Colorado Midland in N scale 2.0

[DKS]

You're certainly not letting any grass grow under your feet, sir...

[Chris333]

You'll have the whole thing built by the time your order from Canada gets here! 

[davefoxx]

Looks great, but can I talk you into hollowing out the spouts?

DFF

[Dave V]

Looks great, but can I talk you into hollowing out the spouts?

DFF

Yep, I’ll be doing that, LOL.

[Point353]

Looks great, but can I talk you into hollowing out the spouts?

DFF

That and DKS would figure out a way to make the indicator on the water level gauge change position whenever the spout was lowered.

[Dave V]

Added some details to the Aspen depot scene.

[dcarrell8]

Gorgeous!

[dcarrell8]

I have wondered what color the railroad structures were on the Midland are these prototypical colors?  I had planed a research trip up to Leadville, but of course covid had other plans, if things aren't too crazy I may try again in October. 

I'm looking forward to watching this little layout progress!
~ Dennis

[Dave V]

I have wondered what color the railroad structures were on the Midland are these prototypical colors?  I had planed a research trip up to Leadville, but of course covid had other plans, if things aren't too crazy I may try again in October. 

I'm looking forward to watching this little layout progress!
~ Dennis

I asked around.  Dan Abbott and Mel McFarland--both authors of books on the Midland and Colorado locals--suggested to me that by my era (1905-ish) the structures would have been a buff and brown.  Black and white photos don't really give you too much info on just how brown or how buff.  Andrew Dodge--famed Midland O-scaler--also confirmed a D&RG-inspired buff and brown (the Midland had several masters from the AT&SF and CB&Q to the very D&RG it was built to compete with).  The reality is that the colors were likely much paler than the yellow ochre and espresso I used.  That said, the yellow ochre is identically the same color I used for my RGS depots and it seems to match very well to color photographs.  I like the contrast and I think it's visually interesting this way.  If you're modeling closer to 1900 and before, it appears that an oxide red with white trim would be more universal for the Midland depots.  Many minor railroad structures wore the earlier oxide red right up until abandonment.

For me I've chosen this ochre/espresso combo for the depots and some of the other railroad structures (outhouses, coal bin) but oxide for the water towers and Basalt enginehouse (photographs appear to confirm this).  I'll also be building a freight warehouse and painting it oxide with white trim and window sashes.

EDIT:  If I had to guess, the depot colors on the Midland in 1905 would probably have been closer to the colors I used on that saloon/hotel than what I actually used on the depots, but c'est la vie.

[Dave V]

Trestle bents.  And although I'm building these from wood that I've pre-stained, I'm hitting them with a unifying coat of Rustoleum Weathered Wood roof paint so that they'll match the Micro Engineering bridge track that will sit atop them.

[Dave V]

I don't think Basalt had a similar freight depot but I'm using a Wild West Scale Models trackside warehouse for one at Basalt, across from the engine house.

[Dave V]

Today was another structure build day.  Another Wild West Scale Model Builders kit...also headed for Aspen on the Colorado Midland 2.0. The figure on the porch is a 3D printed "Old West" character from Outland Models.





I really love those Wild West models.  They're exceptionally well engineered and detailed...and they fill a huge N scale gap.  Want old west stuff in HO?  Cool, here's two dozen manufactures.  N scale?  Not so much.

Anyway, one of those HO kits I was alerted to is of this Aspen Lumber company structure (offered by B.E.S.T.).  Although the prototype is now gone, the Library of Congress has plans for it online.





The kit's not made in HO, but by gum it sure looks like an easy scratchbuild, even in N.  I think I'd compress it a bit to get it to fit, but it's a real structure from Aspen which would help anchor my heretofore completely freelanced version thereof into something a tad more prototypical.  I might even toss in the adjacent storage shed...although space is limited.  I have some decal paper on hand so that sign should be an easy kill and really add some character!

[CRL]

These kits would be very appropriate for modeling Southwestern Arizona even into the 1970-80 decade since some of these old structures survived and remain in use mostly as secondary structures or have been added onto or remodeled.

[Dave V]

Now I'm thinking about season.  I did the last CMRy (and the RGS) in autumn, which in the Colorado high country is ridiculously short.  Heck, it's not even mid-September and we've already had a few inches of snow down here in Colorado Springs.

I could do the golden aspen tree thing again and I think it'd be well received, but I'm tempted to do a greener, brighter summer day.  Aspen tress are still distinct in the summertime with their white trunks and lighter-green leaves.

I'm conflicted!  Autumn for Colorado layouts is a tad cliché but it's also very popular.  This decision not only affects the obvious (the aspen trees) but the green-ness of the grasses, scrub oak, etc.

[GimpLizard]

I'm conflicted!  Autumn for Colorado layouts is a tad cliché but it's also very popular.  This decision not only affects the obvious (the aspen trees) but the green-ness of the grasses, scrub oak, etc.

As one who absolutely abhors winter, (which is why I live in Wisconsin  ) I cast my vote for that "greener, brighter summer day".