Hi All: Many years ago, I modeled the Frisco's Ft. Smith Sub in HO scale. Two layouts were devoted to it, the last being a tri-level with nearly 200' of mainline plus hidden staging at both ends. The final version had been 100% functional for several years (operating sessions) and partially sceniced, but alas, had to be dismantled for yet another move. I've since gone on to experiment with other themes and scales, and the past few years what little model railroading I have done has been a KC West Bottoms theme switching layout in S scale. Of course, it includes the Frisco. Along the way from the last Frisco layout until now, I discovered "V scale" (in 2002). V scale stands for "virtual scale" and is my term for railroading/modeling via computer simulation. I've often toyed with the idea of creating a V scale "route" (V scale nomenclature for a "layout") with a Frisco theme. Earlier this year, I begin to do just that, only I was primarily aiming at the year 1908. Well, a little over a month ago, a friend of mine created a V scale "Frisco Equipment Pack" that has many diesel engines as well as some rolling stock. Whoa... this stuff looks pretty good! Sure, there are a few "faux paus", but most of those can be readily "patched", or fixed, but overall, they DEFINITELY "look" and "feel" like Frisco stuff. If you've never seen what V scale is now capable of, or if you're simply curious, below you'll find a link to a thread in a V scale forum that showcases my friend's Frisco Pack. The pics were taken by another V scale friend using one of my V scale routes I built several years ago. (He has made some personalizing modifications to "his" version of my route, mainly some dirt texture work and additional trees, etc.) http://forums.trainsim.com/vbts/showthread.php?296895-Frisco!-Frisco!-Frisco! ANYWAY... I say all this to say that I'm about to decide to make an attempt to go with a diesel era Fort Smith Sub route as my V scale "hobby route". I will start by making a copy of my 1908 version on which the track is 90% complete for the Fort Smith region. (This version includes ALL the coal field railroads to the south/southeast of Fort Smith, as well as Fort Smith and Van Buren.) I will continue extending rail northward toward Monett over the course of this winter, and along the way scenic areas that I take a fancy to. The amazing thing about V scale is you model a line mile for mile. In fact, whereas you use "selective compression" in model railroading, in V scale you have to employ "selective omission"!! That is, in large, heavily populated areas, you want to capture the "feel" of such an expanse, without modeling everything detail for detail, including sprawling railroad yards. BUT... it likely CAN be done. And once it's taking shape... I'll be able to take a set of power from the roundhouse lead... hook onto the train waiting on a yard track... and presto: I am again riding (running, virtually) The Winslow Turn as we grind our way out of Fort Smith, heading for an appointment with "The Mountain"... like I have several times before, so many years ago. Hey... this could be cool, right? Andre "Comin' Back To My Frisco Roots?" Ming
Is this something that is commercialy available? I am unfamiliar with "V-scale" except in the most general sense and would probably go ahead and buy the Fort Smith package if available and if compatible with the hardware I now own (should have a passenger train, though). GS
Frisco Lives... Oh yeah... The Frisco pack is. Follow this link for the Frisco pack. http://www.valleypass.com/Sales/Frisco.htm I believe he's working on the route for the Ft Smith sub.
Hi "gstout": As OzarkTraveler pointed out, the Frisco EQUIPMENT can be purchased at the link he provided. The Frisco equipment pack is designed for Microsoft's TRAIN SIMULATOR software. So, the Frisco EQUIPMENT pack IS available. HOWEVER, the Fort Smith Sub ROUTE is not available... I'm only beginning to attack it. Using model railroading layout terms: I have about 20% of the benchwork and basic landforms in place, and about 20% of the track. Otherwise, it's a "Homasote Central" or "Plywood Pacific": No structures, no scenic details. The photos you viewed in the link were taken on another route that I produced and released for sale some years ago called the "A&O Sub". It is NOT Frisco based. Instead, it is a "protolanced" route based on "what if" the Arkansas & Ozarks (former Missouri & Arkansas) had been purchased by the Frisco, survived the BN, and was part of the A&M when it took over in the '86? Thus, the A&O Sub (as it's called) models from around Urbanette, AR, through and including Eureka Springs, and connects with the A&M north/south main (former Fort Smith Sub) at Seligman, some 40 miles of route. Perhaps the route on which the Frisco equiment was photographed is where the confusion arose? At anyrate, if you have any more questions, I will do my best to answer them!
Going back to the topic at hand: My V scale version of the Fort Smith Sub... Attached below are some maps I took within the Editors & Tools program that comes with MSTS. Though these were primarily aimed at lines in the Coal Belt region south of Fort Smith, this portion will be included in my Fort Smith Sub project. This way, I can dispatch the daily South Local (to Hugo, OK) as well as run mine turns from Fort Smith out to the end of the Central Branch, nee Mansfield Branch. For the sake of authenticity, the Frisco portion south of Huntington will be "abandoned", as will the correct portions of the Midland Valley and Iron Mountain & Southern, aka Missouri Pacific. Simply put... I will sever enough track to allow the "abandoned" look at the end of the appropriate railheads, but leave all the track in place past the "end of rail" visual buffer. This way, if I ever decide to copy/paste and retrofit a 1960's copy into a 1908 version I can reconnect the lines later and backdate to my heart's content! Anyway... attached are four maps/diagrams. They are: AE_CB6: An overall map of the railroads in Fort Smith, Van Buren, and south into the Coal Belt region that already have track in place. This is the 1908 version that I will start with for the copy/paste and conversion to a mid-60's Fort Smith Sub. AE_FS7: An overview of the Fort Smith area. At the time this diagram was saved, not all of the IM&S/Mopac track was finished. It is now. AE_FS8: A closer look at the Fort Smith yard area and some of the industry nearby. Some of this existing 1908 track will be edited to reflect the mid-60's. AE_VB2: And a closer look at the Frisco and IM&S/Mopac north of the Arkansas River in Van Buren. Again, some of this existing 1908 track will be edited to reflect the mid-60's. NOTE!!!! The upload software informed me that three of the above pictures have already been uploaded in this thread: http://www.frisco.org/vb/showthread.php?t=3659 Now, back to our regularly scheduled programing... Since my decision to build a mid-60's version of the Fort Smith Sub beginning with my existing 1908 portion, I have already got the markers (i.e. "survey stakes") in place from the topographical maps from just north of Van Buren... all the way to Monett including the Bentonville Branch. Tonight I hope to add the tiles (new benchwork) I need for the expansion, and download and install the terrain (basic scenery hardshell)! Barring the unforeseen, by bedtime tonight, my additional benchwork, track centerlines (my "markers/survey stakes), and basic scenery should be in place all the way to Monett! Now ain't that'a goin'??? Andre Ming
Well, as mentioned, I did get the "benchwork" built, the track "centerlines" drawn, and the "hardshell scenery forms" installed! (See attached pic.) However, I may "rip out" the current "scenery forms" and go with one's that have better detail. Even using the current "hardshell land forms", I can go into the Route Editor tool, and "fly over" the terrain to wherever... even noting land form features, such as the huge fills at Brightwater! So... even though my method of "modeling" the Frisco is different than conventional model railroading... it is still our beloved Frisco... right? Andre
