Somerset Industrial Layout Update 11/19/22 Transload & Backdrops

[@deraildarrell]

It's amazing what a backdrp can bring to life and your Transload facility looks... Awesome 👍 😎 Darrell

[@RailserveJohn]

Thanks Darrell!

[@ThomasKlimoski]

I really enjoyed and was honored to be a part of the inaugural ops session on your new layout. As you said, it worked well and we really had no issues. Switching the transload facility was a bit of a challenge, but thoroughly enjoyable. The backdrops add depth and make your layout look more finished even though you still have to do scenery. The layout is looking great and can't wait to follow your progress. Thanks for setting up the ops session for me and Don.-Tom

[@MMRails]

I knew I recognized you!! Lol John downplayed your celebrity status. 😉

[@RailserveJohn]

Thanks Tom. Was an honor having you and Don over for the ops session. I am getting excited to start scenery and with the backdrops up it is giving me a little more inspiration.

[@JohnS-jj9by]

The backdrop, trucks and transload look great! Always enjoy your videos. Happy Thanksgiving!

[@RailserveJohn]

Thanks John! Appreciate the comment. Happy holidays!

[@joelvale3887]

The weathering on those cars is awesome.

[@RailserveJohn]

Thank you!

[@derekalexander4030]

You really are doing an incredible job on this railroad John. I’m enjoying the update and I appreciate how professional the railroad and valence make the room look. Great backdrop and the guests weren’t too shabby either.

[@RailserveJohn]

Thank you! My philosophy is if the room is comfortable it will make me want to be in here more working on it.

[@INKDRAILS]

Great update John! Can't wait to see all the piping and detail work you put into the transload facility. Cheers Brian

[@RailserveJohn]

Thanks Brian. I have gotten a little more done on the facility and trucks. Should have another update out this weekend.

[@elsdp-4560]

Thank you for sharing. Awesome update, the layout just keeps on getting better you are truly a craftsman modeler.👍👀

[@RailserveJohn]

Thank you! I really appreciate comment and kind worlds.

[@evanschaefer3812]

Glad to see video’s again John. Layout looks spectacular! I’ve seen people make operating doors for their warehouses and it would be cool to see you do it on your coil car building.

[@RailserveJohn]

Thanks Evan! There are some awesome layouts with some neat doors. As I plan the structure I am going to try to incorporate something like that.

[@evanschaefer3812]

@@RailserveJohn sweet, look forward to seeing it

[@JohnMullerJDGCTRy]

Looking absolutely outstanding! Really nice job and thanks for sharing with us. Take care.

[@RailserveJohn]

Thank you for watching!

[@Panzermeister36]

Great update. I'm glad the ops session went well. I really like your weathering on the pressureaide hoppers! I hope you had a good holiday season, take care!

[@RailserveJohn]

Thank bud! The layout is turning out to be more fun than I expected. Happy holidays! -John

[@DarkTerritory71]

Those backdrops are "on point"! The layout looks like fun, cannot wait to see how you stripped the chrome from those trailers. Here in Alabama, I have seen some owner operators, with shinny and "kept-shinned" bulk waggons, but you're correct, the shine dont last long, on the company trucks Thanks for the share

[@RailserveJohn]

Thanks! I do love nice chrome show trucks but here on the layout I’d like to have the trailers looking rough lol

[@thecnwmondovilinepaulscota7304]

Looks good! Love the backdrop, and glad you showed us the overall layout, including the fascia and below. Puts it in context. Subscribed...

[@RailserveJohn]

Thank you! Enjoy the layout room itself just as much as the layout. Thanks for watching! -John

[@charliealpha11f3b2]

Looks great! The majority of bulk trailers are made out of aluminum. Very few are polished out like the model comes from the factory. As soon as they are in service, powdered concrete or whatever they are hauling quickly abrades the finish and they get dull. Love the fact you're going to decal them up for Venezia trucking...if you've been around where we grew up in NJ, they are all over the place. Keep up the good work!

