Fredericksburg Jct, S.A.F&N and S.A.&A.P.

[SAFN SAAP]

Sitting at MP 286.2 on the San Antonio & Aransas Pass Railroad was Fredericksburg Jct. This little station stop was where the San Antonio, Fredericksburg & Northern met the S.A.&A.P. Located at the Junction was the depot and a 163 foot siding which the S.A.F&N leased from the S.A.&A.P.

There was a wye which allowed the S.A.F&N to turn its locomotive for the trip back to Fredericksburg. The layover was a few hours for both arrivals and departures from Fredericksburg, as the folks had to wait for their connection from San Antonio or from Kerrville.

The depot was nothing spectacular and no known photo exists, so I decided to recreate Fredericksburg Jct. with AMB's Lake Junction Station.

At 11:PM I got the itch to build something. I needed to work on something. Since I am waiting on the rest of the pickle gear for the salting station, this seemed like a quick easy project.

The kit is a very straight forward, easy, shake in the box, wood kit to build. Immediately I could see that the interior could be made really snazzy. A few benches, a pot belly stove, and a ceiling fan to keep the travelers cool in the hot Texas summer.

Looking at pictures of previous S.A.&A.P. depots the common colors were an antique white, which appears yellow, browns, and blacks. So I've followed suit. The interior I did as a nautical teak, with antique white walls. I boxed the interior of the depot to make it look Texas rough, but this was done also to give the station added strength.

As you can tell by the pictures, the interior is all set. I just need to get the benches, ceiling fan, pot belly and install them. Maybe a small fiber optic light for the interior.

By 5:30 AM I'm tuckered out. I'll pick up again later today. Here are the photo's for your enjoyment. I should be able to finish this up tonight or tomorrow.

Manny

[Jim James]

Well now, that's a nifty little depot for pulling an all-night modeling project. Downright therapeutic. Detailing that little jewel should be fun. You're on fire, Manny. Motivational.

[SAFN SAAP]

Thanks Jim. You would think I'd go to bed, but now I'm really going. Got half the batten on the building. Pics and off to zzzzzzzz........

[SAFN SAAP]

HA! Who needs sleep when there's trains to build! A nice hot shower and I was right back at it!

More pics...

[Jim James]

Nice, quick work. And I thought I flew through projects. What type of roofing will you use? I like the Campbell shingles but your kit probably included something I bet.

[SAFN SAAP]

Roof is on and I'm shingling now. This is going to take a little while. Pics up in a few...

[SAFN SAAP]

Well, Fredericksburg Jct is no more. I tripped, fell, and crushed it. It can't be salvaged. That being said, I learned some valuable building insights and also some do and do-nots. Back to the drawing board. I'll get another one and build upon this experience. Lesson learned. Look before you step.

[Jim James]

Surely it has at least some potential left! Whip out a can of pure modeling salvage skills and spread it on thick. Post a pic of the devastation at least. Don't give up on it!

[Sirfoldalot]

Surely I am reading this wrong - If it is really true - Crush up a few scraps, pile them on, and 'char' the pile with a torch.
Then, model an old time fire truck with firemen, hose, etc.

You can turn the mis-take/mis-step into a nice addition.

It will also remind you, next time, to watch where you step!

[SAFN SAAP]

Well,

The reconstruction of the San Antonio, Fredericksburg & Northern's (S.A.F&N) small depot has been slated to begin shortly. I got another kit. This time, I'm doing things a little differently. First, I am not going to use the board and batten self sticking trim. I'm going to order 1x1 from Kappler and make the batten myself, piece by piece. Secondly, all the windows and doors are going to be replaced with Tichy and Grandt Line units. I have Scale Structure's Ceiling Fan's and will be getting one of Laser Modeling 3's tiny Fiber Optic lighting kits to illuminate the interior with. I have a pot bellied stove and some interior benches to install as well. I know it's a tiny station, but I think the interior would look neat. Now I need to find a station board for schedules.

