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MinerFortyNiner
Fireman
Premium Member
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 Posted - 06/02/2012 : 9:29:07 PM
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Well, I have learned so much from others on this forum...and from poring over the pages of On30 Annual and the Narrow Gauge and Short Line Gazette. I am striving to take my modeling further and improve my skills. I'll be finally taking the time to build a foreground structure and attempt to make the very most of the opportunity.
Here's a photo of Tom Yorke's Frijole Flats kit:
My coloring will be more muted, and the location will be the scenic Sonoran Desert on my little Estrella & Sonora Grande railroad:
More to come...
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Country: USA
| Posts: 1994 |
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MinerFortyNiner
Fireman
Premium Member
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Posted - 06/02/2012 : 9:33:10 PM
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A few more images of the station site with the basic walls temporarily set in place:
The station comes pretty close to the front edge of the layout...nothing I can do about that, the entire layout is very compact. The rubber bands are holding the hydrocal walls together temporarily.
The wall in the foreground is the back of a small open waiting area that will be shaded by a roof covered with Spanish tile. I placed some desert plants just to imagine how the structure will fit into the scene. To make room for this much bigger structure, I had to shorten the rail lead spanning the ash pit at the right of this photo. The service area was built for small Porter locos, so I don't need a longer track...it was sacrificed as a necessary trade-off to squeeze the station in!
The north side of the station will have a small parking area. The station will have full interior and illumination. I just picked up the Telegrapher figure from Aspen Modeling Co. today at Coronado Scale Models, and he will be seen seated inside this window sending a message over the wire.
A view from the yard to the southeast, with the waiting area in the foreground. The palo verde tree will help make the area a bit greener and more inviting.
I look forward to sharing step-by-step progress on this build! 
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Edited by - MinerFortyNiner on 06/02/2012 9:42:56 PM |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 1994 |
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railman28
Fireman
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Posted - 06/02/2012 : 9:52:22 PM
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Looks like another sharp build.
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It's Only Make Believe
Bob Harris |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 1726 |
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dallas_m
Fireman
Premium Member
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Posted - 06/02/2012 : 11:53:58 PM
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Neato! Just thinking out loud here ... well, thinking in pictures actually ... seems a shame that the sheltered passenger area would be hidden from view. What about turning that wall 90º and creating a covered area that adds some "see-thru" interest and provides a peek of what the passengers see when the train pulls into the station? (Pardon the cacti on the RR tracks) 
Edit: Looking at the Tom Yorke photo again ... maybe ditch that wall, put the columns in the place shown in photo above and build a wood-beam structure for the tile roof. (Cuz it's so much easier to "make up" projects for other people than to actually do them!) 
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Edited by - dallas_m on 06/03/2012 12:01:34 AM |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 3013 |
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MinerFortyNiner
Fireman
Premium Member
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Posted - 06/03/2012 : 12:21:04 AM
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Thanks Bob, I can't wait to get started. But I want to think things through tonight before I begin.
Dallas, what an interesting idea. The columns are pretty narrow, and while I could make two more and have the entire extended roof supported by them, the look might get too far from the Southwestern look I want. I think four heavier stucco columns (with molding matching that on the lower sides of the building) would look better, and heavy wood beams with carved ends to support the roof. Or, your great photo suggestion with the wall section on the end...the photos don't show a cool little inset with a half-round planter on the inside of the wall, facing the waiting area. I will definitely think this over closely, thanks for the great idea. I have already decided to scratch Salltillo tile floors for the interior and the waiting room.
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Country: USA
| Posts: 1994 |
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k27rgs
Fireman
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andykins
Fireman
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Posted - 06/03/2012 : 04:37:53 AM
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this is going to be a good one verne!
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"Is it really "rivet counting" if it's regarding NBW castings?"
Unknown |
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Country: United Kingdom
| Posts: 3880 |
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desertdrover
Engineer
Premium Member
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Posted - 06/03/2012 : 10:26:47 AM
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Great looking kit indeed, and a fine addition to your E&SG. 
Dallas gave a great idea for more added interest, and you have already started to refine the idea to your Southwestern flavor.
