2025-2026 Winter Challenge Interlocking Tower Build

[Michael Hohn]

Jeff,

Stairs are not easy to do. You've done a fine job.

Mike

[Zephyrus52246]

Dave, that's an interesting thought.  I will try it next time.  I do fear it may make the paper even harder to remove as it's difficult to get a "raised edge" to peel the paper off. 

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

Thanks, Jerry, Rick, and Mike.  The stairs were slightly finicky.  

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

Hurray!  The kit is finished.  Here's the final steps.  

I broke two of the railings when removing them from the painter's tape.  The one repaired easily, the one that goes on the platform did not.  It was impossible to get it to fit as it broke twice again.  I decided to make a new railing.  I used scale 3x3 lumber and it's very slightly larger than the original.  As the piece is shaped like an "F", I first glued the vertical post in place.  I needed to enlarge the opening slightly.  

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

To do the top horizonal post, I found a piece of wood that was the size needed to balance it in place.

Jeff

[ACL1504]

Jeff,

This is coming together nicely. 

Tom

[Zephyrus52246]

The lower post was more of a challenge, I sanded down a stripwood piece to just fit under the other railing's lower bar.  I'm surprised I didn't break the railing doing this. 

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

Then glued a small cross member on it so I could guide the remaining bar into place.  It wasn't easy, but it worked.  I've slid the guide back out.  

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

It ain't perfect, but it'll do. 

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

I didn't want to use the roof paper as again, it was tough getting it to come off the backing.  I used some tarpaper I had on hand, I don't know who the manufacturer was, and used the given pieces as a template to cut them.  They were installed over 3M adhesive tape product.  

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

Thanks, Tom, you managed to sneak in there.  I should have attached the railings before gluing the platform on like you did, but I thought I'd break them (which I did anyway).  

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

Painted the stack and inserted it.  Did a light brushing of pastels over the roof, most of which disappeared with some Dullcoat, but that's OK.  This will be handled a lot before it's put in it's final destination on the layout.  

As it has no permanent home yet, i didn't want to build/scenic a base, so I used a base from when I was experimenting with materials.  It has some scenic express, woodland scenics, and other company scenery materials.  It's "floating" as it's not attached.  

I can't believe I actually completed this in a little over a month.  And I was out of town for eight days.  A fun little kit, would be better with stronger railings and without the peel and stick stuff.  

Jeff

[ReadingBob]

Nice job, Jeff! That's going to look good on the empire. 

You're finishing up and I'm just getting started on my challenge build. 

[KentuckySouthern]

Thats a fine looking structure. 

[Zephyrus52246]

Thanks, Bob.  You work much faster than I do, so you'll finish in plenty of time. 

Jeff