Tuesday, March 4, 2014

The ROCK 3.0: Progress Report 03.04.14

A lot of progress on the layout tonight.

First, today is my dad's birthday.  Unfortunately, he passed away nearly 5 years ago.  I miss him a lot.  Back on the first layout, I constructed this grain elevator and named the industry Daniel Grain Co. after my dad Dan Johnson.  Now, the elevator resides on the Franklin Farms property (named after my wife's grandparents).  I plan on detailing this kit up to make it super nice.


I installed the sanding tower at the engine lead in Ottawa Yard.  


I installed the piping that transports the sand slurry from the sand pit up to the washing plant at Ottawa Silica.  I noticed this feature when doing my initial research.  I thought it would be neat to recreate it.  It is super easy to construct using utility flags from Home Depot.  Simply bend them into shape and stick on a square tube of styrene.  Use a little CA and BAM! Instant overhead piping!  







I installed the two locomotive tracks for on the CB&Q.  Their shop was in the NW quadrant of the CB&Q/RI interlocking.


I installed a total of 33 telephone poles tonight.  Overall, I believe there are 45 on the layout.  That's a lot!  They are simply drilled and sitting in place right now.  Eventually, they will be removed, spray painted and detailed.  Even though not painted, the telephone poles truly add to the realism of the layout.  I believe they make the yard look longer.  My friend Mike was a big supporter of the telephone poles.  I had used them off and on in the past, but not to this extent.  I was missing out all these years!  

The telephone poles are by Showcase Miniatures.  Excellent product!

Utica, IL - Looking East.

Utica, IL - The sand unloading track at Philadelphia Quartz (PQ).

Ottawa Yard, IL - Looking West.



Ottawa Ave - Ottawa, IL 

Ottawa, IL - Libbey-Owens-Ford (LOF)

LaSalle, IL - Looking East in front of Westclox

LaSalle/Utica, IL - Looking East

Mill Street Crossing - Utica, IL

Utica, IL Station - Looking West.

Utica, IL - Between PQ and Belrose Silica - Looking West.

Overall, it was a productive evening on the layout.  I'm pleased.






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