Hi all, I have been a member here for many years but hardly ever post because my style/type of modeling hardly fits in with the superb fine detail modeling generally presented here.
However in a recent email exchange with Russ he suggested that the members here might be interested in my efforts at modeling. so we will post a little background info and follow with some clips and build details and see how the interest holds up.
I model a fictional short line RR, the Shasta Pacific, and a logging line the South Fork Timber Company in 1:20.3 scale, outdoors. Not a typical "Garden Railroad" it is all built on benchwork at table top height and no gardening involved.
All locomotives are onboard battery with RC and sound and all switches are manual ground throw because you walk along with your train during switching operations.
I did post a short video of a train at the mill last Spring see here:
https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/index.php?topic=3285.0
Here is another, a little longer on the other side of the mill complex:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaO7YJtW_EI&ab_channel=ShastaPacificGardenRailroad
Hopefully these links are hot, if not go to my YouTube channel and check out my vast collection of videos, all 3 of them :)
Ups, look here https://www.youtube.com/@Tinbender
If there is an interest I will post pictures from a few builds I have done for this project over the years.
Thanks for taking a look
Rick
Sure, as for myself I would enjoy seeing more of your outdoor railroad empire. I particularly like the natural lighting of your scenes. It seems that the bench top height of your railroad provides easier access to photography and video making.
That's some pretty good stuff. Missed it first time around, thanks for the new posting. Don't worry, it's inspirational, we all need an input and great thanks for yours. Lots of crane/derricks which I'm working on at the moment so it's been a real help.
Les Tindall
Post some photos, too. I think everybody will be interested. -- Russ
Hi Mr Norcalloger - Now come on you do some wonderful inspirational work and we want more with plenty of updates on projects
Please more
Barney
Did this work
Well it seemed to, at least I got this picture to post, I about gave up in frustration trying to get an image to post.
I wrote a sticky about how to post photos when we changed the forum software. If you need it in the future to remind yourself what you did, go here: . Scroll down to December 21, 2022 and you'll see it. But your photo looks fine and clicking on it brings up a larger image. -- Russ (https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/index.php?topic=3.0)
Thanks Russ.
How do you insert more than one picture per post and what is the maximum or ideal picture size?
When you add a photo, the forum software tells you how large it is and how many megabytes remain in that post. Add those two numbers together for the maximum photo size. There is no ideal size and I have found it possible to limit a photo to around 250-300 kilobytes at about 100 dpi and about 7" width yet it will look very good. Anything larger may not make much difference but might let you get away with less editing hassle before you upload your photos. -- Russ
This little railcar has been on my someday list for a very long time. It ran on rails that later became the Arcata and Mad River Railroad in far Northern California. What made it unique in this part of the world is that it ran on a track gauge of 45 inches.
Building it for my railroad I had to reduce the gauge to 36 inches which created a problem with the wheel and axel placement as you can see. It is a static model built to 1:20.3 scale for display on my outdoor railroad. Remember it is built for outdoor display so the detail etc. is not as fine as you are use to on this forum.
Rick
Very cool!
Perfectly acceptable for this forum and quite satisfactory. -- Russ
A nice little machine and a nicely built model
Barney
Kind of quiet in here this week.
Here is another video shot at the mill yard.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojueMF-OTQ0&t=1s&ab_channel=ShastaPacificGardenRailroad
That could almost pass for 1:1 scale. Nice video.
And, yes, it has been dismally quiet here for the past week or so.
Russ
Very Nice in fact exceptional !!
Barney
Awesome video! Is the caboose scratchbuilt, kit, or something else?
Thanks guys,
Ray the caboose is from a Don Winter's "scratchkit", if anyone is familiar with his kits they will understand the term. Of course I modified it some and added a full interior.
Great video, the sunlight filtering through the trees along with superb models - brill.
Les
Can't believe it has been a year since I last posted anything to this thread. I have been busy on the railroad and will try to include a couple of pictures.
The Fields Hotel, scratch built from 1/4 inch PVC board, Styrene and wood. I used commercial window frames and roof shingles.
Let's see how these pictures come out.
Well that's interesting. My original pictures are crystal clear but end up looking fuzzy when inserted to the posting, but if you click to enlarge they appear much clearer.
Anyway
If you ever lived in Northern or Central California between the 1920's and the 1960's you may remember a grocery store chain called PURITY STORES, The store chain is long gone now but some of their unique quonset hut style buildings still exist but have been repurposed.
I decided I needed one for my new town of Fields Landing so this is what I ended up with. The design had to be slightly modified to fit the space available but hopefully it looks close to the prototype.
An interesting side note; as I was researching this company I learned that in the 1920's one of the major stockholders in the Purity Stores was a man named Cummins who also owned a diesel engine building business that was really struggling to make it.
He came up with the idea of installing his engines in the Purity delivery trucks and as they say the rest is history.
Anyone following this thread MUST enlarge the images. Most satisfactory. No wonder it took you a year to get back to us. Thank you for posting those inspirational photos. -- Russ
Great work!
Where did you get the payphone?
Hi Ray, thanks.
The Pay Phone was scratch built that's why no closeup pictures ;D
Well it sure looks good in the long shots.
All very nice and very neat workmanship
Barney
Here is a building I finished about a year ago. A meat Market that was named for my Dad who was a Meat Cutter/Butcher all his working life.
All scratch built from 1/4 inch PVC board, wood, Styrene and a few other things. There are a few commercial parts that are easily spotted such as NBW's and Styrene shapes.
All the angle iron and bolt plates are because the Seismic bracing upgrades have been completed on this old masonry building. This is/was necessary because of it's location on the Northern California Coast.
Here are a few night lighting shots of the interior.
Beautiful! The roof details are especially nice and add a lot of interest to an often overlooked (literally and figuratively) area.
Hi Rick
,I love your builds please post more it is a good mix here
Cheers Kim
Been a while since I posted on this thread so thought I would show you what I have been up to this year.
First the new log landing. The table was extended and the scene developed.
The spar tree with the heel boom rack is the center piece.
A few pictures.
Your modeling is far too good to remain outdoors. Satisfactory. -- Russ
Thanks for the kind words Russ.
To prevent any misunderstanding the "models" only remain outdoors during operating sessions in the seasons of kinder, gentler weather.
The larger items, in this case the spar tree, rigging, track etc. remain out year round.