Prototype Corner - "Drop-in" Structures

The word is out about how George uses a "drop-in" technique for his structure modelling.  This is how the approach was adapted for use in 1:1 scale.  This home on stilts was photographed in the Municipality of Marmora and Lake on August 28, 2021.

By Peter Mumby.

George builds and details a lot of structures.  He then cuts a gator foam base to fit a particular location, and mounts the structure to this base.  A few extra details are added to this base, then it is ready to be dropped into the layout.  Additional identically-sized bases are created for this specific location, and other structures are mounted to these bases.  This allows a variety of structures to be posed in the same location, creating different photo opportunities with a variety of industries or trackside structures, and permitting era-swapping.  With all of this in mind, I thought it might be interesting to view a "drop-in" structure in 1:1 scale.  Mind you, I didn't notice a multiplicity of structures available to be dropped into this particular location, but the concept of a building on stilts might just make for an interesting model.

 

Tire Shop Diorama

I added a lot of signs which are from my collection that I copied from various manufacturers. As one can see by the amount of tires this is a tire shop. 

I took a few photos of my tire shop diorama that currently rests on my workbench. I have shown you this structure before but I recently decided to take a few new photos that are a bit of a close-up view...George Dutka

I added BEST pigeons to the roof along with some extra junk. The tire pile and wood coal box are BarMills products. Most of the rest is parts from my detail box.

The rear wall has a few signs a lamp added. One can see the lean-to is full also.

I added a scrap vehicle to the lot which is on blocks. And no this truck will not be needing any tires soon.

An overall view of the tire shop. I added a gas pump to the scene as I have a load of there in my detail box and who knows when someone with new tires needs a top up. The display sheeting is something I got as a sample from Gator Dave...it is not Gatorfoam but something he has that is quite similar. It is used in the sign making business.

B&M North Hoosick Station

The B&M phone box kind of overpowers the look of this tiny station location. Note the mail box also. There is no actual platform out front suggesting it is gets minimal use if any by this time for passenger traffic.

Two photos of the B&M North Hoosick station. I don't recall where I got them, but I thought they were worth sharing with you. I think this type of small structure is something worth modeling...George Dutka 

Throwback Thursday - CP Interchange

B&O 4806 is backing past the C&O station at Chatham, Ontario on March 31, 1986.  It will cross the diamond and head into the CP yard to pick up interchange traffic.

By Peter Mumby.

The lead photo in today's post shows B&O 4806 beside the C&O depot at Chatham, Ontario.  The date is March 31, 1986.  The sign on the end of the structure reads "Chesapeake and Ohio Freight Office."  The trackage heading south (behind the camera) leads past the locomotive service area, across the CN diamond, and on towards the compact C&O yard.  In front of the camera the tracks head north towards the diamond with the CP beside the tower visible in the background.  The CP yard is off to the right side of the photo.  The locomotive is in the process of backing towards the interchange track which runs in to the north side of the CP yard, on the far side of the diamond.  A second interchange track, visible in the right foreground, leads into the south side of the yard. 

Now in the CP yard, 4806 is heading east to tie on to its string of cars.  To its right is CP 5558 and the power from the Chatham Turn, a train which regularly departed the London yard at around 07:30.

Wordless Wednesday No. 447

 

John Soehner photo.

 

Snapshot - October 2021

I think this engine looks great in this paint scheme, John Soehner photo.

Ken Borg sent me a series of photos taken by John Soehner of ribbon rail work train in the Smith Falls, Ontario area which has become this months Snapshot. Thanks John for allowing me to share your views. Tomorrows Wordless Wednesday will be another look at this power..enjoy...George Dutka 

Polka Dot Diner - A couple more views

The diner is ready to be installed on the WRD. Since the time of this photo the front sign has been changed with raised lettering spread out better. This restaurant sign was just temporary.

Here we have a couple more views of the Polka Dot Diner located in White River Jct. The date is 2013 when I took these photos prior to the structure being installed...George Dutka

A view out back shows the cook having a break following the breakfast rush. The Coke button is a BEST cast metal detail. The garbage cans and broom are Juneco details. I pulled up a good amount of boards on this structure.

 

White River Junction and the Polka Dot Diner

Busy day at the junction.

Here we have an overall view of WRJ and the Polka Dot Diner in the foreground. There is a lot going on this day such as the CV milk train with a CNR baggage car on the tail end. The local CV switcher is on the main line by the station with a caboose in tow and lastly the B&M local is about to leave town behind the diner...George Dutka  

Visit to Elgin County Railway Museum

The group split into two. One group toured the museum while the other the BX tower. This is a nicely restored GTW wooden caboose.

