The new Missouri Valley Western

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Wait a minute, I thought  "kapuscinskiing" had something to do with trees.

You should all know by now that's not true.

[Carolina Northern]

You should all know by now that's not true.

Maybe so, but we'll never forget - and do our best to be sure neither do you.

[Philip H]

Rule 1: Its my Railroad.
Rule 2: JFRTM
Rule 3: Kapuscinskiing means trees every night.

Ed's Law - there really is a prototype for everything.

Lets keep it straight, shall we?

[Carolina Northern]

Rule 0 - If you're having fun, you're doing it the right way.

[MVW]

My boys needed a home. 



I had thrown together this little structure many moons ago (8-9 years?) when experimenting with Monster Modelworks' brick sheet. This was made from the thin stuff, glued to chipboard and braced at the corners. And it's held up remarkably well. No warping, etc.



I printed out a tar paper texture and glued it to an index card for the roof. It's not a long-term solution.

I recalled MR publishing an article years ago about structures associated with caboose tracks. I tracked it down last night, and lo and behold, the main illustration was a picture taken at C&NW's Green Bay yards in the early '70s. The C&NW had taken an old wooden caboose, removed the trucks, and blocked it up on some timbers. One end was stenciled "Caboose Coal," while the other said "Caboose Supplies." So I added similar signage.



I'll live with this for a while before deciding if I want to improve or replace it. The building has never been weathered, and indeed only has two "brick" sides. It was originally built for a site where it would only be visible from two sides. Fills the space, anyway. And I still have the MM brick sheet should I decide to finish it.

Jim

[MVW]

Threw down some basic ground cover (and some half-finished trees) outside the west end of Cedricsburg Yard, which brought me up against the proposed stockyards for Armstrong packing. So it was time to make paper templates to outline the stockyard's footprint along the curving spur.



The plan is to have two large pitched-roof sheds (as indicated by the walls, and to their left) and the rest open pens. That narrow strip behind the long wall will be an inclined walkway that will rise up and enter an enclosed walkway to be built on the far side of the pickup in the foreground.

A view from a bit further up the line:



I initially planned to provide room for five stock cars, but after some visual experimentation … I discovered that six really is greater than five. 

And here's the view from the business side, where the plant will actually be switched from.



The Noch tuft stripes aren't glued down yet, hence the shadows. And some structures are still searching for their final resting spot.

Jim

[MVW]

Started work on Armstrong Co.'s stockyards. Used the paper template of the facility to cut a base out of .060” styrene.

Drilled postholes at all the corners using a – new tool for me – pin vice, with a 1/32” bit. Only broke one of 'em. (Because the fractured bit worked just fine.  ).



Scored expansion joints with the backside of an Xacto, then hit it with some 150 grit sandpaper to smooth out the lips and give it some tooth 'n texture.



The choice of what colors to paint things turned out to be no choice at all. I thought I had 3-4 shades of gray on hand (much less than 50  ) … turned out there were two. 

Testing out in situ. Good enough.



I thought about scratchbuilding the fences … but came to my senses. I'm trying out Woodland Scenics rail fence, although I'll have to chop and splice a bit to fit my space. This is one pack in action. I have one more on hand, and three more in the mail.



Gave the stock yard a quick bit of weathering. More to come. Note to self: raw umber really is the sh*t. 









Jim

[amato1969]

I like your weathering on that concrete!

  Frank

[MVW]

Thanks, Frank! 

Weathered up another sheet of styrene for the loading docks and truck access to the stockyard.





I think it's time to hit both sheets with a light dusting of weathering powder and some dullcoat. Can always do more with 'em later.

The big question: Is it safe to start installing the fences?

Jim

[OldEastRR]

Plan on adding cow poop? Straw? Water tubs?

[MVW]

Plan on adding cow poop? Straw? Water tubs?

Oh yeah. I grew up in farm country. 

I'm also using this as a general frame of reference:



This is detail from an image of the Sioux City Stock Yards in "Chicago & North Western Official Color Photography," published by Morning Sun Books.

Jim

[davefoxx]

Plan on adding cow poop?

Growing up, we called that aroma, "fresh country air." 

DFF

[MVW]

Growing up, we called that aroma, "fresh country air." 

DFF

Ha! For 15 years, we lived in a tiny town in a county where hogs outnumbered people by a wide, wide margin. The town was literally surrounded by hog barns. At least a few days a year, the "aroma" was enough to force you to close the windows and stay inside. You didn't even want to breathe through your mouth.

Now we live in a city with a cereal manufacturing plant. Most days, it smells like brownies. 

Jim

[davefoxx]

Ha! For 15 years, we lived in a tiny town in a county where hogs outnumbered people by a wide, wide margin. The town was literally surrounded by hog barns. At least a few days a year, the "aroma" was enough to force you to close the windows and stay inside. You didn't even want to breathe through your mouth.

Well, that's a different story.  Cow manure is one thing; pigs and chicken waste is a whole other matter.  Ever get caught behind a pig truck on a hot summer day in North Carolina?   Woof.

DFF

[MVW]

Well, that's a different story.  Cow manure is one thing; pigs and chicken waste is a whole other matter.  Ever get caught behind a pig truck on a hot summer day in North Carolina?   Woof.

DFF

In late fall there'd always be a big push to empty the pits beneath the hog barns and get the manure on the fields as fertilizer for the next growing season. This always seemed to be a particularly virulent-smelling mess.

We called it "super sh*t".   

Jim