New pics from the In-ko-pah Railroad, including a small crane and an abandoned mine with a stone cabin: http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR-Photos.html I had expected my next project would be construction of the Dos Manos depot. However, the complexity of that structure convinced me that I should try out my methods on a couple smaller buildings first. I also needed something to hide an electrical junction near the tracks at the east end of the layout. Since there is an abandoned mine nearby, I decided to build a small, decrepit stone cabin. The cabin was of real stone and mortar, using a variation of the technique I used to to make my stone bridges. I made a form out of foam-core board, placed the stones inside, added some wire mesh, and poured in the mortar. Unfortunately I was out of film at the time so I didn’t get any photos of the construction. The roof was inspired by a building in the ghost town of Rhyolite, NV. It was covered with random bits of sheet metal, including flattened tin cans, all darkened by age and rust. My roof is made of styrene which was carved and painted to look like old wood. The “shingles” are bits of aluminum from soda cans, with grooves and ridges pressed into them to make them look like flattened, miniature tin cans, corrugated metal, etc. The floor of the cabin is scribed styrene painted to look like wood, and littered with debris. There is also a crude steel-drum stove. Across the tracks from the cabin is the abandoned mine. The mine shaft was built some time ago. I added a headframe, and a small powder magazine (explosives storage) set into the hillside next to the mine. The magazine is made of stone with a wooden door. The door has working hinges and is reinforced with tiny “nails” made from bits of wire. It is heavily weathered and scarred with bullet and shotgun holes. The hillside has also been reconfigured and includes another, smaller mine shaft. There are also some places where I will eventually add more buildings. Higher up,
Ray what you have is not just a g scale garden railroad but a true modlers railroad The way you laid your track and positioned the stone work added even more realism to your layout. We live in Ohio and would hope to someday make it out to your area to see your layout in person. Thank you for posting the pictures. Pete and Karen digiacomo
Ray, your railroad just keeps getting better and better. Very nice craftsmanship. [tup]
Thanks! We’re always happy for a chance to show off the layout and meet new folks. To anyone planning a trip to San Diego, if you’d like to drop by and see the layout just send me an email (raydunakin@aol.com) and we’ll do our best to work out a date and time.
You know what, Ray? If we were a little more well off, I might take you up on that…all the way from Georgia. Seeing your railroad would be worth the trip. It would be fun. You simply amaze me when you post stuff. I love going on your site and gettin lost. If my little indoor junk can turn out 1/10 as good as your railroad, I’ll be a happy man.