My Steam Servicing Facility/roundhouse is now complete/adding details

Great work, Norm, an inspiration to us all.

Jesse

Thx again guys, I wil try to modify the tread title to reflect the various stages of progress. 

Thaddeus, I carve the extruded foam with a keyhole saw and a SurForm rasp. 

Here are some shots of my AMW 4 stall roundhouse in progress: 

Love the work you do Norm.  Top notch!

Thanks Johnny. Here are some quick overviews of my meager progress. Most of the basic ground cover is down up to the TT. I expect my roundhouse sometime next week and will use the base to lay out the whisker tracks and surrounding background scenery before building the kit.

Roundhouse showed up yesterday. I am using the base to set up the tracks. Once these are in, I can rough in the last of background bluffs and retaining walls.

Nice progress Norm looks like real PRR you have gift...john

Thanks John! I now have tracks roughed in so I can start cutting foam later today. I may have to push that backdrop corner in a bit more but I'm hoping I don't have to.

Norm,

what Roundhouse manufacturer did you go with?  I like the preformed base that came with yours.  

I went with Altoona. I bought the lighting kit, upgraded hinges, and the front extensions in brick.

Very nice! Keep us posted.

Thanks Norm.  Can't wait to see it built.  Great layout !

Thanks guys. Here's all I could take of the foaming today. I will close the gap up tomorrow.

Hello Norm, this is fantastic.

I know this may sound strange but I like the way you get that dirty, grungy, worn realistic look.

Very realistic.

Norm

Interesting use of the Foam insulation. did you consider using hard shell with Cardboard strips and plaster cloth? Your approach does seem well suited for the tight space against the wall and a lot less messy than dragging wet plaster cloth over the RR. Thanks for sharing the progress online!!!

Steve

No I haven't used hard shell in years. I like foam better although it is more work and foam is pretty expensive now. I get better control of the shape and it is easier to modify. It is also better for poking in trees, poles, etc., and embedding rocks. 

I used foam on my layout many years ago.  I used to get it all in place and with a paint brush, coat it lightly with Laquer Thinner.  The foam would disintegrate as the lacquer thinner was brushed on.  If I wanted it rougher, more lacquer thinner was used.  

The things I did when I was younger.  No wonder my brain is the way it is today.  But it was fun doing it...LOL

I use a dual temp hot glue gun on the low temp setting. A 10lb box of glue sticks from Amazon or eBay is pretty cheap. I can build shapes pretty rapidly this way, at least until I get tired of doing it.

Outstanding work NORM.  Really looks like I am trackside.

Norm,

Your work is just fantastic.

Alan Graziano

Norm,

WOW!   I thought I was looking at a real rail road area  in those photos.   Really great looking work.

I think I am done with the rough stuff for now. I will now fit up some rocks, fill the gaps and seams with caulk, then paint it all flat black.

Looking great Norm.  

Fabulous progress, Norm.  If your work doesn't inspire folks, nothing will.  It's the closest thing to reality we've seen here on the forum.  And we've seen a lot. 

I know you'd never do it, but title of the thread should read Master Craftsman at Work... and just update the date every now and then. 

David

Looking great Norm. 

I've decided to use some hardshell this time.  I think I still have pink shavings stuck to me from the last layout!

More great work Norm!, thanks for showing the before, during, and after images as you go.

Every time I think that I've found the best thread on OGR, I find a better one.  

Great job Norm.  Very realistic and excellent lighting to set it all off.

Norm Charbonneau posted:

I think I am done with the rough stuff for now. I will now fit up some rocks, fill the gaps and seams with caulk, then paint it all flat black.

THANKS for posting this. I have a back corner on my layout I wanted to do something similar but was wondering how to do the forms as I've never worked with foam before and was wondering how to do a 'wall' like that.

This photo clearly shows what I need to do. I can't thank you enough for giving me the idea of how to make it happen.

Thanks again for all the kind words fellas. Here's a few more progress shots on the bluffs. I will probably wire up the whisker tracks tomorrow and do the final adjustments on the turntable, then weather the track and ballast it. I also hope to start prepping and painting the roundhouse parts.

I also need to get some more LED R20 lamps now that the price has come down on them. 

Norm Charbonneau posted:

No I haven't used hard shell in years. I like foam better although it is more work and foam is pretty expensive now. I get better control of the shape and it is easier to modify. It is also better for poking in trees, poles, etc., and embedding rocks. 

Do you always stand the foam up like that on its edge?  Is there a reason for that vs. stacking the foam?

Pat, thanks for posting Vault Boy! He is from my favorite game series, Fallout (my old pal Jim Kitchen got me hooked).

JP, it is easier to cut profiles for some sections with the foam slabs oriented vertically. I like to rip the foam into 2-4" wide boards using my 5" circular saw. I will then cut these into bricks for easier handling depending on the terrain. I seem to create less waste in the form of odd shaped pieces this way. I end up with various wedge shapes which are more useful for plugging gaps, etc.

Norm, 

Nice looking. 

Good luck, John 

Looking good. You made quick work with the trees and grass. Nice!

Simply amazing work Norm no other words to describe it!  I will have to try the foam next time , it looks simple, cleaner, and easier to do. Thank you for posting your work keep it up.

Mike 

Thanks for all the tips Norm. I followed your example and painted the foam black; it came out looking great just like yours. I never thought it would work.  Keep the tips coming Norm! I'm now ready for the sand fill and the black cinder ballast.

Bill

Spectacular, Norm!

Peter

This is very impressive.

Norm, the RH looks great. I get mine from Altoona at York.

I guess practice makes perfect. You seem to have your scenery process down to a fine science.  I am sure you have told us before, but again, how do you adhere the grass to the prepared foundation? You seem to get the grass and foliage in just the right amount and placement. That takes an artist's vision you have. Great work.

Great looking work NORM!!!  You DA MAN!!!