It took a posting from a hobbyist regarding my drawings to remind me that I used to have a drive for taking photos; old archival plans; and blurry images; to recreate a structure that could be scaled for multiple uses.

For the last year, my wife and I have been moving forward after the loss of our youngest daughter the year before (Jan 2014). Eight months later(Sept) we lost our partner in raising our older grandson; the son-in-law's mother, who kept our boy tightly tied to his father's family. Now (Sept 2015), his father also passed away leaving us with the reality that we are truly 'parents' until we hit 70 and he is 20 and hopefully in a good college by then.

My light; my drive to 'draw'; research; or even think about something I truly enjoyed; has been under the proverbial basket for 2 years, and it is high time I put away the sorrows, and start doing something I enjoy again; which in turn makes my smile return beyond doing this endeavor. When I am drawing, my heart is lighter and that casts out to my family with more patience, kindness, and love....so I had better get moving!

I am looking at a Trotec Laser rather than jumping into 3D printing in order to turn my drawing into a kit somehow. Stay tuned and comment freely!



It will take a few months to get back into it, but I will try to post progress drawings as I can. Happy New Year!

Time for a New Years resolution to takemy designs to 2d and 3D output. More to come. In the process of setting up my storefront the push out my products for 2015.

Progress, progress, progress. Finalized hard dimensions; tweaked a few to meet design of structure in real time, instead of pencil sketch measurements that on original print, didn't quite sync or match up.

Progress - First train depot coming together. What amazes me as a carpenter/contractor of old, how the measurement callouts are not true representations; over and over again. So - I assume; much like those carpenters of the early 20th century; that these are renderings; and in the field is where reality hits the foundation for final construction. So my CAD drawings are accurate for the layout and settings for features. This will soon move to SketchUp for renderings. Stay tuned!

PS - had to add the addition in the Elevation layout as the drawing only reflected the original conditions; not the as-built.

Well...it is mid April and I am trying to find the fire in my belly to finish my first submittal for 2014. In a year where budgets are supposed to be thin, we are working at 150% of last years work load and the scope of work is over double. So....I have finished the basic CAD drawings. I will post the layouts next week; then start the renders to send off to the editor. WYSIWYG I think. Thanks for reading.

Well...this new year was rougher than at first imagined. 

But I have started to 'follow the cheese' and refocus my efforts on what also fulfills me besides my loving family. 

So...I have started to illustrate again. Hopefully I can post 1 or 2 projects I am sending out for Editor review by end of March to mid April. 

Thanks to anyone who has been waiting (if any).

Its been a whole year....

If anyone is reading this, it has been a long year. I stopped drawing when we lost our youngest daughter Katie Ann. We are now full time parents (we were somewhat anyway!) to a loving grandson who just turned 10 in November. As we were recovering from her loss and estate and probate agony, our boy lost his other Grandmother to a tragic ending in September. So this year has been very tough and we hope to make it through Christmas and January 11th with the intent to be closer and make more happen in our lives that is positive.

One of those positives is for me to get back to creating buildings for the G Scale community, and also add the O scale group. I am tackling scale reductions; looking at a better format for the templates; and adding detail ideas to my list. Hopefully I can get back to posting in Garden Railways if Mark will take me back in time.

In the meantime - Merry Christmas to you all - whatever religious or non-religious views; tastes; leanings; or desires that motivate you to to be better each year as a positive energy and motivation force to those you love and to those for whom you care to be around.

Steve

Here is the link to all 7 of my drawings for Subscriber downloads!

http://grw.trains.com/How%20To/Full-Size%20Drawings.aspx

I was not notified that they (Garden Railways Magazine) had actually used my attempt at doing rolling stock drawings. This is from a 1945 MR Magazine article; July I believe; and the short style caboose is called a Bobber. I faked the chassis system as I could not find any record drawings of the under-structure and wheel gang/suspension. So I went from photos. Nonetheless, it was a real challenge as I only had 2 dimensions to go from before doing actual scaled working drawings that could be reproduced and used by the Garden Railway hobbyist or enthusiast; and you have to be enthusiastic and patient to do one of these let alone anything more intricate.

Comments appreciated as always although I will do them because I am driven. If you have any structures you would like me to draw so you can use them as standalone buildings in a Garden setting; a structure for a Christmas display or for just simple displaying, please Facebook me or leave a site comment.

Thank you and have a Happy New Year!

