The JACALAR RR

New Pictures - lots of progress

As promised, I finally took some new pictures of the progress. Since I had only been getting out there in spits and spurts, I really hadn't realized how much progress had been made, and that I hadn't updated this thread in almost a month!

To remind everyone where I left off:



And here are two similar views, showing the overall work





The dark grey styrene plates are what are covering the subway tunnel below. Once properly ballasted, they will blend in nicely with the yard, and will be able to be lifted to access the track underneath in the case of any problems. I plan to build "vents" on at least a couple, since I have steam engines running through the tunnel. Any suggestions on what these should look like will be appreciated.

 

Here's a closer view of the yard office, shed and lot, with lots of activity behind it



and, a close up of the parking lot



Here, we can see some freight cars, which had delivered new supplies to the yard shed. They have to be moved on and off the turntable to access this spur.



Clearly, I still have a lot of detailing to do, adding weeds/grass in areas, people, etc.

 

Signals!

Here are four shots of the first two dwarf signals installed on the Jacalar. These are made by Scale Model Division. They are very reasonably priced, come fully wired, including resistors, and are ready to attach to any controller. Serge has many different models available, and I highly recommend checking him out.









(I kept looking at these photos after taking them, and reminding myself: Yes, this is Unitrack)

 

Here are some shots looking towards the roundhouse area





The front of the office

 

More shots

Here you can see some better closeups of some of the new(old) equipment on JACALAR






It was a very busy morning, with lots of traffic in and out of the maintenance area. We see the WP consist leaving, getting ready to pull the CZ, while a D&RGW PA1 comes in for work.

 

That would be hilarious. Might need to consider it, at some point. The subway is a complete reversing block, so it is already isolated.

Of course, that vent is somewhat more modern than the other buildings I have. Need something from 40s/50s/early 60s. For modern, you could just plop down a square of styrene, sitting 10 scale ft up, with a large fan on the top.

 

New water tank to serve the fleet

A new "old" water tank was installed this week, just off the turntable, behind the yard office. This was a Walther's Cornerstone prebuilt, and I weathered it with Bragdon powders.

 

Backdrop buildings

Did some rearranging and added new backdrop buildings, behind the roundhouse area, creating a fuller "city scape" feel.

Note the Studebaker sign!

 

The Back Corner - a bar for the boys

Ever since I scored this great deal, via Craigslist, on about $500 worth of WS figures, for $75 (all new and in package), my sister decided that the Rebels package, henceforth known as "the Boys", needed a place of their own. I carved out the back corner overlooking the yard, and chose to take the State Farm Supply kit, and turn it into a bar. In fact, the bar, "The Depot", is housed in the old State Farm Supply store (just a conversion)!

Harrison's Hardware is next door. This area is still being roughed out, and I built the kit today. Need to add signage to the building, both old and faded Supply signs, and the new "The Depot" signs. Also need some signs for the windows. I also plan to add interior lighting, and some detailing. The lighting will be with LEDs and fiber optics.

This gives you an "overview" shot of the corner



close up of the bar, with the boys out front



Five of the boys

 

More of "The Depot"

Just some more shots

 

Looking up from the yard. Good shot of the hardware store

 

Actually, that Blue and White car on the right, in front of the hardware store, is a police cruiser - a 1939 Ford police.

 

Hmmm, you could be right. Not too late to change the names, I'll run it by my sister when she gets back (after all, this scene is hers). Jackie says I need to rearrange the boys a bit, they're spaced just a bit strangely (just a little too Hollywood Blvd). You don't realize it when working, since this is all, in reality, a small space.

As you can tell, I was just "trying" the backdrop buildings (not being cut out, yet) in the corner. I think they look pretty good in the photos. Not sure what to put directly behind the bar and hardware store, yet. Suggestions welcome.