving brackets attached to the wall, he designed a fiddle cassette which you can left from one level, upwards or down to the next.....

This idea interested me a lot, and I think a bookcase could form the ideal basis for the scenic sections.
I think the title of the layout is "Virtua In Industria" - or something like that.
I'll watch this build with keen interest, as I may decide on something similar to Iain's plan in future - it's a great space saver

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2 hours ago, marc smith said:

Funnily enough, when I saw the post about the layout on an Ikea Bookcase, it reminded me of a plan from Iain Rice's book about Urban Layout plans
He uses a bookcase, or rack of 3 narrow shelves, and builds a separate scene of one cohesive design on each shelf. Each "unit" has an entry point at one end,
and using shelving brackets attached to the wall, he designed a fiddle cassette which you can left from one level, upwards or down to the next.....

This idea interested me a lot, and I think a bookcase could form the ideal basis for the scenic sections.
I think the title of the layout is "Virtua In Industria" - or something like that.
I'll watch this build with keen interest, as I may decide on something similar to Iain's plan in future - it's a great space saver

 

Marc, thanks for the post and interest in the build.  It'd be interesting to see if anyone has built (and recorded) a version of Rice's tri-level plan - I'm sure some will have tried something along those lines?

 

From a passenger line perspective, there could be up to four levels in one setting (before even moving onto the next shelf to start again): an underground or subway line, then mainline platforms below street level (New York's Grand Central Terminal even has two levels here), then street level tramway or similar and finally an elevated line (often found in the UK raised on the familiar arches).  I'm not that adventurous though.

 

I'm afraid progress will be quite a bit slower than on many of the impressive micro-layouts on RMweb, but I will update the thread as I can.  Keith.

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Hi Keith, I'm always interested to see how people use "different" items as baseboards and containers for layouts
I particularly like micro and minimum space layout designs. But I think the whole approach of using a "fixed-size" space, as you're doing here,
is quite an interesting approach - because you have a limited footprint, and have to work within the constraints of that space - so it makes you think very hard about how to use that space well

I've not seen anyone use that concept that Iain Rice described in his book. But I'd really like to see someone try it out. One neat aspect about the concept, is that your layout could almost be like a display cabinet, mounted onto a wall. Moreover, Rice suggests the fiddle cassette system could even be mounted across the back of a door, as another space-saving technique.... interesting!


I suppose the difficulty in the design concept could be when you then want to exhibit your layout. Would a narrow display cabinet arrangement be very stable at an exhibition, where you sometimes get "poking hands" or people bumping into tables? And maybe you'd need an additional, separate, portable fiddle yard? - Again, something built with stability in mind, perhaps from something like Dexion shelf / framing?

Don't worry about slow progress - my own builds always take longer than expected, like so many of us on here ;)
The important thing, is to keep the enthusiasm going, and this can be a strong point with smaller layouts and dioramas, where progress, no matter how slow, will always be quicker than a room-filler of a layout

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Progress on Union Station: an upper level has been added, showing the sheer size of the terminal building (a kit I've long wanted to build, mainly for that reason).  A city backscene goes round the three rear sides of this bookcase diorama, and streetcar tracks (which would be inset) are to the left of the station.

The upper level rests on protruding lower level walls, including the central platform support – my memory of the stations in New York is there are more columns at platform level than I’m used to in the UK, which the central supporting line imitates.  The mock-up seems stable enough not to need supports getting in the way along the front: they’re assumed to be in front of the module edge.  This makes viewing - and moving rolling stock - easier.

 

There is a rather important issue though – my buildings have no foundations!  At nearly a foot high already, adding height to the module will skew the proportions of the model and make it appear more vertical / narrow than I want, but some thickness is needed between the levels to be even remotely believable.  I wonder what the minimum I could reasonably get away with will be?

 

570533896_UnionStation7.jpg.26cbf8b766ffd6f805b6a058e48b0376.jpg

 

1557689508_UnionStation8.jpg.98284837f9a3d320ee81684c24ae536b.jpg

 

1040382805_UnionStation6.jpg.477b44ea0e76a9d4d2df108056535691.jpg

 

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I'm not an expert, but with a little bit of free time this afternoon, I've done a quick internet search that suggests some of the upper level platform tracks at New York's Grand Central appear to be only about 20' below street level (or, more correctly: some of the streets - and city blocks - were built only 20' or so above the upper level tracks when the present terminal station was constructed).  If this is correct, realism will be established by the more careful positioning of the support columns between the levels - many more will be needed after all, but the model can still be viable as a small cross-section of the city.