Submittal #7. Galena Fire Department circa 1900 structure. Took a bit to get it right from the MR October 1960 article. Once the magazine article was imported (drawing), it didn't scale out according to the submitter's scale. With a bit of tweaking to keep the basic measurement integrity, it took about 4 hours to render the final elevations. Comments appreciated.

Have a couple more articles getting ready for posting, but wanted to put out some great reading material for you and your friends.

The Red Serpent by Larry Merris - Outstanding!
http://www.amazon.com/The-Red-Serpent-International-ebook/dp/B0092EYOK2/ref=sr_1_6?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1352149485&sr=1-6&keywords=red+serpent

The Psalter by Galen Waton - again - Outstanding!
http://www.amazon.com/The-Psalter-ebook/dp/B009ZSPS14/ref=sr_1_10?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1351794881&sr=1-10&keywords=the+psalter&smid=160591&tag=hydfbook0e-20&ascsubtag=US-DS-20277-

Well - the Sand House project finally made it to press, and even though it is mostly electronic, I am still satisfied with the work, and the article summary. Number 4 is already at the publishers; the Train Shed; for issue in October. Now for number 5. Biggest challenge yet, and somewhat out of my area of design, but I accepted the assignment and will post renderings of what it is once I have fleshed it out in SketchUp and AutoCAD. Thanks for looking! Please click on the link!

The Psalter: Dyslexic Agnostic Insomniac

The Psalter: Dyslexic Agnostic Insomniac: I approved the book cover last night. Whoo Hoo!               Dyslexic Agnostic Insomniac: Awake all night, wondering if there’s a ...

THE PSALTER: The Psalter is Coming -- No, Really

THE PSALTER: The Psalter is Coming -- No, Really: I know, I know. I said The Psalter would be out at the end of July. Yet the first week of August is coming to a close and still no Psalt...

Stephen Terry's Drawing Journal: With four (4) structures submitted to Garden Railw...

Stephen Terry's Drawing Journal: With four (4) structures submitted to Garden Railw...: With four (4) structures submitted to Garden Railways Magazine, I thought it best to sit back and understand what drives me to continue recr...

With four (4) structures submitted to Garden Railways Magazine, I thought it best to sit back and understand what drives me to continue recreating and putting these buildings out there when no one comments or responds, or blogs. At first, I thought it the purpose of using BlogSpot, but now I see it as a place just to record my efforts; express my delight or disappointment with the results of my work, and have the postings as mile-markers of personal growth, experimentation, discipline, patience, and self examination of what drives me (not to drink).

As I assemble an article to submit to the Editor for review, it will somehow put a 'cap' on my head, so I will go out further from 'home' and investigate more that interests me. Yes, some things take money, but contacting interesting people, having meaningful conversation, understanding how their lives mesh or differ with my desires and beliefs somehow adds to my self; expanding my 'self', assisting me in raising the bar, taking some risks, and perhaps, changing my purpose, goals, and relationships throughout.

I sometimes sit back and watch my eldest grandson play on my iPad or read or watch his favorite shows; commenting on social faux pas, and reset my mental calendar to a simpler time. With those prescription glasses on, it provides a whole new vista before me of what I may still accomplish if I have that level of curiosity, inquisitiveness, and somewhat innocence to where I might go, in expanding and filling my appetite for change.

Over the next few weeks, I will complete the article; photo board and all; and whether they deem it publishable or not; post it for all to review and close this chapter.

Then it is on to something else left languishing; finishing my degree (or 2). Thank you Ed-X. I hope we make a great team.

Stephen Terry's Drawing Journal: Hi folks. Been a while. If you are a Garden Train ...

Stephen Terry's Drawing Journal: Hi folks. Been a while. If you are a Garden Train ...: Hi folks. Been a while. If you are a Garden Train lover or follower, then click on my Submittal #2 magazine picture, and it will take you to...

Hi folks. Been a while. If you are a Garden Train lover or follower, then click on my Submittal #2 magazine picture, and it will take you to Garden Railways Magazine where you can register for free, and download the working drawings of Branchline Station for your Garden Layout or indoor layout. It is in 1:29 Scale. There are quite a few pages, so make sure your printer is loaded! Comments welcome, or if you have a building you would like to see redrawn to use, blog or email me at slterry01@gmail.com. Thanks!

Hello. I finished the Engine House. The Senior Editor at GRW came up with some excellent suggestions and comments. One was a response to my inquiry about auxiliary doors to the building and did they exist? Yes, and so I included one. He also suggested that period buildings had attached sheds, so I designed one after searching the web and coming up empty handed. Hope it seems appropriate to the time (30's - 60's) and compliments the Engine House. Thanks for looking. Tripp.

