Model Radio Stations & Towers - Lets See Them!

I bought a River Leaf radio station kit and figured it should have an antenna to go along with the building. The Korber model antenna looked pretty good so I ordered one of them (this was before Mr. Muffin bought Korber). Not a real easy kit, in fact Korber sent enough to build almost two antennas because of potential damage to the intricately laser cut lattice work. Not a real easy kit but it turned out pretty good.

WRVA was the premier AM radio station in Richmond, VA until the popularity of AM radio started to fade.

Ken

@kanawha posted:

I bought a River Leaf radio station kit and figured it should have an antenna to go along with the building. The Korber model antenna looked pretty good so I ordered one of them (this was before Mr. Muffin bought Korber). Not a real easy kit, in fact Korber sent enough to build almost two antennas because of potential damage to the intricately laser cut lattice work. Not a real easy kit but it turned out pretty good.

WRVA was the premier AM radio station in Richmond, VA until the popularity of AM radio started to fade.

Ken

Ken,

That looks fantastic. I haven't seen the River Leaf kit before, but boy does it look sharp with the Korber antenna!

Bryce

I repurposed a Lionel "Municipal Building" into the business office (downstairs) and the radio studios (upstairs) of the building to represent KLIO-FM -- "Golden Oldies for Golden Agers."  I created a rooftop sign for the station.  I didn't have space for a radio tower alongside the building, so I installed a Lionel Microwave Tower pointed in the direction of an imaginary transmitter building and radio tower "over the horizon" of my layout. The microwave tower displays the call letters of the station.

I worked in radio during the early years of my career in broadcasting, so KLIO-FM on my layout brings back memories of my involvement  with:
WNIL-AM    Niles, MI
WSJM-AM    St. Joseph, MI
WAUS-FM    Berrien Springs, MI
WJCT-FM     Jacksonville, FL
WILL-AM/FM    Urbana, IL

Great idea to provide a sound source for your radio station!

Mike Mottler     LCCA 12394

I decided to model the Blaw-Knox tower that is used by WSM in Nashville and WLW in Cincinnati.  Both are 50,000 watt clear channel stations

@Mike H Mottler posted:

I repurposed a Lionel "Municipal Building" into the business office (downstairs) and the radio studios (upstairs) of the building to represent WLIO-FM -- "Golden Oldies for Golden Agers."  I created a rooftop sign for the station.  I didn't have space for a radio tower alongside the building, so I installed a Lionel Microwave Tower pointed in the direction of an imaginary transmitter building and radio tower "over the horizon" of my layout. The microwave tower displays the call letters of the station.

I worked in radio during the early years of my career in broadcasting, so WLIO-FM on my layout brings back memories of my involvement  with:
WNIL-AM    Niles, MI
WSJM-AM    St. Joseph, MI
WAUS-FM    Berrien Springs, MI
WJCT-FM     Jacksonville, FL
WILL-AM/FM    Urbana, IL

Great idea to provide a sound source for your radio station!

Mike Mottler     LCCA 12394

Mike,
Your use of the microwave tower is a nice touch. I would love to see a photo or two of your WLIO-FM station.

On the topic of a sound source for the radio station, I am debating between these two ideas for putting the Bluetooth speaker:
- Mount it underneath the table
- Put it inside the building that I will use

When this is complete, I am thinking of turning it into an interactive element where guests can use their smart device to "host" a show and play the music that they like when the visit the layout.

@Dale Guthman posted:

I decided to model the Blaw-Knox tower that is used by WSM in Nashville and WLW in Cincinnati.  Both are 50,000 watt clear channel stations.

Dale,
Very Cool! I wanted to originally base my radio station off the prototype but I would need to add a whole new section to the layout if I wanted to have the Bamberger's Department Store in Newark, NJ (C. 1920s) or the Transmitter/Studio in Carteret, NJ (c. mid-1930s-68).

I think a representative building/studio and tower would be best for my layout. If I ever get the room for a massive layout, I most certainly will be making one of the two above photos!

Bryce

Mine is WSNO 560 with a blinking light atop the antenna courtesy of Dept 56. No assembly required.

This in Toccoa, GA; it would be a simple change to an existing structure just by adding a callsign to a storefront.

