New Direction for Zalma Branch (photos)

Where have you been? Not very many early era modelers here.

 

Made a little more progress. Soon I'll build the A frame and boom and put this beast to work.

 

Good eye, Keith. Exactly why the small basement at my folk's house is so shallow, or so I'm told.

We'll await the addition of this detail soon, Jim.

Best Regards

 

Here it is at work. Thanks for hanging in there with me on this but it sure was a fun little project. I still need to add the water hose and ground pipe (sorry, Chris). I'm about ready to get this Diversion Channel scene finished and move onto another section. Any suggestions on what to use for the water hose?

 

That's a great idea, Sherrel. Thank you.

 

Sherrel beat me to the punch. I have some copper wire in various diameters that is intended for craft purposes; I've often thought that it would work well, too.

Best Regards,

 

There was a big meeting held this evening at the TJ Moss Lumber office located across the tracks from the Zalma Depot. Many locals showed up to voice their opinions about the newly available space in the basement.

It was unanimously decided to keep the HO scale Zalma Branch intact and build a seperate On30 shelf layout for the Dark Cypress Swamp's logging tram that hauls huge logs and some rough cut lumber to the main line at Brownwood. I love the On30 models and I just added Tsunami sound to my Heisler so I've got to go forward with the logging plan but I just can't let go of my beloved Zalma Branch.

I will have both. I still have all my structures and my favorite rolling stock and locos and what not. I will kitbash the little 4-4-0 shown in a prototype photo of Greenbrier (my #151 never actually operated in my area). I've just added a Tsunami in my Russian which is awesome and the short story is I just can't give this all up right now. Some of you warned me of this

 

Thanks. Sherrel. Yup, that's some rust colored chalk powder and I painted the end beams. Still a ways to go. I thought O scale weathering would be easier but it's not. It's easier to scrutinize in the larger size.
The locals agreed that the scratch built prototype structures and the fairly complicated wye track work and auto reverse components at Brownwood warranted a continuance of the Frisco layout. Temporary insanity.

 

They're HO scale but look just right don't they? I've used it to pull some HO scale cars around the layout and everything lines up just right.

 

Sounds like you'll get to enjoy the best of both worlds, Jim. Happy training-running on HO-Scale side, and happy building on the On30 layout; we'll look forward to lots of in-progress photos and updates to come.

Best Regards,

 

Right on, Chris. I actually had already torn down the Castor River bridge and replaced it with a logging bridge but last night I meticulously replaced it board for board using the salvaged trestle pilings. I poured more magic water and added some weeds and such. Here's a pic of newly replaced bridge.

As for the On30 logging tram project I just today received my Boulder Valley Shay kit which converts my HO scale 3 truck shay into a small On30 two truck Shay and 3 log car kits from the same company. I also ordered a Tsunami micro TSU-750 sound decoder for my upcoming 4-4-0 project and some Bachmann Oldtimer parts to complete the kitbash. The fun never ends! What the heck was I thinking?!

 

Sorry, one more shot. I really like the way it turned out.

 

Thanks, Derrick. I'm glad I had carefully cut the trestle bents at the water line when I removed them. It was still a hassle trying to put them back. May have been an easier task in V scale.

 

You're too kind Sherrel. Thanks. I really got lucky on this rebuild and I'm kinda glad I had to rebuild it. Gave me a chance to dress it up better. My fire's stating to burn hotter for this layout. Renewed vigor I guess