[Jim James]

Right on, Manny. That's the spirit. Interior lighting is beginning to interest me as well. After adding a headlight to ol' #151 I'm more interested in other lighting projects as well. Can't wait to see progress photos of your new station project as it unfolds.

[SAFN SAAP]

Ordered doors and windows from Tichy and Grandt Line for this structure. Should be here Monday or Tuesday. I also spoke to Laser Modeling 3. Their fiber optic kit which came in their Adam Christ Produce kit will handle 75 fiber lights. So, I'm going to illuminate this station with fiber optics. A first for me!

I'm also trying to get a hold of Kappler Scale Lumber in Washington as they are the only ones who have scale 1x1 for the batten. I'm going to do it the manual way. A pot belly stove is next to be painted for the inside. Benches from Rusty Stumps on the way for inside the station. I know its a small depot, but it's going to have class. I'm still looking for a scale size train board sign for schedules. I may have to make one.

Manny

[SAFN SAAP]

Tichy doors arrived today. I already had the windows. Me thinks its time to break out the airbrush and paint!!!

[SAFN SAAP]

Kappler Scale Lumber called me today. They are cutting me 6 bags of 1x1 for battens, as it is a special order size. Not bad for ten (10) pieces a bag, 12" long each, 6 bags = $22.50 (3.75 ea.). Once I have that, I will have everything but a station train board.

[SAFN SAAP]

Kappler Scale Lumber shipped my 1x1's yesterday. They should arrive in a few days. That is all that I need to start Fredericksburg Jct all over again. I'm looking forward to this next build.

[SAFN SAAP]

We are good to go. Kappler 1x1's arrived today. Talk about tiny and fragile. Sheesh. Great quality though!

[SAFN SAAP]

Hello Y'all,

Today I kinda switched gears giving S.A. & A.P. 522 a chance to settle and allow the Solvaset to fully cure and do its thing. That being said, time to start the Fredericksburg Junction Depot again.

I constructed the base a few weeks ago and its just been sitting but today it got a nice coating of DebenLLC's Nautical Teak. Once dried, I began to construct the interior with the sides guiding me.

The two benches are from Rusty Stumps. They're great. Easy to build. Made of plywood, they paint easy and glue fast and easy.

I wanted to put a stove in the depot, so I used Selley's Pot Belly Stove from Bowser. The stove kit comes with the coal basin and shovel. I added some fine coal cinders from Woodland Scenics.

The brickwork is courtesy of Jimmy at Monster Model Works. He already produces great brickwork out of basswood. I approached him about making the mantel bases for the stove. He was too happy to help. I got various sizes and shapes for different depot angles.

The brickwork was dry-brushed with DecoArts Americana Acrylics purchased at Hobby Lobby. Working quickly, going from dark to light, I used Charcoal Black, Slate Gray, Umber, Canyon Orange, Burnt Sienna, and finally Crimson. The affect is a well worn, but nice brick. Perfect for interiors.

Next to the bench and by the brickwork is a cuspidor for patrons to spit tabaccy in or throw simple trash in. The cuspidor is compliments of Scale Structures Ltd.

Already in place is another Scale Structures Ltd., item, is a large steam crate. I have a few more luggage pieces to place.

Coming is a small fire barrel, small table with a row of books, depot masters desk with papers and telegraph. A period phone will be on the wall behind the desk.

I need to locate a train board and make a small bulletin board. The ceiling will have a Scale Structures Ltd., Ceiling fan from the rafters, and I will put some oil lamps in the room as well. I'd like to illuminate them with Fiber Optics.

More to come shortly.

Manny

[SAFN SAAP]

Hey Y'all,

Last night and today I finished the station masters' desk. The desk is from Dave at VectorCut. Here is a link to his website: Vectorcut. This desk was a perfect fit for the time era and the depot.

The kit is made of HD cardstock, and is laser cut. Absolutely no problems in trimming the parts from the card. Each one fit as it should. This kit has many very small parts and although I did it without any magnification, I wouldn't recommended it unless you are used to working with very little things.

