I have a small place on the side of a mountain by the tracks that needs a moonshine still and a couple of folks to make/drink it. Anyone have one on there layout or know where I could get one? I don’t know about scratch building one but I can’t buy one I might try to build one. Thanks, Mike
Woodland Scenics has a still scene in HO: Info Here
Here’s a link to a website with information about moonshine stills, with a good photo of a still, in the event you decide to build your own.
Are the little people going to be making applejack or that rotgut corn stuff? If it’s applejack then my little people will be over to help drink it.
Karl
Any time more recent than 1950, the still and its ancillary equipment would usually be inside a structure of some kind. Both Moonshiners and Revenooers had figured out aerial reconnaissance by then.
Of course you could model a 'shine runner loading up his hopped-up, stripped down soon-to-be-NASCAR vehicle outside a ramshackle ‘looks like a cattle shed, but isn’t.’
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Those of us of a certain, ahem, seasoned vintage, will recall the still in the daily newspaper cartoon L’il Abner and the character Moonshine McSwine.
If you Google Images “moonshine” you’ll find some ideas. This image lives on even though the website itself cannot be found anymore:
This shot has more detail
Here is the website it comes from: http://www.old-picture.com/united-states-history-1900s---1930s/Moonshine-Still.htm
Dave Nelson
I’ve got a set of Woodland Scenics “Rabbit Hunt” figures. I think they’d be appropriate, particularly since they’re armed and ready for the “revenuers.” A couple of “Jug Band” characters might fit in nicely, too.
Good Morning!
The previous posters are right on, so you should be all set to go regarding the still and figures. To “kick it up a notch”, right before an operating session add several drops of Kentucky’s finest around the scene.
ENJOY!
Mobilman44
And let your track get really dirty so the locos will act like the engineers are inebriated.
If you get the History channel watch " Hillbillys " hosted by Billy Ray Cyrus . Nov 4 th is a re-run. I saw it the first time around , lots of moonshine stories and real stills in action. Plus some great history of the Cinchfield RR. Don’t miss it , it’s worth watching. [:D]
Does ATF still bother with stills or are they too busy hunting drugs runners and terrorists? If not… do they read these threads? Your layout might get raided…
[:-,]
You know, I really like your idea, and may try to copy it for my 1950s era layout.
I lived in Louisville Ky in the late '60s, and it was no big secret that there were stills still operating in the deep woods less than 50 miles away. Of course as another poster pointed out, as time went by the still operators got better and better at hiding and disquising their stills.
ENJOY,
Mobilman44
As to the query about ATF “still after stills”:
Up until a year ago, I was a Police Captain in Roanoke, VA. Franklin County, Virginia (the next county to our south) had the reputation as the #1 moonshine county in the United States, and yes, it is still “good business / serious problem” there, depending upon your perspective. We worked regularly with ATF agents in tracking some of those folks. Most of the homebrew headed north for places like Philadelphia. I have one of the Woodland Scenics stills for my WWI-era Winneshiek & Western RR. I just can’t remember how I know this, but if you ever have a chance to try any… the “Damsen” flavored moonshine is very smooth.
Bill
Miiiike! Man, and I thought you were and OK, law-abiding guy!
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