The Valley before Silicon

Adopting a "little steps" policy ...

2011-04-26T07:36:00.000-07:00

I’ve take a decision: force me to dedicate half an hour of my time everyday ( well, “more or less” everyday) to advance on my layout. That’s the only way to see something moving, given a sad event to my mother-in-law that make like impossible for me to have a whole afternoon during weekends.

This “little steps” approach demonstrates “very” effective ( you remember the Esopo story about the fox and the grapes? )

Anyway: I’ve finish to wire the DCC track power bus on the two intermediate peninsulas and done with one of the command panels at Burlingame!

To finish the panel I draw it in 3rdPlanit as show, and will print on a transparent adhesive sheet ( pay attention to select a "proper" sheet... if you've a Laser printer and don't want throw away it).

The electronic driver board is one of the “old” Octopus from Tam Valley with fixed angle servo driver ( I’ve another two and want to check if I can use for turnouts or I’ve to relegate to drive in the future a semaphore blade or other animations). The main reason I doubt was my Fast Tracks point: it's very hard to hold in position.

Experimenting some different solutions for the music wire lever, I turned out with a solution as described in this past post: http://valleybeforesilicon.blogspot.com/2011/01/modified-actuator-for-servo.html

Note a short piece of code 55 rail on top of the throw bar that hold the moving wire. I weld it and then made a slot with a Dremel abrasive saw.

This way I use the elastic wire play, to hold firmly the point rail against the side rail leaving the servos to reach his programmed angle. I’ve add to the octopus 8 relay to switch the frog polarity.

See this short movie of the result. To hide the actuator wire I plan to cover it with a replica of the pneumatic actuator that was used on the peninsula Coast line at the time ( and till now too! See this picture taken at 3^rd ...OPS... 4th&Townsend in the City):

On the command panel, made by a Forex sheet, I’ve used DPDT switches (double pole) connecting one pole to the Octopus input and using the second to light a pair of Led indicating the valid route on the front fascia.

I use rectangular LEDs ( mainly ‘cause I’ve already have a bunch of it) but at the end the visual effect … was better than the “classic” ? To fit the leds just drill a couple of holes with your Dremel tool, then file with a little file (Oh, my poor English!) to obtain the squared corners.

Ok, here a short movie of the "thing":

Modified actuator for servo

2011-01-11T15:08:00.001-08:00

Sorry, friends, but I’ve not found any time 'till now to add a proper description to the movie:

Now It’s time!

I always dislike the arched movement given by the “usual” mounting of music wire on Tortoise and Blue Point actuators, mainly ‘cause on the center point of the movement the wire is out for some part and at both end-points is level with the throw-bar.

Additionally I want to be able to mount everything from the track side, as in some point I don’t have comfortable space from under.

So, ( I know I’ve re-discover the fresh water!) here is my solution:

- take a 1,5 mm diameter brass pipe and cut 1mm + your roadbed deep + your plywood deep + 2cm (for me means 5 cm )

- Take the music wire ( flexible 1 mm) and bend it at 90° at one extremity, leaving 1cm to connect to the throw bar.

- Make a hole in the plywood at 1 cm from the throw-bar and

- Insert the pipe in the hole and insert the wire in the pipe.

- Bend again at 90° on bottom side using the end of the pipe

- Cut the wire at 4-5 cm from the pipe.

- Solder a little “U” part ( I’ve used a pin used to hold resistors I’ve spare, but … well check your “maybe can be useful in the future” box for something that can fit your wire and act as support

- Fit the upper end of the wire into the “U” on the throw-bar.

- Take your servo – fit a piece of strong double side tape on the larger side, to firmly stick the servo on plywood.

- Insert the wire in the servo arm and position the servo aligning the motor perpendicular to the pipe ( in parallel with the turnout throw bar. It don’t need to much precision as the movement is ensure by the flexible wire arm.

That’s all, folks! And … it’s working well too. The strength needed to force the points to side rails is ensured by the ample swing of the servo arm ( program it at 150° or more)

Simple.... but not too much!

2010-04-26T05:56:00.000-07:00

This weekend I don't have so much time to complete my first double slip, but, after some errors and remake.... here we go!
I can say "now" I really understand why prototype RRs chose to lay down two standard turnouts instead of a double slip, except if space is a big premium!

