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Chapter 48: The Photo Tour 04
Dreadnought posted a City Journal entry in IMPERIAL DOCKYARDS: CUXHAVEN
IMPERIAL DOCKYARDS: CUXHAVEN By: Dreadnought & AP Chapter 48: THE PHOTO TOUR 04 THE WEST LOCH – Part 04 In this chapter we take a look at the north end of the West Loch. The overview below shows the north tug station, a “rail stop” behind it, and a lighter basin. This is the north tug station. We already discussed all the component parts and tugboats in previous chapters, but you will notice the station is different from the south tug station. Again, this station is constructed from 1x2 and 1x1 modular lots. Everything you see has either been re-purposed (parking lots) or re-lotted from existing game lots. Another view – showing a different angle and some better views of the tugboats. You should note – the trees beside the Quonset Hut are my custom-made 1x1 Tree Filler Lots. Same tug station – different angle. And one more angle. The modular lots allow you to assemble them in any configuration, on any size piece of terrain – large or small – as you see fit. Notice the small sand hill in the lower left corner of the shot. In this picture, the Quonset Hut is a 1x2 modular lot, while the four lots behind it are “standard” 1x1 lots that can be used in a wide variety of situations – but they look perfectly “normal” as placed. To the right of them is a 1x2 “Winch maintenance Lot”. Here, sailors are preforming repairs and maintenance on the “deck winches”. Warships have several different sized winches installed on the Weather Decks for a variety of reasons. When one fails, it is unbolted and lifted off the deck by crane, then sent her for repair or replacement. The winches, sailors, and small crane are by @AP . In the early 20th Century, lighters were relatively inexpensive to build and were the most common type of “hull” used to transport “short-haul” cargo. They were a common sight in harbors the world over and, like pigeons, they could be found in flocks moored to docks, piers and, most often, jammed together in large jumbled groups. Sometimes they had cargo waiting to be delivered to a given pier, sometimes they were “parked” until needed, and sometimes numerous empty lighters just accumulated in unwanted masses. Some harbors were designed with “Lighter basins” – where lighters could be temporarily “parked”. Two small boats from the tug station have come to “cut out” the lighter with the red barrels. They’ll run a tow line to the tug Helena so the lighter can be moved. Note that two of the lighters have been unloaded and the empty hulls returned to the mooring basin. This shot gives you an excellent view of the mooring dolphins, lighters, small boats, and the paddle tug Helena. “AP” has crafted each one of these models in intricate detail and weathered textures befitting an old towed lighter that has seen better days. Another angle of the lighter basin. I managed to get the breakwater “attached” to the shore – but it was not easy, and I had to “finesse” the final connection with a lot of MMP work. This is the only problem I have encountered in using the “Uki” breakwaters – they are very hard to bring ashore in a smooth join. This is the “Rail Stop” on the north end of the Loch. Once again, the size and shape of the complex differs from others – none of them are “standardized” in any way. Note the small sand hill –lower, left of center. And you can clearly see the sandy hillsides along the left side of the picture. Notice how the sandy terrain blends seamlessly into the heavily forested areas. The rail siding and cars on the left are from “Simmer2” – but I’m not sure where cars adjacent to that actually came from. The two steam locomotives were re-lotted using the “Peg Switcher and Tank Engine” props – modified to show steam. The whole layout is utilitarian, small and compact, and bustling with working figures. Another view of the Rail Stop. Here is a detail shot of the Rail Stop complex. The two small buildings on the right are (I believe) “SFBT Signal Boxes” on a 1x2 modular lot, as is the dispatcher’s building on the left (origin unknown). The base of the complex is made up of Paeng Grunge Concrete slabs modified with light poles, people, and assorted props. Once again, the modular nature of the assembly allows great flexibility in designing the size and shape of the complex. Without modular assembly, this lot would be a large, 10x5 fixed construction – and would have to be repeated over and over on the map tile. Modular assembly allows immense variety and flexibility. This view shows the coastline north of the West Loch – to include the North End Light. This lighthouse was newly built when the Loch was expanded and moderrnized, and you can see that it is much more utilitarian than the South End Light. This stretch of shoreline was landscaped before I had perfected my use of the Poseidon Terrain Brushes, and the results were a bit disappointing. You can see where I used the “Heblem Sands” – white and brown – to try to create a beach front backed by some brown earthen areas – all backed by the Poseidon sand hills (which were added later). A close-up shot of the lighthouse. I know the road here does not look all that good, but it was the only way to link the parking area to the highway – without getting into complicated road MOD’s or changing some of the lot exemplars (either of which I strenuously tried to avoid). This view shows the Lightkeeper’s house and maintenance shed. NEXT TIME…… CUXHAVEN: THE PHOTO TOUR 05 MANY THANKS to @Barroco Hispano for his beautiful warship models. SPECIAL THANKS to my friend and partner, @AP, for his talents, meticulous models, colorful imagination, and extreme dedication. If you enjoyed anything – please punch the “like” button so WE will know. A comment would be even more informative. Comments and critiques requested and gratefully accepted. All questions answered promptly to the best of our ability. THANK YOU for your visit! You may wish to visit these CJ’s as well…… SERIES I: IMPERIAL DOCKYARDS: WILHELMSHAVEN SERIES II: IMPERIAL DOCKYARDS: CUXHAVEN Appearing – Work In Publication SERIES III: IMPERIAL DOCKYARDS: BREMERHAVEN Appearing -- ??? And please feel free to drop in at… THE SIMTROPOLIS SHIPYARD https://community.simtropolis.com/forums/topic/761469-simtropolis-shipyard/?tab=comments#comment-1766496- 2 Comments
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