A week or so ago, I shared my initial ideation for adding a bookbindery to my Papphausen layout. Well, today my "journeyman" Fritz Otto began taking measurements onsite and figuring out how best to fit the structure on the oddly shaped site.
The site. The pigeon shack will move, as will some of a tenant's BMW 2002 collection.
Measuring with a printout of the facade scaled to 1:87. The woman in the yellow dress will be working in the bindery when completed.
An overhead view with the Rhein-Ruhr S-Bahn passing above.
The bindery where I apprenticed in Gelsenkirchen will serve as a model for the interior if I can pull off scaling them down to some form of viable 1:87. Otherwise, flat printouts cut to the contours will be glued in place at various depths to give the illusion like a "peep show" or "tunnel book".
Facade elements isolated in Photoshop.
Elements pasted onto a scaled pattern sheet from Scalescenes. Once the primary image is mounted, windows, doors, and other details get cut out, new images get mounted, and all is layered to build depth.
Mounting the door, so it can be set behind the facade.
Rubbing down the threshold after putting the door in place.
Rubbing down the window sills.
Gluing the clear lower window in place. The upper will be opaque.
Just taking a look to see how it's coming. Ok?
VERY loosely positioned on the building site. The binder is standing in front and having her picture taken... For the local paper?
The same from a different angle.
Made a lot of progress on a lazy day. Still need to figure out the roof and interior. The latter can be added later if the roof is made removable.
In the first, my Reichsbahn Reko BR58.3 pulls a tank car train around Papphausen. Loko by Gützold running via analog AC (Märklin) like everything else in Papphausen. I like Analog, and while tempted am not that into the digital that controls the rest of my life...
Here, a "day of watching a variety of trains running around Papphausen." Consists include S-Bahn, D-Zug, my 1950s DB bi-level pulled by a BR 23, Fliegender Hamburger, a mixed freight, and finally my coal train.
Time to start working on refreshing some of the scenery...
Back in 2014 I had shared images of what used to be a bindery located in an arcade under the Railroad and S[tadt]-Bahn tracks in Berlin. They weren't beautiful brick or stone arcades, but brutalist concrete on what is a kind of island between busy streets.
Yesterday, while surfing Google Maps I found that they had updated the images in that area, this time with an S-Bahn train overhead.
I think I will interpret that idea on my layout but opening a bindery in the lot below to the right of the gate and going back at an angle. The pigeon shack and BMW 2002s will need to be relocated...
The lot for the new bindery.
The facade of the bindery I apprenticed in Gelsenkirchen could also easily be adapted to the lot, and I have views that I can use to create the interior details regardless the facade. Rather than running on top of the bindery, the mainline runs above.
Bindery I apprenticed in 1985-87.
Should be a fun and relatively easy project to distract me from the main project of redoing the Bw and finishing the Schrebergärten next to Posten 210...
A first cab ride around Papphausen / Führerstandsmitfahrt rund um Papphausen in both directions. Note, speeds not always prototypical for a BR94. So, pretend it's whatever engine runs at that speed. ;-)
Camera (cheap "spycam" off of Amazon). Close focus not great, interface and instructions ok, but lots of fun to watch.
Papphausen has been tote Hose for years now, really, but after a very busy summer and early fall, I decided to take a break from the bookbinding and related writing and service commitments to instead decompress with some training. Long neglected, the trains were in need of a deep dusting and cleaning, and most of all just wanted to be run again. In need of some right-sized help, I asked Fritz Otto, and he agreed, getting in on the fun. In some respects, it was a very "meta" experience. There are a lot of bookbinding skills applied throughout the layout, particularly box making, as most of the structures are made of card, some kits, but most built from scratch using photos as a basis with photo-realistic pattern sheets, so we all felt at home.
Just a quick DR commuter train run-by while dusting.
A DR 118 (the Reichsbahn equivalent to the DB's V200/220/221) next to my vintage tin-plate TEE with the S-Bahn above.
Another view of the S-Bahn pulled by a 111.
A classic E10 express engine with a D-Zug of mixed rolling stock.
Fritz Otto surveying Pappeck in search of cobwebs and dust monsters.
Been experimenting with the GoPro and some different vantage points. Need to get better with the editing. I also use the GoPro like CTV on my phone for the far end of my switching yard. I can actually now see where the engine... is in relation to the uncoupler tracks. Game changing.
These past few weekends have been very enjoyable, I've been finding a nice balance between the bookbinding and the trains, and am getting ready to work on some scenes and structures in need of updating...
Documentary from the early 1930s about the construction and running of the first high-speed diesel railcar of the Deutsche Reichsbahn Gesellschaft. The train connected Berlin with Hamburg at then unheard of speeds.
The laser-cut card kit is by Joswood. Instructions are clear and materials are first rate. If you want to model northern, industrial, gritty, honest Germany, this is where you want to get your structures. Not an alpine hut in sight.
Will weather a bit before permanently placing on the layout, but I like where it is now.
Let's get started...
Roughly framed in and ready to start adding the exterior trim
Exterior mostly on, now lots of details and more layers
Done except for some weather. Joswood made that easy because the laser cutting left artifacts, and the materials look very natural. Instructions also say to avoid perfect and right angles – make it look ramshackle...
Provisionally placed on the layout
Now to assemble the 1:87 pigeons - separate wings, legs, and beaks! Better have a Pils und n' Korn first to steady the hands.
You didn't seriously think I'd assemble pigeons from kits/scratch, did you?!?!
Weathered and populated. One of the pigeons is not like the others - inspiration from a colleague whose uncle would use a slingshot to get rid of birds not his...
Now, play the video below while looking at images for the full effect... ;-)
Pulled out a bunch of my old classic Märklin to run for a change – back to the basics for a while. 😃
The E03 with the TEE (the classic tinplate) was my childhood pride and joy.
An hour ago the E03 wouldn't run or gears move. For the first time EVER totally took apart motor, cleaned gears and brushes, AND even managed to put it back together...
SIE LÄUFT, DIE E03 mit TEE am Hacken.
My first Märklin train.
Running the switching puzzle. I've taken this to numerous trains shows — the kids love it.
Still more to do, but it's a start and most importantly, I'm having fun and really enjoying it. I've missed that feeling.
My father's childhood SE800 also got put on, but without traction tires (never had them) wasn't going anywhere. I have a version with though, too, so will run in spirit.
at the Boothbay Railway Village Steam Course. See the main website by clicking on the image above.
About This Blog
This is where I share my projects such as (card)modeling, weathering, railfanning activities, show reports, and other thoughts. Having a German focus to my model railroading interests and living in the US, I'll also translate occasional threads I think could be of interest here or in Germany.
