Metro Concrete Company part VI

Well I forgot to take closeup photos of the storage silo so these images will have to do for now.

The image below shows the completed storage silo on the right with the mixing building on the left.

I placed the covered hoppers in the scene as a size reference.

I intend to add static grass to the green areas but because I haven't learned to use static grass yet I'll have to practice on something disposable first.

Metro Concrete Company Part V weathering - step 1

I have been taking my time with the weathering on this structure because there is a lot of detail to add. While the age and material of the structure are important when deciding how to weather the structure, the location and what it is used for can also be very important. This model represents a steel silo for powered cement storage. It would be a couple a decades old and probably repainted only once but is located very near saltwater (the harbor). So rust will be the primary weathering feature. This silo has rivets and lots of them. Just about every rivet head will have some rust on it and many will be so rusty the paint is completely gone.

The rivet heads are the most tedious part of the weathering. I could probably spend months adding rust (2 colors) to each rivet head and then adding a small vertical rust streak going down from each rivet, but I would likely be insane when I finished. So this will have to be good enough. 

The next step will be using rust colored powders to blend the rusty areas, When these photos were taken; I had already begun using the powders at the very bottom of the silo. (look at the very bottom row of rivets) Rust blending along the remainder of the structure and cement dust is next.

Metro Concrete Company part IV

I found nice decal stripes for locomotives and decided they would look good on the steel columns at the bottom of the structure.

I applied a little bit of a fade to the letters on this side.

I applied more of a fade on this side because it would face west by south west.

Metro Concrete Company part III

Progress on the cement storage silo. I managed to get the silo primed in time for the WGH show, so  it looked better than in raw plastic. Just after the show the weather cooperated and I was able to paint the silo white.

One the paint dried a couple of days I added the decals. I used some old 1/2" block gothic from Champ Decal company. (went out of business maybe 15+ years ago?)

Once the clear coat is dry I'll add a fade to the red letters. I'll use water-mixable oil paint applied with a hand brush to do the fade.

The results with be on the next post.

Worlds Greatest Hobby on Tour

WGH came to Raleigh January 17,18 and The NC S&SS along with the Wilmington Railroad Museum were allocated a very large space for a layout. Many Thanks to Randy Bachman of WGH for allow us such a large space for a layout.

The space allocated was 150'x100', or 15,000 sf. The final footprint of the layout was actually 144'x90', but when you figure in that the crowd barriers are offset from the layout 3-4' in all directions, the total space used was essentially 150'x100'. The total mainline length was near 860' or about 14.5 scale miles. Unfortunately this was not a maximum size for the layout. There were a couple of members who were not able to attend or bring modules due to unforeseen circumstances, or scheduling conflicts. So about 100' of modules were not in the layout. Perhaps in November the layout will reach maximum size.

Here are some photos taken from a balcony.

Metro Concrete Company Part II

Progress on the storage silo has been on the safety cage and ladder to the top of the silo. I used 2 Tichy kits to get to the top. This is the first time I've built the Tichy kit and it was more challenging than I had expected. I attached the cage loops to the ladders first and then attached the bottom ladder to the silo by drilling small holes for a couple of very fine wire loops to secure the ladder to the side. Next the first platform was located and holes drilled for the wires to attach it. Then the second ladder and platform. The vertical straps of the safety cage (3 for each ladder) was glue to the support loops. Not an easy task and they are not straight, but there is nothing I can do about it now. I think the problem is that the cage supports are not all attached perpendicular to the ladder. Something to think about....

The last leg of ladder has yet to be installed. That will come after I attach the silo top. The top will have a railing around the perimeter.

Next to do is top railing, some exterior lighting and final assembly then primer.

The unloading shed was painted primer grey inside and out. A non-working light fixture will be attached just above the railcar doorway.

My good friend Jeff suggested I add some bracing to the interior. I like the results, thanks Jeff!

Next for this is weathering and signage.