Shelby's Marine Service

sdrees

Hi Jim,

The space will depend on the radius of the helix. Mine is a 24" radius so the total width is 48" to the centers of the tracks, plus the width of the road bed. Some of my tracks on the helix are going to be exposed and I am going to have a village in the center of the helix on top.

To make mine easier to build, I started on a flat layer instead of an open grid work under it. It was easier to build the grade correctly. You do not want the grade to be to steep. Also you want to get enough vertical clearance between the layers of the helix. This is dependent also on the grade. The vertical clearance on mine does not meet NMRA standards. I also had to leave the cork road bed form the track bed for extra room. I used a RR CAD software also which did some of the calculations for me but the software is not necessary. But I have enough clearance to get my equipment to work properly.

If you do a google search, you can find some assistance on the internet.

sdrees

Hi Ken,

You are the person who should know how long it takes to build the walls. I am waiting for you to get your walls standing on your wonderful Blue Sky project. I am working on the windows today and I have some more details to do to the walls.

MikeM

If you go to the Model Railroad Hobbyist website and do a search on a member called "Chief Buffoon" you will find a series of postings about his helix construction efforts. Buried in there is a posting labeled "Helix calculations" in which he posts a link to an elaborate Excel spreadsheet he built to aid in helix design. I'd post links but I gather I'm not supposed to, hence this workaround; you can download the spreadsheet template and save it off somewhere as I have done. An interesting and helpful effort you may find of assistance.

sdrees

Here is a look at the installed windows.









And now I am gluing the walls together.

admin

Looking fantastic Stephen! Peeling paint is perfect and the windows match the walls spot on...

KKarns

Superb Stephen, you really got a great feel for the peeling paint and a sea side structure weathering. Nail holes are getting a bit strong looking here and there, probably because of the white paint with the holes dark. The first picture of the wall with the two windows is where I notice it. The sceond picture down, and the two sets of board joints below the window and the one directly above, the holes look perfect to me, subtile but noticeable but not the first thing you see.. Compare those to the ones above the large door opening on the first picture...my eye gets drawn immediately to the holes...just my take and a bit nit picky but that kind of critique is warranted when your build is so nicely done, and your Shelby's is just that!

sdrees

Brett,

Thanks for your comment. Since I have done all three procedures for the peeling paint, I like this one the best, the damp brush technique.

sdrees

Hi ken,

Thanks for the critique. I do really appreciate you taking the time to nit pick. I will fix the nail holes that stick out.

Bill

I would echo what Ken said concerning the nail holes. For a little variety, you may want to dab some dark brown chalk on a couple of them here and there. I'd use a pin moistened with some alcohol. Push the pininto a pile of chalk powder and gently apply to a couple nail holes. Blow away the excess chalk dust rather than wiping.

I love the wear on the paint around the large door in your first picture above. Very cool!

sdrees

Thanks for the tip Bill.

sdrees

I raised the walls today. Here are the results. Several shots of the first floor interior are included. Seems we forget those walls. There are still some nail holes I see that I need to fix.

KKarns

Coming along great Stephen. Really starting to look like something and the structure looks great. Second pocture from the top...love those windows!

sdrees

Thanks Ken,

ironmountainlumber

Hey Steve,
Thank you for the information about the helix. I really appreciate it. The build is coming along very nicely. The walls look great! Are you going to combine shelby's with Brett's other waterfront offerings?
Jim

sdrees

Jim,

Your welcome for the helix information. I don't have room on my layout for a larger waterfront area. And I appreciate the nice comment.

sdrees

I have been working on the walls for the bait shop recently. I wire brushed the clap board siding to provide the wood grain. Then I used Rembrandt pastels for staining the clap board. I then lightly sanded the siding to show wear on the edges of the clap board siding. I raised some of the ends of the siding with a No. 11 blade and used a pin to make the nail holes. I then used the damp brushing technique for the color coat and then several coats of a light A/I solution.

I placed the dry transfers. I was very lucky that the large ones came out OK. Also, I cut out some of the printed signs, sanded the back on the larger ones to make them thinner and worked them into the clapboard siding by using a No. 11 blade and cut them along the edges of the clapboard siding. Since the printed signs were glossy, I used a flat acrylic clear coat to dull them.

The bright red paint at the bottom on the first picture will not be seen once the walls are assembled.






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After looking at the last picture, I do not like the trim around the door as it is to wide and I will change it.

Wes

Those are some seriously delapidated walls Stephen. Good stuff.

The boats for hire sign catches my eye though. It looks too bright for the more run down part of the wall that it is situated on. Should be any easy fix for sure.

brownbr

Signs look good. I agree about the door frame molding.

sdrees

You can make all the comments you want ED. That makes us better modelers. Nobody has commented on the right wall in picture 2. It is upside down. I guess I fixed that before anybody noticed. Thanks also brownbr and Wes for stopping by.

KKarns

Hey Stephen...your one wall is upsdide down! Oops...late to the party. Really like the weathered walls...right up my alley. Nicely done.

sdrees

I have completed erecting the walls for the bait and tackle shop. And everybody, I fixed the upside down wall and the trim on the screen door on the one story structure.

KKarns

Great looking structure Stephen. You have the weathered white trim down cold, looks great. Again, clapboard siding is terrific. What's the orange thingy in the second story window?

CarlRowe

engine909 said:

Ken,

Anyone model On30?

Yes! I do.

sdrees

Hi Ken,

It is a bottle of Scotch! The trim and siding is all about doing a lousy paint job.

Karl.A

This is looking so nice, one of my favorite kits of Bretts, aren't they all.
Gotta love putting the walls together, everything just starts to feel real !!
The hard part now is not overlooking the small stuff, keep focused.

engine909 said:

Anyone model On30?

I've dabbled with 'o' a time or two.....

sdrees

Thanks Karl, long time haven't seen you commenting. I have always enjoyed your builds.

KKarns

So that's your secret to great peeling paint and claopboard siding work...a good bottle of Scotch!

sdrees

You bet. And plenty of it.

KKarns

I just made a note of it...

sdrees

Ken, you should add that footnote to you Dr. Grunge tutorial.