The desk goes together very nicely. No gaps when completed, and a little sanding with 320 Grit does nicely. The cardstock takes stain very well. The desk was stained using DebenLLC's Knotty Walnut, then dry brush highlights with Polly S Rust and then a little Instant Age for wear. I painted the draw handles Tamiya Copper, then toned down with Instant Age to give a slight patina. I really like how the desk came out.

The chair is painted to match the desk, with Polly S Rust for the cushions and backrest. Instant Age on the two gives it that old chair look you saw when you were a kid sitting at your grandparents, or quite often what you see when you are in an antique store.

The desk was positioned directly below the end window. A Scale Structures Ltd., typewriter, telegraph, and other pieces will be on and around the desk. I have an old TOC wall mount telephone going in as well.

Here are pics of the desk during and after construction, added to the floor plan. Not too much more to put on the floor. Just a few do-dads.

Enjoy!

Manny

[B.A.]

I love those tiny details! Makes me want to work on some structure interiors this week!
Nice work, Manny.

[SAFN SAAP]

Well, I snagged the right color "green" for the interior of the depot. I don't think the pictures get it just right, but it's a dead match for the pictures in the "depot interiors" thread.

Never through away parts left over from kits. You never know what you might be able to use. Case in point: LaBelle gives you more than enough of the flat car decking, which is tongue and groove. Perfect for chair rail guard sheathing inside a depot. So, that's what I did. I painted it white to accent the green.

Here are the pics.

Manny

[Jim James]

Wow. That's really cool.

[SAFN SAAP]

Thanks Jim. I'm debating putting in a small ornate wash sink to the left of the desk. It would be on the back side of the door when that opens, so the placement is correct. It thought it might be a nice little added touch. What do y'all think?

The right side will have the telephone on the wall. I'm trying to find the right little table to go to the right of the desk or something in that space like filing cabinets.

[murphy millican]

Wow!!! That is some awesome detail work. It definately has that depot interior feel to it. I can just picture the HO scale operator sitting down and waiting for the trains to come rolling up. Where did you get those small brass looking vises that you used when putting the first kit together? How well do they work? Up till now I've been using wood blocks to try and square up my buildings(hasn't been working the best) but that looks like a good soultion. Nice work on the models though! So far all I've done is make some display shelves for some of my equipment and I've cleared a space in my inclosed carport room for a small shelf layout.

[SAFN SAAP]

Wow!!! That is some awesome detail work. It definately has that depot interior feel to it. I can just picture the HO scale operator sitting down and waiting for the trains to come rolling up. Where did you get those small brass looking vises that you used when putting the first kit together? How well do they work? Up till now I've been using wood blocks to try and square up my buildings(hasn't been working the best) but that looks like a good soultion. Nice work on the models though! So far all I've done is make some display shelves for some of my equipment and I've cleared a space in my inclosed carport room for a small shelf layout.

Thank you. I'm still waiting on quite a few more parts for the inside, including telegraph, telephone, and typewriter. I also have more luggage coming. I'm trying to find a small table to put next to the stove area that I can put some books on it. I'm enjoying doing all the little details. Mind you, I don't know how much you will be able to see once the roof is on, but its there. I have to add the fiber optics to illuminate the depot.

The brass clamps are from Micro-Mark. These are the 12 inch variants and they work well, but when dealing with small objects, their weight works against the clamping affect. I need to get the smaller ones. They offer them in 4", 6", 8", and the 12". I'd recommend them. Micro-Mark also sells a four corner clamp for small structures and I definitely want to get that.

Manny

[SAFN SAAP]

A ton of new parts arrive tomorrow. They include luggage and crates of various types and sizes, telephones, typewriter, telegraph machine, banjos, violins, and all sorts of other neat items for the depot. I'll be posting up more in the next few days as the interior project will wrap up and the walls go up!

Manny