All good thoughts. I will keep working it. I have time. The rick house project will take place once the Bradley plastic kit is done. Meanwhile, it's nice to know that I have some real estate to develop and that means projects.
Continued wiring those %#)@*U(* lights! Between working overhead under the layout, the very fine conductors on the light wiring which kept breaking when I tightened the screw on the Euro-style connector block and then there was the two poles that somehow failed. I also painted, weathered and installed the last part of the parking lot project, the faux concrete foam retaining wall.
I painted the retaining wall a concrete color mix which some some parts Tamiya Buff and some other parts Tamiya Neutral Gray. Don't ask me the proportions, I just kept adding gray until it looked right. I brush painted two coats on it while at the bench and then used pastel chalks, dry brush and then wet brush to blend it all an make is quite dirty on the track side. We are talking the age of steam and early diesel and they put out a lot of dirt.
I glued it to the parking lot perimeter using Liquid Nails and held it in place with T-pins. One of the CA'd joints broke open and I used the Liquid Nails and the pins to hold it all together until it cures.
In this shot I just had the LED ceiling spots on and I adjusted the color in post-processing so it looks like a sundown shot. I like how it came out. It was unintentional. The gaps at the base will be filled with the STM and the final grading to take place next week.
Here's an overhead shot showing the lot side of the wall. There's some Liquid Nails leakage that I will deal with when it's cured.
I got all the town street lights running as seen in this shot of Station Avenue. I named it that because the street leads to the train station. Very original… not.
I went to work on the Engine House light poles. The working angle was terrible mainly because my magnifying head gear kept getting afoul of the layout skirting. When I got my head in such a position so it was in focus, the magnifying hood would bump out of position. It was very annoying. My Varilux regular glasses don't work for overhead work since my neck doesn't bend back that far. I persevered. Something blew out the LED in the first one I did. I changed out the driver module only to find that the light post itself had failed. I pulled it and used the spare. The fine leads kept breaking when I tightened the grub screw to hold them. It took a lot of finesse and I was working with my arms above my head.
I got that light working. Then went to the opposite corner of the parking lot. This one too had a failed LED in the light pole, and I pulled it to replace it next week. I did get the third and last pole wired and running at the corner of the EH storage yard. These lights aren't that bright or they look bright because the EH lights themselves are so darn bright. But it's done.
Lastly, just for fun I took telephoto shot of the fire house which you can actually see inside and the pole in the back of the room. I kind of ignore that lovely building...
I really want an iPhone 12 Pro because it's camera really can handle night and special photography well. My iPhone 7 is just so-so, and the Canon EOS is even worse.
I've almost reached the point where can put in some more street details like street signs, stop signs, etc. I have some I made years ago that should be put in. I also have a bunch more utility poles that need to go in AND I have some high-tension poles that need to lead to the substation. I've also thought of making a smaller transformer station to provide power to the engine house… Just think'n.
Everyone have a safe, fun and socially distanced weekend. Wear your %)#&
masks!