Last Saturday the Western Ontario Division of the NMRA gathered for another tailgate meet which was moved indoors since it was raining. Our group displayed models, held raffle prize draws and sold stuff that would have been found in their trunks if the weather co-operated. I did a short clinic on applying roll tar paper roofing. Nick of ITLA had a nice display including the mock-up of the St. Thomas station. The afternoon went fast and I did not get photos of all that went on. Later in the afternoon we got to tour the museum including BX tower. A really nice day of events...George Dutka

Brian Smith takes a close look at Don Janes Rapido RS-10 conversion. Keep an eye at RMC for a future article.

Most of the group pose for the photo. A few left prior as they were not going to take in the tour.

Up in the NYC BX tower. Peter Mumby is seen on the right and Paul Hurly is in the green jacket.

The tar paper mini clinic is underway. I did it three times to keep the crowd small. Paul Hurly photo.

 

Our BX tower tour guide was retired tower operator Charles Beckett. Paul Hurley photo

CV Outside Braced Boxcars

CV 40016 at St. Albans on April 30, 1988. This could make a nicely modeled scene.

These two photos I scanned from my prints. I was on a visit to St. Albans trying to photograph all I saw. These two boxcars appear to be used as storage sheds behind the shops and alongside the Richford Sub. This was maybe my second or third visit to St A but my first time alone to do what I want....George Dutka  

CV 40035 is seen back to back with CV 40016. Not sure what they stored in these cars.

Throwback Thursday - Permission Granted

July 16, 1986 finds GTW 5808 and friends ready to back on to their southbound train at St Albans, Vermont.

By Peter Mumby.

In a couple of other posts ( April 19/18, February 27/20 ) I have mentioned my visit to St Albans, Vermont of July 16, 1986.  At that time I went in to the office seeking permission to take photos on the property.  The gentleman I spoke to engaged me in conversation by asking me where I called home.  I said I lived in London, Ontario, suspecting that he might not have a very good idea of where that was.  On the contrary, he mentioned that he had been assigned to the area for a short time as a CN employee.  I don't know whether this had any influence on his decision, but I was granted permission to visit the shop tracks, and a memorable group of images were exposed.

In today's photo, GTW class GR-20a GP38AC number 5808 has been coupled together with CV GP9 units 4924, 4923, and 4551 in preparation for the next southbound train.  By 1990, 5808 had been re-lettered for the Central Vermont, although it retained the blue GTW colour. 

Wordless Wednesday No. 446

 

  

Frank Lane

My friend Andy sent me this cover of the current GTW Historical Society quarterly newsletter. It appears the issue is about CN Laser trains. This view looks like from maybe the 1990's heading east approaching Frank Lane just west of London, Ontario on the Strathroy Sub....neat...George Dutka 

CV No.455

 

Here is a photo from my files of CV 455 at the ash pits in St. Albans Vermont during 1939. I noticed there is a GTW raised panel hopper in the background. I think this might be a project on my list of car builds this winter....George Dutka 

Miss Bellows Falls Diner

Phil Jordan scratch built a diner which still stands in Bellows Falls, Vermont. Phil Jordan photo.

Kevin Smith sent me these two great view of a HO scale diner built by Phil Jordan. It was constructed from odds and ends for a friend's layout. It never intended to be an exact replica, but the influence is obvious. The Miss Bellows Falls Diner is a village icon. It currently is listed as temporarily closed when I checked on-line...thanks Kevin...George Dutka

Some Google information about the diner...The Miss Bellows Falls Diner stands on the southwest side of Rockingham Street, just northwest of the central business district of Bellows Falls. The diner is set parallel and close to the road. It is a barrel-roofed metal structure, 18 by 31 feet (5.5 by 9.4 m) in size, its exterior finished in original enamel panels bearing the diner's name. The entrances to the diner are at its ends, each sheltered by an added vestibule. The kitchen and bathroom facilities are located in a wood-frame addition to the rear. The interior of the diner retains original finishes, including walls finished in enamel panels and varnished wood, a polychrome tile floor, oak booths with Formica table tops, and the main counter's marble and metal finish. The service area also has original features, including enameled refrigerator cabinets and recessed menu boards.

