Construction Update #4 - Redbanks Fertilizer, Barr Packing Company & The Foreman's House

Redbanks Fertilizer

 Novermber 14, 2025

Here is the final product sitting on the layout.  It should be noted that this Blair Line kit is a pretty basic and unlike my previous build I didn't make any changes with the exception of adding some stiffeners to the back side of the wall to prevent warping.  The elevator and conveyor are built from laser cut parts and are probably a little crude for some modelers.  This goes for the roofing too, it is nothing more than a photograph...  But, the build from start to finish took less than two days which is consistent with my goal to have all the structures done by the end of the year and the layout finished (90%) by the end of February.

 

 

I like to mount my structures on a piece of .080" styrene.  While scenery will glued to the top and around the styrene base, the base itself will not be glued down.  This will make the structure easy to remove, without any damage, should need be.  The tanks for liquid fertilizer are from a Walthers kit.  They still need paint and details.

The Barr Packing Company (Redbanks)

November 16, 2024

To date, I haven't found a good picture of the Barr Packing Company in Redbanks so I decided to use the San Fernando Orange Association kit from Showcase Miniatures as a starting point.  The original styrene mock-up for the Barr Packing Company is shown below.

After studying the available photos, I decided to make some changes,  A lot of packing houses were a combination of eclectic sheds and warehouses built over a relatively long period of time.  Here is a great example.

One of my favorites is located at Hillmeade, CA. on the Santa Fe.  About 5 or 6 years ago, I built a model of the Hillmeade packing house in S-Scale.  It is pretty obvious that several additions were made over the years.  While I was tempted to build an HO version for the layout, there isn't enough time or room as it would require a total rebuild of the layout/track plan.

I started out by trying out several concepts on paper.   

Once a couple of ideas are settled upon, they are redrawn to scale and cut out to get a better idea on how the actual model with look.  All 3 versions are 26" wide.  Note that the right hand side of the structure is the same since the plan is start out with the Showcase Miniatures San Fernando Packers Association kit.  I eliminated the 1st version shown below because I think the roof line is to "busy".

The Showcase Miniatures kit.

Let's Get Started

November 17, 2024

I started with the Showcase Miniatures kit. First off, I was surprised to find that the material used for this kit is very thin (3 or 4 mm) what I believe to be tempered hardboard.  Based upon a previous post by another modeler, I expected plywood.  The hardboard is OK, but it is flimsy/brittle and requires stiffening.  The instructions, if you want to call them that, don't mention a thing about stiffening nor does the kit provide any materials to do so.  The single sheet of minimal instructions includes a parts identification sheet on one side and a isometric drawing on the other.  Here is a link for a 3-part article on building the Showcase Miniatures kit.

http://modelingthesp.blogspot.com/2013/02/a-packing-shed-for-shumala-part-3.html

I used some 3/16" square Northeastern scale lumber for the stiffening (light strip wood) as shown below.  Aleen's tacky glue was used to attach the scale lumber to the hardboard and clothespins were used to hold things in place until the glue set.

November 18, 2024

Here is the assembly ready for paint.  Along with a LOT of stiffeners some other changes (light strip wood) were made to improve the appearance of the structure.  These included replacing the corner trim, fascia, and pilaster bracing on the dock. 

 

November 23, 2024

We had a big wind storm here in Western Washington so the power was out for a little over 3 days.  Luckily we have a generator so life went on with some limitations and I did get a lot of modeling done.  Here is the second half of Barr Packing ready for paint. A few changes in the design were made along the way to include the office on the far left.  The tall section on the right has clapboard siding, the section on the left board & batten. 

Here is the Barr Packing Company complex sitting in place on the layout.  Barr Packing will be painted a weathered white which is typical of packing houses in the region.

