Benchwork Blitz

I have updated the trackplan shown in previous posts.  As such, I have recently constructed benchwork for the next section of the layout.  This section will house Hesperus, Vance Junction, Dolores, Lost Canon, Rico, and Placerville.  The benchwork for Ophir has not been started.  Also, the benchwork for Ridgway has not been started.  Some modification to the Ridgway scene may be required.

Note that a second deck is included for Ridgway.  The original location for Ridgway was too small; therefore a second deck was included above Hesperus and Vance Junction.  Dolores also required additional space, so it has been moved to a location along the center peninsula.  Rico will be at the end of the center peninsula, and Ophir will be on its own peninsula.

Overall view of the newly constructed benchwork.  The center peninsula, which will contain Rico and the Pro Patria Mill, is in the foreground.

The new benchwork showing the tentative location of the town of Dolores.

The central peninsula, showing its relationship to the existing town of Duango (in the background).

Latest Track Plan

I have been working on revisions to the track plan for my Rio Grande Southern layout.  Rather than post the plan in my previous post, I thought that it merited its own post.  Therefore, I am presenting the "final" plan.

Rio Grande Southern, v 2.2

Dolores Station Diorama

I have recently completed the station scene for Dolores on my Rio Grande Southern layout.  The scene is built upon 2" polyisocyanurate foam.  The track is Micro Engineering Code 55 Flex Track.  The Depot is a Laser Kit by American Model Builders; the Goose Barn is scratchbuilt, as is the Goose gasoline shed and outdoor toilet.

The Goose Barn was built following Mike Blazek's plans over a base of foam core.  I used Campbell corrugated metal for the sheathing, and styrene for the doors.  I finished the corrugated metal using my standard technique, discussed in previous posts.

The Gas shed was made by cutting a solid wood block to size on my table saw, and sheathing with corrugated metal.  The toilet was scratchbuilt from Evergreen Styrene clapboard siding, and strip styrene for trim.  The roof was shingled using leftover self-adhesive shingle strips.

Star brand paints were used for the final Rio Grande Southern colors of Jersey Cream and D&RGW Brown, available from PBL.

Ground cover consists of Cinders, dirt and ground foam.  The roads are decomposed granite leftover from drilling my well.  I made wooden road crossings from stripwood, stained with HunterLine Creosote Black.  I used static grass for the first time, and found that I liked the look.

Overall view of the Dolores Station Diorama.

The Dolores Station scene, with the toilet and Goose barn.

Close-up view of the scratchbuilt Toilet building.

The scratchbuilt Goose Barn.

The Dolores station and the Gasoline shed in place on the diorama.

The front (trackside) view of the Dolores station.