Beautiful ship, Pete. I love the little details that bring it to life; cables and yards, ladders, the anchor winch. Looks like she is ready to head out! Yeah, we hijacked the thread...or did we? Some ships are in fact shiny, and hey, we got distracted! Amanda
Bridges are shiny too. The bridges are built from styrene parts, wire, thread, paper and wood. The bottom lift bridge is a 2/3rds N scale version of the lift bridge on Cape Cod. A full version was just too big for this scene. I've made it double-tracked. The prototype is a single track. So the lift span is only 400 feet, rather than 600 feet. The prototype would have overpowered the harbor entrance. One problem is that I didn't consider the 1/3rd reduction in height! The real bridge rises about 135 feet above the water, an informal Naval standard; mine rises only 90 feet. Ooops. I have an operating rule that only one train is allowed on the bridge at a time, at 10 MPH. It really doesn't create much of a backup, though. Small USCG cutters are always pristine, which counts as shiny.
Sadly our harbor dosent get a cutter (we get two little inflatable craft for our Coast Guard guys n gals) nor an icebreaker...buuut, If I went through with this, I would probably, ya know...apply modelers license. Cause yes, cutters are great little ships, icebreakers are just cool (no pun intended) and the Coast Guard, in general, rocks. Thanks for the pics Pete, REALLY helping me stay focused over here...
Hey Amanda, If you want to know more about Second gen Diesel locomotives. I can recommend a couple of good books for you. http://www.amazon.com/Contemporary-Diesel-Spotters-Railroad-Reference/dp/0890242577 And http://www.amazon.com/Second-Diesel-Spotters-Including-Industrial/dp/0890240264/ref=pd_sim_b_1
Love those inflatables--they can really move. Guess I shouldn't post pictures of my Navy tugs? Or other small ships (less than 200 feet in length)? I look upon them as jewels rather than shiny things. And they are a whole less lot work.
