Weekend Update 7/24/11

[wcfn100]

The craftsmanship of Bill Iwan's modeling is absolutely superb; the structures are top-notch, and the scenery is breathtaking. But... I do have to wonder at the arrangement of things. A station immediately adjacent to (indeed, nearly under) a coal tipple? A house with skewed walls that don't need to be skewed? Am I the only one who finds this a bit odd?

The proximity of the station to the Tram House (not a tipple) is prototypical.  As for the house, which is actually the Oilton Club Saloon, the building was in town (and still is), but the walls are square. 


edit: Here's the only shot I can find online so far.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y60/ThunderMountainRR/Ophir/Depot/depot.jpg?t=1196258785


Jason

[atsf_arizona]

Great info on the Ophir Tram House, makes Bill Iwan's display even more impressive when we see the way he
based it on the prototype. 

[atsf_arizona]

The craftsmanship of Bill Iwan's modeling is absolutely superb; the structures are top-notch, and the scenery is breathtaking. But... I do have to wonder at the arrangement of things. A station immediately adjacent to (indeed, nearly under) a coal tipple? A house with skewed walls that don't need to be skewed? Am I the only one who finds this a bit odd?

David, while I'm not sure, I believe that the skewed walls in the house were done to force the perspective.  It'd be interesting to hear
what Bill Iwan's intent was.   He was featured in a recent article in Railroad Model Craftsman, maybe he said something about
it in there?  I don't know.   Regardless, I could use Bill's help on my models anytime  .

Although I'm frankly thrilled to learn about the Ophir Tram House, in fairness to the original intent of this thread, we probably should get back to Weekend Photo Fun Update. 

With that in mind, check out this module by Steve Beals of southern California, on the Free-Mo-N layout
at 2011 National Train Show.  That's cool desert scenery 


 

[DKS]

The proximity of the station to the Tram House (not a tipple) is prototypical.  As for the house, which is actually the Oilton Club Saloon, the building was in town (and still is), but the walls are square. 


edit: Here's the only shot I can find online so far.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y60/ThunderMountainRR/Ophir/Depot/depot.jpg?t=1196258785


Jason

To my unenlightened eye it looked odd. My mistake! Thank you for setting this straight!

[wm3798]

Ran some trains...


Here's the local heading east out of Ridgeley to deliver some empty cement hoppers and coal to the Lehigh Cement plant in Union Bridge.

Installed some decodulators:

Phil's lead sled


A Bachmann light mountain for Mike Reed (which went infinitely smoother than the first one)


and finished up tuning and detailing Mike's RS fleet.

More to come...!
Lee

[wcfn100]

A final note on the Ophir diorama, there was a concession made to the track layout.  Where you see the gondola under the Tram is actually where the main line ran. The track in the front of the depot was the siding.

I can certainly see how it would look like a coal tipple with the way it's layed out.

This all makes me want to hop in the Jeep and head up there.

Jason

[DKS]

A final note on the Ophir diorama, there was a concession made to the track layout.  Where you see the gondola under the Tram is actually where the main line ran. The track in the front of the depot was the siding.

All clearly visible in this image--

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ophir_station_1940_3.jpg

and more: http://www.google.com/search?um=1&hl=en&biw=1920&bih=936&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=ophir+railroad+station

[Chris333]

Ophir in color:
http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/p15330coll22&CISOPTR=84436&CISOBOX=1&REC=2

http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/p15330coll22&CISOPTR=3991&CISOBOX=1&REC=1

On Bing the aerial tramway from the tramhouse seems to go forever.

[up1950s]

That first shot Lee , with the tan ballast , and the under table lit up tracks is so interesting .   

[Puddington]

Ran some trains...



Lee: That's awesome; I love that shot !

[wm3798]

Thanks, Pud.
I'm working on a series of ops oriented photos to give an overview of the flow of traffic over the layout.

Lee

[esa123]

I second Pud's comment, that looks very good Lee! I'm really digging how the tracks have a " realistic" flow to them. Great Work!

Erik

[cv_acr]

A hot week has passed for many , has that effected your modeling ? What did you do ?

With temperatures in the high 30s all week (100F for you south of the border folks) plus humidity, as little as possible other than swimming in the lake.

Though I'm not sure if I can say it really affected my modelling, since I haven't got much done on that in a while anyway. I _did_ scan a whole bunch of slides lately from a collection I obtained a couple months ago and did a fair bit of uploading to my site:

http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/updates/july2011.html

The collection is mostly CN and CP equipment, ranging from about 1971-1993.

[unittrain]

I received some Scenic Express brier patch to add to my poly-fiber and turf brush along my mainline. The scenic express stuff has leaf detail. Also the shipping time is phenominal with Scenic Express I ordered thursday evening and had my package on saturday!

[mcjaco]

What railroad is this loco on now?  That's an old Arizona & California unit, that then spent time on the California Northern.

My weekend was spent bailing out my parent's basement.  9 inches of water, after the sump couldn't keep up.  As far as I can tell right now, I only lost some HO boxes (not the contents), one structure, and I as I don't have DCC at home, I can't tell if my N scale stuff is operable (it was on the floor).  I will say that Kato jewel cases are great, as their almost airtight.  It's the Atlas stuff I'm worried about.  At least my motive power was at the top of the box, and the rolling stock towards the bottom.