NAPM Backdrop Buildings

Magnuson department store.  It has been chopped at an angle for placement against the backdrop.  All of the backdrop building have been configured in that manner, it really enhances their appearance.  I have painted the model to appear as thought it was built from cut limestone blocks with a pinkish sandstone for the window cornices and trim.  I painted the walls with Polyscale Antique White and the trim with aged concrete (this happened to be a pinkish batch of aged concrete).  I like to use Dr. Bens aging solutions, I used very dilute black on all surfaces.  Next I used Dr. Bens pigments ( #1380 Silverton Gold and # 1377 Ocher Russet) to color the limestone.

Napm Backdrop Buildings

 DPM modular with Walthers fire escape

Magnuson Tinkers Washer Works wall sections stacked up with Walthers fire escapes

Rear of Magnuson Model, not sure which one, possibly the department store.

Rear of City Classics building

These are the latest creations for the next block on the NAPM backdrop.  These are face on pictures, the buildings are actually angled when placed on the layout. 

NAPM and something for me

Latest NAPM background buildings for East LaSalle.  These with the last set will fill in one block.

Got back to building the DSS&A F6 Consolidation.  Adding piping, it is a slow process.  In this photo all of the parts are dry fit allowing me to remove and test fit everything before final fixing.

Copper Country Project

I have been working on some models of homes found in and around the Calumet and Hecla mining company.  This is a private home on rented company land.  Top prototype photo, bottom 1:87 scale model.

NAPM East LaSalle Backdrop

This set of buildings will be added along the backdrop in East LaSalle. 

Here are some progress photos of the Jackson & Sharp passenger cars.  I am at the stage of shaping the roof ends. I have used Northeastern roof sections even though the clerestory is not open.  It was necessary to reduce the depth of the roof to more closely represent the prototype cross section.

                                                           40 foot RPO/Express car

                                                                52 foot Baggage Car 

                                                     52 foot First Class Coach Cars

The above photos show the left and right hand sides of the boiler after stripping off all of the unneeded detail.  I filled the holes with styrene rod and strip.  The holes for the domes were backed with thin styrene and then filled with epoxy and sanded to shape.

Engineers side.  Ash pans are attached all other pieces are sub assemblies in the process of fabrication.  The cab is built up from .010 sheet, the roof was a real challenge to form.

Firemans side. Again the walkways, compressor and injector feed pipe are sub assemblies.  I have to place an order with PSC to get some additional detail castings.

When I get tired of working on the locomotive I switch over to this project, building some passenger cars.  These models are based upon prototypes created in 1888 for the DSS&A by Jackson & Sharp.  There are some excellent digitized glass plate builders photos available of these cars.  I used info from the 1888 Car Builders Cyclopedia (Google Books) to get information on the floor framing and brake application.  The trucks are from Bethlehem Car Works (#122).  Brake rigging from Cal Scale Express Reefer, not exact for prototype but close enough for underside of car. This is the 40 foot Mail Express car.

This is he floor and car side for the 52 foot baggage car.  I have two more 52 foot floors completed for the coach cars, I have to start the fabrication of the sides.