 

 

The Section Foreman's House

About 5 years ago, I built a series of SP structure including series of Coast Line depots and other line side structures.  I gave away or sold all of them including a partially built section foreman's house built from a ALW Lines kit.  The foreman's house, along with the forementioned Paso Robles depot recently found their way back to me.  Unfortunately, somewhere along the line, the roof for the foreman's house was lost and had to be replaced.  I'm no engineer, so the roof replacement was a measure, cut and fit operation.  It took 4 or 5 tries before I could get a reasonably good result.

As always, your comments, suggestions & question are welcome

sdepolo@outlook.com 

Construction Update #3 - Changes to the Plan, Track, Structures, a Reefer and a Caboose

 

Changes to the Plan

October 28, 2024

Some changes have been made to the original plan.  The original module over the desk was about 15 inches wide.  Not only did it intrude upon my work space, it also tended to block out the natural light that was coming through the window behind it.  It was replaced with one about 10 inches wide.  As a result, Lemon Cove, which wouldn't fit on the replacement module was replaced with Exeter.  On the prototype, the car barn and SP interchange were located at Exeter.  While a scrap yard didn't exist on the prototype, it was added for operating interest.  Now instead of staging inbound traffic at Rebanks it can be exchanged at Exeter.  Ultimately, I would like to move the desk and Exeter to the south wall and place Lemon Cove back on the east wall in front of the window. 

Changes were also made in Redbanks mainly due to my underestimating the size of the SP Depot and the Blair Line kit I wanted to use for the fertilizer dealer. 

Here is a picture of the room with the replacement 10 inch wide module in place over the desk.  If your significant other resists the idea of you taking over a spare bedroom for a layout/modeling room, you might want to show her this photo.

A Car Barn for Exeter

The Visalia Electric referred to its engine house at Exeter as "The Car Barn"  No doubt, the label goes back to the time when the VE had a small fleet of Interurban cars.  I guess the label just stuck.  While I would love to kit or scratch build a model of the car barn for the layout, it was just to big.  Instead, for the time being, I settled for a Walthers model of a single stall engine house.  It was painted with rattle cans.  Due to the large open engine house door, I decided to add a few interior details from my parts box.  The parts were painted in the evening and assembled as shown the next morning.  I'll probably add a few lights too.

 

The Track Gang Arrives in Exeter

October 31, 2024

The scrap yard spur. 

The car barn at Exeter.  I came up a turnout short for this end of the Exeter siding/SP interchange track.  That's a Walthers Proto SD-9 sitting on the service tracks.  A removable backdrop is planned for this area since I don't want to permanently block the window.  Mounting the backdrop photo on foam core should do the trick; it is relatively sturdy and light weight.

 

Redbanks Fruit Company

In keeping with my plan to have the layout near complete in about 4 months, I decided to kit bash an old out of production Valley Citrus Growers to represent the Redbanks Fruit Company.  My reasoning here is pretty simple; I can always build a better model at some point in the future.  I bought this kit for $20 on ebay.  The box was a mess and there were no instructions but the kit was complete.  The purchase also included a $10 coupon for a future purchase from a large internet reseller.  Kind of a no brainer...

The kit, built per the instructions, turns out to be about 9 inches by 6 inches.  I turned it into a 19 inch by 2.5 inch packing house front.  Here are the two sections that make up the main buildings.  Both sides and portions of the ends were used. 

Here is the resulting structure on the layout.  It was painted with rattle cans purchased at the hardware store. 

The left over parts from the ends were used to build this small addition.  The concrete loading dock was made using a Rix Products kit.  Later, it was determined that there wasn't enough room to include this structure.

 

Kilburn Packing

Two attempts were made at creating a structure to represent Kilburn Packing.  A Pike Stuff kit was used to start with.  As usual, I started by laying out all the components on my desk and then developed a concept for the structure.

And here is what I came up with.  Unfortunately it didn't look like any of the packing houses I had seen in photos.

After looking at additional photos, I decided to change gears and use one of the Walthers modern warehouse style kits as a starting point.  I think the end result is a better representation of a relatively modern packing house.