 

One major area of deviation in my module from the layout at Grand Central (as the station I'm mainly referencing) is the placement of my terminal building directly above the tracks on my model, rather than to the side, as is more conventional for a terminus.  This is a simple necessity given the constraints of the bookshelf vs the size of the station building - if "Rule No. 1" for effective micro-layouts could be said to be "less is more" (as demonstrated by many fine examples here on RMweb of course), then I realise I'm not making life easy for myself with this project, particularly as a very inexperienced modeller, but I could equally end up with something quite visually interesting if I get it right.

 

In terms of era / rolling stock, I've been offered some uncompleted passenger car kits - how many or of what type I don't yet know, but my plan is that they'll be used to define the era when I find out more.  At the pace I can work, there's no rush.

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My next step is to break down the build into stages.  This is partly as I don't have a dedicated space for modelling,* but is also a practical way to get me building.  I've identified six stages to tackle:

 

556738890_UnionStation9.jpg.95e1ab495f4ba2dd8b78c2895e49b543.jpg

 

1 - Lower level track and platforms

2 - Union Station Building

3 - Supporting columns between the levels

4 - Cityscape backscene

5 - Platform detailing, including the crucial means of passenger access between levels (proposed use of Scalescenes Escalator)

6 - Street level detailing, including streetcar tracks (inset).

 

There will be a pause now - probably for a few months.  Step 1 will depend on rolling stock I've been offered to check platform heights and clearances: my experience of this kind of US commuter line is that high-level platforms are normal.  Looking at the station kit suggests Step 2 will also take me a while:

 

1488322385_UnionStation10.jpg.b81e0a27d727adae0476bd97d2ddf8c8.jpg

 

It's a kit that's been around for some years: there's an insert with the instructions with a Fax number to use if any parts are missing.  A photo of a completed model was on the front of Model Railroader quite recently though, in October 2018.  Building the station makes sense so I can work out the positioning of the supporting columns in Step 3.

 

Having put together a 1:1 cardboard mock up, the existential question is whether it looks OK (or not) that the terminal building runs lengthwise over the tracks, rather than being end on.  My mind is telling me it should be at right angles over the tracks, but there isn't space on the bookshelf for that.

__________________________________________

 

* while this can be a disadvantage - I often have 20 minutes spare where I could do something productive if it was all laid out, the flip-side is that I'm thinking in terms of micro-layouts and dioramas I might actually be able to try building.  Having done a quick audit of my ideas pipeline, I now have plenty of micro-layouts I could start using kits and bits I've collected, and I may make a start on one (or more) of those as well.

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Further to the posts from the Bank Holiday weekend, I consulted a Dr of Civil Engineering about foundations for tall buildings above shallow rail lines before going further.  Their advice is as follows:

 

"The trains do run in the basement, like an underground carpark. Sometimes, they insert the piles first then dig down around them so they effectively become columns over the upper part and piled foundations over the lower part.  They build ground beams linking the tops of the piles and a cast a floor slab with holes in it so then they dig down to make the basement (for cars or trains!) lifting the soil through the holes left in the floor slab and lowering excavators through to dig  deeper. More slabs are cast as they work down if it is a multi story basement. Those holes can then become escalator or lift shafts/atriums (or atria) etc.  It is called top-down construction and allows you to build up and down at the same time!  Your mock up is the right idea, but you may need beams (i.e. thicker sections) in addition to your floor slab to stop the ground floor slab bending."

 

With regards to older buildings (such as I'm looking at in New York), the approach was to start with the tracks in a hole and build up.

___________________________

 

Well, I've certainly learned something! (My apologies to those with experience of underground lines, for whom all this may well be rather obvious).  In terms of the model: Step 3 - "Supporting columns between the levels," represents what would have been the most critical part of the real build.  I'll need the rolling stock I've been offered to check vertical clearances under the beams I'll have to add in, as well as for platforms.  It'll be a couple of months before I receive the passenger car kits, confirming a pause in this project, probably until late Summer.  In the meantime, I've another idea for a micro-layout ready to lauch, but that's another story...

 

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Progress on this project paused in April while awaiting the delivery of some rolling stock I'd been offered, that I received yesterday.

 

Before providing an update, I'd like to acknowledge the inspiration for the project provided by Jack Trollope (aka "Shortliner") whom I've learned from the Obituary section of RMweb has sadly since passed away: writing in the Cakebox Challenge 2019 Thread, he posted a brief topic under the heading of Possible Inspirations in response to a cakebox I was working on, introducing me and others to paintings by an American Artist, Samuel Michlap:

 

1445067438_UnionStationInspirationSamuelMichlap.jpg.7a80c1ab3000ce1e63223ab5b5aa3638.jpg

 

This painting, as posted by Jack, helped as I was thinking about ideas for using the Walthers Union Station Kit I'd already acquired, so I hope it's appropriate to give due credit here in this build thread too.

