Model Railroad Blog

Cuba Tropical Produce – Finished!

Just under the wire!  I finished up the Cuba Tropical Produce scene at 13th Avenue by years end….barely!  This structure, modeled as it appeared prior to 2008, has always been one of my favorites so it’s nice to finally have it wrapped up and on the layout. The box truck signage was made by taking a photo of one of their actual trucks, printing it on an Avery mailing label, and sticking it to the side of a Boley model.  The image was taken with my iPhone (and heavily edited) as I like the lower shooting angle it gives, noticeable lower than a standard SLR.

The Spur, December 24th

Street to backdrop transitions are always a problem.  My idea for a forced perspective structure backdrop flat at the end of 13th Avenue didn’t really work visually.  The high rise apartment building was too much of a landmark to omit.  I re-traced my steps and  went to a more traditional photo backdrop. The edge of the photos against the backdrop is apparent but the lessor of two evils.  To help with the 3D to 2D transition I kept the horizon low, the height of the high rise relatively low, and added a sidewalk between the layout and backdrop.  Since the last posting the chain link fencing for the Bond Plumbing Supply storage lot was finished, a few utility poles were added, static grass applied, and I worked up a Cuba Tropical box truck.

The Spur, December 17

Urban scenery is much more time consuming to construct than its counterpart in mother nature.  Streets, sidewalks, lots, and utility poles generally are more time consuming to construct than the actual structures.  Shown above is the intersection of 13th Avenue and 23rd Street.  The recently completed Cuba Tropical Produce structure has been “planted” on the left.  The grade crossing was made using CustomTraxx street rail with photo laminated pavement between the rails.

I’ve never been totally satisfied with the street transitions from 3D layout to 2D backdrop.  To get around that, I’ve resorted more and more to “T” intersections.  Not as common as a through intersection, they aren’t an oddity either.  In the scene above 13th Ave. tees into 23rd Street which is represented by a narrow, one inch wide roadway running right to left in front of the building flat.  The structure is photo laminated building flat glued to styrene for a hint of depth.  I built it about a third under-size for forced perspective.  You can see a thin sidewalk in front of it.  Note that with building flats I: a) keep the height low and b) hide the edges where it meets the backdrop.

The paved pad to the right will be a pipe storage yard for Bond Plumbing.

It’s hard to believe it took two weekends to get just this much done and it’s likely it will take at least another three more weeks to wrap it up.

Bush Terminal Scouting Report

The character of 51 Street yard is still evident today. This view, facing east, is taken from the location of the old footbridge that so many images were taken from in the Flagg Book. In many ways the look is unchanged. (See Flagg Vol. 1, pg. 122)

 

Sometime early next year I plan on starting on my next adventure, an N scale proto freelance Brooklyn layout, drawing heavy inspiration from the old Bush Terminal (Now NY NJ Rail).  I’ve found that no matter how many books you read, no matter how many photos you study, it’s hard to get a sense of a place without having been there.  It’s just too hard to put things in context.  Last Saturday brought beautiful cloudless skies so I decided to make the four hour drive up to Brooklyn to see the area in person.  It was easy to get to and easy to find.    I was taken aback by how little the area had changed, how much of the original character and structures remain.  Gentrification has yet to set in, yet the area is clean and safe.  Parking is hard to find but I eventually found a place to stuff my car and chose to walk it from end to end and take in the great weather and ambiance of the area.  I started at 41st Avenue and walked up 1st Avenue which still has active street running serving Sims Metal (Mondays I’m told). Next up was the 51st Street Yard.  I was expecting it to be empty and close to abandonment but was surprised to see cars stored there.  The engine house is still there but security is tight and they politely told me to scat (after allowing me to take my photo).  The location of the car float/armory/coal tower has been leveled but the surrounding warehouses remain.  The Brooklyn Army Terminal is unchanged.  On the west end is NY NJ Rail’s 65th Street yard.  Again I was surprised to find it jammed with cars and the switcher hard at work.  The team track had four center beams being unloaded onto trucks.  Second Avenue passes over the yard allowing you to see the activity below.  Heading back to my car I went down 2nd Avenue.  There are numerous eateries near the hospital.  At 41st Street and 2nd Avenue is the iconic structure with the tracks cutting diagonally across the southwest corner.  For those in the mid-Atlantic or visiting the big apple I highly recommend a trip to Brooklyn.

Cobblestone streets with embedded track are still the rule rather than the exception. Except for the track in 1st street, most of the rail is no longer in use.
The old engine house at the east end of the 51st yard is still there.
At 41st St. and 2nd Avenue the tracks cut diagonally across the structure base. Numerous historic photos were taken at this location showing locomotives rounding the bend beneath the building.

 

The best way to experience the old Bush Terminal is to park your car and walk it end to end. There are lots of food options around the hospital.

Cuba Tropical Produce 12/8/17

Tom Klimoski caught the local in front of Cuba Tropical Produce in this 2008 photo. Note how the train has been split to clear the grade crossing in the distance.

 

It took me more years than I would have liked but I’ve finally brought to a close a model of one of my favorite structures on the Spur.  Cuba Tropical Produce is now planted on 13th Avenue on the layout.

Construction techniques were a combination of photo laminates and traditional styrene.  The siding, shingles and signs are photos of the prototype, everything else is painted styrene.  Security bars: Tichy, Gutters: Micro Engineering, AC units: Walthers.  Foundation: PVC “wood”, Dock bumpers, styrene.