DPM Powerhouse re-imagineering


CNR Glen

Member
I have a scenic divider on my layout to divide the larger city from my rural area. My mainline goes through the divider/backdrop and I have to try to diguise the hole.
I remembered an old article by Art Curren in an 80's Model Railroader that tackled the same problem using a structure stradling the track.
I found that DPM's powerhouse structure would fit the bill, but I couldn't use the entire kit, more like a low-profile building against the backdrop. Since I didn't need all the kit I bought the modular parts to build what I needed (much cheaper too)
http://woodlandscenics.woodlandscenics.com/show/Item/35600/page/1
As it turns out I could only use half the building and I had to alter the front of the building so the track can go through.
I started to design the front wall.
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The original kit was only 1 storey on the front and I changed it to 2 to there is a storey over the tracks. I also plan to have a spur going into the building to deliver coal for the boiler. After figuring out the front I glued all the panels together. One thing I almost screwed up on are the Pillasters that hold the wall sections together. There are two sizes included a narrow and a wide. The narrow ones are only used on the corners, the wide ones are for joining the walls together.
This afternoon I glued all the walls together.
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I've done some work on the front wall with the tall windows. Since I increased the lower wall by 1 storey, I cut about 3/4 of a storey off the bottom of the other wall. It will still be the tallest building in my city but I didn't want it to overpower the others.
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With the walls all assembled I began with painting.
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I used Krylon Adobe for the base color and then randomly sprayed both Polly-S rust and Model master dark tan over top to give some variety to the bricks. The motoar was done with a 50-50 wash of country grey acrylic and water.
I plan to do a painted sign on the top so that's why there is a white stripe across it.
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I airbrushed all the windows and doors in Model master muedium green.
 
Aside for the window glass, the walls are ready for assembly.
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The sign is lettaset dry transfers. I brushed various tans and brown chalk on the brick for the final look. Being an industry that burns coal I'll probably add an overspray of black later in spots.
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I'll add the window glass and start assembling the walls together shortly.
 
Coming along very nicely. I used an old AHM engine house similarly as a wall pass through. Except mine is on an angle.
 
I managed to assemble the lower portion of the building.
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The opening on the right is the mainline, the smaller one on the left will be the coal delivery spur.
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I added interior walls to the mainline's opening. I mounted them on angles to ensure that the trains will clear them becaise it's on a slight curve.
 
I got the upper brick wallwith the large windows in last night.
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This was a bit tricky since there wasn't much for the wall to be attached with. I have to use some styrene strip to splice the two sections together.
And then today I got the roofs cut and attached
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I also added the cornice to the lower walls. I decided to leave it off the upper wall. The brick structure around the loading door will be a truck dock.
 
Looking good as usual Glen, although I must say I thought my work area was messy until I look at yours:D
 
I got the model to the 'almost finished' stage today.
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I added fine cinder ballast to the roofs to simulate tar and gravel, the caps to the top of the walls, and I finished off the loading dock.
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Just a side view to show the relief that it will have out from the backdrop.
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The loading dock deck.
I did tidy the workbench up a bit today. I had to find a missing piece that was under the mess!
 
I've completed the building:
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I added the vents the access hatches to the roofs, and the corrugated iron clad roof to the loading dock.
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I used the Campbell roofing, painted gray, brushed with weathered with acrylics for rust, and then an alcohol and india ink wash.
Here it is planted on the layout.
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I used 1/8 plywood for the base and ashphalt surrounding the building. That will be glued/ tacked down and painted with Woodland scenics ashphalt paint. I had to pull up some track on the left so re-align it to the building.
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One other thing I have to do yet is to paint the backdrop behind the building black so you arn't seeing sky through the large windows!
 
Wow - Nice job Glen. I didn't realize the size of that thing until the last picture with the M.T. Arms Hotel next to it. Suggestion; add a smoke stack in that little spot to the left of it.
 
I'll keep my eye out for a decent stack in the future but for now I'll just leave it as is.
I've pretty much wrapped up this project
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I added black construction paper behins the large windows, I also painted the foundation and truck delivery area with Woodland scenic's asphalt topcoat. In my experience it will fade a bit with time, I might also age it with chalks later. I also re-laid the delivery track.
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The hopper is all the way to the backdrop. I have considered cutting a hopper in half so it looks farther in. Speaking of hopper I have two Tichy USRA ones on order, since my railway now has a new customer.
I'll finished the rest of the scenery at a later time when I have collected a few more details
 
Glen, Try what I did a miniature baseball bat. I think I got it at Hobby Lobby or some other craft store.
 
Thanks guys. Just hoping someone else can get some use out of all the crazy ideas floating around my brain.
 



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