Tom's Trucking

This model has been awaiting its day on the workbench far too long.

The structure is a well-built Fine Scale Miniatures Truck Terminal.  It was built for the Calapooya Pacific, Tom Gates' magnificent model railroad near my hometown in central Florida.  The kit came on the scene in 1971; I'm not sure when it was built.  Next it was owned by the Ocala Model Railroaders who dismantled and stored the CP, and now it resides in my collection, courtesy of that same club.  To say the Calapooya Pacific was an influence on my development as a model railroader is an understatement.  Hence, this model will get special treatment and occupy a piece of prime real estate on the Pine Branch Park layout.

Note the loading dock and its roof - both hanging in the air!  The roof needs two posts and piers, though I may give it three since I think that might look better.  The dock needs legs and stairs.  I've got the stairs and some of the leg and bracing material though I'm missing the posts and piers for the roof.  There are two chimneys and I've got those as well.  However the real challenge will be the gutters.  All four corners have significant damage and are missing material.  

Fortunately I've got some FSM gutter stock laying around.  A while back I stumbled across an eBay listing for the two stall engine house - minus the box and instructions but otherwise complete.  On both that structure and this one George (Sellios) instructs the modeler to put gutters on the rakes.  This isn't a very common feature, at least not that I've ever seen.  There weren't any included on this structure and I'm not going to put them on the engine house which makes them available for use here to repair the eave troughs.  By the way, I didn't know what a roof rake was until I began researching that design element.  Yet one more way this hobby rewards the modeler who is willing to learn new things.

Here's Tom's Trucking in place on the Calapooya Pacific from the May 1981 Model Railroader magazine, page 56.  The structure is on the far left just behind the locomotive.

I've been careful not to attribute the structure to Gates himself, as the article from which this photo comes - written by Gates - mentions that many of the Fine Scale (Miniatures) structures were built by Pat Ford.  "She is a master structures builder and has won many awards in the NMRA Sunshine Region contests.  All of the buildings and structures are modeled to reflect heavy use through weathering and apparent repairs."  So, my repairs will not look out of place if I don't get the coloration dead on matched.  Good to know.

I'm in no hurry to finish this as life has thrown some curve balls at me and I'm juggling them as I catch them.  But that's also important, taking my time that is, to honor this structure's heritage and do the best job I can.  Results will be shared when ready.

Family Folk Art Restoration

I come from a line of crafty women.  Both grandmothers were creative, artistic people.  From my Dad's mother came rolled-paper beads and crocheted dish cloths.  From my Mom's mother came painting and well, an unusual folk-art sense.  It is that creativity that gave birth to a set of figurines depicting the Nativity.  

Granny worked for the Celanese corporation as a quality control technician testing samples of 'dope', the airplane-cement like material that was spun into fibers for cigarette filters.  Once the testing was complete, the mostly-full tube of dope was thrown away.  Granny saw an opportunity and used the residual dope as a media to cover aluminum foil armatures to make Mary, Joseph, shepherds and Magi.  

But Jesus...Jesus wasn't made from dope.  I'm not sure why, but she chose to make him from some sort of clay.  The manger was foil, dope and coffee stir sticks.  But the baby was made from clay.  I'm sure there's some deeper theological meaning which can be applied in this situation, but not at this time.  For the moment I was concerned with the practical application of glue to that substance, whatever it is.  The baby was beginning to break into pieces.  That just won't do.

The other night I carefully cleaned the old straw from the baby and gently washed him with dish soap and water.  He had become sticky somehow, and was gathering grot.  After drying I applied a dab of Aleene's Quick Grab Tacky Glue to one break, stuck the legs in place and waited overnight.  Success!  The joint was good.  So I glued the remaining bits, gathered some fresh straw, and placed him back in the manger.

We live in a place where the threat of fire is real, each year.  We have bags packed year round in case we need to evacuate in a hurry.  After the pets are collected there's a short list of personal effects to grab.  This nativity scene is high on that list.  It is truly priceless and irreplaceable.  Thank you, Granny.

Japan + Wales =

...successful duplication of a detail part!  Oyumaru + Milliput = part

Since deciding to rebuild the trio of Purina cars, I've been on the lookout for Laconia end sills for what seems like ages.  I had given up ever finding them on their own, or if I did, for a decent price.  Seems like 'nostalgia pricing' for vintage parts is over-the-top high.  My next resort would be to either scratchbuild a pair or find a donor kit to sacrifice.  It would probably be cheaper and faster to buy another Purina kit of the correct number.

But then along came PLASMO, and his video of using Blue Stuff (a Green Stuff World branded oyumaru) to cast parts using epoxy putty.  After hemming and hawing a while I decided to pull the trigger and buy some.  Last night I warmed up the kettle and softened the oyumaru.  I glued the part to a scrap of plastic packaging and pressed on the softened thermoplastic...voila!  A mold! 

Next I cut away a couple bits of Milliput and kneaded them together.  Once I thought I had sufficiently mixed the two components I pressed some into the mold.  And then I waited.  Overnight.  I could see through the clear mold material that I had gotten a good press; it appeared that the Milliput was deep into the recesses of the mold.  But how good?

This morning I got my answer - as Tom Johnson* says - I think it looks pretty good.

*In these uncertain times, I find it very comforting to watch a skilled craftsman rebuild, repair and restore a beautiful piece of furniture to its best condition or former glory.  I hope to do the same with the vintage freight cars I have collected, including the Purina cars mentioned above.