SCENES ALONG THE
CIMARRON & TALL TIMBERS RR
By
Tom Troughton, MMR
Part 1
This document illustrates the steps I took to build a Banta Model Works, "Stock Loading Pens" kit. It's a laser cut wood kit comprised of intricately cut 1/32" plywood, various sizes of bass wood components, printed instructions and drawings and a CD of photos of the original chutes and pens that were designed by Jerry Wilson. The pens in this kit are similar to those that have been reconstructed by the U.S. Forest Service at Cimarron, Colorado. The size of my finished model is 14.75" from side to side and 12.25" from the back fence to the front edge of the loading platform.
White glue, "Dr. Mike's" and "Lightning Bond" AC adhesives and "5-Minute Epoxy" were use to assemble this kit. I also used an X-acto knife, razor saw and PBL nippers to cut the parts and a dental pick to place the dots of glue and AC adhesive. All the wood was colored with a mixture of black shoe dye and rubbing alcohol before I started assembly.
Photo 1.
The first thing I had to do to match the height of the loading platform with the height of the car floor. This image shows the finished platform against a standard PBL stock car.
Photo 2.
Rather than build up the underside of the platform with strip wood, I used a piece of 1/8" untempered Masonite and glued the appropriate laser cut and strip wood pieces to it. Small pieces of scrap material were glued under the legs to provide a flush surface to attach them to the platform.
Photo 3.
The three major components of the chute sides are illustrated here. They were assembled over the instruction drawings.
Photo 4.
There are several gates to be built. Unfortunately, I didn't use any of the three small gates on the left side in my loading pens configuration. The components on the right make up the expansion gates that extend from the chutes to the side of the stock car.
Photo 5.
There's enough material in the kit to make a single chute, if you need it. I built this one before realizing that it wouldn't fit into my scheme. It will be used somewhere else on the layout.
Photo 6.
The "Z" brackets provide the supports for both the livestock and people walkway surfaces of the chute assemblies.
Photo 7.
I had to make a height adjustment in a couple of the "Z" brackets. Merely cutting the vertical component and removing a small amount of material allowed the bracket to rest up against the lower board of the chute fencing.
Photo 8.
To verify that the "Z" brackets were properly attached, I used a metal straight edge to check their alignment.
Photo 9.
Both the upper and lower chute supporting surfaces were checked with the metal straight edge.
Photo 10.
This view shows the upper chute fencing components attached to the "Z" brackets.
Photo 11.
The lower chute fencing was added next. Please Note: When you are attaching the "Z" brackets, make sure their part number is facing away from the viewing side of the model, unlike in mine. I had to scratch, fill and sand mine to hide them.
Photo 12.
A small piece of the thin plywood was glued to the inner surface of the "Z" bracket to provide a gluing support for the livestock walkway.
Photo 13.
Another piece of scrap was also used to support the end of the upper end of the people walkway.
Photo 14.
I also added another small piece of scrap wood to support the lower end of the people walkway.
Photo 15.
I also felt that the lower end of the stock walkway needed some additional support so another piece of scrap wood was added here too.
Photo 16.
This view shows the upper chute with both walk ways installed.
Photo 17.
Here is the lower chute assembly with both walkways glued in place.
Photo 18.
Here's a wider view of the chute assembly with both the upper and lower walkways secured in place.
Photo 19.
An interesting part of the loading chutes is this "drop gate and floor" piece. It swings up and out of the way when the lower chute is in use.
Photo 20.
This view shows it in the "Up" position.
