Construction Update #4 - RGS #40, Layout Construction, The Placerville Store & Sn3 Items For Sale or Trade

RGS 40

 

The latest addition to the roster is RGS #40.  This is a P-B-L Foreground Model.

Layout Construction Begins

September 3, 2023

The HO layout along the 22' long north wall has been removed and the first three modules for Placerville are being installed.  The modules are resting on the existing L-Girders that were originally built in 1987.  They've been reused on 6 prior layouts, in 4 different scales; HO(2), O, On3 and Sn3(2) and at three different locations.  One thing is pretty clear at this point.  My RGS 1st District is going to have a very low track to scenery ratio.  Placerville consists of the mainline, a double ended siding/house track, a single ended spur and a wye along a 22' long wall.

The first module, a corner module, is shown below.  The Placerville wye will be located on this module.

 

Placerville will be located on the next two modules.  They are 96" x 30" and 84" x 30" and located along the north wall of the room.  The modules, which are not attached to the L-girders, are held together with lag bolts.  The 2" foam will rest on the cross members.

And where is whats left of the HO layout...  In the bed of my 26 year old Ram pickup ready for a trip to the transfer station.  The old Dodge V-8 is a gas guzzler compared to my F-150 but with nearly 170,000 miles, it still doesn't use a drop of oil and runs great.

 

 

The Placerville Store

September 5, 2023

 

 

To effectively duplicate Placerville, I want to include a minimum of 9 structures; the depot, the 2 warehouses, the store, the garage and the post office, 2 residences and a hotel.  The count doesn't include several minor structures to include the depot outhouse, various sheds and a small warehouse.

 

I have just finished the store from Monster Modelworks.  The store, built from stone block, is generally referred to as the Whitley & Whitley.  Here is a picture of the finished model from the Monster Modelworks web page.  The model appears to be a very close reproduction of the prototype.

 

Due to the fact I only have about 4" in depth to work with between Front Street and the backdrop I had to shorten the length of the side walls by a little over 5 inches.  And, since the store is going to back up directly against the backdrop, I decided to save the back wall along with what was left of the side walls for a future project. 

Assembly is pretty straight forward.  It took me about a half an hour to cut down the side walls, square up the edges, and glue things together.  The laser cut(wood) stone block walls are pretty impressive.

I only ran across one small problem during the build.  The slots for the awning supports didn't line up properly. 

 

 

I opened up the small notches and then glued the supports in place.  Once the awing is glued to the front of the store, you won't be able to see the fix.

After reviewing some pictures on the internet, I decided to go along with the light gray or white trim colors suggested in the instructions.  The roofing, on the awning, must have been replaced or painted green at some point in time.  After due consideration, I settled on light gray trim and the rusty seamed roofing as shown in the Monster Modelworks photo.  I finished the stonework starting with Builders In Scale Silverwood and then proceeded to dry brush on three more colors of craft paint.  The overhang roof was rusted with powdered paint pigments.  The prototype is cool, the kit is great and it was easy to build.  Monster Modelworks has a bunch nice structure kits in all the major scales. https://larkspurlaserart.com/structure-kits/

Here is a picture of my completed model less a few details.

The Garage

September 6, 2023

 

While working on the Placerville Store, I got to thinking about the left over parts and the stone block garage that is and was located on Front Street about a block and a half east of the store and behind the depot.  Since all I had to work with was about an inch of depth, all I really needed was the front wall that faced Front Street.  My starting point was the picture of the finished garage kit off the Monster Modelworks web page.

 

I laid out the material left over from the store, made a few cuts, came up with the front shown below. 

And then, a little late I might add, I decided to look for additional pictures of the prototype on the internet.  Both the store and the garage are still in use.  Turns out, the Monster Modelworks kit captures the feel of the prototype but is by no means an accurate reproduction.  The prototype, shown below, is obviously much larger, has a window to the left of the garage door and the entry door is offset to the left of the window.  The steps along the roof are also different.

Since I couldn't increase the width of my garage, I cut off the upper most step on the top of the wall and narrowed the garage door by about 2 scale feet.  The changes make the building seem wider even though it is actually 2 scale feet narrower.  The windows also had to be downsized.  In the spirit of compromise and "good enough", and the fact I didn't have room for the prototypical sized windows, I cobbled together the windows using parts from Grandt Line baggage room doors and Tichy windows.  The entry door is a Tichy part.  There's still a lot to do.  The scratch built garage doors need to redone with horizontal boards and  lintels need to be added above the doors and windows.  Hopefully a sign will help cover the seem where the two wall sections join.

 

Not sure about the trim colors circa 1940 so I went with green. I think when it's all said and done, my version lies somewhere between the prototype and the Monster Modelworks Placerville Garage kit.

Sn3 Models For Sale or Trade

The following models are part of my personal collection of unique Sn3 rolling stock.  The shipping cost for each model is an additional $7.95 (US Postal Service).  All models subject to prior sale.

Copper River & Yukon #569

 

This CR&Y box car is an ex RGS/C&S car that came off the late Brian Ellerby's Copper River & Yukon.  It was probably built from a Overland Kit. $75.00 or Best Offer. SOLD

 

 

Alyeska Mines #905 is another car off the late Brian Ellerby's Copper River & Yukon.  Originally there were four of these cars on the layout and they show up in a lot of photographs of the layout.  They were kit bashed from HO-Scale 2-Bay Hoppers.  I don't know who built them.  Originally, I had 3 of the 4 cars.  I sold one and this is one of the remaining 2.  I don't know where the 4th car ended up.  The Alyeska Mines Railroad connected with the CR&Y at Caribou.  $75.00 or Best Offer. SOLD

 

Alyeska Mines #034 is a box car converted for hauling copper ore on the CR&Y.  I built two of these, shortly before Brian's passing, to go along with a couple of similar cars that were already on the layout.  $75.00 or Best Offer.

 

CR&Y #6041 was also purchased during the Brian Ellerby estate sale.  For reasons unknown, the reporting marks were removed.  Decals will be included to replace the missing "CR&Y".  I believe this car was also built from a Overland C&S kit.  $45.00 SOLD

 

Alaska Pacific #309 is a ex Overland Models brass C&S caboose.  A new under frame was built to accommodate a pair of 4-wheel caboose trucks.  The original under frame is included in order to convert it back to the C&S configuration along with the original box. $125.00 Sold

 

 Alaska Pacific #306 is another ex Overland Models brass C&S caboose. It too has a new under frame and 4-wheel trucks.  The original under frame and original box are included with the sale.  $125.00  SOLD

 

USA #172 is a rather unique car.  It was built for my Alaska Pacific using a resin kit for an all steel East Broad Top box car kit.  $75.00 or Best Offer.

 

 As always, your comments, suggestions & questions are welcome

sdepolo@outlook.com