 

In terms of an  update, I've mentioned in the build thread for another project that progress has been slow, added to which I've put the bookcase I was planning to use to other worthwhile uses, so a new approach to baseboards (and storage) will be needed.  Realistically, I'm now looking at the end of 2020 for the completion of this model, but I'll post some photos of the rolling stock I've been given before the next pause...

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The use of a Walthers Kit as the centrepiece for this project really takes me back to the kind of Model Railroading I would read about when growing up.  The rolling stock however takes me back even further, and it'll therefore be interesting to see it on display when the module is completed.

 

The locomotive is an unpowered EMD F-unit in Canadian Pacific colours.  I'm not sure of the manufacturer, but it would have been sold as a dummy unit to run in an A-A or larger combination (A-B-B-A if unpowered B units were included - this is long before DCC). The model is suitably weighted, but needs couplings and, if I can lift the body from the chassis, glazing for the cab.  The F-units are my personal favourite diesels, so I'm delighted to have been given one for this model.

 

The first coach is an Athearn Dome car, probably dating from the 1970s, and shows why I wanted to take delivery of the stock to work out vertical clearances for the platform level of the model (the roadname is freelance - transfers were made to order for lettering: this was common on US Model Railroads at the time).

 

2112471440_UnionStationTrain1.jpg.e14c6b3eaf899b46d09da3030af90dad.jpg

 

The other cars are kits that probably date from the 1950s, and pre-date plastic injection moulding - with wooden parts and metal bogies.  Given the current awareness of the environmental impact of the over-use of plastics, it'll be interesting to see how I fare with these models (NB: windows are still plastic)

 

Ironically perhaps, they are models of the kind of metal-sided 85-foot lightweight cars that often replaced pre-war wooden heavyweights on US railroads.  These have been hand-painted, again with a freelance roadname.

 

2101306337_UnionStationTrain2.jpg.adf9648ecb6173bd6eb082b80e8860df.jpg

 

One of them has a carefully modelled interior - each pair of seats has been applied by hand, with end vestibules fitted out in thin plywood.

 

1586533095_UnionStationTrain3.jpg.0a34ea0c62ab905c0f89fcfb7fedb44e.jpg

 

The final car is fitted with a bar feature at the left hand end and compartments to the right:

 

1620122167_UnionStationTrain4.jpg.20b7e3f2b505f19aa940e4ed6c1563d7.jpg

 

960745445_UnionStationTrain5.jpg.dd64c489b6ecd3fc4b13145586d99cd9.jpg

 

At the time these kits were being assembled, they were to be run on a dual UK / US layout, which explains the rather intricate metal three-link couplings fitted to this vehicle and the UK outline buffer beams.  These will need to be unsoldered (and rescued for another project), and replaced with some metal US-style couplings.

 

634512177_UnionStationTrain6.jpg.db250f9e1f0d93460fcf36e6cd29e486.jpg

 

Such is the attention to detail on the interior that the headrests have the roadname initials hand-painted on each one individually - so although the bodywork may not match current expectations, this level of interior detailing can still command a premium on R-T-R models today.

 

I look forwards to trying to finish these models - and the diorama - in a way that is suitably fitting given the effort that was put in when they were brand new.

 

Until then...

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4 hours ago, Keith Addenbrooke said:

Progress on this project paused in April while awaiting the delivery of some rolling stock I'd been offered, that I received yesterday.

 

Before providing an update, I'd like to acknowledge the inspiration for the project provided by Jack Trollope (aka "Shortliner") whom I've learned from the Obituary section of RMweb has sadly since passed away: writing in the Cakebox Challenge 2019 Thread, he posted a brief topic under the heading of Possible Inspirations in response to a cakebox I was working on, introducing me and others to paintings by an American Artist, Samuel Michlap:

 

1445067438_UnionStationInspirationSamuelMichlap.jpg.7a80c1ab3000ce1e63223ab5b5aa3638.jpg

 

This painting, as posted by Jack, helped as I was thinking about ideas for using the Walthers Union Station Kit I'd already acquired, so I hope it's appropriate to give due credit here in this build thread too.