[@RailserveJohn]

Thanks! Yes that’s where I got the idea from. I’m going to end up doing some tankers as well for Venezia. Thanks again for always commenting… -John

[@MLWQC]

The backdrop are excellent and the weathering is great. You have some serious skills. The fascia is well done too. 👍👍

[@RailserveJohn]

Thank you! The layout is starting to come together! I really appreciate the kind works… - John

[@bernicemeade3232]

Backdrop layout is beautiful good job

[@RailserveJohn]

Thank you!

[@petevonstettina8627]

Happy to see you back up and running.

[@RailserveJohn]

Thanks! Feels good to see the layout come to life.

[@Crookedriverandeasternrr]

John this looks great. I love the trailers. All I did was hit mine with a dull coat spray. That knocked down that plastic chrome look. The backdrop looks awesome

[@RailserveJohn]

Thanks Dave! Yeah dull coat makes them look a lot better. I’m glad they are finally making these trailers.

[@yrunaked4]

Looks fantastic, I really like the backdrop. So glad you will be doing a video on those bulk trailers, I got a small fleet of them too, great value for sure. I will be excited to see what you do for the structures. Cheers Rob

[@RailserveJohn]

Thanks Rob! The chrome removal process is pretty east and if done right leaves a shiny black base for the Alclad paints. They are great models! -John

[@apocalypserailroad9047]

Holy Cow, that's looking amazing!! Incredible work!!

[@RailserveJohn]

Thank you very much!

[@patoconnor1743]

Looks great John! Looking forward to more updates.

[@RailserveJohn]

Thanks Pat!

[@dennisarmes3473]

hi john !!! looking good !!! i bought some of those same pressurized trailers for the cement plant on my pike ( from delaware junction in ohio) and like you said, way too shiny. i see them around quite often and most are pretty hammered... instead of stripping i sprayed on 2 coats of dullcote then highlighted with both doc obriens weathering powders ( via micro mark) and applebarrel acrylics from walmart. the acrylics are water-based and actually allowed for some error as you can wipe them with a touch of water once applied and they come out nice !!! i even sprayed 2 trailers light gray after the dullcote and they are nice as well. hope this can save you some time and money as stripping solutions aren't cheap and applebarrel water based acrylics are about 99 cents a bottle. please keep showing us your truly beautiful work, john !!!

[@RailserveJohn]

Thanks! Yeah I did try dullcoating one it it looked really good. I had those decals in the works before I noticed they made Venezia models. The process of stripping them is pretty easy and the base model is a glossy black which is the perfect base for Alclad paints. I seem to enjoy torturing myself with these projects lol.

[@dennisarmes3473]

@@RailserveJohn john... we all torture ourselves with this hobby !!! got 4 1/2 feet of snow here last weekend ( i am 20 minutes from highmark stadium... aka home of the bills) and a friend of mine i played ball with at u.b. during pharmacy school got well over 6 feet in a day and a half !!! i stayed home, shoveled snow, ran trains, cooked nice hot homemade chicken wings with garlic/onion hush puppies and drank ice cold stella beer !!! it was a good storm, you might say !!! denny

[@tracksidemike]

Great update video John 2618 looks fantastic 👍🏻🚂TSM

[@RailserveJohn]

Thanks Mike!

[@mysticrailroad]

wow this layout is stunning already. weathering and modification of the trailers is next level. Sweet vid John! :)

[@RailserveJohn]

Thanks John! I’m having a blast with this layout :)

[@HOTH_Hobbies]

I’ll tell you; that backdrop by the transload are really makes the scene.

[@RailserveJohn]

Thank you! Lots more details to be added

[@glenfrix157]

Nice work, John. Enjoyed the video. Working on a small transload facility in module form myself.

[@RailserveJohn]

Thanks Glen… I am excited about this industry.

[@kiwibjg]

Hey John. The transload facility is looking really good and nice to hear your operating session went well. Thank you very much for the slow camera movements so we, as viewers, do not get sea sick. Cheers Brendon

[@RailserveJohn]

Thanks Brendon! I appreciate the comment.

[@MMRails]

Love the backdrop! Looks great. You must have had fun cutting the sky out. Can’t imagine. And one of those operators looked familiar…

[@RailserveJohn]

Thanks Mark! It wasn’t that bad… but I am glad it’s done lol.

