Riveting Detail

Faux Finish Fascia

click on images for larger version….

I decided to do a faux finish on the fascia to mimic an old rusty piece of steel.  To start I used hardwood plugs to imitate rivets along the edge of the layout. 1/2″ holes were drilled 3″ apart along the top and bottom (top only completed in this image)

216 rivets were used. I counted.

Being short on time (I was doing this on Thursday for a show on Saturday) I decided to use a spray on primer that would dry very quick. One of the nice effects of this primer was it created a authentic texture to the surface.

Once the primer was dry I gave the edge a base coat of an orangy rusty colour.

Once the base coat was dry a watered down reddish browny paint was brushed onto the orangy rusty colour.

After applying the reddish browny colour the colour is blotted off with a damp sponge creating a texture.

I worked my way around layout applying 3 or 4 layers, each layer would create a deeper red colour to the rust effect. This image is after about 2 applications.

The next day a few more applications were added, along with some dark gray colouring along the bottom edge.

The dog barked his approval.

I’m quite happy with the results, it seems right at home on this style of layout, it looks like the front edge of a car barge that has seen lots of use in salt water.

This pretty much wraps up the benchwork construction for the layout, at least for now.  Next up, rebuilding a brass boxcab for the terminal!

On to Next Section

-T.

About the Author:

I'm your host, Tim Warris, a product developer in Port Dover, Ontario. Since March of 2007 I have been documenting the construction of the former CNJ Bronx Terminal in HO scale. For my day job, I design track building tools for Fast Tracks, a small company I own and operate. Fast Tracks makes it fast and easy to hand lay your own trackwork. Stop by our website to learn more!

Posted by: Tim | 04-06-2008 | 09:04 PM
Posted in: Benchwork Construction | Latest Posts | Comments (7)

Finishing the Fascia

Last bit of construction.

Yay!

Before I can finish off the fascia I still need to frame it in with plywood to give the Masonite I will be using proper support. Since this layout will likely get handled a lot I don’t want a flimsy fascia, the scorn of many a layout.

The curved edges required a bit of extra structure below the layout so the Masonite would be supported top and bottom.

Plywood added along the waterfront. 3/4″ Baltic birch cabinet grade plywood was used for maximum strength.

Borrowing the technique for laminating cabinets I decided to use water based contact cement to adhere the Masonite to the layout. This eliminates the need for screws and filler.

Contact cement has to be applied to both surfaces being glued together. The glue has to dry to tacky state and when the two surfaces touch, the bond is completed. You only get one try.

Typically the two surfaces do not require clamping, but the sharp radius around the outside edge was a bit much for the bond. Clamping the pieces will help form a very solid bond.

After about an hour the clamps can be removed and the bond is complete.

Using a laminate trimmer (router) the Masonite is cut off flush with the plywood. The Masonite I glued to the plywood was much wider then necessary, about 2″ per side. When wrapping around a corner it is very easy to get it a bit crooked, leaving lots extra to trim off after will ensure a perfect edge.

The other sections received the same treatment.

It was suggested to finish off the front of the layout in a rusty finish, which I think is a great idea and would suit the layout very well. I decided to also add some fake rivets as well.

On to Next Section

-T.

About the Author:

I'm your host, Tim Warris, a product developer in Port Dover, Ontario. Since March of 2007 I have been documenting the construction of the former CNJ Bronx Terminal in HO scale. For my day job, I design track building tools for Fast Tracks, a small company I own and operate. Fast Tracks makes it fast and easy to hand lay your own trackwork. Stop by our website to learn more!

Posted by: Tim | 04-06-2008 | 09:04 PM
Posted in: Benchwork Construction | Latest Posts | Comments (1)

Layout Tour

Cambridge, Ontario

The Bronx Terminal layout set up at the registration building for the Doubleheaders Layout Tour yesterday. It was a good day with 850 people signing up for the tour.

-T.

About the Author:

I'm your host, Tim Warris, a product developer in Port Dover, Ontario. Since March of 2007 I have been documenting the construction of the former CNJ Bronx Terminal in HO scale. For my day job, I design track building tools for Fast Tracks, a small company I own and operate. Fast Tracks makes it fast and easy to hand lay your own trackwork. Stop by our website to learn more!

Posted by: Tim | 04-06-2008 | 09:04 AM
Posted in: Picture of the Day | Comments Off on Layout Tour