HOn3 Rio Grande Southern First District 1938-1945

[Dave V]

Yeah, I'd selectively compress that enginehouse.  Since the most obvious viewing is from the side, it might not be so objectionable to cut it down to two tracks, but even better might be to also cut it down by at least one-third in length.  It might look odd if your enginehouse significantly outsizes your largest industry.    And, think about that station across the tracks being a foot or so deeper into the scene making it feel smaller as compared to the monster enginehouse.

DFF

You are wise.  I think all along I knew I really would need to do that, but I'm afraid of the RGS proto-police...the SRGSFs!

[Dave V]

And just to catch this thread up, been building structures.

First, a section shed and passenger outhouse for Ophir from a Banta kit.



And an ore chute for Rico from the Grandt Line kit.



And detailed up the Rico depot per early 40s appearance:

[nuno81291]

I like the roof/shingles on that station. Very nice

[Dave V]

I like the roof/shingles on that station. Very nice

Thanks!  They're by Wild West Models.  They're actually too big compared to the shingles on the real Rico station, so in retrospect I would have used the N scale ones.

[Dave V]

Some confab with the RGS modeling posse on FB and some experimentation with engine house wall parts leads me to believe that there isn’t really a way to narrow the Rico enginehouse without destroying its character.  I’ll have to deal somehow.

[davefoxx]

Some confab with the RGS modeling posse on FB and some experimentation with engine house wall parts leads me to believe that there isn’t really a way to narrow the Rico enginehouse without destroying its character.  I’ll have to deal somehow.

With the obvious disadvantage of the structure at the layout's edge (which could be protected by a plexiglass shield), can you consider modeling a cutaway of the enginehouse, so you could model less tracks?  Plus, you would now have a place to display your motive power and detail the heck out of the interior of the building.

DFF

[Philip H]

With the obvious disadvantage of the structure at the layout's edge (which could be protected by a plexiglass shield), can you consider modeling a cutaway of the enginehouse, so you could model less tracks?  Plus, you would now have a place to display your motive power and detail the heck out of the interior of the building.

DFF

This.  Do it. For the Dave Collective.

[Dave V]

With the obvious disadvantage of the structure at the layout's edge (which could be protected by a plexiglass shield), can you consider modeling a cutaway of the enginehouse, so you could model less tracks?  Plus, you would now have a place to display your motive power and detail the heck out of the interior of the building.

DFF

This was suggested in one of the RGS modeling groups too.

And, in spite of the endorsement of your suggestion, I really hate this idea.  I never much cared for the cut-away thing, primarily because you never see that in real life.  You're either inside or outside; not both.  And the other is I don't like detailing interiors.

I can make this work...it'll just be a bit challenging.  The nice thing about the real Rico, and the narrow gauge in general, is that compact is authentic...the real yard occupied a narrow flood plain between the town up on a hill and the Dolores River.  And more than once the Dolores River swelled to claim the RGS facilities at Rico...this brick enginhouse was not the first such facility the RGS built at Rico.

[narrowminded]

... The nice thing about the real Rico, and the narrow gauge in general, is that compact is authentic...the real yard occupied a narrow flood plain between the town up on a hill and the Dolores River.  And more than once the Dolores River swelled to claim the RGS facilities at Rico...this brick enginhouse was not the first such facility the RGS built at Rico.

I get that description from several visits to Rico.  It's one of my lady friend's favorite spots.

[DKS]

I can make this work...it'll just be a bit challenging.  The nice thing about the real Rico, and the narrow gauge in general, is that compact is authentic...the real yard occupied a narrow flood plain between the town up on a hill and the Dolores River.  And more than once the Dolores River swelled to claim the RGS facilities at Rico...this brick enginhouse was not the first such facility the RGS built at Rico.

OK, then, how about something really different... model the area shortly after a flood. Portions of the facility are back up and running, but some are not. Be creative, think outside the box. It will get people to ask questions... and pay more attention.

[Dave V]

OK, then, how about something really different... model the area shortly after a flood. Portions of the facility are back up and running, but some are not. Be creative, think outside the box. It will get people to ask questions... and pay more attention.

I love what you're thinking, but that would require a tremendous change in era that I simply can't accommodate.  This enginhouse replaced the one destroyed in the big 1911 floods.  It was intact during my era.

I've been playing around with track, structures, and notional footprints and the situation isn't nearly as dire as I thought.  Stuff will fit as drawn, surprisingly!

Okay, moving along...!

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I wonder what would happen if you did this with Ed K's work?

I just saw this.

The answer?

You'd likely get thrown out.

[DKS]

Any thoughts about revisiting this? You get a bit more mileage with the peninsula running longways in the space, and a bit more separation with longer aisles.



For comparison:



 

[wcfn100]

David, that plan eliminates both the visual and physical spacing between Ophir and Ridgway.

Jason

[Dave V]

DKS, the main reason for going toward having the peninsula where it is is to avoid having it directly in front of the window.

Note that the width of Rico remains the same in both cases.

My wife wasn’t thrilled with the idea of completely blocking off the window from a safety perspective but she was agreeable to an 18” shelf that can be climbed over in an emergency (the brackets I plan to use are rated for 500 lbs).  I’ll likely discontinue the backdrop over the width of the window using a high tree line instead as a visual block.

The hardest part of these early discussions for me is how to articulate the detailed picture I have in my head into words and diagrams on a screen.