Downtown LA
underway
underway
This is the third building undertaken for my Z Scale LA Division Layout. Constructed out of 1/4" Acrylic and Styrene strips, the model
was drawn in Corel Draw and cut on a Laser. I wanted to show the back end of a building that was modified or closed up by adding
brick work in the windows. To get the sunken effect I first Rastered down the blank in the window opening and then etched the brick
detail. I wanted the bricks to be beyond the outer surface of the structure.
Once I got it together, I primed it with Auto Body sand able primer out of a spray can...this filled up a lot of the sanding marks. The rest
were treated with Tamaya Surface Putty and re-sanded as necessary. At this point I sanded down to the acrylic base around the top of
the building, and added the trim detail and the roof. A final coat of primer and then I shot the whole thing with Tester's Duck Egg Blue
with White lower trim. Hard to see in the photo's, but common in big cities especially in the Southwest...adds a nice detail.
The brick insets were done by creating a paper mask of the window opening and spraying with a medium brown. It was then wet
washed with Tamaya Black Chalk mixed with water to bring out the score lines. White was my first choice, but it vanished when
applied. Besides, the black randomly stains the brick making for an good effect. Then the entire building was weathered with chalks
to age it a bit.
The water tank on the roof was from the MTL/Robert Ray Lineside release a few months ago sans the building. That will be used
elsewhere on a vacant lot. Again, using washes of chalk I weathered and aged the whole thing.
I wanted to represent a portion of what's called the "Rat Hole" in LA so I made a through passage with a loading dock recessed behind
the pillars. When installed, a siding will pass through the building, across a street on both sides and eventually wind up on the other
side of the module. The building sets next to the Santa Fe overpass and helps block the blind end of the bridge from line of sight.
The sign was made from styrene and Woodland Scenic rub on transfers. I only rubbed down part of the logo to get the chipped look.
was drawn in Corel Draw and cut on a Laser. I wanted to show the back end of a building that was modified or closed up by adding
brick work in the windows. To get the sunken effect I first Rastered down the blank in the window opening and then etched the brick
detail. I wanted the bricks to be beyond the outer surface of the structure.
Once I got it together, I primed it with Auto Body sand able primer out of a spray can...this filled up a lot of the sanding marks. The rest
were treated with Tamaya Surface Putty and re-sanded as necessary. At this point I sanded down to the acrylic base around the top of
the building, and added the trim detail and the roof. A final coat of primer and then I shot the whole thing with Tester's Duck Egg Blue
with White lower trim. Hard to see in the photo's, but common in big cities especially in the Southwest...adds a nice detail.
The brick insets were done by creating a paper mask of the window opening and spraying with a medium brown. It was then wet
washed with Tamaya Black Chalk mixed with water to bring out the score lines. White was my first choice, but it vanished when
applied. Besides, the black randomly stains the brick making for an good effect. Then the entire building was weathered with chalks
to age it a bit.
The water tank on the roof was from the MTL/Robert Ray Lineside release a few months ago sans the building. That will be used
elsewhere on a vacant lot. Again, using washes of chalk I weathered and aged the whole thing.
I wanted to represent a portion of what's called the "Rat Hole" in LA so I made a through passage with a loading dock recessed behind
the pillars. When installed, a siding will pass through the building, across a street on both sides and eventually wind up on the other
side of the module. The building sets next to the Santa Fe overpass and helps block the blind end of the bridge from line of sight.
The sign was made from styrene and Woodland Scenic rub on transfers. I only rubbed down part of the logo to get the chipped look.
I left a few windows open and laser cut frames out of
think board stock and painted green. These are backed
with clear styrene. The next step will be to add light
boxes behind each window so I can control the lighting
effects in each office as necessary. Lights will also be
added in the thru portion of the building to illuminate the
cars being unloaded. I plan on using a yellow filter to
get that sort of smoky, greased up look you see in old
Elks Lodges and the like.
The final step will be to add the window sills. I left these
off until the end so I could paint them white and then
apply them. Masking or hand painting would have been
a mess. A very small smear of silicone adhesive will
keep them in place after I scratch away a bit of the paint
there. As I am modeling all my modules to reflect 1960
or so, I've left off graffiti.
think board stock and painted green. These are backed
with clear styrene. The next step will be to add light
boxes behind each window so I can control the lighting
effects in each office as necessary. Lights will also be
added in the thru portion of the building to illuminate the
cars being unloaded. I plan on using a yellow filter to
get that sort of smoky, greased up look you see in old
Elks Lodges and the like.
