Skip to main content

Reply to "20x8 Train Layout Build - 24 Feb 21 Update: New Switch Tower, and things are looking Up!"

Andrew B. posted:

Any more details available about the York Hotel build? Thinking about picking one up but also would want to make some changes in the vein of those you've performed.

Sure, happy to help:

1) The building is fairly bright, especially in terms of the exterior lights.   My concern is that it's so bright it could wash out a night scene, so I did two things.   First, I painted over the downward facing exterior LEDs with a translucent orange paint to dim them down.   Second, I put a PWM (aka PWM motor controller) in line between the power source and the building input to allow me to dial the brightness up and down.   Here's the result with "oranged out" exterior lights:

Max dimming on the PWM gives you this:

IMG_6575

Medium dimming gives you this:

IMG_6577

...and no dimming gives you this:

IMG_6578

I like the medium look the best.   Here's a couple different examples of PWMs, which I found on ebay:

IMG_6583

IMG_6584

2) The cheap plastic flags were my least favorite part.   I removed them, covered over where they were with decorative square dowels, and re-drilled a hole for new flags.   These flag poles are made of thin brass rod (the same as you'd use for loco handrails) w/printed pics of a waving flag glued on each side:

IMG_6585

 

3) On the interior, I removed the black backing and original "glass" for the front doors & replaced it with a new clear piece.  I also added my own separate/additional LED strip which has an independent power run.

IMG_6587

This foamboard box will be inserted as shown and glued in place, once I've built the hotel lobby diorama inside.   It'll be lit from above via the LED strip I referenced above:

IMG_6589

4) The hotel sign lettering is made of stick-on letters from Walmart.  I believe I used the "Varsity" design:

IMG_6586

5) Gold trim added to the canopy is square dowels painted gold.   Be aware the canopy is not square, so you'll have to account for some error in how the trim sits if you add it.  This closeup looks significantly worse than it does from even a foot away.

 

IMG_6590

6) The sign itself was sized to cover the remnants of the paper sign I peeled off... or attempted to peel off.   The original York sign doesn't let go easily, and leaves residue behind, so I would assume you'll need to cover up its original footprint with whatever replaces it.  The sign structure just made out of wood.  The "The" lettering was built in powerpoint and cut out with an xacto.

IMG_6591

7) Finally, I removed the people (except the doorman)  and painted over where they were on the sidewalk with a dark-ish gray.  The people have pegs on the feet glued into holes, but can be pried out without too much trouble/damage using an xacto.

IMG_6592

Attachments

Images (12)
  • IMG_6575
  • IMG_6577
  • IMG_6578
  • IMG_6583
  • IMG_6584
  • IMG_6585
  • IMG_6586
  • IMG_6587
  • IMG_6589
  • IMG_6590
  • IMG_6591
  • IMG_6592

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

×
×
×
×
×