My New "Old Time" Passenger Station (Updated Pics)

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
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Here’s a “sneak peek” of my newest scratch-built project. This old-time station was inspired by Fine Scale Miniatures “Small Town Station” kit #235 which was released in 1985. Because this kit was produced as a limited edition, it is next to impossible to obtain one today for under 175.00 dollars. Not wanting to spend that kind of money, I decided to scratch-build my own.

To help me visualize the finished model, I started the project by creating these drawings on my PC:

Here is the finished model:

Close-up shot showing the passenger waiting area:

Close-up of station and baggage office:

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Extremely above-average, as usual, Bob! [:)][tup]

I’m just curious. What program software did you use to create the drawings? Also, your station looks like it’s a pretty good size. Where do you plan on putting it?

Keep up the good work, Bob! You’re an inspiration to the rest of us…

Tom

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Tom. The drawings were done using “paint”. Once you get the hang of it, it’s as easy as using an “Etch-A-Sketch”.

Bob.

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Absolutely fabulous !

Paint. My young nephew taught himself the Paint program, available on every MS equiped PC. It is amazing the detail drawings he can do.

Meanwhile, the rest of us spend $ on supposedly easy to use CAD programs [%-)]

Again, thanks for sharing and inspiring us all to new levels.

Regards,

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I never could get the hang that dadblamed thing either.

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Wonderful. I too wonder were this will go. If I have kept track at all, you now have enough scratchbuild dioramas for a great little suburb for you city.

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Art. I see you’re keeping track of my dioramas. As for were they will go. I’ve been in the planning stages for a new layout for some time now. My current layout has given me great joy, but like most of us, I’ve outgrown it. My plan is to convert our den into the new layout room. This will give me greater operational potential (more room) and an “around the room” style layout.

Bob.

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Bob, you are an incredible modeler! Having just started to get into scratch-building myself I can appreciate the pleasure that you must get from a project like this. This is very inspiring and will stimulate me to stive to attempt more complex structures.

It looks like you tend to use wood for your structures?

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You kill me, Tom. [(-D]

Bob, that is truly superb. When will we get an installation shot?

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Simon:

Believe it or not, working with wood is much easier than plastic. Besides its realistic look and feel, wood is easier to paint, stain, and weather than plastic. Try building a small pilot model with wood. You’ll be surprised how easy it goes together! Just remember these important tips.

  • Always prime your wood before painting.

  • Use white glue (yellow glue leaves stains)

  • Cut your wood using a chopper tool or single edge razor and straight edge. (makes nice crisp cuts)

And perhaps the most important tip…

  • Add plenty of 1/4 sq braces behind each wall and cardstock roof piece. This will prevent the structure from warping over time.
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Bob, with my limited neophyte experience I would have to agree with you. I just built a shed and used board by board wood construction and really enjoyed the process. The ink-wash works great to give that aged silvery look of old wooden boards. I have been using Titebond wood trim glue and while I like how well it holds I had noticed some of the issues with staining, or rather the difficulty of painting the wood after. Thanks for the tips. I feel like I am on the right path.

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I finished the Depot today. Here are a few more pics to share.

I added a newstand at the north-end of the platform. I found these WS Bums at my LHS, and just had to include them.

Here’s another shot of the passenger waiting area:

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A Question on construction - please.

In the picture above; do you use a red rail and add grey, or the other way around ?

As usual - terrific job.

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Alan:

The weathering on the railing was done using the “dry-brush” method. In otherwords, the grey was dry brushed over the red base coat. BTW, I like to dry brush just about everything, as it brings out the hightlights in the details.