PFE Reefers

As mentioned in a previous post, 8 Athearn and Con-Cor 57' reefers were purchased for use until I can come up with Intermountain and Red Caboose replacements.  This Athearn example was weathered with a powdered pigments/alcohol wash.  The wash was allowed to sit for several minutes before cotton swabs were used to wipe away the excess.  It was then given a coat of Tamiya Flat.

 

Southern Pacific Caboose/Coach #997

Every once in awhile something comes along that you just can't resist.  Such was the case with SP Caboose #997.  The #997 is a PSC brass import that I bought on ebay.  According to my research, the Southern Pacific converted several 60-CC-1 chair cars to cabooses in December of 1952.  I'm pretty sure that one of these NEVER set foot on the Visalia Electric but...

As always, your comments, suggestions & questions are welcome

sdepolo@outlook.com

Construction Update #2 - Track, Power & Trains (Running)

The Track Gang Arrives

October 23, 2024

Sheet cork, purchased from Amazon, was glued down to the pink foam and then the main track and two sidings were laid out with a Sharpie and straight edge.  Hopefully the cork will help reduce track noise.   December 2024 Update - I should have painted the cork before laid any track.  Water, in a couple of instances, has caused the cork to swell while applying ground cover.

 

Here is a picture of the West end.  The footprints for the free standing structures were cut from copy paper.  The bulk fertilizer dealer is on the far left; the depot is on the right.  Several miner changes were made to the track plan during this process.  There will be three packing house fronts along the backdrop.

 

Walthers Code 83 turnouts were used so the last tie at the end of the rails will need to be removed to allow the rail joiners to slip on.  I saved the ties, filed off the tie plates and spikes, and set them aside for future use.  They will be slid under the rail joiners after the turnouts are glued in place.

 

I also like to solder the power drops to the bottom of the rail, instead of the side, before the track is glued down.  This insures that a "blob" of solder doesn't unrealistically show up on the side of the rail in a photo.  Before the leads are soldered to the bottom of the rails, I roughen up the bottom of the rail.

The leads and rail are tinned and then the leads are soldered to the bottom of the rails.  As can be seen in the following photo, the leads will eventually be covered by ballast.

 

Holes were drilled directly beneath the rail, the leads were passed through the bench work and the track was glued in placed with Aleene's Tacky Cement.

 

A Depot for Redbanks

The prototype didn't have a depot at Redbanks but I decided to include one anyway.  Originally I thought I would build a American Model Builders Southern Pacific Type 23 Depot for Redbanks.  Instead, I have decided to use a modified Type 22 depot I started but never quite finished to represent the Southern Pacific's depot at Paso Robles, CA.   Modifications included the addition to the upstairs living quarters on the left, the roof and the restrooms on the far right.  Changes were also made to the baggage room which included adding to its length and rearranging the doors.

 Here is a picture of the original kit.

 

Testing locations with "Mock-ups"

The original plan was to use the Showcase Miniatures packing shed shown below to represent Redbanks Packing (Barr Packing).  But, after building a quick mock-up I decided it was much to small to represent a major shipper on the Visalia Electric.

As a result, I decided to add on to the "packing shed" portion of the structure.  Here is the end result.  The addition line is just to the left of the reefer.  It took about a half an hour to cut, assemble and paint.

 

Getting Trains Running

October 26, 2024

The layout is powered using a NCE Power Cab.  A small box was built to hold the control panel and the box was then screwed to a shelf located in the bookshelves below the layout.  The leads were then connected to a terminal on the back of the box and....  Trains were running.

The next step involved making up some car cards and mounting the car card box to hold them.  The box was made from stryene and the car cards and waybills came from Micro Mark.  Now, anytime I want to run a train I can do so with absolutely no preparation. 

We Honest Grade Crossing Signals

Since shelf layouts tend to be small switching layouts, builders often look for methods to slow the pace of operations.  Since it is not unusual for the prototype to trigger grade crossing signals on branch lines or industrial leads manually, I thought such a installation on the Visalia Electric would add interest and enhance operations.  The process normally requires the train to stop prior to the crossing, manually trigger the signals and wait a predetermined amount of time before crossing.  A toggle, mounted on the fascia will be used to trigger the signal circuit.  The package shown below was purchased on ebay for $40 including shipping.  It can also be purchased with sound, for $60, which I find becomes annoying in short order.