[@dundasjunctionmodelr.r-jam8267]

John very impressed, backdrop link is fantastic, will be placing a order when ready , layout look fantastic

[@RailserveJohn]

Thanks James!

[@BoxcarJerry]

Hey John the layout looks great , that back drop really brings it to life. Hope you make the video on how you did the tankers . I meant the owner of Venezia at a truck show back in June , he had some great stories of trucking back in the 40s . Have a Happy Thanksgiving Bud .

[@RailserveJohn]

Thanks Jerry! Wow that’s really cool! I remember you talking about that back when you went to that truck show. They have some nice rigs. I’m going to put a video out on the process. Happy Thanksgiving buddy. -John

[@bradleyogden5688]

Once I get going I'll have one interchange track and off the same switch it will either go directly over a railroad scale or throw the switch and go onto a bypass track which both tracks will have several types of equipment. Ground cover will be limestone fines. House track number 1 will be non hazardous materials and house track number 2 will be set up for hazardous materials. The Scale house will be rebuilt from a 45' ft smooth side container. The container will house the equipment for the scales, read out, printers, daily switch list for the rail crew., then in the rear will be where the train crew will have their break room. Looking out of the main window from the scale house will be the scales and beyond it will be the bypass track and where the locomomotive will be when not in use. Also located near bypass track is a sanding tower. Below it, I'll weather a worn out pnumatic dry bulk trailer for locomotive sand storage. As were class 1s and Short lines dedicated hoppers for sand, the Bonneville Industrial Terminal and Transfer Co decided to use one of their dry bulk trailers instead. One of the facilities on House Track no#1 will be a location for loading magnesium chloride a.k.a. brine. So besides owning their own junk locomomotives (all GE, U18B upto a Super723B) the BITT will have a large variety of equipment and over the road trucks and trailers to deliver materials to distributors, construction sites, mines and too many others to mention. John, your layout is looking great and I'm hoping by next year I can get started on mine. I need a hip replacement soon, my hip has nothing around it for protection so it's rubbing bone to bone. I'm looking forward to your next video. BITT is on Facebook, right now I'm just in the process of buying the kits, locomomotives and heavy equipment.

[@RailserveJohn]

Best of luck with the surgery… great things about the hobby is being able to accumulate a lot of stuff you will need now for the future layout. Sounds like you are going to have it all figured out when you start which helps a lot! All the best -John

[@LBTrains]

The backdrops look great. The layout is coming along nicely

[@areleesdelites1]

WOW, very impressive, fully watched , new friend here, stay connected

[@RailserveJohn]

Thank you very much for the kind words!

[@ianroberts6929]

Great progress and those backdrops are outstanding! You’re local to have such a fabulous crew to test out the ops too. Thanks for sharing, Ian

[@RailserveJohn]

Thanks Ian! It was a great day of ops with Don and Tom!

[@justinburns3262]

Great work! Looks like a really fun switching layout

[@RailserveJohn]

Thanks! It sure is fun!

[@Bubs031]

Wow a lot has been done awesome John

[@RailserveJohn]

Thanks Bubs!

[@PostmoderneModelWorks]

Incredible looking scene. I used architectural foam board for mock ups and it really helped.

[@RailserveJohn]

Thanks! Yes it sure does help and prevents wasting the more expensive materials

[@AlleghenyNorthern]

wow. that backdrop makes the transload facility look like it's really a location somewhere. it adds amazing depth to the scene.

[@RailserveJohn]

Thanks! It’s crazy how fast the scene starts to develop with the backdrop up.

[@JoeyBPhotography]

That backdrop really makes the scene pop already. Everything's looking great so far! Looking forward to more updates in the future! Edit: I just checked out larc just now, and they have the Chicago skyline, and it's an almost perfect distance from the camera for my next layout's backdrop! Thanks for sharing the site

[@RailserveJohn]

Thanks Joey! I did spend some time checking certain objects on the image and made sure it added up to scale. I’m sure with your eye for design you will get it right. Bill is really east to work with… BTW I used his cheapest option for the image which is a peal and stick material but the image itself is somewhat elastic which goes in very easily.