I don't post much to your threads Verne, but do follow all with great interest, and taking the occasional ideas and building tips for my own use.
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 Louis
Pacific Northwest Logging in the East Coast |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 11268 |
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MinerFortyNiner
Fireman
Premium Member
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Posted - 06/03/2012 : 10:48:12 AM
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Gracias, amigos!
I have incorporated Dallas' idea and flopped the waiting area to the north side of the station, where there would be more shade (an important consideration in the desert!). I also considered 'chopping' a few feet off the edifice between the windows and the parapet.
Here is the station with 'a little more off the top':
And for comparison, the original:
Comments?
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Country: USA
| Posts: 1994 |
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desertdrover
Engineer
Premium Member
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Posted - 06/03/2012 : 11:26:05 AM
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The lower profile does look better IMO. It seems to fit in better with the surounding area.
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Louis
Pacific Northwest Logging in the East Coast |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 11268 |
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runner
Fireman
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Posted - 06/03/2012 : 1:30:34 PM
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Verne- I'm eager to follow along as you put this little scene together.
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Country: USA
| Posts: 1066 |
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time2play
Engine Wiper
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Posted - 06/03/2012 : 2:04:35 PM
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I agree with Louis - the lower profile fits the scene much better.
Bob Farquhar 
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Country: Canada
| Posts: 458 |
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time2play
Engine Wiper
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Posted - 06/03/2012 : 2:06:31 PM
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I agree with Louis - the lower profile fits the scene much better.
Bob Farquhar
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Country: Canada
| Posts: 458 |
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MinerFortyNiner
Fireman
Premium Member
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Posted - 06/04/2012 : 03:11:02 AM
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I got a start on the modeling tonight, first by creating a template for the model base. I will cut it tomorrow from 3/4 birch plywood. It will be big enough to support the structure and about six scale feet of the surrounding scenery.
The kit consists of cast Hydrocal walls for the station, a back wall for the waiting area (I will omit this wall) and resin castings for the ornate trim, doors, windows, etc. Here are the three types of walls, two main walls are included but I only show one in this photo.
I began by cleaning up the wall castings. The castings are beautifully done by Tom, as are the decorative trim pieces. I used sanding sticks (flexible nail files from WalMart), files and a small bit of sandpaper.
Next, I drilled eight holes as shown to accommodate lights on the facade each side of the station sign, and for wires that will extend across the interior to carry power and support the chandeliers. You can just see the brass chandeliers and micro 12v bulbs in the parts tray to the left rear of the previous photo.
Here's a front wall with lights, station sign and decorative molding set in place. I wanted to lay this out and check dimensions before planning any cuts to shorten the station. I am glad I did...if I want these decorative lights, it will be difficult to 'scrunch' the station down much at all. There are decorative columns that will be placed each side of the doorway, so the lights can't go there.
I like the arrangement of the components on the wall, but will sleep on the decision of cutting down the model. It's a bit taller than shown in Tom's original plans, and I suspect that was to give the station sign adequate space...and perhaps as a bit of a joke, with such an ostentatious edifice (two $50 words in a row, double-points!) for a little mining railroad. Perhaps the station was built in a time of prosperity, and this was their chance to make an architectural statement!
EDIT: Here's the wall with the pilasters each side of the door, and the soffit in place. There's a lot going on with this wall!
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Edited by - MinerFortyNiner on 06/04/2012 10:11:11 AM |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 1994 |
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desertdrover
Engineer
Premium Member
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Posted - 06/04/2012 : 09:57:00 AM
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I like the front lights, that alone already adds to the type/style of architecture going on there.
Verne, when you get to the brass chandeliers portion of your build, please post pictures of them. I've never seen one made up.
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Louis
Pacific Northwest Logging in the East Coast |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 11268 |
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MinerFortyNiner
Fireman
Premium Member
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Posted - 06/04/2012 : 10:15:46 AM
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Will do, Louis...they are decorative items I picked up at a Michael's craft store a year ago, thinking ahead they would be great as chandeliers! As for the lights, I couldn't resist adding them, they will add a lot in night scenes by illuminating the front of the structure and the train platform.
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Country: USA
| Posts: 1994 |
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