This weekend I wrapped up the last big project on the layout, the harbor tug. It was hard to pick which color scheme to go with given there are so many striking prototype options, the NY Dock and Erie being favorites. Now that I see the finished vessel on the layout going with the New York Central scheme was the right play in terms of contrasting with the existing scenery without being too over the top.
The Sylvan kit is really well done and comes at a bargain price to boot. If I were willing to allocate more time to the project I would have rooted around online for more aftermarket etched brass fittings, especially the ladders and stairs. I would also have bit the bullet in the patience department and gone with the kit supplied etched hand rail stanchions instead of using a substitute from my scrap box.
As I mentioned in my last post “if” I do an East Rail 2 it would be placed in the same location in my shop as the original. My biggest concern is dust control. It took awhile to find this photo but it shows my previous attempts to get a handle on things by draping plastic sheet down from the valence and then clipping it to the bottom of the layout. It wasn’t as effective as you’d think which is a real head scratcher.
Work continues on the harbor tug. I learned the hard way that you need to take some time prepping a resin kit’s surface prior to painting. If you don’t, your hard work carefully applying a paint job will peel right off when you strip away the masking tape. I gave the parts a good soaking and scrubbing in a degreaser early on. As the model came together I then gave it an airbrush primer coat and let that sit a few days.
I had a hard time deciding what paint scheme to go with given there are so many great choices. The deep green of the Erie and NY Dock were my favorites but I was afraid the color wouldn’t stand out in photos. The faded tangerine of other lines was a favorite too but I felt that might be too visually jarring. In the end I settled on the New York Central for inspiration.
The local out of Hialeah shifts back and forth besides COD Seafood as it works Sentry Chlorine in this iconic East Rail scene.
An idle mind is the devil’s playground. As I wrap up the Brooklyn Terminal layout I’ve been increasingly thinking about “what’s next”? I’ve found that if you don’t fight your thoughts, don’t worry about being pragmatic, and don’t overthink what you “should” do, the answer will eventually surface.
To that end I’ve been increasingly thinking about doing an East Rail 2. It was one of my most successful layouts from an enjoyment standpoint and the shelf brackets from East Rail 1 are still in place.
Photo showing the corner of my shop where the original East Rail railroad was located. All of the brackets are still on the wall.
I’m mulling over two issues. First, can you ever really go home again? Would a version 2 fall short of the original? I think I’m o.k here. It may be less popular with the modeling public but I’m pretty sure I’d find it just as satisfying. My modeling skills have improved since version 1 and I think I could do a much better job this time. The second, and bigger issue, is dust and temperature control. The layout would be located in the corner of my custom layout building business shop. With the first layout I found dust to be a real issue. Surprisingly, draping a curtain of plastic down from the valence and clipping it to the bottom fascia wasn’t as effective as you’d think. Once dust gets airborne it finds a way to get everywhere. Also related to environment is the issue of temperature control. During periods where I don’t have a project in the shop I don’t keep it as warm. The new layout will make much larger use of photo wallpaper. How will it stand up to the harsher environment?
Shown above is the plan for East Rail 2. The bench work footprint would be the same as would be the main line route and overall look. I found the original plan had more track than I needed to spin off my typical 30 minute solo op. session so I’ve eliminated two spurs to free up room. Weeks Gas and Sentry from the old plan are no longer there. Although not purely prototypical on the whole, the newer plan would incorporate much more prototypically accurate structures.
As a basis of comparison, here’s the plan of East Rail 1.On the new layout the SALCO Industries structure shown above would occupy the former location of Colmar Storage on ER1.Although not rail served, I plan to incorporate this interesting scene centered on Southeastern Recycling.
So, while I’m not 100 per cent committed to the idea of an East Rail reboot, I’m getting closer and closer, particularly if I can work out the dust control issue. Stay tuned.
The last major construction project on the Brooklyn Terminal is building a harbor tug. The Sylvan Models product is a nice, well designed kit that is fairly straightforward to build. The challenge will be coming up with a way of doing the pilot house windows and the handrails in a way that doesn’t look overly thick. Commercially made etched brass handrails should be easy to find. The windows? Hmmm. Those could be more challenging.
