Little River Lumber Company - a Logging Mini-Layout

[cbroughton67]

Speaking of logging camp... I built the structures for the logging camp over a year ago, so with the spar tree underway, I can start thinking about how to arrange the camp. There are several elements I'm squeezing into a very small space, and being my first effort at modeling any sort of logging operation, I'm sure I'm taking some liberties, whether I know it or not. "Artistic license," right? We'll go with that. Anyway, this photo shows the general layout for the structures, spar tree, and the stumps that will eventually become anchor points for guy wires and loader rigging once the spar tree is permanently set in-place.


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[narrowminded]

This is very cool and supremely executed.

[cbroughton67]

From a brown-painted surface, it's amazing what a little ground cover can do! I applied some dirt-brown fine ground foam and Scenic Express "leaf litter" (part of @Ed Kapuscinski "forest floor" technique), and applied some sawdust saved from back when I was sawing the plywood for the benchwork to the area where most of the "heavy lifting" would take place around the loader and tracks. I'm getting excited at this point - it's turning out better than I imagined. More "stuff" to add yet - logs, for one... and people doing stuff with logs... you get the idea.


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[cbroughton67]

It gets cold in the mountains in October. I worked up a sweat splitting and stacking firewood for the logging crew. Gotta make sure everyone stays warm, not to mention having some fuel on-hand to keep the steam donkey running!


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[cbroughton67]

Here's a buzzard's-eye view of the layout, showing the track arrangement. The bare, brown spots are for the sawmill (right) and logging camp (left). Its Gum Stump & Snowshoe lineage should be obvious to anyone familiar with that track plan.


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[garethashenden]

The Gum Stump & Snowshoe always bothered me with it's original urban setting somehow. I guess I felt that no real railroad would go through all that trouble for one small factory. However, I think it is quite believable as a logging layout. They're known for tight curves and lots of switchbacks.

[metalworkertom]

Looking good . Hope the version I just started turns out as good. I went 13" x 6 '

[cbroughton67]

I have a Lucas Sawmill kit yet to build by JV Models. Again, craftsman kit = pile-o-sticks and a set of plans. The sawmill kit is missing one key component, however - the sawmill part of the sawmill! There's not one that I could find in N that I thought would work, but I did find a small HO sawmill offered as a kit by Woodland Scenics, which I figure would make for a little bit larger sawmill in N. It's built, now, and just waiting for someone to put a roof over it's head.


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[cbroughton67]

I made another batch of Fall SuperTrees yesterday evening - enough to finish "foresting" the layout. I ended up burning the midnight oil to get them "planted." I'm happy with how the trees turned out, and how well they blend with the backdrop.

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[cbroughton67]

And finally... The Element logging camp is complete! I still need to add people (they'll arrive next week!), but the details are in-place, the spar tree has been installed and rigged, etc. I may build a small loading dock for the company store, but even if I don't, it's a complete scene. It turned out way better than I imagined it would - I'm thrilled!


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[cbroughton67]

I love this photo. The 18-ton Climax is one of @randgust 's kits. It was fun to build, and now I have a gear motor on the way to retrofit into it. The log cars are Alan Curtis Models / N Scale Kits kits. I added Detail Associates HO eyebolts to the ends of the two main cross beams to act as tie down anchors, and then ran A-Line 40-link-per-inch chain over the log loads (sticks from the backyard) and attached the ends to the eyebolts.


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[Chris333]

Too hot for the hot tub!

[milw12]

Fantastic! Always nice to see small layouts.

-Lucas

[packers#1]

I have a Lucas Sawmill kit yet to build by JV Models. Again, craftsman kit = pile-o-sticks and a set of plans. The sawmill kit is missing one key component, however - the sawmill part of the sawmill! There's not one that I could find in N that I thought would work, but I did find a small HO sawmill offered as a kit by Woodland Scenics, which I figure would make for a little bit larger sawmill in N. It's built, now, and just waiting for someone to put a roof over it's head.

Wow, that's surprising it's an HO kit; it looks perfectly proportionate with that log car. The layout is gorgeous as well; the backdrop fits perfectly with the trees too.

[DKS]

You're modeling a logging line exactly as I've always wanted to. I am envious