Last step will be ... cut the points rails just in place... and fit a half rail joiner to act as a hinge.
Well, we will see how ( if ?) it works in the next post.

Rails nigthmare? Make it simple with FT tools!

2010-04-23T08:19:00.000-07:00

Referring to this layout , one of my friend said : "How's proceed your "boat" costruction downstair?"
Well, to demonstrate that I not only like woodworking.... and to satisfy Ricky query about my double slip.... here is the first slip still in progress:

Last two pictures are just to compare the Slip with a corresponding #6 simple turnout.
Enjoy

A tiny silver spike : first turnout down

2010-04-20T07:34:00.000-07:00

Last weekend the "Chief Superintendent" (aka my wife) leave me free, so I spend an entire half of the day downstairs! It was a very productive time!

Install the Backdrop on the walls back Menlo Park up to Palo Alto: do this job as lone wolf, believe me... not simple nor comfortable! But, this is the life... when you've time... no friends around!
Then some refinements on the lift bridge: retaining walls and a lock.
Then finish to install all "thin hills" along the Bay....

And finally.... why not some tracks?

I've solder "off-line" 3 #6 turnouts made using a Fastracks jig , cut some ME Flex tracks and test fit the Visitacion icing facility.

I'm still waiting the curved turnouts jig I've order two months ago so I can't start from the main line and I decided to wait to glue down tracks as soon I can test fit all turnouts.
I ended this nice day after lunch.... starting my first #6 double slip ( well better to admit... "re-starting" as my first one was destroyed by my "sweet" cats! )

Tweaking the plan - 2nd Section

2010-04-20T06:53:00.000-07:00

Just two little refinements on the plan:

Added a crossover before Burlingame to better service the Feed Farm and Station Team Track (thanks Alex!)
Added an Icing platform i the Santa Clara background. This is not prototypical, I know but will add some operation possibility ( as well find a place to fit the already done CGlaser platform I've :)

At Bayshore I plan to rebuilt the concrete PFE platform and icing house at Visitacion. Platform will be built from scratch in styrene and corrugated roof and the house will be a kitbashing from a Walthers kit.

I know on this plan there are some freelanced path , see the list here above, but these are solution I've found to flow future operations ( at least this is the reason I've found to justify the plan? )

The branch to Los Altos - Kaiser cement plant - San Jose ... have both ends in wrong geographic position.
Redwood Jct .have two of the "real" spurs to some industries, but a really "wrong" Wye to Dumbarton bridge! No space to model anything else but I like to have the tower and some possibility to emulate the "false" diverging route. I'm nearly sure to make the "double slip on the main" not operable!

Well.... next post will be on .... tracks !? You can believe this?

Tweaking the plan

2010-02-12T15:46:00.000-08:00

As the benchwork slowly progress, so the trackplan too.

I’ve refined the Bayshore area , mirroring the Icing spur tracks to have a smooth job for consists that source from the City, transferring there reefers to clean and re-ice.
And, finally found a good design for the Newhall yard. I still need to check in more deep some type of operations, but it seems me that the shape resemble in some way the prototype (with a lot of compression as usual) and enable operators to complete all jobs without create bottleneck. As somebody can note, there is no yard lead !

At the end of the layout the staging yard… it’s not a yard! A platform with all parallel track can shift horizontally connecting all tracks to mainline. Eliminating turnouts this is the more compact design I can Image. We have a similar module in Fremo (it’s named with a French world “Coulisse”… and don’t ask me why: I don’t know )

Another hidden staging yard is positioned in the middle peninsula, above Burlingame , and is connected to the Mission Bay Shop area, emulating Mission Bay yard and interchange with AT&SF. A tight curve for the real Wye where a complete train was turned, is still in the plan, but is still object of additional thinking…. We will see.

Icing Reefers at Visitacion and down to Menlo Park

2010-02-12T13:23:00.000-08:00

Well, as many friends ask for an update, and this blog was born to show the progress in building this layout … here we go! Yesterday I take my camera downstairs and here are some shots of what I’ve hardly achieved!
First of all, as I want to prove me that I’m able to see some tracks down … well, as soon the Kato Unitracks I’ve order for the staging yard on Mission, I rapidly unpack everything and stick the first 4 tracks down.
This give me a better idea about space available to touch cars … not so much, but enough.