 

In terms of an  update, I've mentioned in the build thread for another project that progress has been slow, added to which I've put the bookcase I was planning to use to other worthwhile uses, so a new approach to baseboards (and storage) will be needed.  Realistically, I'm now looking at the end of 2020 for the completion of this model, but I'll post some photos of the rolling stock I've been given before the next pause...

 

If you could recreate an atmosphere, for your model, similar to this painting, Keith, that would be fantastic!

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Hi Keith, 

Looking good, Grand Central Terminal is one of my favourite stations.

 

The loco  looks like to be an Athearn F7, the body is secured by clips on the fuel tanks. As regards fitting couplers, I drilled and tapped the metal “tongues” on the chassis to take Kadees. A little trial and error may be required, but recall that a #5 gave a reasonable gap at the front but was a big large at the rear.

 

All the best

 

Nick

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I’ve not forgotten this project - but in Sept last year the bookcase I was planning to use for my modules was repurposed for other uses at home and the study redesigned as a shared workspace so a rethink will be needed.  In the meantime, I was able to acquire another kit from the same Walthers’ range as Union Station and have been building this over the past few weeks for practice:

 

E22F1558-401B-4A06-B4BC-A9783606F291.jpeg.508c8a1906c96a5e4bad162ed23ad45f.jpeg

 

21E71950-9E79-4CB4-BB56-3E75D8C530C0.jpeg.da49007b23c7bc1ed2a8e7bd938c43b4.jpeg

 

In keeping with the times, there are hardly any people about (these two are prepainted Preiser HO figures previously used in a cake box model), and only the Bike Shop and Bank (reduced hours) are open.  The restaurant on the corner has closed and gone.

 


I’m no painter, but include this rear shot to show how even I can get a result I’m happy with using just a brush and a few colours.

 

802ADA42-D314-4A63-A397-37213A448116.jpeg.56ae15aac26be68f6cd893d1b3b1c251.jpeg


It’s been good practice - the largest kit I’ve built so far.  Now I just need the layout to go underneath.  Keith.

 

 

(Note: the first photo also appears on the SI (Self-Isolation) modelling thread elsewhere on RMweb - it’s where my time came from).

 

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Sorry to hear you lost the space intended for this project....
That can happen, due to other "domestic priorities" of course.

Still I'm glad to see you are intending to continue with it :)
It's been ages since I last looked in on this one.
Each time I see the title of the thread, I'm immediately drawn to it, and whenever I look at the content, I keep thinking
"Hmmm, I hope Keith is going to paint that figure of Alison Krauss soon! ;) 

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35 minutes ago, marc smith said:

Sorry to hear you lost the space intended for this project....
That can happen, due to other "domestic priorities" of course.

Still I'm glad to see you are intending to continue with it :)
It's been ages since I last looked in on this one.
Each time I see the title of the thread, I'm immediately drawn to it, and whenever I look at the content, I keep thinking
"Hmmm, I hope Keith is going to paint that figure of Alison Krauss soon! ;) 


HI Marc, thanks for this - I’m afraid I had to look Alison Krauss (sorry), but I get it now - good call!

Maybe a move South from a New York City kind of setting would fit better with this row of stores? It would mean bringing the tracks above ground, but that would allow light into the train shed - as in the Samuel Milchap painting (Aug 27th posting last year).

I’m not in a rush - it doesn’t show very clearly in the photos but there’s a little joke in the choice of a clock shop for the blue store (second from left), as the clock sign never changes: time has indeed stopped...

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After spending most of my modelling time this year working on plans for my GWR interest (and starting a micro-BLT: Uphill), my half-term project is to crack on and build the Union Station kit that’s been patiently waiting its turn.
 

With a footprint of 19 3/4” x 8 1/4” this is going to be a bigger building than many complete dioramas and layouts that appear in this Forum (see @Kevin Johnson ‘s micro-dioramas for example).  On the other hand, just opening this box still gives me the “Wow!” factor I need for motivation.  I find I am one of those modellers for whom mojo can suddenly evaporate without warning - usually when it comes to getting on with a project, but for some reason my American interest seems to provide the way back each time.  I wonder if this is more significant than I realise...?
 

Back to the build: one thing - among many - that convinces me I’m not cut out to ever be an expert modeller is that I can never really convince myself of the value of time spent painting pre-coloured plastic in (basically) the same colour it came in.  But I have made a start painting the side wall panels.

 

5972993D-B277-4DB3-8AE0-6597DC2A5552.jpeg.fa508ffb86aa985f39c6ed3533d7d238.jpeg

 

The base sections at the right of the picture are still to do.  The roof has been painted dark grey.

