Model Railroad Blog

Brooklyn Terminal Oct. 27

As work progresses on the Brooklyn Terminal Warehouses the overall look of the layout begins to take shape.  For the most part the layout represents the old Bush Terminal’s 1st Avenue corridor in Brooklyn.

 

Standing in the Upper Bay facing the shore with 1st Avenue running down the middle of the bench work.

 

Looking southwesterly down 1st Avenue.

 

The gap between two of the warehouses gives a nice viewing window towards American Can in the distance.

 

I used this warehouse on 1st Avenue as a color guide. I began by using an airbrush to apply a 50/50 mix of Model Master flat white and sand. I then fogged on Model Master camo. gray from their rattle can line.

BT Warehouses October 21, 2018

 

One of the signature features of the Brooklyn warehouses is their prominent exterior elevator shafts.

 

I picked up some 1 x 1 dowels at the Home Depot, made a slight notch in the side of the kit, and glued the wood to the side with CA. I then wrapped the dowel in .060″ styrene.

 

Finally, I trimmed the sides of the shafts with styrene strip and laminated on sheets of brick sheets. Since the sheets are so thin, I didn’t want to use an aggressive, solvent based adhesive. Instead, I sprayed the backs with Super77, added a few specks of thin CA for good measure, and then pressed them in place on top of the .060″ styrene. Since the warehouses themselves will be painted a light gray I wanted to use brick for the shaft sides to add color contrast.

A Good Modeling Subject

My buddy Tolga Erbora sent me this shot he took yesterday in Norfolk.  I thought I’d post it here as it would make a great modeling subject.  Things I picked up on:

  • The pole line in front
  • The tracks on each side of the main sinking into the ground
  • The faded and peeling paint, both the beige face and top crimson band
  • The stand off sign lettering

You can download the original HERE

Thanks Tolga!

 

 

BT Warehouses

One of the signature features of the Brooklyn waterfront are the massive, often identical, warehouses lined up side by side.  Many still stand today and have been upgraded for commercial space.

 

Walthers Hardwood Furniture kits are a plausible fit for the warehouses.  I’ll do some light kitbashing, including adding elevator towers, to make them slightly less recognizable.