Italian HO scale modular layout - WIP

minesweeper Feb 27, 2018

  1. minesweeper

    minesweeper TrainBoard Member

    636
    1,286
    37
    Missed picture:
    IMG_5534.jpg
    showing the door trim.
     
  2. traingeekboy

    traingeekboy TrainBoard Member

    5,677
    580
    82
    Yeah, the look of structures that are just sitting there is a real bummer. A structure sits inside of the platform and not on it. Maybe you can do something really simple like a tiny bit of some kind of putty to merge the two things. Perhaps even a tiny bit of the oily model "clay" that stays flexible to fill the cracks?

    Your real structure picture seems to have some kind of bottom edge, or trim, on it. Maybe that would help hide the floating feeling.
     
  3. minesweeper

    minesweeper TrainBoard Member

    636
    1,286
    37
    Geek, the trim you see in the picture is just what I would like to do.
    I will use plastic plates from BRAWA that replicate concrete bricks.
    You see them put as cable guides among the tracks on the previous pictures.
    I will just cut the plate so the bricks sit sideways instead of one after the other, and will use a different shade of grey.
     
  4. traingeekboy

    traingeekboy TrainBoard Member

    5,677
    580
    82
    An odd idea. What if you glue those plates onto your platform and then the building slips into the plates?
     
  5. minesweeper

    minesweeper TrainBoard Member

    636
    1,286
    37
    Would do but these will be vertical, so the glue bond won't be enough to keep these and the building on site.
     
  6. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member

    2,626
    5,747
    69
    Look good to me!
     
    Hardcoaler likes this.
  7. minesweeper

    minesweeper TrainBoard Member

    636
    1,286
    37
    Got a little bit further by starting the roof.
    Tiles will be done later using undulated paperboard.. so the roof structure does not have to be exactly accurate
    IMG_5548.JPG
    IMG_5552.JPG

    To create some little scenes to the portion of platform between the water tower and the station (the depot building will be right on the next module edge - so far left in the following pictures), by looking at the pieces box I found out material to create a small monument to deceased railroaders (we have quite a few in memory of the wars and normal accidents).
    The two ideas are below
    IMG_5550.JPG

    IMG_5551.JPG

    The idea is to have the monument on the right side (two different ideas, please comment), and a little garden on the left side, where the water fountain is.
     
    Hardcoaler, BoxcabE50 and dalebaker like this.
  8. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member

    2,626
    5,747
    69
    I like the idea of a memorial. You would rarely if ever see such a thing in the U.S.
     
    Hardcoaler likes this.
  9. minesweeper

    minesweeper TrainBoard Member

    636
    1,286
    37
    I can imagine a private RR does not want reminders of accidents, here in Europe we also unfortunately had two wars creating quite a lot of destruction and trains were priority targets during WW for aircraft. We had a lot of railwaymen killed.
    The specific area I am modeling was actually quite ravaged as it lays where the Gustav line kept the allies stuck for the whole winter of 1943/44, the rail lines in the area were basically reduced to dirt roads... if you look online at the "Cassino highway" you may recognize that this was the double track RR right of way.
    Here an example of a Bailey bridge posed on the rubble from the former RR bridge.
    [​IMG]

    And the link to the interesting website on Railway reconstruction in Italy during WW2
    http://www.trenidicarta.it/reconstruction/contents.html
    good info for anyone modeling war zones
     
    Hardcoaler and BoxcabE50 like this.
  10. minesweeper

    minesweeper TrainBoard Member

    636
    1,286
    37
    The weekend was fruitful as I finished the roof of the water tower using waved cardboard (3$ for 2 square foot).
    The first line
    IMG_5565.jpg

    and the complete job
    IMG_5572.jpg
     
  11. minesweeper

    minesweeper TrainBoard Member

    636
    1,286
    37
    Troubled start of weekend as I was planning to put a couple of pines on the garden between the water tower and the station.
    Unfortunately I noticed these trees have no trunks, therefore they are unsuitable for the garden and the memorial.....
    so, thinking and fiddling on the boxes, I found a big "signature tree" and changed the plan: no more pines, but a big deciduous signature tree.
    This is the first trial
    IMG_5586.jpg

    however, the colour of the wood is too light....
    How can I darken to make it more realistic?
    I can use a brush for the trunk, but I do not know what to do with the branches (would not like to spray as the house master - aka my wife - will not like it at all).
    Should end up like the left one in the picture (the right is another from the same box of the big one)
    IMG_5588.jpg

    To finish up, a closeup of the memorial
    IMG_5587.jpg

    Of course we are stil missing:
    gravel, grass, a couple of benches on the other side of the tree.....
     
    Hardcoaler and gjslsffan like this.
  12. minesweeper

    minesweeper TrainBoard Member

    636
    1,286
    37
    Sorry it double posted due to my bad internet connection
     
  13. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member

    2,626
    5,747
    69
    I suppose you could mix a thin wash of brownish tan in a bowl and just dip the tree in it.
     
  14. minesweeper

    minesweeper TrainBoard Member

    636
    1,286
    37
    I tried but unfortunately the paint did not stick (looks like the wood is too hard and does not absorb water and paint).
    Looks like i will have to spray anyway.
    I put some more branches[​IMG]

    Inviato dal mio BLN-L21 utilizzando Tapatalk
     
  15. minesweeper

    minesweeper TrainBoard Member

    636
    1,286
    37
    Further progress,
    got the right side done with the small gate and the fountain, the tree is still to be sprayed, but still looks BIG!

    IMG_5654.jpg IMG_5657.jpg IMG_5659.jpg IMG_5660.jpg IMG_5661.jpg

    After spraying and getting the small garden done, it will be the terrible part of wiring all accessories :( Gosh, I HATE wiring!

    Then module one will be done.... (except catenary, but that will have to wait until the end)
     
    NScaleKen and Hardcoaler like this.
  16. Yannis

    Yannis TrainBoard Member

    188
    311
    9
    Very very nice work! I really like the theme as well. Now you need some parking space for a few alfa romeos.
     
    Hardcoaler likes this.
  17. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member

    2,626
    5,747
    69
    I like the details, the cracks and chips in the concrete are nice touches.
     
  18. minesweeper

    minesweeper TrainBoard Member

    636
    1,286
    37
    Easier done than said.....
    IMG_5662.jpg
    ...and.... that's the granddaughter, but 1/1 scale (there is no 159 in HO, and anyway is outside the layout timeframe) :D:D:D:D:D:D
    alfaavatar copia.jpg

    These are the other alfas on the layout.... (a duetto spider, two giulias and one alfasud)

    IMG_5663.jpg
     
  19. Yannis

    Yannis TrainBoard Member

    188
    311
    9
    Great collection Maurizio!!!
    Alfa fan here, I got a 1-1 alfa myself as well, and have a 33 stradale in 1/87 scale, suitable for my era/locale (California 1969). The rest are 1/43.
    Looking forward to seeing more of this
    Yannis
     
    Hardcoaler likes this.
  20. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

    10,678
    44,876
    142
    Yes, it's a fine thing to add to a layout. When I was young, I recall a large cast bronze plaque in the waiting room at Northwestern Station in Chicago, IL that had the names of C&NW employees that had made the supreme sacrifice in WW-II. The station has since been razed and I sometimes wonder what became of the plaque.
     

Share This Page