The diner, built in 1941 by the Worcester Lunch Car Company, is the only known intact example of a Worcester barrel-roofed diner in the state. It was originally built for John Korsak and Frank Willie for a location in Lowell, Ma. where it was called Frankie & Johnny's. Both Korsak and Willie were called up into the military for World War II, and the diner was sold to go to Bellows Falls, where it arrived on May 14, 1944, replacing an earlier diner on the site. 

A better view of the HO scale version. Phil Jordan photo.

A look at the prototype found on-line. Library of Congress.

A look at the interior of the diner.

MEC Station - Wiscasset, Maine

The MEC station at Wiscasset, Maine July 29, 1961

The MEC station that once served as the standard gauge station at Wiscasset, Maine. At one time there was a platform walkway that took one to the Maine Two Footer station of the WW&F Ry. There was a diamond at this location...George Dutka 

Don Janes and I visited this location about 5 years ago. There is a roadway out to this bit of a peninsula surrounded by the waterway. The MEC has a trestle just behind the photographer. In the foreground there would have been a narrow gauge trestle. Today there is nothing here.

A view from the narrow gauge crossing and ball signal looking towards the MEC station. Note the boardwalk between the two locations. Kind of a neat location to model whichever gauge you model.

Another look at a FOS free kit!

This tiny FOS gas station has a pump included with some signage. I modeled it as weathered to the point no paint remains. Most of the coloring was done using Hunterline weathering mix and Floquil grime. Some Bragdon powders are used to highlight the structure.

A FOS kit I built back in 2018. It is a nice little structure that went together well considering these kits do not include instructions and minimal photos. I remember one wall was missing that I had to make up from parts box wood stock. I really like this structure that fits almost anywhere on a layout. A great little extra offering when ordering a $50 kit...George Dutka 

This little gas station had some planks pulled up and nail holes added. The holes are done using a pin by eye balling the board ends. Lots of details are added around the base which are not included in the kit.

Throwback Thursday - Set Out at Hyde Park

CN 2119 has been set out on the Hyde Park siding and is facing the morning sun in June of 1986.

By Peter Mumby.

Three prominent rail features were in evidence at the station name sign "Hyde Park," located in the west end of London, Ontario.  A junction switch off the north track of the Strathroy Subdivision led to the Exeter Subdivision.  After this subdivision was truncated, the remaining trackage was referred to as the Hyde Park Spur.  Adjacent to this junction switch was a turnout which led into the crossover which connected the two mains.  A short siding off the south track stood opposite the junction switch.  As originally constructed, this siding ran behind the Hyde Park station which stood in this place into the 1960s.  The locomotive visible in today's photo was standing on this siding.

During its final years, this siding was used for a variety of purposes, albeit infrequently.  If a short westbound out of London yard had cars for the Hyde Park spur, the siding could be used as a run around track to allow the locomotives to shove the train through both the crossover and the junction switch.  Periodically the siding was used to store company service equipment which was required for nearby projects.  I also remember seeing eastbound through freights set off small cuts of cars which were destined for London.  They would later be retrieved by the next eastbound train which was scheduled to enter London yard.

CN 2119 was standing near the east end of the Hyde Park siding in June of 1986.  Built by Bombardier, 2119 was the last of  the 20-unit group of model HR-616 assembled in 1982.  These locomotives have the distinction of being the first locomotives built with the full-width cowl body incorporating the CN "Draper Taper."  In addition, number 2119 was the first CN unit built with a desk-type control stand.  The "HR" in the model designation stood for "High Reliability," although this proved to be something of a misnomer, and the locomotives had relatively short service lives.

 

FOS - Lucky 7 Tavern

This was one of the structures I built over the summer. It was all painted and weathered using MIG products. I plan to use it in a back alley scene...George Dutka  

Visit to Ft. Edward, NY

This home along the main street in Ft. Edward was worth a view. The reason for our stop here was the coloring in the tree out front. Being early November it was surprising to see it in full color. Back at home most of the leaves are gone.

As a modeler lots of vintage structures are always nice to view. Don and I spent a bit of time photographing anything that appealed to us in Ft Edward...George Dutka 

This stately looking home and fencing is found on Main St.

An overall view of the bright red tree. I guess we can model them this bright after all.

Close-up Look

I don't think I showed you the rear wall but I also added a couple of signs here.

A few close up views of the BarMills barn conversion. I did find some nice marine details that fit the scene well...George Dutka 

I did  not use all the outboard details included in the kit. I will add these to other structures down the road.

The add-on side cover is a good place to tuck some details under and of course some scrap on the roof.