[@boomerdiorama]

I love the Transload facility with trucks about, etc. 👍It's amazing how a simple industry such as this can really have an impact. I'm sure it will be a pure joy to relax and flesh out supporting "micro" scenes in the greater context of things. Take your time with it John and enjoy the beautiful creative process at your leisure. Cheers ~ Boomer.😁

[@RailserveJohn]

Thanks Boomer! I sure am enjoying it. Step by step I get more and more focused on each scene. Lots of ideas come in as the scene develops. Thanks for watching and the kind worlds! John

[@luiscalzadilla5028]

Very nice. Great progress.

[@RailserveJohn]

Thank you!

[@ModelingSteelinHO]

Great use of force perspective background.

[@RailserveJohn]

It sure does change things drastically!

[@jdubb1973]

Cool looks very good so far.

[@RailserveJohn]

Thanks!

[@garykcs5532]

Looking great, keep up the great work

[@RailserveJohn]

Thank you!

[@TheGomes412]

Absolutely Interested in seeing how you stripped the chrome and repaint. I agree, they are great looking models, but never will actually be that shiny and new.

[@RailserveJohn]

Yeah it is a little crazy stripping brand new models but it seems to work. The new decals are much cleaner than the factory ones. And more detailed as well

[@coxsj]

Very impressive! Great work!!

[@RailserveJohn]

Thank you!

[@mikewoodbury7248]

I really like the new layout! Good job!

[@RailserveJohn]

Thanks Mike. A lot of planning and work has gone into it so far. Thanks for watching -John

[@Iron_Rails]

Looking great as always! That backdrop fits your theme very well. Can't wait to see more progress! Just got all my track for my 10'x18" layout. I will also be modeling a transload facility, great choice for various car types. I hope it turns out half as good as both your railserve layouts!

[@RailserveJohn]

Thanks Taylor. Have fun with the layout. A transload had a-lot of opportunities for switching. Thanks for watching -John

[@albertjones1386]

While removing the polished aluminum may be correct for the product that you are transferring to these truck, out here in the Central part of California, I see this type of trailer all the time and they all look like your models just out of the box. The product here, I will assume, is some type of animal feed or fertilizer as this area has many huge dairy farms and acers and acres of fruit trees and crops of all kinds. In many years I have never seen one with rush or grime on it.

[@RailserveJohn]

Although the chrome may look good on the hopper, the thick plastic coated chrome gives a bulky appearance to the other details on then model. Removing this changes it from looking like a toy to more like a model. There are several photos online showing grungy trailers and even a rusty side. I will include this in my video showing the repainting process.

[@boomerdiorama]

@@RailserveJohn I agree. The "fat" chroming process kills the micro details and crisp edges on the model. I plan to super detail the version I have, as you have. Cheers.😁

[@hollowphonic4880]

Hi John, This is along one. I just got my LARC backdrops. I’m hanging them the opposite way. Structures, Scenery and details already in place and tucking the backdrops behind them! One of the 6 foot images has a lot of trees on top of the hill. Of course I went without the sky option as there would be a seam at sky level, maybe hidden if you model a tall structure like the CN Tower here in Toronto. ;). However the sky less backdrop where the images start/end/join can obstructed buildings, scenery and so forth or separated altogether, gathering there’s a slope to ground level or a cliff where exposed. Problem is, The backdrops come with a few inches of sky except for the tallest vertical image on the backdrop. Luckily one of backdrops is just a curved hill, the other, trees on top of the hill! How meticulous and my finger is hurting from pressing down on the X-Acto knife with a new blade. My question to you, how did you go abut making your ‘cut outs’ so smooth and blend perfectly into the sky wall? Do you have any suggestions before I move forward? I did the initial cutting but it’s time to work on imperfections maybe even cutting certain trees altogether. Your work is fantastic. An inspiration as always. Cheers, Brad Toronto

[@RailserveJohn]

Congrats on the new backdrops! What I did was, I trimmed all of the hard objects where there was a hard line. I even cut out come stuff just to use a good outline, on most of the trees I actually trimmed around around them where you can actually see some of the sky from the original backdrop. I did this on parts of the image where it was a close color to the painted backdrop. I will say, it may be tricky applying the backdrop with structures in the way. I found it pretty easy to roll with nothing on the layout. Even then it sometimes wanted to wander up or down.