O Scale Train Lover:

Here are pix of my KLIO-FM radio station building and microwave tower. The building is a repurposed Lionel Municipal Building with signage and figures added.  However, I didn't dress up the interior; maybe that task can be a project during the next pandemic.

Radio buffs know that nearly all radio station call letters begin with "W" if east of the Mississippi River; with a "K" west of the river. Since I now live in Arkansas, the radio station on my layout is KLIO-FM

About radio station sound effects ...
I placed a Lionel Band Stand accessory on my layout. I bought it knowing that its factory audio system was inoperative. I purchased a CD player, mounted it underneath the layout near the Band Stand, and played a CD of Christmas music performed by the Stan Kenton band, my favorite big band.

Mike Mottler     LCCA 12394

The Lionel BT radio station.

I know it is being sold as a cell tower kit, but that is easily modified.  It's a nice kit.

https://www.twtrainworxstore.c...-tower-kit-twx-2200/

@Bruce Brown posted:

Mine is WSNO 560 with a blinking light atop the antenna courtesy of Dept 56. No assembly required.

Bruce,
I've never seen that Dept. 56 building before. It looks very nice!

@PRRMP54 posted:

This in Toccoa, GA; it would be a simple change to an existing structure just by adding a callsign to a storefront.

Dave,
Not a bad idea! I have a few Ameri-town walls that I can assemble to make something like this.

@Mike H Mottler posted:

Here are pix of my KLIO-FM radio station building and microwave tower. The building is a repurposed Lionel Municipal Building with signage and figures added.  However, I didn't dress up the interior; maybe that task can be a project during the next pandemic.

Radio buffs know that nearly all radio station call letters begin with "W" if east of the Mississippi River; with a "K" west of the river. Since I now live in Arkansas, the radio station on my layout is KLIO-FM

About radio station sound effects ...
I placed a Lionel Band Stand accessory on my layout. I bought it knowing that its factory audio system was inoperative. I purchased a CD player, mounted it underneath the layout near the Band Stand, and played a CD of Christmas music performed by the Stan Kenton band, my favorite big band.

Mike,
The station looks looks great! Yes, you are absolutely correct. I like how your station starts with "K" as you are west of the Mississippi, its a subtle detail many would overlook.  The CD player is a good idea too.
Stan Kenton and his Orchestra are one of my favorite bands. My personal favorite is their 1951 recording of "Jump for Joe" which has Art Pepper doing an Alto Sax. solo

@Richie C. posted:

The Lionel BT radio station.

Richie,
The Lionel Bluetooth Radio Station was the catalyst for me wanting to do this project. I think Lionel did great with it but I am not a fan of the blue and orange colors. I am one of those people who do not like to re-paint pre-built buildings (some call it an odd quirk) so I am planning on making my own.

@Bossman284 posted:

I know it is being sold as a cell tower kit, but that is easily modified.  It's a nice kit.

I did not know that TW Trainworx even made that. It definitely could easily be modified for my needs, thank you!

Bryce

Here's my radio station and tower(s).  I also have a River Leaf radio station building & Korber tower.  The towers on the tall buildings were bashed from Plasticville towers:

@frizzinbee posted:

Here's my radio station and tower(s).  I also have a River Leaf radio station building & Korber tower.  The towers on the tall buildings were bashed from Plasticville towers:

All I can say is "WOW!" The Radio station and towers are striking.
Unrelated to the topic: your skyscrapers are awe-inspiring!

Bryce

You can't talk about radio stations without mentioning the Plasticville kits of the 1960's! They were marketed as TV stations, which could serve equally as radio stations.

@jay jay posted:

You can't talk about radio stations without mentioning the Plasticville kits of the 1960's! They were marketed as TV stations, would could serve equally as radio stations.

WPLA actually exists in Saranac Lake, NY 93.3 FM using a variety hits format.

@PRRMP54 posted:

WPLA actually exists in Saranac Lake, NY 93.3 FM using a variety hits format.

Dave,
You learn something new everyday!
Bryce

The base is three sides of an old Lionel oil well tower, and the upper half is a LAN antenna, with some LEDs for low flying planes.

@JoeTheBro very impressive!