O Scale Trains Magazine Online

and supports under the basins. Drains (a washer soldered to a
length of brass tubing) were added in the center of the basins
that run down into a hole in the floor. A Berkshire Valley hand
water pump was added at each end of the basin. These were
extended with brass tubing so that they would mount into the
floor. The entire assembly was painted with Polly S Green, with
the work surface stained with Pecan MinWax. The stove was set
on a metal pan (0.005” styrene painted with Floquil Platinum
Mist), then a length of brass tubing (painted with Polly S Steam
Black) that fit snugly over the stovepipe was added. This stovepipe
extends up through the second floor and up to the roof
where a smokejack casting was installed.
The elevator was made from scrap wood with 3/64” brass
angle (from Structural Shapes) cut, bent and soldered into a
framework which has a chain linkage for hoisting and lowering.
The winch is planned for installation on the second floor with
a ceiling beam mounted pulley. The winch and pulley arrangement,
for hoisting the lift, was made from scrap wood and a
collection of odds and ends of castings from the scrap box. All
of the “ladies” working on the cucumbers were Langley castings
that were handpainted with a variety of Polly S colors, while the
remaining figures were from Arttista. Cucumbers were created
from short grain rice that was briefly soaked in water for about
15 minutes and drained. Then, green food coloring was added
until I got to a shade of green that looked cucumberish. These
“cucumbers” were then laid out to dry on a paper towel, after
which they given an overspray of both Dullcoat and Glosscoat.
Loose cucumbers were secured with Goo, as were most of
the other detail parts and castings. Barrels from Berkshire Valley
were filled with cucumbers, secured in place with dilute
carpenter’s glue. All of these parts had to be prepared, cleaned,
painted / stained, and placed appropriately into the first floor
space. The floor and all exposed wood surfaces were stained
with Pecan Minwax.
Well, this now seems like an opportune spot to take a break,
having described how the entire first floor of the structure was
built, including the interior. I’ll pick up from here in the next
installment, to describe how the second floor, the roof structure,
the second floor interior, and the exterior finishing were done.
to be continued...
July/Aug ’06 - O Scale Trains • 45