[@hollowphonic4880]

Thanks John! Funny I was thinking that as I was going along. Call it lazy, or tired of cutting meticulously around the trees I ended up going around the trees like you did. Trial and error right? I thought too, as my sky is somewhat a darker blue, taking the sky pieces cut out to Home Depot and having them colour match and repaint the sky to blend! Luckily the next 6' section is just smooth rolling hills. Btw, that brilliant key operation you've got going on for your switches. Is it wired like a DPDT switch? Thanks for your insight! cheers, Brad.@@RailserveJohn

[@andrewpalm2103]

Looking great, John! Serious progress there. I'm working on a dry bulk transfer setup on my little shelf layout. I converted a coal conveyer set for dry bulk and I think it looks OK. But I'm having trouble finding out what kind of truck trailers were used for dry bulk transport circa 1962. (I'm pretty sure those cool looking hopper trailers you have came much later.) Any ideas from you or others would be most welcome. Cheers from Wisconsin!

[@RailserveJohn]

Thanks Andrew! I think I saw some older style trailers on Shapeways… if you search on the site for 1:87 trailer or dry bulk you should find them. I’m not sure when they came out but I know I saw some with older bud style weeks that were popular in the 70s.

[@andrewpalm2103]

@@RailserveJohn Thanks John! I'll check it out.

[@johnniewelbornjr.8940]

Layout looks great... Good thoughts on weathering the pneumatic tank trailers. Can these trailers be polished in real life? Yep (expensive and time consuming)... But it's not particularly common. Dulling the shine definitely looks better. The space and resisting the temptation to pack excessive track into your track plan makes the layout all the better. I used to draw quite a few scale track plans (it was still actual drawings back in the 80s lol) and this is very appealing use of your space.

[@RailserveJohn]

Thank you! Was very happy to see these trailers released. They were for sure needed in 1:87 Scale

[@myrailfanchannel]

Nice transload facility. Subbed.

[@RailserveJohn]

Thanks!

[@rynetreatch9558]

Looks awesome!

[@RailserveJohn]

Thanks!

[@garypyke1576]

Great modeling as always. I work at Foodliner hauling flour in those trailers. They are usually pretty dirty. The exception seems to be trailers that haul sugar. They seem to be cleaner. Just curious where did you get those decals. I would love to have a couple for my trailers.

[@RailserveJohn]

Thanks! I got them custom made through Precision Design Co. Bill does an awesome job.

[@SPSteve]

the backdrop looks terrific, what material did you use? Looking forward to more updates.

[@RailserveJohn]

Thanks! The backdrop is a vinyl adhesive material. It went on very nice.

[@SPSteve]

@@RailserveJohn I'm getting close to the point where I can start thinking about adding a photo backdrop to my painted MDF. Does the vinyl have a matt finish and is it repositionable? Thanks!

[@RailserveJohn]

If you go through Larc he has 3 different options on the material. I used the cheapest one and it is not re positionable. But there is an option for that. I believe it is a thicker material though. Mine is mostly a flat image, some reflection of looking at extreme angles.

[@EagleCreekRailRoad]

Very cool layout. Subbed👍🏻

[@RailserveJohn]

Thanks!

[@pdrrengineer1404]

Those backdrops do look good for your layout John. What is the primary product transloaded at that facility?

[@RailserveJohn]

Thanks Art! It will be a mix of flour, plastic pellets and road salt.

[@pdrrengineer1404]

@@RailserveJohn Just curious, what are you baking that requires a mix of flour, plastic pellets, and road salt? 😃

[@gregoryamer]

Really nice!

[@RailserveJohn]

Thanks!

[@luvindemtrains]

Nice update! The backdrop creates an immediate transformation. By the time you get your buildings in place and scenic elements the layout will really make a strong statement. Will you use any of the buildings from the other layout? I will be on the lookout for your next installment.

[@RailserveJohn]

Thanks! As much as I would like to use the old structures, I just get them to work. Also I have learned so much from Boomer, I’d like to adapt some of his methods.