Sunday Scenic Showcase August 30, 2020

Hey guys. The last few weeks I have been highlighting my engine service facilities with pics that did not make the cut for my feature article this month. The tour is just about over and today are some shots of the tower and surrounding area.

The tower is your quintessential Atlas kit. I do believe I have built this same structure in N, HO and O over the last 50 years. My layout has 3 of them. It received a paint job, a detailed interior with lights and a lot of exterior details. The guy eating the sandwich is a classic from Scenic Express. The coal tower is a kit bash using a Lionel built up tower combined with the kit that Lionel produced before the built up. I made walls to hide the fact the conveyor really does not go anywhere. The sanding tower is a brass Weaver item. Too bad I did not buy a dozen of them when they were issued. I picked up the water column and gantry crane at York years ago.

Finally, I went overboard with the pictures of the fuel, oil and lube truck by Sword. These are amazing 1:50 scale diecast models. Too bad they no longer make them and if you find one, be prepared to pay “Legacy” pricing.

Enjoy the pics and have a great Sunday! Next week I plan to showcase the Rock Island Freight House and then move on around the layout.

Donald

Alan, the paint job on that tank is absolutely realistic.  How did you obtain the look?

Made a little progress this weekend adding decal graphics to my root beer stand and moving forward on my Birdie's Tavern building for the South Boston part of my future layout.

Joe,

Thank you. I painted the tank with grey and brown primer and orange paint. I wanted the tank to look as if the plates were primed grey except along the edges where they were welded. The brown prime is where the primer came off and the orange is where the plates have been welded and rusted. I have seen this look of a new tank for many years since I am in that trade.

This Railway Express Agency building, from an Ameritowne kit, is at the front corner of my 12’-by-8’ layout, so I have tried to add some interest with a rooftop shed, billboard, water tank, vents and chimney. As supplied, this small building has large cargo doors on three sides – very unrealistic. My solution was to cover one of those doors with a small shed and entrance at ground level. The loading ramps were made with scribed basswood. Ameritowne buildings are mostly a painting project but I think they have good-looking brick. My 10’-by-5’ layout is visible across the room in the third photo.

MELGAR

Thank you for the info Alan.  The combo of your background and skill make for the most realistic tanks and storage facility equipment.

Mel ingenious additions to the Ameritowne kit that give it an individual identity.

This is Lionel’s factory kit (6-12905) with a few modifications. The kit as pictured on the box didn’t make since to me. However, a nice feature of this kit is the side panels containing the warehouse door and window pockets are individual pieces. So I placed the two warehouse doors away from the end with the ground level door window. I then made a raised concrete platform for the side office, and a wooden loading dock.

@MELGAR posted:

This Railway Express Agency building, from an Ameritowne kit, is at the front corner of my 12’-by-8’ layout, so I have tried to add some interest with a rooftop shed, billboard, water tank, vents and chimney. As supplied, this small building has large cargo doors on three sides – very unrealistic. My solution was to cover one of those doors with a small shed and entrance at ground level. The loading ramps were made with scribed basswood. Ameritowne buildings are mostly a painting project but I think they have good-looking brick. My 10’-by-5’ layout is visible across the room in the third photo.

MELGAR

Melgar - beautiful work!