HOn3 Rio Grande Southern First District 1938-1945

[Dave V]

Because I don't have enough in-progress projects...

Although I have not finished the Pro Patria Mill kitbash, I got the urge to start another kitbash. This time it is the engine house at Rico.



Like most things in my version of Rico, it’s going to be slightly compressed. It will still hold six locomotives, which is more than I own, but I’m hoping it will capture the flavor. The walls are simply spliced and shortened sections from a Walthers standard gauge two-stall engine house. It will get scratchbuilt end walls and Grandt Line narrow gauge engine house doors. The one bit I am not looking forward to is building the 12 roof vents.

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[Chris333]

I always start a new project when starting a new project 

Those walls do look like a pretty good match.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Can you 3D print the roof vents?

[Dave V]

Can you 3D print the roof vents?

I've been thinking about that.  I bet I'm not the only HOn3 guy who'd want 'em either.  This might end up being my first Shapeways project!

[Dave V]

Almost there with my Rico Pro Patria stamp mill.  See my challenge thread for more pics.

[Dave V]

My perpetual dissatisfaction with each iteration of my future track plan led to this...I realized that going back to an around-the-walls configuration not only gives me more room for Rico but will allow me to use heavy duty wall brackets for much of the benchwork support. That said I may need to widen the shelf for Rico from 24" to 30"...it looks a bit squashed. The "boxes" represent benchwork modules. It's not meant to be a portable layout but if I had to move I could at least pull it apart and get it out of the basement.

I'm over my fear of having to move.  We love it here and I'm making progress again after a major health setback in January requiring hospitalization. 

[squirrelhunter]

I like it, especially how the Windy Point scene will help break up the space.

[Santa Fe Guy]

That to me is a much better idea. I am a big fan of around the walls layouts.
The track plan looks cool with lots of work to do for the crews.
I might just have to work some of your ideas into my track plan Dave.
Rod.

[OldEastRR]

great plan. Now Quick! Start construction on the benchwork before you start getting second thoughts!!!

[Dave V]

great plan. Now Quick! Start construction on the benchwork before you start getting second thoughts!!!

Just cleared the plan with the Director of Domestic Operations and will start ordering heavy shelf brackets.

I do want to bring in an electrician to improve the lighting situation in the alcove.  Right now the space is lit by 4 can lights.  Barely enough.

[Lemosteam]

Dave my only thought is that the trestles 45a and b will be hidden from the viewing side which is left, correct, but I guess visitors will get a nice surprise when they enter the space and make thier way around windy point.

[davefoxx]

@Dave V,

Just a thought.  Looking at the module sections that you have for the benchwork, it might make life easier if you were to revise the Ophir and Old Placerville modules to approximately 3' x 6' with the trapezoidal notches for the aisle ends.  That will be easier to build (and take apart!) someday as opposed to those four little right triangles and all of those module joints to deal with.  This would reduce the Ridgway module to 5' length and the Lizard head module to 4'.  The Windy Point section would be approximate 42" x 42".  Does this make sense?

As far as increasing the depth of Rico, I think you're going to be making the aisle too small.  You're already down to 2' at the end of Ridgway and just over 3' across to Windy Point.  Can you reduce the enginehouse trackage to two tracks and/or remove one of the passing tracks without losing the effect of Rico that you seek?  Overall, your aisles are very tight already as this plan is drawn.

DFF

[Dave V]

@Dave V,

Just a thought.  Looking at the module sections that you have for the benchwork, it might make life easier if you were to revise the Ophir and Old Placerville modules to approximately 3' x 6' with the trapezoidal notches for the aisle ends.  That will be easier to build (and take apart!) someday as opposed to those four little right triangles and all of those module joints to deal with.  This would reduce the Ridgway module to 5' length and the Lizard head module to 4'.  The Windy Point section would be approximate 42" x 42".  Does this make sense?

As far as increasing the depth of Rico, I think you're going to be making the aisle too small.  You're already down to 2' at the end of Ridgway and just over 3' across to Windy Point.  Can you reduce the enginehouse trackage to two tracks and/or remove one of the passing tracks without losing the effect of Rico that you seek?  Overall, your aisles are very tight already as this plan is drawn.

DFF

The main aisle between Rico and Windy Point as of now is 3.5 feet.  If I widen Rico by 6" I'm still at 3 feet.  But what I need to do is properly set this stuff all up (turnouts included) and gauge the space.  The Rico enginhouse is a bloody space hog and I frankly don't even have 6 locomotives to fill it with (and neither did the real RGS by the mid-40s) but I'm not sure if I can capture the feel with a compressed engine house.  I really would rather not build it so wide if I don't have to.

However, your advice on the modules is dead-on and I will do exactly that.

[davefoxx]

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

[Dave V]

Dave my only thought is that the trestles 45a and b will be hidden from the viewing side which is left, correct, but I guess visitors will get a nice surprise when they enter the space and make thier way around windy point.

I was thinking that!  But really, Ophir needs to be in an inside curve to do correctly and it doesn't make as much sense in the first curve out of Ridgway.  Ridgway faces the open basement.