@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:This project has turned out very well. Depending upon what goes in front of the entrance: have you considered using a mirror at the back of the tunnel?
I placed a print of a gravel road behind the tunnel. I thought about a mirror but it just didn't look right to me.
Here's a better pic.
The scene looks great, Bob!
Nice, that works.
@Mark Boyce posted:The scene looks great, Bob!
@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:Nice, that works.
Thanks Gents! I got a coat of brown paint on the plaster cloth this afternoon. Slow but steady progress.
@rscott521 posted:Made me another shelf display and installed it.
Now fill it up! 
Construction of my kit- bashed Union Station has begun ! I am about a day into it. Plans changed due to the parts available as I had purshased what was described as 2 stations already cut up, but project never finished. That's OK after viewing a lot of photos of real and modeled stations, I decided to make a very large arch for the main entrance, rather than use the small factory sized round top windows and doors that come with the MTH kits. Not having enough doors/windows & columns made that decision easy ! At least the plan is coming together as I "wing it" and I am about 8 hours in so far.
Chris,
Literally a "Union" of many stations. It looks very promising.
John Rowlen
Chris - I like your vision. Will the final version be like the left side (2nd photo)? Looking forward to your progress.
You are off to a good start Chris. That is going to be an impressive structure when it's done.
Bob
@chris a posted:Construction of my kit- bashed Union Station has begun ! I am about a day into it. Plans changed due to the parts available as I had purshased what was described as 2 stations already cut up, but project never finished. That's OK after viewing a lot of photos of real and modeled stations, I decided to make a very large arch for the main entrance, rather than use the small factory sized round top windows and doors that come with the MTH kits. Not having enough doors/windows & columns made that decision easy ! At least the plan is coming together as I "wing it" and I am about 8 hours in so far.
Really nice work, Chris! I'm doing a similar project with MTH banks, although my design is much simpler. I wish i had someone's already cut banks like you. It might have made it a little easier for me. Something about cutting up these beautiful buildings just kept me from starting.
Good morning everyone! This past weekend I was able to get my hands on a couple of new VL GS-2 locomotives, so I decided to take them for a spin around the layout! Hope you enjoy this video and happy railroading!
Thanks for the positive feedback. Matt, based on the amount of cutting and fabricating I am having to do on the center, Main Entrance Hall Section, I am pretty much thinking I will leave the left and right wings alone. One benefit I am seeing at this point, is I have the option, if I need or want to, of decreasing the total width of the station by sliding the left and right wings toward the center. Whether each wing has 3 Palladium windows or 4 Palladium ( round top ) windows isn't going to change the stations overall appearance that much. Once the center hall is near done, then I will determine how wide I will make entire structure.
This station will be sitting on an elevated platform over the passenger yard tracks, so there's still many decisions to make about the elevated platform size, roadway, parking facilities up on the deck, etc. The track spacing below is not wide enough to get into an elaborate platform scene below... having 5 total stub tracks below ( one of which is an "interchange track" ). Having the 5th stub siding, was a higher priority than losing one siding and having platforms between tracks.
StrapHanger: I am not one for "looking back", I should have opened the carton of the cut up parts I purchased, but I didn't. Having the walls cut apart, was somewhat of a benefit, the downside is that I didn't actually get all the sides/parts for (2) complete MTH Bank Buildings. Anyway, had I received the second front wall with the columns, entrance doorway etc, I probably would have ended up with a more traditional kit-bash. I do prefer the modified center section with the large arch, I am contemplating different methods for fabricating my own scratchbuilt tall window/entry door assembly out of plastruct parts and either real glass or plexi-glass window.
Here's some photos of the passenger yard tracks.
@chris a posted:Here's some photos of the passenger yard tracks.
Is the station going to be above the tracks?
Good morning Bob, Yes the platform will be roughly 24 deep x 40 long (wide) and will sit above the yard tracks. In the first photo, the 2 tracks to the left and above the yard tracks is the main line, so the plan has been to put the station above the yard and roughly at the height of the main line. I had my chicken and egg debate, do I build the station first, or the platform and decided the station needed to be built first then I could fabricated the platform to serve the station....
The yard tracks are on 4 inch centers, so 5 of them consume about 20 + inches of depth with clearance... The long axis of the station roughly 36 inches as it sits now, will be parallel to the main and yard tracks. The depth of the station which is around 14 inches, leaves me another 10 inches + for roadway so that the 24 - 26 inch platform dimension clears the 20+ wide yard below.
Sorry for the "wordy" explanation....