Then, using a 1:1 scale printing (on several A3 sheets) of the 3rdPlanit schematics I’ve test the track disposition on Bayshore Icing facility (or what remain of it after a huge and drastic compression ?)
Here a sample (in reality I’ve mirrored now the position, as you can see on the layout schematics… on the next post!).

Then I copy tracks down on plywood using carbon copy paper (you’re very lucky if you’re able to find it in some shop as with all these computer and printer around is not a simple job )

Using the free template from Fasttrack web site, I double check the turnouts and alignments and finally glue the cork roadbed using a special glue for cork I found in a big shop.
In meantime the thin wall that will border the area from the inner loop was finalized. As described in a previous post I fill a 1cm empty space between two masonite sheets with spry foam. Here the final result: a very strong and light wall. The optical effect of two spaced walls , given the hill-shape I used, is convincing me. Next step will be …. The painting job.

Some additional pictures here, give an idea of the Menlo Park future area and Redwood Junction scenery.

Take care, friend, for now… this weekend is approaching fast.

What before the Silver Spike: the roadbed !

2009-12-31T06:38:00.000-08:00

As an old popular sentence said that “What you do at the end of the year… you do it for all the year”…
My friend Alex Corsico give me a call and we’ve organized a short meeting with the idea to put some tracks down (a silver spike?).

But, as I’ve to dedicate my previous time to more “dirty” jobs as finalize the backdrops walls, fill it with expandable foam ( see my previous post )
…. we have just the occasion to test my “Cork roadbed production jig” and put in place some in preparation of tracks. But, anyway, it was a very good time!
I wonder how much “production” is able to do just a couple of friends…. And always image “how much ... more friends can put together in a couple of hours” !!! ... :)
See here the physical result of this couple of fellows:

And here the “theory” and the Jig to manufacture tons of cork roadbed, using a roll of cheap cork:

I’ve cut a piece of 1 meter long wood stock at 45° on one side, then make a cut in the middle, add a strip of wood in the middle (see picture) and glue the 3 pieces together.

To obtain a piece of roadbed with the proper angled sides, just insert the cork in the slot and using a new blade on the carpet cutter, cut the string. This way you have one side with a good angled shape (if you want a better and clean shape, just pass your “electric file” ( or whatever you call this tool) along the wood jig.
Then rotate the string and file the opposite side. You have a nice /______\ shaped roadbed in a minute.

Just 2 cents if you don’t have a commercial roadbed on hand!

Happy New Year to all ! Sincerely

Enzo

And he create the ... backdrop walls.

2009-11-30T08:33:00.000-08:00

In this economic crisis time, just few bucks of wood will take you busy for a period that can seems you as infinite!
That said, friends, here I’m !
I take the occasion of my last weekend experiences ( and very slow progress ) to announce you :
I’ve discover the wheel again!

As I was not really happy of the “mechanic” for the removable bridge, that was just a “drop & play” design, I’ve “steal” the idea from a drawer on my desk: just buy two “drawer sliding guide”. Now the bridge have a proper stop when in place, roll nicely up to the out position and never fall on the floor if you catch it with your head! So simple !

Then I’m thinking to a “cost effective” (how the marketing peoples call the “cheap” one) and at same time sturdy solution, for the backdrop wall in the middle of the peninsulas. This will be in my mind a “Thin wall” (as Bruce Morden call it ) that separate the outside visible tracks from the inside loop. As a drawing is better than thousand words… see what I’m speaking here right :

I take the idea from the walls of caravans and campers: basically a simple multi-frame made by 1 cm deep wood, covered by a (well two, one each side) masonite layer, and the empty gap filled by the expandable foam.
Here is a sample of what I'm speaking :

You will find this on several home repair shops in a spray big can.
When you spry the foam is soft and you can shape it, but when dry it become “solid-soft” and contribute to the strength of the wall.
The result is a very light but sturdy backdrop wall than , if properly fixed to the bench work, is self-supporting.

The line advance south

2009-10-28T15:46:00.000-07:00

Well friends,
to mitigate my little envy for all of you that are planning to travel to SLO for the annual SPH&TS convention ( http://www.sphts.org/convention/ ) … I’ve spend all of my free time on refining the tracks path, optimize some parts for better OP and find better solutions in places where I have doubts for scenery. Here is my effort summary:

Mission Bay yard have definitely found a place as a living staging place. This yard will mainly feed and receive freights working the LCL facilities at King and Berry st , but can also be used to store passengers named trains. The commuter cars have a living stage in the coach yard along Townsend st.

