Decided to make some benches for the train station platform rather than buy them. I have a box of Evergreen structural plastic so I went into that and retrieved an H column and a section of 015. by 0188. I shaved one leg off of the H column. 000_1173-20 by John Moore posted Oct 26, 2019 at 9:07 PM And then I laminated the section of .015 by.0188 to it and cut into sections the longest being 10 N scale feet 000_1179-22 by John Moore posted Oct 26, 2019 at 9:07 PM .For about a dollar I have created 11 benches.
The station benches installed. The ones across the track at the station are ones I did about a year ago. Wood crossings are now installed along with a mail collection box and trash cans. Soon the scene will get pole lights and a power pole. Then time to clean it up and apply some more scenic material. The station is scratch built also because I could not find a small enough station. And an old baggage car is up on cribbing less its trucks as storage to the left. The brewery complex is to the rear of the station. 000_1181-2 by John Moore posted Oct 27, 2019 at 2:44 PM In another project started last night I needed another speeder shed so was looking through my box of unused structures and came out with a chicken coop. Dismantled it did some cutting and reassembled it and then raise the structure by about 4 N scale feet. Now working on a set of doors for it. 000_1180-1 by John Moore posted Oct 27, 2019 at 2:44 PM I am an old scratch builder from back in the dark days of N. Spent my money on another order from Japan of RR stuff. Back about 15 years ago when my eyes were better and the hands steadier I built the Virginia City Brewery from a set of plans in a Model RR book and from pictures on the internet. Probably my most challenging structure because of the roof. The build also included the two stone silos for grain one square the other round to the right rear of the structure. The two structures to the left are laser cut wood kits and the rear building is a kit bashed mill kit. Piping is all scratch built and the trestle supports are from a Walthers trestle kit. 000_1182-3 by John Moore posted Oct 27, 2019 at 3:15 PM
John, you have been a busy guy, keep up the good work. Now if I can get some time to work on my layout it would make me happy. I have about 15 to 20 feet of tracks that needs ballast. About half of the 33 foot mainline is complete less ballast. Joe
Well the speeder shed is about done with tracks cut to fit inside the shed. Just need to touch up some paint, stain the wood, and give an wash with India ink or Vallejo sepia wash. 000_1183-4 by John Moore posted Oct 27, 2019 at 6:27 PM Now I have that small pile of speeders to assemble on the NWSL chopper behind it.
In another short $1.50 project I have taken two surplus 36 foot wood reefers and converted them to trackside storage. First I took some paint thinner on a tissue a wiped most of the lettering off leaving just a little showing. Then I gave them a diluted wash of railroad tie brown. Next I took some wood ties that were part of a surplus wood trestle kit I have been using for parts and built the cribbing to set them on. I have stained the wood with India ink in alcohol. 000_1232-1 by John Moore posted Nov 2, 2019 at 4:24 PM I am now constructing two wood loading platforms for them.
And the completed storage units now awaiting glue to dry before placing them on the layout. 000_1233-2 by John Moore posted Nov 2, 2019 at 5:44 PM
Continuing on with another small project, this time a firehouse. Letting my fingers do the walking I searched the internet for a small firehouse to fit a predetermined space on my layout. What I found was out of stock, or too large, or simply did not fit the village construction or era plus a sound case of sticker shock at some of the prices, the highest ranging from $74 to over $100. So out came the building plastic box of styrene. I decided on a cut stone structure since I have a stoneworks on the layout. I have some sheets of cut stone, the same that was used to line some of the piers in the harbor, so a masonry structure is in order. So sides were laid out for 38 N scale feet wide by 32 N scale feet deep and 18 N scale feet tall. And after a few hours of work the sides are laid out. 000_1246-1 by John Moore posted Nov 6, 2019 at 10:01 AM
A few hours later and the firehouse is taking shape. 000_1247-2 by John Moore posted Nov 6, 2019 at 1:31 PM
I find that little projects like this that are done in short order and from supplies already on-hand are the most fun and satisfying. I made a bunch of N scale dumpsters this way.
A little further along with the fire station. Roof ventilators added and a hose tower also made and added along with a radio antenna. Also working on a separate small structure structure to house the rescue squad ambulances. Paint is still being applies to the station doors and maybe they get installed tomorrow then paint touch up. 000_1248-2 by John Moore posted Nov 6, 2019 at 9:37 PM
The firehouse is done just awaiting placement in the village. And I created a separate structure for the ambulance which is awaiting a base and some roof stuff once paint dries. So the San Juan Island now has a home for engines 1 and 2 and ambulance 1 and light rescue squad 1. 000_1249-1 by John Moore posted Nov 7, 2019 at 9:22 AM