Senery on the layout and car float

Well, it has been over a year since I posted here? Lots have been going on with the layout since my last post. The biggest thing has been the scenery and the area around the car float. 

I was having all kinds of issues pulling and places cars on the car float to the point I was ready to completely take it off the layout and scrap the idea of using it. I really like the way it looked is one reason I keep putting it off. I was redoing the facial boards on part of the layout when it hit me how I could improve operations on the car float. All the trackwork was ripped out and a small addition was added to the benchwork. I replaced the two #4 switches with a Peco #6 and a broad curved switch. Redoing this area also lead to having to redo a lot of scenery in this area. Still, a long way to go on the scenery but it's a start. 

The operation to the car float is great now and I find myself doing a lot of switching here. 

Retaining Wall and Car Float

Got the retaining wall around the car float done. Just a few more details to be added.

Car Float

After a few months of the car float being on the back burner and plans to remove it completely. I read an article where a steel mill used a car float to move cars loaded with slabs to its rolling mill on the other side of the river. So this put new light on the car float operations.

The car float base is made out of a MDF step and other details. The car float apron was made from a Atlas bridge and styrene strips and sheets.

Car Floats part 4

Started the first of 3 car floats. These are being built out of 3/4 MDF step board. Found these at Lowes for $8.00. I came up with a pattern of a car float traced it on foam board and cut it out. I can use the foam board pattern to make my car floats. At first, I thought about building my car floats out of foam board so it would light way but it would also be flimsy. So I when with MDF.

Not really satisfied with the overall look of the area and area itself. it will probably get redone at a later date.

Car Floats part 3

Added some details to the car apron and the over head crane to adjust to fit a car float.

Car Floats part 2

Have a had a little more progress on the car float apron. Still, lots to do but it is a start. I cut out for the harbor and dropped it down 3/4 if an inch. I use foam board from the Dollar Tree to make the retaining walls. the top of the wall will be covered with styrene to help with the appearance. Going to use dowel rods for guidepost for the car float and tie offs. Also going to have to come up with something for an overhead crane for the apron. These cranes were used to raise and lower the apron to match the height of the car float. The apron was made out of an old Atlas bridge and styrene. the bench work was cover in a small layer of plaster and sanded smooth, and painted brown, green and blue. I found some clear plastic tablecloth in my wife's craft room,  that I borrowed a small piece of. I think it gives a pretty good ripple effect.

Car Floats part 1

I'm not much on watching reality shows on TV, but my wife got me to watch Railroad Alaska. I will have to say it was a pretty interesting show. Parts of the show takes place at a shipping port where railroad cars are delivered to the Alaska Railroad by a car float. This got me thinking, that this would be a good interchange for a model railroad and would be interesting to model. I know that Walther's came out with a sea port set with a car float and apron. ((The apron is an adjustable bridge that connects to the car floats so the railroad cars can be removed form the floats.)) I have found a few online but the prices of them is getting high and if the price of the kit isn't high the shipping for it is ridicules. March 2014 issue of Model Railroader has an article for scratch building a car float, so using some of the dimensions giving in MR I come up with a plan for a car float 3 feet long and 6 inches wide. I made a mock up using foam board that was purchased at the Dollar Mart of how I thought about putting the port on my layout.