Enlarged workbench depth at Potrero Tower and the Mission Roundhouse to have place for the prototype Wye from Mission Bay yard. Border-wall distance now is 72cm (28” ) , still good to reach all tracks with my arm, and enough to place a 28 cm radius (11” still too tight , I know, for MT and GS) but at least a switcher with some reefers can go from Visitacion Ice house to Mission Bay yard (staging) and back.

Burlingame and Menlo track layout are mostly defined as well some spurs and correspondent indicative industries along the line up to Palo Alto.

The branch to Permanente plant and the Kaiser little yard have reach a reasonable and operable shape, but maybe I need to work more on these places. One siding is provided at Los Altos station.

A good discussion with a friend, Alex Corsico, takes to a good idea about the backdrop position on the critical area between Mission Roundhouse and the Burlingame-Menlo main line. I will take a shot of a temporary placed “thin wall” to show you.

Last but not least, the “bulldozers” are progressing down the peninsula!
I will take some pictures of the “land” in few days, so, stay in tracks!
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You're still in, friends? Well, "later" is ... now! Enjoy!

Menlo Park depot : a victorian pearl

2009-08-21T09:06:00.000-07:00

Friends,
it's an hot summer here and I've take the occasion to enhance an already beautiful kit made by Showcase Miniatures to fulfil all main details of this depot during the late ‘47 .
I’ve done in the past several research on the story of this pearl along the SP commute line from the City to San Jose, and, as you can read here ( http://xoomer.virgilio.it/enzo_fortuna/MenloPark.html) I’ve compiled a summary of all modifications that this depot have during the life. Some far friends ( Rob Sarberenyi and Robert Morris ) have support me with pictures of details as you can see here http://www.pbase.com/espeef5/menlo_park and here http://enzo-fortuna.iitalia.com/Menlo-Park_pictures/Menlo_Pic-index.html
Given the general dimensions of the Showcase kit are more or less correct ( see the original drawings here http://enzo-fortuna.iitalia.com/Menlo-Park_drawings/index.html) what mostly the kit leaves out is the passenger shelter and some details, specially on the roof ).
I decided to spend some time on my scratchbuild bench, and here are the results.
Hope you enjoy it!
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These are the final pictures of the depot, here down the step by step pictures.
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- Flat styrene base shaped around the depot with the passengers shed extension. I’ve glued a second layer of paved styrene ( cut at 45° ) for the floor of the shelter. First spray a base light grey and then dry brush with brick dark red.

- Framed the shelter floor with walnut strips and darken with a wash of alcohol & india ink.

- brushing some single plates give different shades of wear. Then put in place the depot.

- preparing pieces for the shelter : board with styrene framed by nut sticks, columns made by 3 wood pieces ( squared base – column – 45% filed head… glued together … well, next time I will made a resin moulder! Manage these microbes is not so funny )

- the top of the shelter done!

- and a bird view of all parts before mounting

- … and after

- Now (another tedious job!) shingles on the roof. I’ve select two types of shapes (cedar squared and diamonds ) to replicate the prototype variation ( see the picture here: http://www.pbase.com/espeef5/image/77115096 ).

- To give the impression of the super-elevated roof on the shelter ( see the original here ) I glued some wood sticks on top of the cardstock roof cover, then covered everything with thin paper.

- An U squared styrene strip all around and brass wires shaped to simulate water pipes.

- Water pipes installed on rail side and shingles on the windows sun covers. Painted the shingles in dark olive green.

- A step back to admire your job ( and also note some wrong details too )

- And a step forward ( how so crude is the digital picture machine: it enlighten all little miss-alignments and ….. well I know “where”)

- OK, now playing with fleas again! The roof corners ornaments are made by …. styrene and brass.

- a short cut of U strip contain a piece of brass pipe ( flatten and then filed to have the hearth shape of the point). Then I’ve added 4 little strips of styrene also shaped with a jeweller file.

- Station name plates ( 3 different dimensions ) also filed from styrene. One on the shingled roof of the pagoda.

- One on top of the Bay window and the last one on the shelter.

- I’ve noted on the pre-1964 pictures a little brick chimney positioned on back side of the roof ( not exactly as mine, but … that's what I've found in my scrap box for now!)

