Here's photos of the progress I've made on the Greenbrier module. This depicts the now extinct town as it appeared in about 1920. Three other modules are planned along with this one to recreate the Zalma branch which ran from Brownwood,MO through Greenbrier and dead ended at Zalma. The branch was abandoned in about 1934 and very little evidence remains of it's existance which makes modeling it an adventure. I've spent hours in a canoe on the Castor river measuring the bridge remains, chiggers from hiking through the weeds and hours in libraries and speaking with the very few people alive who remember the branch. I hope to capture this lost piece of local history as accurately as possible. Please enjoy the photos of these early stages of my project. I have a long way to go and that's why I'm doing this in sections. This way I can focus on one area at a time. The first photo shows the drying sculptamold along the roadbed. The second photo is an overall view looking west and the third photo is a frieght heading east into Greenbrier. This train is modeled after a period photo.
Howdy Jim, Once again, very nice. The module is really taking shape. What period are you modeling, strictly 1920 or a range of years? Best Regards, mike
Pretty much 1915 to 1925 or so. I keep this era in mind but this requires a lot of scratchbuilding and modifying which is not a bad thing.
Jim, That is the most outstanding modeling I have seen of that early period of Frisco railroading, both in scenery and rolling stock. As you said, not much is available commercially, even of rolling stock built then because the models represent a later state. You are to be commended. I grew up in Cape Girardeau and I have many photos that my great-uncle took of the Frisco and predecessor roads in the area from 1902 through the 1920's. Some day I hope to have them scanned and put on the site for all to see. The overall "spirit" of the era as expressed in the railroad environment is very hard to duplicate unless you have both photos and some contact with people who lived then. I have been tempted to do as you are doing, but I love all of the eras and can't seem to be dragged away from that which I personally remember. Thank you for sharing. Ken McElreath
Thanks Ken! Now let's get busy and scan those photos. Just kidding but I do get excited about the chance of seeing rare vintage Frisco images from that era and locality. Photos of the Zalma branch are rare as hens teeth.
Jim - What do you use for your trees? That one up the hill with the exposed rootwad is a beauty! Looks like natural materials for the tree trunk. I've tried building some of my own with our abundance of sticks in our yard, along with wire, ground foam and spray adhesive. Thus far I've perfected "background trees" that lack enough detail to be put near the front of the layout.
That particular tree is made from the roots of a basil plant. I trimmed it with scissors and painted it with grey spraypaint. Then I stretched out a piece of Woodland Scenics polyfiber material and wrapped it losely around the top and sprinkled some groundfoam on it. I use a lot of plant roots for trees. I always look out for cool looking specimens for use as foreground trees. I'm always experimenting with different materials. I have many trees that I've made and they're just waiting for a good spot! Thanks for asking. By the way, tonight I ballasted the track. What a mess.
Jim, Nice job! Are those cars scratch built, kit bashed, or stock? And, where did you get the decals? Jerome
Thanks Jerome. All the frieght cars are resin kits from Westerfield. These kits are worth the $34 each. They go together as easily as a styrene model and come with the decals. Trucks and couplers are not included but the instructions call for Andrews style. I don't think I could scratchbuild a better looking model. I've posted better pics of these models recently. Use the Search feature to find the post, maybe type in westerfield. By the way, I've completed ballasting the roadbed and now I'm adding weeds and trees. I'll post an update photo or two soon. Later, Jim
I'm getting closer to finishing the Greenbrier, MO module of the Zalma Branch. This is one of four planned modules and it's 6'x18" made of blue insulation foam. All buildings and trees are scratchbuilt and most of the rolling stock is made from resin kits. The track is Micro-Engineering code 83 with wider ties spacing to represent a branch line. I just added phone poles made from dowel, scale lumber and nbw castings. The depot was made using photos of other Frisco depots that were made from old boxcars. This era and location is extremely difficult to model so if anyone has any info please let me know. The photos show an overall view or two and also the depot. I still need to add a few details to the depot but my hobby gets interupted by real life.
Awesome work, Jim; you have done a superb job of capturing the essence of an era that really should be modeled more often! Keep up the updates and photos - I am thoroughly enjoying them.
Thanks Chris, it looks like you have your work cut out for yourself as well. My kids don't share my enthusiasm for the hobby but they enjoy going with me on what feels like archeology adventures photographing the ancient remnants of the old Zalma branch. I'm kicking around the idea of modeling a train from different eras on the branch like one from 1887(first year it was built), 1920(got that one finished), and maybe the gas-electric doodlebug,nicknamed the "Bullmoose", for the last year of 1934. I've also thought about making each of the four modules a different season. Oh well, we'll see what develops. Let's see some pics of your benchwork. Good luck and keep building! Jim James
Jim: Your layout looks great! Excellant job! Keep going and have fun enjoying our hobby. I sure hope you add a bridge as I wouldn't want to hear of your Frisco Locomotive going for a swim. (Ha Ha). Seriously I look forward to seeing more of your work. Bob Wintle Parsons, Ks.
OK Bob, I'll have that bridge scratchbuilt and in place just for you. Give me about a week. The old original bridge was turned into a concrete automobile bride when the right of way became a road in about 1934 but I crawled under it this spring and the stumps of the old wooden pilings are still there so I measured things and I have enough info to build it. Thanks for motivating me! Jim J
Here's your bridge, Bob. Actually, Bob Wintle's Photos of his layout has inspired me to get busy on my own module. I guess it is like a diorama until I add another section. I hope I'm not posting too many photos but here is my 20' wooden bridge crossing the usually dry creek bed just west of Greenbrier. Today it is an ancient looking concrete county road bridge which was built after the abandonment in the mid 1930s. I crawled under it and measured the rotting stumps of the old wooden Frisco bridge pilings and here's what I came up with: The first photo is the completed deck section which has 30 nbw castings and I used stained scale lumber and used super glue(love that stuff). I glued the deck up under the rails with super glue and built the pilings in sections using more nbw. Those nut, bolt washer castings really add a lot to the looks of models like this. Thanks for inspiring me Bob. Jim James
Jim: Thanks so much for the kind words. Posting too many photos, heck no keep posting. I am sure that just as my work inspired you, yours is inspiring others. I feel as that is how it should be. One guy inspires a person and that person keeps passing it on. Your bridge looks great. Very realistic. I wonder if maybe someday there might be a little fellow underneath it either fishing or measuring it for a model. Bob Wintle Parsons, Ks.
I found a site with old topo maps for Missouri: http://tacnet.missouri.org/~mgood/MapsofMissouri-ByID.html The following is a link to Zalma quad from 1931: http://exhibits.slpl.org/maps/data/dm240007199.asp I hope this helps you some.
Jim just a shot in the dark but your modeling roughly 1900 to 1910 correct? Wonderful wonderful modeling. I love it. I was debating the 20's but it looks like you have quite a bit of early era models. Feels the pull of backdating further!BTW who made the 4-4-0 there?
Thanks, Fireball The 4-4-0 is a Bachmann Old timer with a scratchbuilt cab, brass details and a tender and motor from an AHM Inyo. I used the only photo I've seen of a train in Greenbrier (1920) as a reference. I'm no master modeler but I go for what looks right. Sorry I took so long to respond. Jim
