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CARE TAKING a 97 yo - So the big project is care taking my 97 year old father. Solo.
I don't recommend it, especially during a pandemic. My siblings are spread far and wide so it's all on me.
On the other hand, too many of the deaths were in nursing homes where you couldn't even go visit your loved ones.
We were tipped off early as the first case in the US was treated up at my father's hospital.
Followed by those first deaths in a local 5-star facility. No silly hoax here.
While we avoided C-19 we still have 96 other problems, including... I'll save you the long list. And we really can't
complain as things went pretty well until the fall of 2017. But at 97, he's requiring more and more attention.
I've not been able to keep up. The remaining roundhouse kits have stalled. I can barely keep up with
Builders In Scale. I almost catch-up and I'm pulled away on another care taking mission. I'm exhausted and
prone to mistakes, don't or can't answer phone calls- so as of May 2021, NO NEW ORDERS. I'll work on
some of those back orders as time allows. Maybe post some How 2 articles on care taking.
SUGAR BEET FACTORY - Before the pandemic I was working with a
fellow in Colorado on a museum project for the one in Fort Morgan. Question was how do do a flat brick wall
that's 3 feet long- That's a big chunk of plaster. But with repeating patterns. The seams would show.
So I took another tact, how about just one seem? Yeah, my laser bed it only 24 inches. Yep, I laser-cut it.
I'm only 2 inches off, two HO scale inches! Then the windows, hundreds of them, in three variations and
those in pairs, and triples on the ends. Yikes. Modifying Grandt Lines would take forever.
How about doing them in 8-layers with the laser, including built-in glazing. But what, there's more!
It's kind of hot inside so let's open the windows. I know it's not Hydrocal (it could be, just make a mold),
but holy cow this is cool. Sad thing is small local museums like this one are not likely to survive the pandemic.
Good thing is I learned a lot doing this project. I challenge myself and the laser to see what we could do.
So more models like this to come.
SKY MASONIC LODGE - Skykomish, Washington along the GN mainline.
Working Bonnie, with a local historian with an eye for detail, she's modeling the interior! This in O scale.
Similar to my NP Hotel. No kit (yet), but someday perhaps you will see it on display up at Sky.
PARADISE CENTER - Paradise, Montana, once a division point on the
NP mainline halfway between Misoula and Spokane. I never knew they had a 20-stall roundhouse.
A grant was provided by the NPRHA identifying my roundhouse kit which I have provided along with others,
including two hotels, and I'm working on the depot. Unfortunately, with my father's health and other
concerns I've not been directly involved but they are doing a great job with Jo's help.
DURANGO CAR SHOP - Another model I've developed in the background.
Single stall but very very long. Laser etched inside and out. Who does that? The model is complete
but with instructions to be developed, it too must wait. O scale, and sure, HO and S to follow.
GUNNISON CAR BARN - Glenn made me do it!
Actually it's a pole barn. Two stall with board and batten siding. I've done it in 2D2D.
What's that you say? Well, it's laser engraved on both sides. No building the frame
on a template and awkwardly transferring it, why not just build it in place?
O-scale but likely others. Another I must wait to release.
LINKS BELOW - Title links (green strip) above go nowhere
(back to this page) while the one's below take you to additional information. As the above
are possible future kits I've not developed those pages yet.
D&RG DURANGO ROUNDHOUSE - In HO.
It only makes sense that I would do Durango in HO scale. Much of the work is already done,
converting the O-scale laser files, window and door are done in white metal.
I'm working on the Hydrocal wall patterns. All this in the background...
No release date yet, as I have others to complete.
RIDGWAY ROUNDHOUSE, 2nd Edition -
Probably a mistake to do this but I've updated the Ridgway Roundhouse kit.
Engine doors and roof are now laser cut with other major improvements
including a full-sized layout tool. These are slowly being released by reservation.
D&RG DURANGO ROUNDHOUSE - After doing this model
in S-scale, I decided I had to do it in O-scale too. A collaboration with
Builders In Scale with laser cut roof panels, engine doors, windows and smokejacks,
and my own hand-scribe brickwork. It doesn't get any better than this! Even if you
don't model O-scale you should check this out.
NP HOTEL at Easton, Washington -
I've always loved this structure, shown in Charles Wood's NP Pictorial. I've brought
it back to life with laser-cut walls, self-adhesive shake roof, cast stone foundation,
brick chimneys, a ton of white metal details besides the Grandt Line doors, windows
and porch railings- the works! NOW AVAILABLE!
RENEWED CCC KITS! -
Sorry this has been so long delayed, but I have slowly been making time to
update and renew patterns and molds for several of my open catalog kits that
have been unavailable for several years. The apple and fruit store houses will
be available again shortly, with some of the others to follow. But note that
this means some that are available now might have to rest. I've simply run out
of room in my shop and cannot keep everything in production at all times.
RIDGWAY ROUNDHOUSE -
I've had a number of inquires about this SOLD OUT kit. If there is enough
interest we'll do a second run. Let me know if you are interested.
HERRINGBONE BRICK PLATFORMS -
To be honest, the problem with my old Herringbone Brick pattern was it ran square
to the edge. Good in some instances, however, in many cases such as NP station
platforms the bricks run diagonally. Well, I've now done them diagonally. I've
included stone curbs and offer them in 6, 8, 12, 16 and 24 ft. widths. These panels
are 8" in length and about 1/8" thick.
NP BRICK BACK SHOP / CAR SHOP / ENGINE HOUSE -
Sorry this too has been delayed. But we are working on it. All the wall patterns
are done, we're working on the pits and floor. To be announced.
FRYE MACHINING COMPANY - April 1958 MR classic
structure measuring 5" x 15", three-story pilastered brick with elevator shaft,
boiler house and large chimney. Yes, it is taking me forever- Sorry it has
been delayed. To be announced.
NP ROUNDHOUSE - O scale - This would be the
ultimate structure kit. I haven't gotten very far with it, but everything is
figured out (via the HO kit). Now all I have to do are the patterns! No
problem, right?
CONSTRUCTION ARTICLES - See the full list of my
published works as well as those in progress. I know, it's been a while
since I last appeared in print.
NP WOODEN STRUCTURES - Hmm, let's see, what do
you get if you combine my interest for the Northern Pacific, a bunch of
standard plans, and a laser-cutter? That's right, structure kits! The NP
had lots of wooden structures. Look for these in the future.
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