Now I "only" need to search a proper character font ( http://www.pbase.com/espeef5/image/77115088 ) to fill the station name and put some additional details ( as a Timetable on the wall, baggage carriage ..... and so on)

Compare with the real pictures …. And, please, consider the scale and that on the layout you appreciate the depot from … an airplane point of view!

The "bridge" in place

2009-07-21T03:37:00.000-07:00

Well, as I've predicted, what you put on a drawing and seams "perfect" .... when you realize in reality ... never happens ( at least on my construction!).
I must confirm again... this part of the hobby is not my job.
The previous mentioned bridge between the two peninsulas was planned as a swing bridge, as the initial shape was a rectangle. During the development of the plan, given the easements and enlarging the curves to obtain a better realistic tracking for 80' passengers cars, the bridge shape was changing to ... an "L" ? See the previous pictures above.
That said... it was hard to plan an hinge in an appropriate position!
So, I just shift to a "shift bridge" , or better to a removable module. In fact, discussing with some of the future crew, the need to open the bridge was only to entry to the Dispatcher table at the beginning of the Op session .... and for him.... to reach the bathroom "occasionally" !
Anyway, here are the hard work steps in the construction, for the few "carpentry lovers" here around.
Cover the Spiline with plywood: I put some paper (recycle some paper roll already printed on one side from the office?) on top of the Spilines , follow with a pencil the border, then cut the paper and position on the plywood to optimize the wood cut.
I start with the bridge section, ending where the bridge will "presumably" end:
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Then shape the sections immediately near on the curve:
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Here I'm cutting the bridge at the end:
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The final removable section in place!

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Next ... "Up to the stars ... to the infinite"

San Francisco tracks review

2009-06-16T09:35:00.000-07:00

As I've stated in the previous post, the City stub was too crowded!
I've done a review of the plan and doing so... oh, you see here: lot of compromise in place!
But at the end I thing better operational possibility and not so much revolution from the prototype.

- We loose 3 tracks on the passenger stub.
- I've add a switcher pocket that in reality don't exist.
- I've provided better curve to reach the City from tunnel #1.
- The 7th street tracks now run as the prototype.
- There is also the line to Backer&Hamilton warehouse.
- And the simulation of the connection to industries spurs crossing Townsend street.
- Unfortunately, no way to provide a decent Wye back to Potrero tower.
- The Mission Bay shop have two service tracks to reach the Turntable.

Using a printer to “view in the future”

2009-06-12T15:53:00.000-07:00

I’ve put in place two ideas, today, and seams both have got some kind of result:
- I’ve print the whole 3rd & Townsend area using row/columns split capability of 3rd PlanIt, put in place the “patchwork” of printed sheets with paper tape , and , taken a step back, admired that .....
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....I need some “fine tune” in the design: maybe a track less in the passenger stub and more distance from the passenger to the freight yards….. I need to think about.... Anyway the area seams too crowded for the moment!
Some more space between tracks with the “butterfly” platforms.
And, doing so, also the space for the sweet mission style station go a bit more in scale.
Some additional space is also needed along the 7th st. along the front wall to have the tracks running partially on the street pavement and a better separation from the “false” wye around Potrero tower.
(false for the narrow radius of one side, that can’t be used to turn a whole consist as the prototype. I leave this just for scenery and give the feeling of the real things).

But, at the end, a good experience! This printout give me more positive feedbacks than just the drawing on the computer screen.

- The second idea was born yesterday, when a kind friend, George Dean , Bayshore native, send me a big aerial picture of the City, I presume taken from the top of the Bay bridge in 1970-74 period.Well, this give me the idea to try to use an half of this picture as background for the City part of the layout.
With some patient work I evaluate the length I need (and more or less I underestimate of … one meter= 40” ! ), then crop the part I need , re-dimensioned the picture with the real dimensions of the wall, smooth a bit the pixels that now seams evident and finally print on a big color plotter.
As I was so impatient to see the result all together, I’ve just put the roll of paper on the wall without cut away at least the bottom white border…. Another step back to admire…. Not too bad, but just .. out of measure!

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Taking in mind that the border of layout will hold low relief buildings and this will cover the nearest details the things that seams disturbing is … only that thinks are not in the proper place!
But… again… not too bad?
Well, I need to cancel from the picture the visible tower of the Bay bridge, then strech the whole thing to fill the “distant” background of Mission Shop, render some foggy morning in the same area to have a proper background to the Potrero hill….and reprint.
In the meantime I need to prepare a good masonite base on the wall….
OK: I well know this job will never finish! I’ve realized now!
But, it seams a good start?

