Kit bash AMB ACL Depot

[ACL1504]

I need a small rural depot for my rural Florida pine forest. I was going to scratch build one but remembered that American Model Builders has an ACL depot kit.

The full kit is just over 96 HO scale feet. I need/want mine to be around half that. I'm thinking about 45 HO scale feet. I'll use the main passenger waiting room and a very small portion of the original freight area.



More in a few.

[ACL1504]

There is a 12 page instruction sheet and a whole bunch of little wood pieces.


This will be the second time I've built this kit so I won't have any unforeseen issues.






I did an extensive thread on the first build. It was on the old forum but I couldn't find it. Anyway,  this one won't be as detailed as the first as I need save thread time for the layout.

I will cover some highlights.

More in a few.

[ACL1504]

Here is what I plan to do with this kit bash.

In the photo below, you can see the full length of the original/first build.




I plan on shortening this one to the right of the first freight door located on the left.

The blue tape is where I'll add the end wall. This is just under 45 HO scale feet.

[MAP]

I'll be following along Tom.

[Mkrailway]

Love the trash bag. I haven't seen one of thise in years.

[ak-milw]

Right here with ya Tom.

[GPdemayo]

I'll be looking over your shoulder. 

[ACL1504]

I'll be following along Tom.

Mark,

Happy to have you along for the ride.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Love the trash bag. I haven't seen one of thise in years.

Marty,

I've been using a trash bag like this for years. I can clean up as I build and then dump the bag when needed. It helps to keep the work area somewhat clean as I go.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Right here with ya Tom.

Andy,

Glad to have you along on the build.

Tom

[ACL1504]

I'll be looking over your shoulder. 

Greg,

Okay, it's you. I was wondering who else was in the layout room this afternoon.


Tom

[ACL1504]

Today I painted the walls with Floquil Reefer White. I applied two very thin coats as I plan to add a light wash of Hunterline Light Gray.

I painted the trim with Floquil Dark Green. The Atlantic and Southern RR colors are white with dark green trim. The Floquil Dark Green is #40. I opened a new bottle and noticed the green was just a little darker than normal.

I checked the two bottles and there was a difference. The new bottle, actually about 25+ years older, was darker than the newer one. Just goes to show that even Floquil didn't always match all the paints through the years.

I'll mention the new older green has a price tag of $2.29 - that's how old it is. But still very useable and not the least bit dried at all.






I'll let these dry and partially cure for a day of two and then start the build.

[tct855]

Question,
                   I noticed you said you need to let this freshly painted kit cure for a few days.  can't you just bake it dry like the engines you do for an hour or two.  It seems you could get building that much quicker-no?              New to modeling in America.

[Raymo]

Obviously Thom you didn't see the last Depot Tom L. put heat to.

[sdrees]

Hi Tom,

I have had the same problem with Floquil and Polyscale paint in that the paint color will very from another bottle supposedly of the same color.