Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) Beautiful Job ... You have no idea how much I am enjoying your progress. Every day I look for your Thread!
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) Thanks guys! Posting pics of my progress and projects has really motivated me and encouraged me to do my best and to keep going. The Zalma Branch owes a lot to this forum. I finished my steamshovel and will post pics tomorrow. This kit has been more rewarding than any other I can remember!
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) I especially like the tin sheets on the shovel, they are the right color and represent the intention very well. I have wondered how one could make them using heavy duty aluminum foil, rolled over with a piece of all-thread or the like. Tom Holley
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) Tom, I've seen that done to make culvert pipe. It looked good. Might be flimsy for models that are handled very often but a sheet of styrene could be used as a base for something like a roof.
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) OK. Here's my finished steamshovel. I can't tell you all how fun this kit was to build. I modeled the front doors to be off their hinges and made the hinges from paper. The rigging was a bit trickey but the results paid off. I know this machine may look like it has 50 years of weathering but it was built in 1915 and now has about 5 years of outdoor abuse in Swampeast Missouri's harsh climate. Check out the interior details. Steam hoist, boiler, coal bin and water tank are all in there. I was generous with the rust powder but that's the look I was after.I highly recommend this kit to everyone regardless of your era. I'm sure these things lasted well into the 50s or longer. It would look good as a flatcar load as well. Hope everyone had a nice Christmas. Now we all need to get back to modeling. At least build a little kit like this one to hone some skills!
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) Jim - Neat! Now, are you going to nearly bury one like the legend I'd always heard of a dragline/steam shovel completely sinking into the gumbo somewhere along the Hoxie Sub between Delta and Advance? Best Regards,
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) That's a clever idea but these kits are $25 each. Maybe I could scratchbuild a bucket, boom and roof.
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) What about the idea of placing your shovel in the swamp, leaning over to one side, with its track on the low side half way submerged in the swamp goop? Sure would be an attention getter and a conversation piece! I'm enjoying your postings - nice modeling! Ken
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) Spent my evening building this nifty Woodland Scenics 1914 Ford service truck. Did the Frisco own any of these for field repairs? Right now it's helping a broke down steam shovel. Happy New Year!
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) Here are some progress photos for those following along. Things will slow down because of two big projects required. The Castor River bridge and the sawmill buildings in Zalma. I think I've set my sights a little too high and these last two structure projects seem daunting. Tonight I finished the ground work across from the depot in Zalma. It's mostly muddy with water puddles and a bit of grassy area that will blend into the removable backdrop. First pic is water puddle base pushed into wet spackling compound and painted brown before filling with Magic Water. Next two are general views. Lots left to do. Polyurethane will be dry tomorrow night and I'll add the first fascia board. Thanks for checking in folks.
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) I went to my favorite hobby shop yesterday and bought some goodies. I built the 1923 Mack dump truck last night and I now have enough scale lumber to start building my sawmill for Zalma. I'll post a pic of my '23 Mack tomorrow. These Jordan vehicle kits are addicting!
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) Here's my Mack at the future site of the sawmill at Zalma. Still have weathering to do.
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) Thanks, Manny. Tonight I just had to repaint it. I like it much better now. From now on I'll do an image search on the Internet for the period vehicle kit being built prior to painting it. I never realized how colorful some vehicles were back then. If you all notice I don't decal my delivery wagons or trucks. I can't figure out what was prototypical for my locations so I leave them plain for now. Not everything was a rolling billboard. Sorry for the non-Frisco content. Hey, I wonder if the Frisco owned any dump tucks?
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) Jim, why are you concerned about non-Frisco content? It is virtually impossible not to include "non" Frisco entities while discussing the Frisco. If that were the case, most photo's would be banned. Most articles would be banned. Heck, you could even delete my SABRR and SAF&N threads because they are not "Frisco" direct, but reflect the heavy influence the Frisco had on Southeastern Texas during the era I am modeling. Enough about me. That dump truck is killer! You should check out Art Griffin's decals because he has all sorts of decals for wagons and vehicles of that era. Also, check Clover House Dry Transfers. They too have that stuff. If you find a picture of a vehicle labeling for that area, I may be able to get it made up for you. No promises. Either way, that paint job is killer!
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) Spent some time tonight making colorful fall trees. These will quickly transition into winter trees as the tracks cross over the Castor River which will be towards the bottom left of the photo just out of view. These autumn trees are a combination of Woodland Scenic colored foam, Super Tree Kit trees and natural materials. Spray painting the branches black helps the yellow leaves really stand out. I've got a lot left to do on this corner of the layout but things are continuing to roll along.
Re: New Direction for Zalma Branch (photo) Excellent work as always Jim. I know you said you have much more to do, but that scene, what first came to mind, is it's missing something. The ground is too green for fall. What does this master builder have in store for us next? Oh the wait! The waiting!
