Large Scale Central

A small cinder block building for my club modules

Modeling
#1

So last year at at NELSTS was the first time I setup my modules at a show. I had acquired 2 from a member who no longer wanted to participate and so excited to add my own staging behind them I neglected the fact the 2 public facing modules were essentially “empty lots”. That was until I came in on Saturday morning to find someone had placed a small freight house on one of my modules so it wouldn’t be so bare. :worried:

I went out to the garage 2 days before the Railroad Hobby Show to ready the modules and realized something needed to be done to avoid another embarrassment. I quickly drew up a small building based on a design published in April 1990 RMC. The sides and roof are cut on the CNC with a 1mm end mill from 5mm PVC smooth drop ceiling tile. I drew up and printed some basic windows and door. The roof got painted flat black primer the night before heading out to the show. It’s not complete but with a few diecast models and printed figures made a passable generic shop scene.

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3 Likes
#2

Can I get you to cut some walls for me? :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye: I have a small ( well for me) cinder block building in the someday list. Your building looks great.

#3

It looked great. I wouldn’t worry so much about a bare module. My first visit in probably 2005, the Central CT G Gauger’s layout was all bare modules painted green. Some 20 years later there are still several bare modules with that same ugly green paint!

#4

I did notice that, it came out great!

#5

It seems our club has higher standards. It’s understandable with newly constructed modules but we are asked to strive for ballasted scenic modules.
I get it. The NHGRS layout is the largest G gauge modular in the world. We don’t want folks saying that much of it is just track on plywood. :slightly_smiling_face:

1 Like
#6

Dan is the ballast on your module the walnut shells you posted on another thread?

#7

No. Currently it’s granite and I know I did a lousy job!

#8

Better than sand, no? haha

I didn’t realize you’d done that building last-minute. Never would have guessed that!

#9

It looked great Dan and for last minute WOW.

#10

This building came together so quick and easy I’m looking at this again! :thinking:

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1 Like
#11

That…is…awesome! I cannot wait to see that take shape!

Eric

#12

That is a great looking station Dan. It might be a bit big for your module but you should build it. :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:

It reminds me of the large factory I built for the 2021 Mik challenge.

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2 Likes
#13

Thanks Todd. It’s something I’ve thought about for awhile now. It would need to be a new custom module that’s shifted forward as there is only 4" center rail to the outer edge on our club standard ones. I’ve been discussing clearances with the other club members as there are some that run F scale. If you get a chance can you tell me your overhead clearance and distance from center rail to platform edge?

#14

In the photo I posted the factory was only in that spot for photos. There was too much snow to get it to its designated spot. The 2 loading tracks curve in off a 16000 switch and the center line to the edge of the platform is 3" on one and 3.5 on the other. That might be too tight for the F scale trains? The height from the rail head is 9". If these were run through tracks on the main I would have made it 10" tall.

I liked the F scale modules on the club RR. The bandstand with the piano was really good.

#15

I was wondering about this myself. I want to build a bridge!

#16

@manimal Did you happen to see my clearances question to the club members? Jeff said 3.5" horizontal clearance and 12" vertical. This is what I’ll be using for clearances for a covered cedar bridge.

#17

Yes. Same numbers I got. That will be one huge covered bridge!

#18

I’m assuming we’re talking module standard clearances. I noticed a 7/8" scale module or two. I wonder if that spec works with 7/8. I’m pretty sure it’s plenty for Fn3. Height is probably for 1:29 double stacks.

#19

Yes. the clearances are specific to the NHGRS “Big Green” modules and equipment owned and run by the club members including the one member with 7/8ths scale.