Section House update

Posted - 06/04/2013 :  11:06:24 AM             Section House update The Section House (1 0f 3) was too long to fit so decided to cut off back and leave open. So from Aisle you can see inside. This necessitated doing some serious internal modeling. To that end built the second floor - floor out of wood with support beams, along with covering first floor with wood. Also working on wainscot on first floor. First Floor flooring. Second floor "floor" with support beams, to side is first try at paper wainscot. Sanded floors and added wainscot to one wall with window frame. The wainscot is not perfect, but try and learn. Since it will be in a lighted bottom floor hoping it will look ok. Have to determine where stairs go, then fashion second floor around that. Have furniture from Scale Structures on order to fill-in the space. LED lighting is the plan for both floors and will put one outside. May try a firebox flicker in stove or fireplace. Thanks Cameron

Monday Update

Spent 4 hours on the Mine and removable mountain along with a little on the rock work behind.


Mine mounted, lights run.


Removable mountain with rock molds on front edge.


Removable mountain in-place.


Close-up of tailings pile.

Getting a lot of satisfaction adding this to layout.

Next up, add mine cart rail and rough in scenery.

Thanks Cameron

Removable Mine update

Removable Mine update

Thur night worked on making the mine removable and mounting it.


The removable portion has been constructed. Both back and side fascia added. Mine main building mounted with electrical roughed in (mine has 3 lights, one in main building to show hoist and 2 outside lights.


3/4 Side view showing wood retaining wall and proposed tailings dump.


Another view.


Portrait view to show rock work behind mine.

All in all enjoying this. Lots work work to do but it feels great to have a structure going in.

Suggestions, corrections and comments always welcome.

Thanks Cameron

Update on first scratch build - C&S Section house.

Update on first scratch build - C&S Section house.

Trying my first scratch build. Made some more progress. All walls (except storage shed) have boarding added. Some batten still needed.

Added interior color and trying out printed wainscot for interior. Need to build interior window trim.

Test fitting pieces around floor and trying to determine how to finish floor. Assuming floors were wood so may just hand-lay wood strips and finish with a brown stain. If I then add some paper rugs I think it will look good.

Thinking about inside, how much detail do I need? Furniture, fireplace, etc?






Thoughts and comments appreciated. Want to learn and you guys have a lot of experience and talent.

Thanks Cameron

Wednesday Update

Wednesday Update

Worked on rock wall some more. All rough castings now in. Still need more fill with plaster and sculpt-a-mold.

Tried thinner plaster in cake decorator - this time too thin, what a mess it made.

A few pics to share:


Black Hawk side. Will use spray adhesive to add thick Paper as a "canvas" for backdrop painting. First shot just sky color.


Forks Creek Side


With mine temporarily in-place for context.

First spraying of color (helps me see better). The fill-in work takes a lot of time. Then add other coats, work on creek. Once ready will beginning scenery detail.

The mine has grown on me and the comments I received really helped. Will begin making the changes to incorporate scenery around mine.

Creek will be slow going as I need to take high quality pictures for a How-to I'm writing as part of the AP program.

Thanks Cameron

Monday update

Monday update

Spent 3 hours on plaster rocks. Made some good progress.


Trying to amke a "module" so I can finish at desk. This is mine in previous post will go.


Using a cookie cutter approach to bench-work. Here is black board for mine removed, showing plywood base.


Mine on removable base.


Use Oscillating saw for the black board cuts. Here cutting out creek.


Major section of stone work on Black Hawk side, couple more molds and will be ready to join all together.


More Stone work Forks Creek side.


Tried something new, using cake kit to fill between rocks. First try not so good, tip stopped up. Think it will work just need to use bigger tip and make sure molding plaster has no lumps. Hobby lobby pd about 5 bucks (with coupon)for 8 backs, 2 couplers and 4 tips. Heard folks on narrowgaugechat talk about using ziplock bags wit the corner cut out.

Thanks Cameron

Sunday Update 26-May-2013

Sorry for the delay. Been slammed at work and had to replace brakes and rotor on an Expedition and struts on a Nissan. I can say the struts were bought springs and all and went on in about 2 hours including clean-up. Had to replace 4 tires and get an alignment so train budget is pretty much shot for the time being.

Got 3 hours Sunday to do some work, came up with an idea I want your input on.


This is the Banta Cimaron Mine kit. Bulit for my first layout and wanted to try and reuse. Thinking on cutting black Board anso it is removable and making part odf turn into Black Hawk.


2nd angle.

Do you think this will look ok?


More rock molds in-place on turn. This is upgrade from Forks Creek.


Next set on the downgrade from Black Hawk side.

I would have never dreamed of the number of castings this is taking, right now working on my 2nd 5 lb container of molding plaster.

More tomorrow. Let me know what your thoughts are on the Cimaron mine.

Thanks Cameron