We’re currently sceniking the club’s engine servicing module representing a transition-era facility that will handle steam and diesel loco’s.
The trurntable pit is a mostly uniform light yellow/brown with darker colour spokes radiating from the centre, an effect of the moulded ribs underneath - a strange look [V].
In any case we’re planning to paint and weather the pit. Any suggestions or links to model or prototype turntable pit photos on-line would be appreciated
We’re aware that we’ll need to keep the circular track teeth clean to ensure smooth operation. The turntable currently operates like a charm after programming each end for six positions. [:)]
Yes, with the pit, by itself, handy on the bench, take a sharp hobby blade and a small solid item to support it and score the pit sidewall at invervals to make it look like layers of poured concrete. You score the pit wall laterally and vertically. Then you weather with washes, and end with a couple of dark washes, such as India Ink, to highlight the scoring. Also, at the various rail ends that stop on the pit ledge, paint rusty streaks downward.
The pit bottom, nearest the bridge pivot, can be filled with water, grime, dirt, some grass,…
I used a heavy wash of Burnt Umber to make the floor of the pit appear weathered.
The job of scoring the styrene hasn’t shown up well in this image, but it is all I have handy. I added epoxy to the bottom to simulate oily water after a storm. I painted the bottom of the area to be covered burnt umber and black.
Remember that the roundhouse area was typically a rather grimy place, with coal dust, grease, cinders, etc., to be expected. Grease and oil heaviest where the locomotives were parked aor fueled, coal dust everywhere.
In the pit you might see small pieces of wood, bits of coal, a grease bucket with a piece of wood in it. It depends on the clearance of the bridge that determines how clean the pit was. At least that’s my observation.
Flowquil aged concrete and after its good and dry score the pit with a few cracks and give it a wash of India Ink & alcohol to bring out the cracks and grime up the pit a bit. You can also grime it up a little with coal dust on a finger and work it in several spots.