 

There is a lot still to do (yesterday I glazed 49 windows, painted 5 doors and assembled 6 large columns - just to give an indication of the scale of this job).  But if this is my only update for a while, at least I know I’ve done something 😀.  Keith.

 

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I have to admit, there is a bit of a “Wow!” here for me too - even though the coaches are from the 1950s and unfinished wooden kits and the FP7 is an unpowered, unglazed dummy unit (all shown in separate photos earlier in the thread when I was given them), putting them together for the first time this evening I am impressed:

 

BACB5466-22E3-4004-AD71-0741FCD03FB4.jpeg.1890f576f6a2e6a382d423d9cd6ecf7a.jpeg

 

The coaches need a lot of work to make them workable (the trucks / bogies are all loose, and there are no coupling hooks), but I think they could be quite something when finished.

 

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17 hours ago, Keith Addenbrooke said:

I have to admit, there is a bit of a “Wow!” here for me too - even though the coaches are from the 1950s and unfinished wooden kits and the FP7 is an unpowered, unglazed dummy unit (all shown in separate photos earlier in the thread when I was given them), putting them together for the first time this evening I am impressed:

 

4AE51A53-8B3F-4030-823D-5468EB2E39C4.jpeg.b78a650e0d4131810b173aa806ff9df7.jpeg
 

The coaches need a lot of work to make them workable (the trucks / bogies are all loose, and there are no coupling hooks), but I think they could be quite something when finished.

Hi Keith

I’m delighted to see you have made a start on Union Station again and I can see why this project gets the needle on your Wow factor meterr twitching again.

To me there’s nothing better than a bit of kit construction to get the old modelling mojo back (as long as the instructions are clear). That station building is going to be worth the time and effort put in and will be an impressive model when completed – whenever that may be.

Now for my thought-provoking thought for the day. We have established that dining tables make excellent model work stations, however, and after seeing your latest post, surely mantle pieces as fine as yours are to be also used as photo planks. :laugh_mini:

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On 27/10/2020 at 14:30, MAP66 said:

Hi Keith

I’m delighted to see you have made a start on Union Station again and I can see why this project gets the needle on your Wow factor meterr twitching again.

To me there’s nothing better than a bit of kit construction to get the old modelling mojo back (as long as the instructions are clear). That station building is going to be worth the time and effort put in and will be an impressive model when completed – whenever that may be.

Now for my thought-provoking thought for the day. We have established that dining tables make excellent model work stations, however, and after seeing your latest post, surely mantle pieces as fine as yours are to be also used as photo planks. :laugh_mini:


Thanks Mark, these kits are quite expensive but, to be fair, they are substantial and at this size (even with HO being a bit smaller), I don’t need many.  I wonder what Fred and Arthur’s day-rate might be for that lot though? 

 

 

Union Station will be too wide for the mantelpiece, but I do have a couple of shelves that are a bit wider:

 

ACEE24B5-F97A-4122-AFD5-65E16865BF5F.jpeg.6dac6504a5fc0719ad296d13202f90bf.jpeg
 

Must get round to finishing the tiling on the pub, I started doing it last summer (2019)!

 

(Note: The best bit of modelling in that photo was probably getting the shelf straight!)

Edited by Keith Addenbrooke
Reinstating photo
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I should have said it needed quite a bit of floor space to lay out all the pieces for this build!  Looking closely showed up some parts of the walls were still a bit patchy.  It can be easier to spot these things in the photos for some reason.  
Full marks to Humbrol though - I got two full coats for all these pieces from just one regular tin of enamel (Matt 64 for reference).  The easiest way to apply a more even top (third) coat seems to be to use a thinned ‘wash’ of the same colour, using the dregs at the bottom of the tin and some white spirit on my brush.

 

I’ve not decided yet whether to paint the columns (there are 6 in total) in the same grey or a lighter sand (closer to the original colour).

Edited by Keith Addenbrooke
Edit for text only as pictures no longer available
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One thing I like about these American kits (of many) is the more substantial window glazing included in the sets:

 

B202EBF0-1D61-4AD1-886F-A44DD5431551.jpeg.1e8b8b4feb6b04268bc7a2576a5c37bd.jpeg

 

I feel it adds to the structure (and will help keep the window frames in place for the long term).

 

The first thing I noticed when picking up the completed large wall after fitting windows and doors is the weight, so I did a little test:  this one piece weighs 82gm, compared to my (unfinished) Ratio GW station kit at 86gms for the whole building:

 

91E0130F-BB26-4D8C-820B-8A75041956C1.jpeg.a14191fce3ed633a10a1dfd84531df8e.jpeg

 

 

Edited by Keith Addenbrooke
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