Photo 1.

I wanted to do the Dolores depot in a color scheme that hasn't been seen in model railroad articles. A friend and fellow Sn3 list member, Mike Conder, suggested that the pre-1920 color scheme of box car red siding with light green trim might be different. Taking his idea further, I also added quite a bit of weathering to age to the structure.

Photo 2.

Even though the coloring is old, the structure is in relatively decent shape. Boards are all intact and none of the windows are busted. It's just in need of a new paint job.

Photo 3.

Before any construction began and because I planned to use acrylic paints on the models, I sealed all the bass wood components with Sanding Sealer thinned with mineral spirits to prevent warping. I used two basic colors for the structure. Folk Art "Dark Brown #416" was used on the siding while "Sage Green #20568" by Apple Barrel was used on the wainscoting and the trim components. White paint was dry brushed onto everything to add highlights.

Photo 4.

Black artists chalk was rubbed onto a piece of sand paper and the powder was applied to the structures with a Max Factor medium sized make up brush.

Photo 5.

The shingles on the baggage section were attached with double faced 3-M adhesive material while those on the main depot were glued in place with white Elmer's glue.

Photo 6.

The chimney was first brushed with Floquil Santa Fe Red to provide a base for the acrylic colors that followed. Once the red was dry, I brushed on Folk Art "Red Oxide", then washed it with very diluted white to enhance the mortar lines. The chimney was mounted in its hole with 5-Minute Epoxy, which also was "worked" around its base to simulate a water proof seal. This was then painted with "Glossy Black" Pactra paint to represent tar.

Photo 7.

Prior to painting the shingles, they were first covered with a mixture of Sherwin-Williams Driftwood stain thinned with mineral spirits. They were then painted with "Barn Wood" from Folk Art. Dry brushings of white paint and dustings with black chalk dust were added next.

Photo 8.

This view shows the depot on a make shift posing table I set up in the back yard. Before adding the building to the scene, I covered it complete with plaster dust and brushed it off with a 1" wide soft bristle brush to tone down the black chalk weathering.

Photo 9.

The depot looks like it's held it's own against mother nature, but a fresh coat of paint certainly wouldn't hurt.

Photo 10.

The Ophir Depot kit was constructed along the same lines as Dolores. However, I wanted this one to represent a structure that was painted after the 1920's and also one that had not been subjected to the ravages of too many winters.

Photo 12.

Once again, the Folk Art "Dark Brown" was used on the trim and wainscoting while "Antique White #DA58" from Deco Art was used on the siding.

Photo 13.

All the shingles and roofing for the entire building were attached with white glue and then painted with the Driftwood & mineral spirits mixture. When dry, they were painted with "Charcoal #02436" from Ceramcoat.

Photo 14.

The baggage doors were attached in the same manner as those on Dolores. Since these buildings were going to be display models, I reinforced the interior backing boards for the doors to withstand misplaced thumbs or fingers that otherwise would dislodge them inward.

Photo 15.

The tar paper shingle material on the front station roof was painted with Apple Barrel "Black" but after the thorough dusting with plaster powder, the color blended in with the charcoal coloring of the shingles.

Photo 16.

Once again, it was taken outside and placed on the posing table.

Photo 17.

The black "tar" stripes on the seams of the roll roofing are evident in this shot.

Photo 18.

The roofs of both these buildings are designed to be permanently attached or made to be removed for future interior detailing. Because these were display models, these roofs are glued solidly to the structures.

Photo 19.

It took a little over a month to complete both buildings, working on them sporadically. I like the contrast in colors between the two and hope you get a chance to see them on display some time in the future.