Nasty week last week. End of Year construction projects and management, plus our little guy had to be rushed to ER; now the youngest daughter is in CCU. Still have to hold down the fort, and little guy watch and chores while the missus is doing nurse calls and more. Still, my sanity escape is my drawing work, late at night. So here are the results of Submittal #4 preliminary elevation renderings. Thanks for looking. Tripp.

Well...its finally Friday (again). Last night was a late one, getting final cleanup to my AutoCAD so that I could start the page sets for printing for the GRW subscribers at Garden Railway Magazine. http://grw.trains.com/ 

I hope that those of you who model in 1/29 scale will take a minute to email me or blog me and let me know what you think; what you are looking for; or if you have any plans that need conversion and drawing overlay. Be glad to chat with you all. Thanks for stopping by. Tripp.

Hi all:

I have updated my Blogspot to allow for album viewing, and include a blog link to my work blog that covers the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and the projects I do there.

Garden Railway Magazine liked the rendering of the Brick Sand House, but wanted something more current, or active as a functional structure. So I removed the old plaster and faded grey brick, and made it a Red Brick facility more in the period of most Garden Railroad eras.

Submittal #3 - Brick Sand House Finished!

I am continually amazed at how a simple struture can be so difficult to re-render in Google Sketchup; which is one of the easiest tools to use. I did learn a trick in AutoCAD; before final save; to enter the command FLATTEN, which then puts all your lines on even layer plane.

Since this was an old 'typical' structure; plaster on brick; I attempted to simulate fractured plaster patches left on the wall; peeling paint on the sand tower, doors, and trim. I hope it is successful. It was quite an effort on my limited knowledge part! Thanks for commenting if you can. Tripp. (See final render group on right).

A little lunch time fun; getting elevation and wall texture suitable to match the age and presentation of the Brick Sand House. You can see the CAD outline imported in the rear of the photo, for which I will take out the sand tower and affix to this 3D image for final rendering. Please comment as you can and thankyou for visting my blogsite!

Busy week. Not much if any time to blog my status on Submittal Drawing #3 - Brick Sand House. It is from July 1957 Model Railroader magazine. Drawings are rough, but as you can see on the right, I finally got them through AutoCAD in real dimension, to outlines I can now render in 3D. That is coming. As I started out on this journey, I had only a one project mindset. Now, I can see limitless projects based on historical buildings, bridges, edifaces, Architectural features and featurettes, landscapes and more. While my drawing talents are very limited, this dimensional form of drawing allows me to put to electronic paper what consumes me on the second tier. My first tier is Automotive designs and COTS applications for you engineering buffs. Once those projects come out from the veil of NDA, I will begin to publish them for public comment and review. Thanks for reading folks. Please take a minute and comment, bad or good. Tripp.

Ah...Sunday. A lot going on this weekend at my eldest daughters; getting a low threshold shower into place after removing a poorly made shower and tub unit that failed after only 7 years. I forgot how much work goes into redoing the walls; installing a floor pan system; plumbing; putting in the shower wall system; wall plastering; and finish baseboards and trim! Love doing it though.

Came home and found my 3rd Submittal assignment in the mailbox. Its titled "Brick Sandhouse". It comes from the July 1957 Model Railroad magazine. Immediately there were issues with scaled height, window sizing and one drawing depicting rafter tails, and another not. This photo shows how I start a forensic drawing to determine what will be correct for the AutoCAD page that will print out to scale. This also is the foundation for the final 4 elevations that will be rendered in color. Enjoy!



New project in the works. Found several historical buildings out there. Issue with plans. Everyone but me wants a piece or a sum for something that didn't belong to them in the first place. This is a Black Smith shop based on the old Jesse Hoover Shop with a few tweaks to make it my own.

While taking a break this week and looking for new subject matter, thought I would post the website version of Garden Railways Magazine and my first submittal being featured for free drawing access.

Took time to update- Looking over the last 3/4 century of MR magazine articles in hopes of discovering something unique to draw for submittal #4. There are so many older Railroad Buildings out there in varying shades of decay, with no archival history available to state its purpose or function, its life, its demise.

Trying to extrapolate a structure from one or two possible dimensions known to general construction is a daunting task and takes its toll on the fire within that drives me to draw and render them. I have recently uncovered old covered bridge photos - but (sigh) no drawings. Great structure - it wil task me but the reward may be worth it.

More to come.....