The final step will be to add the window sills. I left these
off until the end so I could paint them white and then
apply them. Masking or hand painting would have been
a mess. A very small smear of silicone adhesive will
keep them in place after I scratch away a bit of the paint
there. As I am modeling all my modules to reflect 1960
or so, I've left off graffiti.
mock-up of LA
river module
river module
Here are a few quick shots of the module under development.
The top two photos were done to get an idea of color and balance
and how the background will read. Since this is Southern
California I wanted to use a stylized rendering reflecting the colors
used on Fruit Packing crates of the early 20th Century. Not photo
realistic, but since this is designed to capture an era, I felt this will
work ok.
Down the center you see the LA River blocked in and ready for
some paint and texture. The lower photo is an end overall shot,
you can see a bridge crossing that will end in a second module
that will feature Large Oil tanks. I'm using 12" Diameter acrylic
tube cut down to 5" tall with covers. Not going to get to crazy with
the details there though. On the far end of the module is the Santa
Fe Right Away that crosses the LA river on an elevated Concrete
Viaduct. This is a "bridge to nowhere" :o) and will be used to
show cars in a static environment.
The top two photos were done to get an idea of color and balance
and how the background will read. Since this is Southern
California I wanted to use a stylized rendering reflecting the colors
used on Fruit Packing crates of the early 20th Century. Not photo
realistic, but since this is designed to capture an era, I felt this will
work ok.
Down the center you see the LA River blocked in and ready for
some paint and texture. The lower photo is an end overall shot,
you can see a bridge crossing that will end in a second module
that will feature Large Oil tanks. I'm using 12" Diameter acrylic
tube cut down to 5" tall with covers. Not going to get to crazy with
the details there though. On the far end of the module is the Santa
Fe Right Away that crosses the LA river on an elevated Concrete
Viaduct. This is a "bridge to nowhere" :o) and will be used to
show cars in a static environment.
If your in LA during the 50's, these were
common sites around the outlying
communities. This is the initial test shot
to size everything up. Next comes the
Hammer Head (working pumps) to
bring it to life.
common sites around the outlying
communities. This is the initial test shot
to size everything up. Next comes the
Hammer Head (working pumps) to
bring it to life.
Links to two sites featuring
some of the best SOCAL
modeling around
some of the best SOCAL
modeling around
Here's the first stage of the Davies Warehouse. I still need to
add windows and the etched fire escapes. This building was
laser cut from 1/8 acrylic sheet...lots more details to add.
add windows and the etched fire escapes. This building was
laser cut from 1/8 acrylic sheet...lots more details to add.
Here are some shots of the Downtown portion of the
layout. Still tons of work to do, but it's starting to look
like a busy place.
layout. Still tons of work to do, but it's starting to look
like a busy place.
Davies warehouse
OIL DERRICKS
downtown la development
z scale 22' round nose trailer
for the southern pacific
transportation co.
for the southern pacific
transportation co.
Pattern work underway tonight. Here is the remake of the
SP Van pictured with the Davies Warehouse. Found a real
unit in Weed Ca, and had to reduce the pattern by 25%.
Nothing like good research! This will be molded upside
down with the underframe and then decorated in Daylight
Colors. This will be one of six different van and flatbed
patterns I want to create to populate the layout. The PMT
(Pacific Motor Trucking) Company along with other freight
lines were very active during the 1950's, so it's important to
have plenty of vans and trucks to provide regional shipping
on the layout.
SP Van pictured with the Davies Warehouse. Found a real
unit in Weed Ca, and had to reduce the pattern by 25%.
Nothing like good research! This will be molded upside
down with the underframe and then decorated in Daylight
Colors. This will be one of six different van and flatbed
patterns I want to create to populate the layout. The PMT
(Pacific Motor Trucking) Company along with other freight
lines were very active during the 1950's, so it's important to
have plenty of vans and trucks to provide regional shipping
on the layout.
Riverside Packing plant district
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General layout of 6' module showing Riverside Packing
plants. This area is serviced by UP, ATSF and SP
plants. This area is serviced by UP, ATSF and SP