StrapHanger: One other thought I will share from my experience cutting these parts up. I do as many "straight cuts" as possible on my table saw with a fine tooth blade. I thought I could tilt the blade to 45 degrees and cut through the corners and then have a good seam that I could re-attach. NOT REALLY !!...
After one cut that took a long time to set up, I ended up deciding that I was better off cutting the walls away from the corner, like a 1/2 to 3/4 inch away, and re-bond the new pieces together with super glue. I tried Testors Styrene solvent, but the MTH kits must be made out of ABS. I am told the solvent for ABS is Acetone, but my can of Acetone was empty yesterday so I used CA Gel Glue by Loctite yesterday with good results.
@RSJB18 - Thanks for the inspiration and the link to textures.com!
I decided to add some rock walls inside my tunnel. They will only be visible to the Lionel Caboose Cam that my wife got me for Christmas, so I didn't go crazy with trying to be too precise. That said, this was a very easy and quick way to start doing something I never thought I'd have to do when I started this layout in 2002-03 (i.e. scenic INSIDE tunnels)! LOL
On the work bench:
In the tunnel:
@chris a posted:Thanks for the positive feedback. Matt, based on the amount of cutting and fabricating I am having to do on the center, Main Entrance Hall Section, I am pretty much thinking I will leave the left and right wings alone. One benefit I am seeing at this point, is I have the option, if I need or want to, of decreasing the total width of the station by sliding the left and right wings toward the center. Whether each wing has 3 Palladium windows or 4 Palladium ( round top ) windows isn't going to change the stations overall appearance that much. Once the center hall is near done, then I will determine how wide I will make entire structure.
This station will be sitting on an elevated platform over the passenger yard tracks, so there's still many decisions to make about the elevated platform size, roadway, parking facilities up on the deck, etc. The track spacing below is not wide enough to get into an elaborate platform scene below... having 5 total stub tracks below ( one of which is an "interchange track" ). Having the 5th stub siding, was a higher priority than losing one siding and having platforms between tracks.
StrapHanger: I am not one for "looking back", I should have opened the carton of the cut up parts I purchased, but I didn't. Having the walls cut apart, was somewhat of a benefit, the downside is that I didn't actually get all the sides/parts for (2) complete MTH Bank Buildings. Anyway, had I received the second front wall with the columns, entrance doorway etc, I probably would have ended up with a more traditional kit-bash. I do prefer the modified center section with the large arch, I am contemplating different methods for fabricating my own scratchbuilt tall window/entry door assembly out of plastruct parts and either real glass or plexi-glass window.
Here's some photos of the passenger yard tracks.
Chris:
Please continue posting progress updates on your passenger terminal project. Urban passenger station scenes are among my favorite model railroad likes. I am eager to see the final product when the time arrives.
@chris a posted:Construction of my kit- bashed Union Station has begun ! I am about a day into it. Plans changed due to the parts available as I had purshased what was described as 2 stations already cut up, but project never finished. That's OK after viewing a lot of photos of real and modeled stations, I decided to make a very large arch for the main entrance, rather than use the small factory sized round top windows and doors that come with the MTH kits. Not having enough doors/windows & columns made that decision easy ! At least the plan is coming together as I "wing it" and I am about 8 hours in so far.
Chris:
Superb work! Bravo!!!!!!
So, Today I finished the Traditional size 681 Turbine, gave er a buff n fluff, repaired the smoke and she wanted to make delivers this morning. I was happy to oblige, Blowing smoke rings, she arrived at the Prairie town of Hope 4Layout Valley and crossed the rickety old wooden bridge once again. She pulls smooth and strong. Happy day
@Miggy posted:So, Today I finished the Traditional size 681 Turbine, gave er a buff n fluff, repaired the smoke and she wanted to make delivers this morning. I was happy to oblige, Blowing smoke rings, she arrived at the Prairie town of Hope 4Layout Valley and crossed the rickety old wooden bridge once again. She pulls smooth and strong. Happy day
Why tape over the gi-raffe car? Doesn't the bottom latch work?
Mitch
Forget the tape better watch the lights on the gondola as they bang the bridge hard enough to tilt the car.
Always something to do on the carpet layout. Good points all... lol, Fortescue was shaking his head when he saw the tape. it was handy and, well, without my glasses, tape. The Flashing lights was a temporary thing turned permanent, so, When I find 1/32 cotter pins, ill bracket the lights for the sheep gondola, which also need gorilla glur to the car behind it. That copler is a worst offender of letting loose. It is heavy, but won't pull 5 cars, I mean "A Car".. So the giraffe kept biting the sheep, and he was easier to tape shut.