The bridge: Round one

2009-06-08T15:09:00.000-07:00

Friends, just 6 seconds to view 6 pictures!
The splines for the "suspended" (then "swing or lift" ) bridge are in place!
I think there is no need to comment ?
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The lift bridge... a top-down project.

2009-06-03T08:48:00.000-07:00

Some little progress ahead this week:
- the two middle room peninsulas now have definitive splines ready for the sub-roadbed
- The lift bridge between have start to take shape.
About this last project, I've take an approach that "seams" strange, but to me have sense after several consideration. I've first taken in place the two spline pairs for the two-track main line. Then I plan to support these with the bridge chassis. In this way I can have an exact idea of the vertical projection I need to support and consequently the size and shape of the bridge.
I plan to build the support bridge with a separate chassis and then slice and split the splines.
See the pictures here above:
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Brisbane & Bayshore (left) ___--- (right) Burlingame
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Bridge Spline in place (the down line need a second spline)
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Another view and the first bridge support.

Clear the gap... level 3

2009-05-18T01:01:00.000-07:00

Another little step forward, this weekend, on the long road to set steady foundation for the "Valley line": the crew reach Menlo Park border!
The right-of-way still need to be covered by well shaped plywood, but at least the path is ready and shaped with sweet curves and easements, and .... the work team job survived with no damage to an occasional earthquake : a giant helping on the hard work, stumbled over an electric wire on the floor and .. tested the peninsula anti-quake rules ( the region is well know for these accidents, you know! )
Here we go, as one picture is worth thousand words :
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How "prewiew" your final layout? Just print it.

2009-05-12T08:19:00.000-07:00

As I'm using 3rD PlanIt to design the tracks layout, I've used the capability of this powerful software to experience a 1:1 scale printout of the future place where the 3rd & Townsend Mission style station will be.
As most of you I've at home a printer that print on A4 size paper (document standard size here in Europe), so I've done a grid of sheets and this the result.
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Nearly an SP...line?

2009-05-12T07:34:00.000-07:00

Between the two peninsulas holding respectively South SF and Burlingame, the terrain along the room wall will cover a series of curved right of way that crossed in 3 levels.
As the Coast line is a double track main, I consider a simplified way to adopt the "true spline" concept. First simplification was to find a Ready-to-use strips of wood, and I found some "samba wood" strips of 1 x 0.5 cm with 2 meters length. Thats free me from the dirty job to cut (or have cut by the shop) the usual Homasote sheets. This will takes to have a sigle track spline done using "just" 5-6 strips. Good Start!
But ... I'm pondering about the land between two track .... and the double job to have parallel splines ... so I've take the short path: basically I use two strips each side of a double track right of way and ..... fill the land with multilayer plywood (1 cm high).
See here a drawing with a section of what I mean:

This way I still have the "auto-easement" capability of the spline method plus the property of give a natural contour to scenery approaching yards or flat land following the curve.
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In the meantime having a flat continuous support of tracks avoid to have steps or jumps on the junctions from spline to plywood parts.
( well, maybe all these are just reason i give me to justify what I've done? )
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(Left) A detail of the end of the spline intersecting the workbench :
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and (Right) 3 levels nearly finish!

Hidden Staging yard at Mission Bay

2009-04-15T13:59:00.000-07:00

Well, friends, at the end I've found some spare time!
During this past weekend I take in hand the first one of the two staging yards I've planned: Mission Bay yard in the City.
The yard itself is not really following the prototype design, given is positioned under the visible part of the layout, but I'm confident she will provide a good source for the freight traffic that originate and end into the City.
This yard will hold the fleet of reefers, box cars and empties of various type that are coming from the south and terminated in San Francisco, after the delivery of stuffs to local customers. And, as well, will hold freight consist ready to depart for the customers along the Bay, or in far south destinations.
All this is still in my mind, as you can see here, but a start is a start!

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A little gentle descending ramp arriving from the future LCL yard that will lay in parallel to the 3rd & Townsend stub is curving aside the Mission Bay steam shop and future turntable.
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You see here the future ground where bulldozers have already done the flat, ready for laying the yards tracks.

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Next step will be one of the planned splines connecting the two peninsulas,
or the ground for Menlo Park.
Who knows?

