2025-2026 Winter Challenge Interlocking Tower Build

[Zephyrus52246]

As I never completed last year's build (  ), I will build something much smaller for this challenger.  I have a need for a couple of interlocking towers on the layout.  The first could be across the CB&Q/Rock Island diamonds.  Orientation depends on which RR the tower belongs to.  I'm using this CB&Q tower as a stand in. 

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

The other site is here.  I have an F&SM station I built forty years ago that may or may not go at this site.  However, I'm going to paint the tower to match the station (I can always use it at the other site as well).

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

The kit is  a Laserkit from American Model Builders.  It has the usual laser cut walls and parts.  Pre cut windows (hurray!).  Only one detail part, a chimney stack.  I'll use the kit instructions.  It hopefully will be a pretty straight forward build.  (I think I've thought that before ).  

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

I read through the instructions twice so as not to have "surprises" later, though I'm sure they will show up.  First, I lightly sand the edges of the walls to true them up.  Just enough to remove the burn mark.

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

Next I cut three foot marks on the walls for future nail holes and board edges.  I'll add the nail holes and more cuts after the paint is on (so it doesn't fill in the holes).   Paint wise, the station is Floquil Depot Buff and Roof Brown, so I'll use the same colors.  the originals were solvent Floquil and this will have Polly scale, if the bottles are still good.  

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

The kit has no (and no instructions for) bracing.  !!!!! I know the walls will Warp Factor 9 when they are stained, so I aggressively braced them.  There is an internal floor which will help square the building, but interrupts the bracing.  I first drew lines where the floor would go so I didn't brace into the floor.  Then the roof sits on top of the structure, with attachment piece just inside the building, so I marked that as well.  For wall bracing above the floor, the large windows meant I needed smaller corner braces. 

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

After all the bracing, I used Hunterline Light Gray stain on the walls.  Vetero Dark Rust was used for the floor.  The building won't be very weathered as the station isn't.  As the layout represents approx 1950, railroads (even the Rock Island) took some pride in their structures appearance.  After drying, there wasn't a lot of warping, so all the bracing helped.

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

I forgot, I did do a test fitting of the walls before staining.  everything fit (the lower right corner is just loose, it does fit).

Jeff

[Rick]

Jeff, have fun with the build and good luck in the contest.

[Zephyrus52246]

I don't plan an interior (again, keeping it simple), and roof is meant to be removable, so I could add one in the future if desired, but needed some type of painting.  Looking on line, tans, light greens and whites seemed to be typical colors, so I used Vallejo Buff.  I also wanted to see how close it was to the Floquil Depot Buff.  Similar, but no really close. 

The detail pieces are "peel and stick", which I'm not a huge fan of.  we'll see how it goes.  I'm going to pre build the windows and airbrush them as they look fragile and I want to make sure the visible edges get painted (versus painting them on their sheet).  That's up next.

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

Thanks, Rick.  I'm not looking to win anything, I just need to get some inertia moving to get back to working on the layout.  

Jeff

[ReadingBob]

I'm following along as well, Jeff!

It's always a sad day when we run out of a favored Floquil color and have to flip over to PollyScale (hoping the contents of that bottle are still good).

I need to catch up on all the other builds that are going on.

[Larry C]

Jeff you're off to a great start. I really like the buildings and detailing on the 2nd photo, top left.

[Mark Dalrymple]

Good start, Jeff.
 
Momentum is always good - free 3D castings is even better!

Cheers, Mark.

[Jerry]

Jeff your off to a good start.
I'll be watching as you go along.

Jerry