Over the tracks parking garage and new shops.

John Moore Aug 27, 2022

  1. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    Well finally my supplies for the parking garage platform have shipped at last. So maybe I will be working on it by this weekend. Also the center island platform for the train station has shipped and since it is just a state away should be here also by this weekend. Meanwhile the parking garage platform has developed a bow on the top so it is sitting on the layout with weight piled on top.

    So I am keeping myself busy with the Greenmax shops. The kit parts are nicely done with little to no flash. All the parts fit smoothly with no issues, Japanese quality. Plenty of options on roof and other equipment details and options on the type of front window glazing. I will be fitting the first two with interior scenes on the ground floor.

     
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  2. DeaconKC

    DeaconKC TrainBoard Member

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    John, the left roof looks like it has a Gonk droid from Star Wars on it!
     
  3. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    The first two Greenmax buildings have been completed and are slated to be installed on the former station parking lot. They will back up against the new parking garage and face in towards the city center. Thus the attention to the roof detail on these. The first structure is a Target on all three floors. The predecessor to Target actually dates to 1902 so I have no issues shoehorning an early edition into my timeline.

    The 2nd structure has a sports goods store on the 1st floor, a cafe' and coffeeshop on the 2nd floor, and a hair and nail salon on the 3rd floor. Both buildings have elevators and the machine room for them is the little structure on the roof. Seen on the blue building is a kitchen hood exhaust for the cafe' coffee shop, The parts sprue included those details.




    The next two buildings will be apartments with one maybe having a Japanese steakhouse on the ground floor.
     
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  4. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    Started work on the 3rd Greenmax structure. Faced with a diminishing footprint because of the smaller end of the parking lot I took several pieces and used them to measure. Turns out all I need was to reduce the depth of the building, have tools so let the cutting begin. This one is destined to become a 3 story walk up boarding house. Greenmax has an ideal lobby for this building included in their kit. Looks like the remaining building parts are going to be in todays post so I can return to work on the parking garage.

    And the result of the cut down.

     
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  5. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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  6. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    Completed the major construction work today on the parking garage.





    Now what remains is a lot of paint touch up and adding some details such as lights. Before I can set it in the plaster I have to work on the site for the 3 story shops while that is open and easy to get to.
     
  7. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    Yesterday I started on the install of the new train station and slowly ballasting it in section at a time, and still at it today. I also installed the platform elevator up to the station. And yes there are elevator call buttons on the right side at wheelchair height.


    Since the old station was a combo freight and passenger I designed a section as freight and baggage/mail handling. Took part of the old platform section and designed a rail to truck transfer platform. The freight office is on the center platform.


    Once the glue sets on the ballast I will check for any areas needing more ballast, clean up. and then start adding details. The parking garage installs just ahead of this.


    Just about finished the 3rd Greenmax building, this one a walk up boarding house.


    This caters to primarily rail crews who work the night shift. Thus the shades are down while they get some shut eye.

    I still have work that needs to be done on this one. You can see from this shot where I cut the structure down to fit the footprint.

     
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  8. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    Well last night I moved the parking garage onto the layout and carefully fit the support legs into the excavations. Then I mixed a fine slurry of plaster and with the big 100 ml syringe and needle injected the plaster into the holes half filling them. My idea worked like a charm and this morning I mixed more plaster and topped off the excavations. By late afternoon the 2nd pour had set and I started to landscape under the parking garage. Use a small paint brush to move the ballast around and then I put the syringe to use once more to apply a dilute mix of Elmers glue to set up the material. Still a lot of detail work to do and I have started my 4th Greenmax building.


     
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  9. DeaconKC

    DeaconKC TrainBoard Member

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    Very impressive! Well done Sir!
     
  10. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    Been ill for a few weeks so not much if any work was done on the garage or station. Worked maybe a hour each day if at all. Just about have the baggage area of the station done.


    Reinstalled Kato's coffee and sandwich shop on the center island.


    Installed seated passengers.


    More seated passengers and a pay telephone.


    Up on the parking garage deck I installed a news stand and pay booth for the parking plus another pay telephone and a trash can.


    Plus just arrived in the last few days clocks and lights for the station and the parking garage plus not shown are a bunch of little picnic tables for both locations.

     
  11. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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  12. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    Well got the grade crossing in at the foot of the ramp to the parking garage. Now for clean up and paint touch up and some better center lines. Installed more traffic lights plus crossing arms and lights. Probably going to install a street light here also. I have some standing and walking folks to install on the station platform and elsewhere that are now in country from Japan. Landscaping material to replace and vehicles to replace and then a general clean up and a good track cleaning.

     
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  13. badlandnp

    badlandnp TrainBoard Member

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    Just catching up, wow! What a nicely done build! You never cease to amaze me for just how much you get put into a small space!
     
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