Pictures of the benchwork in progress

2009-03-03T04:11:00.000-08:00

San Francisco 3rd & Towsend

3rd & Towsend Frame

Mission Bay Roundhouse

Bayshore Visitacion - Ice House

Lift Bridge - line to Burlington

Burlington

Menlo Park

Palo Alto

Santa Clara Newhall yard

Staging yard - to LA

SP Logo on the door

View of supporting frames

Let's start the dirty job first

2009-03-03T03:49:00.001-08:00

Here is the preliminary sketch of the plan.

Tracks are designed to have an idea of curve radius and yards are in some cases just represented with parallel tracks.
I've learn that, for some strange reasons, what you design on paper never seams good when it comes to put it in the real world.
So, Ive stop to add details on the drawing for the moment, and, taking in hand the saw.... start the dirty job!
The location is in a cellar with no windows and two doors. I've closed one of the door with a tie frame covered with plywood.
As I've some spare furnitures from my last move, I've used it as layout support in some places, and all around the room I've build a hanging metal frame with door to store additional stuffs.
There is a work bench where spend time on models and a little desk between the two aisles in the middle of the room ready for the dispatcher.

Elliot & Sons : some tricks

2008-12-16T04:03:00.000-08:00

Follow the step by step construction.
Maybe you find useful some of the tricks i suggest.

First set buildings dimensions and plan the surrounding area taking care of usage, loading needs, access and roads.This is my preliminary sketch for this shop:Suggestions:
- Figure a dimensional plan.
- Figure the use of the building and the surrounding area.
- Figure the history for the owner and evolution of the structure.
If you freelance in some grade your RR , is important to don't waste your limited real estate with thinks that don't add interest or operational options: you're building a RR, not a diorama.
Test your skill on simple jobs.
Sure a shed seams so simple? It depends !
It still need foundations, doors and roof: expertize new solution on a little building will take you to new level.

- Limit the inside details to what you can appreciate from outside

I model in N scale, so go too far with too much details is not a key point: model what the viewer can appreciate is the rule.
About inside details: what is important is to "suggest to viewers that inside is not empty". I've add just a working bench, a wall library (simple sticks of painted wood) and a calendar on the wall in front of one of the doors..

- Paper shingles
Start to glue from bottom to top.
Leave a little margin left to each row: you will cut and line all together when finish.

Paint black the down side.
You can use a flat pointed marker.

Paint wood shingles in successive light washes.
I start with Sepia Ink and alcohol in 1/8 proportion.

After dry add a wash of Black Ink and and alcohol in 1/8 proportion.
Consider that dirty accumulate on roofs not in a uniform layer.

Last color layer is done dry-brushing pigments or powder chalks.
Again avoid uniform color distribution.

Verify twice "before"!
Test fit "before" you use glue. Check colors of different parts.

Design

2008-12-15T10:06:00.000-08:00

I've used 3rdPlanit! for planning and drawing.
Have found not big deal to use this tool and in particular I've appreciate the capability of printing in 1:1 scale.
The final plan is a result of several remake. It was a growing learning process to find the correct balance between "what you like" and "what it fit" and then from "what it fit" to "what is the best" from both a scenic point of view and operational too!
Basically it is an "eraser" exercise!
You can find the past plans and my wish list on my web site:
http://xoomer.alice.it/enzo_fortuna/Home.htm

Elliot & Sons: Building Materials Wholesaler

2008-12-15T09:20:00.000-08:00

Step by step this kit with take shape and will be one of the actors of boxcars and flat cars traffic generation in the Peninsula.

Why this Blog?

2008-12-01T02:01:00.000-08:00

A Blog, for its nature, is the way to go to report the "progress of work" on a layout.
So I will describe and update here the main steps during construction, scenery ideas and solutions, as well as updates on current projects and, when the time will come, operations.

My web site : http://xoomer.alice.it/enzo_fortuna/
Here I continue to include the "concept" side of design and plans, historic informations of places, models plans, the SP freight cars section, etcetera .

Album: http://s367.photobucket.com/albums/
Here you will find pictures of Exibitions, Friends & Op sessions and some SP documents as ETTs and Division Maps.

If you like to comment, critique or just compliments...
you're just welcome!
Use the "Add a Comment" tool on each post,
or leave a comment on my Guestbook HERE.

Enjoy the trip!