About 3 weeks in and trains are running!

Your comments, suggestions & questions are always welcome

sdepoio@outlook.com

Construction Update #1 - Finishing off the room, Modules and More

 

Ready For Construction!

October 13, 2024

After about 2 weeks, the room is ready for the modules.  The top of the bookshelves is 40 inches above the floor.  The modules will add another 3 inches.  I would prefer the height to be about 48" but the lower heights works out better for my 12 year old grandson who will be participating in the build.  The shelves that were originally about 80 inches tall and about 6 feet wide were cut down to make shelves about 40 inches tall and 12 feet wide.  The new top was made from 3/4 inch cabinet grade plywood.  I think the original shelves, that were in the house when we bought it about 20 years ago, originally came from Ikea.

Here is a closeup illustrating the background mural I have been working on.  This section, which is about 12 inches tall 48 inches long, was created by duplicating and modifying one photo pulled off the internet.  Two of these scenes were printed on one 48 inch by 24 inch Walgreens poster for less than $20.

 

The modules were built using 1 x 3 pine purchased from Lowes.  

The 1 x 3's that support the 2 inches of "pink" foam were laid on their side to better support the foam and reduce the overall height of the modules  The resulting framework is both strong and lightweight.

The two modules are held together with lag bolts.  Notches were cut in the foam to accommodate the nuts and bolts.  Should the modules need to be moved, a 2 x 2 inch piece of foam and scenery will have to be removed above the bolts that are located about 2 inches inside the framework.  Next time I'll set the foam supports back about 2" from the end.

 

 

Here is the end result with the modules set in place on top of the bookshelves.  A piece of corner trim, placed along the top of the 1 x 3's, will level out the top and give the module a "finished" look once it is painted.  The modules were leveled and screwed in place from below.

Here's another overall view with the modules in place.  The two rolls of cork shown in the photo will will be used to cover the foam and reduce track noise. 

Making Sure everything will Fit

October 22, 2024

 

Transferring a plan from paper to layout doesn't always pan out so I laid out the track to make sure things fit.  I am using Walthers Code 83 #6 turnouts and flex for this project.  #5 turnouts would have saved some space but I think the #6's look better.  The footprint for the depot is represented by the white template in the left foreground.

Structures for Redbanks

 

Barr Packing Company, Redbanks

 

Barr Packing will be built using components from the Pikestuff Milton A. Corporation kit shown below.  The end result will be a structure about 4 inches deep and around 30 inches long.

Since the spur will actually go inside the building, I have ordered an operating roll-up door from Viesmann.  While the operating door is expensive, about $80, it should make for a interesting addition to the layout.

Redbanks Packing Co

 

Redbanks Packing will be built using the Showcase Miniatures Sunkist Packing Shed kit.  The kit is a low relief structure designed to go up against a backdrop,  An addition is planned for one end to extend the width from about 16 inches to 24 inches.

 

 

The Redbanks Depot

Redbanks didn't actually have a depot but I plan to include one anyway.  I managed to pick up one of the discontinued American Model Builders Southern Pacific Type 23 depot kits.  I have built this kit once before and it builds into a really nice model

Redbanks Fertilizer Dealer

The Redbanks Fertilizer dealer is another feature of the layout that didn't exist on the prototype.  It was included to add a little variety to operations.  The fertilizer dealer will be built using Blair Line Fertilizer Bulk Plant along with some parts from the Walthers fertilizer distributor kit.  Again, I have built this kit before as shown below on my old HO Madisonville Sub layout.

The last major structure I need for Redbanks is Kilburn Packing that is located on the right end of the plan.  I may kit bash the old Walthers Valley Citrus Packers kit.

As always, your comments, questions and suggestions are welcome

sdepolo@outlook.com