.....did anyone notice the SMOKE? roflmao, I thought that was cool
Cleaned up a plumbing leak from kitchen - lol
@Miggy posted:That copler is a worst offender of letting loose. It is heavy, but won't pull 5 cars, I mean "A Car"..
https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...hood-keep-em-coupled
So the giraffe kept biting the sheep, and he was easier to tape shut.
(shakes head goodnaturedly)
@Miggy posted:.....did anyone notice the SMOKE? roflmao, I thought that was cool
Smoke rings are common for, and one of the best things, about PostWar steamers..
The other things I love about PostWar engines are Magne-Traction, E-unit buzz, air whistle tenders, bicycle horn diesels, the smell of ozone, ease to repair, reliability, robustness and the nostalgia factor
@Lionelski posted:Smoke rings are common for, and one of the best things, about PostWar steamers..
The other things I love about PostWar engines are Magne-Traction, E-unit buzz, air whistle tenders, bicycle horn diesels, the smell of ozone, ease to repair, reliability, robustness and the nostalgia factor
John, I haven't met you and I already like ya! <salute> Love the drawing on your site of Lionelski!! get lots of hugs, they grow up fast
@geedubcpa posted:Cleaned up a plumbing leak from kitchen - lol
Ruh roh.....🤯
@Miggy posted:John, I haven't met you and I already like ya! <salute> Love the drawing on your site of Lionelski!! get lots of hugs, they grow up fast
Thanks Miggy. Hard to believe that the last PostWar Lionel was made 52 years ago
As to them growing up fast, that 5 year old artist will be 16 this year!
Great work everyone!
Bob the corner project turned out perfect!
Chris A. Your union station is a huge project to undertake. I like where its going and will be doing the best I can to keep up to date on your build.
As for me I did nothing in the train room for that last couple of days and I don't see it happening today. But I hope to get out there tomorrow. I have some wiring to do and have to dig out a couple buildings to kit bash into a row of flats for along behind my service yard along the upper tracks.
I hope everyone stays safe and finds time to have fun with there layout and trains!
Thanks Mike- like you I wish I had more time available to work on it.
Bob
@chris a posted:Construction of my kit- bashed Union Station has begun ! I am about a day into it. Plans changed due to the parts available as I had purshased what was described as 2 stations already cut up, but project never finished. That's OK after viewing a lot of photos of real and modeled stations, I decided to make a very large arch for the main entrance, rather than use the small factory sized round top windows and doors that come with the MTH kits. Not having enough doors/windows & columns made that decision easy ! At least the plan is coming together as I "wing it" and I am about 8 hours in so far.
Chris, great idea coming up with a super-sized realistic bank...big enough to be the "FED!" Look forward to seeing the finished product
Nice work, added to my platform today, using 1/4" wood. Hope I run out of platform, before I run out of wood.
Just about finished cutting and mitering sections of block walls to finish the veneer on the main entrance arch. Found some thin scrap ABS plastic and used it to line the inside of the arch. Laminated two thin strips together so they would make a rigid surface to glue the individual blocks up into the arch.
Also did the coping cuts to make the bump out fit snug up against the side wall on the right side wing. It would have been easier to modify the side wall of the bank building with the 4 windows but then I wouldn't be able to slide the wing to different lengths. I am thinking about shortening the wings to 3 arch top windows which will make the station about 35 inches across and leave room for the deck to have sidewalks and road surface on both sides. We'll see, not a tonight problem.
Yes, way too much cutting/filing/sanding. But hopefully 90% of that tedious work will all be done on the center section.
Thanks for all the positive comments and likes. Any and all suggestions are welcome as I work through this.
My presentation to a NMRA affiliated group on Friday was edited down to this in case you might be interested:
Good morning Chris - thanks for continued posting on the station. Nice work on the central arch. I like the appearance of the left side of the building. Don’t care for the pillars on the right. I’m sure whatever you decide will look great.
@p51 posted:My presentation to a NMRA affiliated group on Friday was edited down to this in case you might be interested:
Great presentation Lee. I skimmed through it but will go back and watch the whole thing over coffee on the weekend.
Bob
I got some ground cover and gravel down last night after dinner. 
Still work to do but I'm happy with the results so far.
I also fired up my new RS-1. MTH did a great job with the sound on this ALCO.
Excellent work, Bob. I love how the gravel road flows seamlessly into the tunnel photo. Very realistic looking.
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