A new for old replacement stockyard on The Beaver Creek Railroad

[beavercreek]

I had built the old Pointrock stockyard about 7 years ago. It was built from plastic fencing. It also had a now badly rotten 'bodged' ramp.
Due to the plastic type, it didn't take paint well and also was not resistant to UV so it began to look a little shabby.
Time for a replacement!
After looking at many photos of the real thing and some amazing model ones, I planned it up and worked out a solution that would fit into the small footprint of the site and be a little believable.
I decided that I was going build the new one from western red cedar and it would be twin ramped (one for cattle the other higher one, for sheep to access the twin deck stock cars).
Even though the red cedar wood is extremely rot-resistant, I soaked all the fence planks and all the uprights in 5 star Cuprinol, just in case.

I made each fence section separately. I used Titebond exterior wood glue for the planking. To see how it stood, I just pinned the uprights of the fence sections to the base and also the cross bars without glue.
Once put together (without glued uprights), I put the new construction into the site and left it there for a week or two to see if the cat or other wildlife, weather etc would cause any catastrophes.

It seemed to be pretty sturdy, so I glued, using waterproof clear sealant, the pinned uprights to the base, glued the fence sections together and readied the gates for the future fitting of hinges and latches.
Although I had built in some 'ricketiness' into the appearance the wood looked 'so very new' so I weathered it using pigments and alcohol. It then had three coats of exterior matt varnish spray.

I still have to build the entrance 'funnel' fencing that is used to get the cattle through the narrower entrance gate from the road-trucks.

 

[Frank Gallagher]

Very nice job that massive improvement

 

[casey jones snr]

Very nice Mike, although I did like the tired rikity look of the old cattle yard. I note that you favour the superb Schleich products. I have a fair collection of Schleich cattle, horses and Cowboys. Schleich do a couple of Rodeo sets for the North American market which I would like to add to my collection, sadly they are not available to the UK.

 

[Rhinochugger]

That's pretty up market for the cattle - what timber have you used Mike?

 

[The Devonian]

I am impressed with your stockyard Mike, I have only ever seen one another large scale model which I think is situated in California. Anyway it is a project for later in the year I guess. I need one really as I have two stock cars - a D&RGW like yours and a UP Aristo one. I have an area, currently with large planters, that could accommodate my barn and a yard once the summer growing season is over. I will need some animals to complete of course.

 

[beavercreek]

Very nice Mike, although I did like the tired rikity look of the old cattle yard. I note that you favour the superb Schleich products. I have a fair collection of Schleich cattle, horses and Cowboys. Schleich do a couple of Rodeo sets for the North American market which I would like to add to my collection, sadly they are not available to the UK.

The two cowboys on horseback, the guy shovelling the sweet smelling stuff, one of the cowboys standing by the gate and the blacksmith acroos the tracks are Schleich the others are various makes.
The cows in the pens are ones that I repainted from the Britains range. They are a little small but I think that they go okay if you squint.....

That's pretty up market for the cattle - what timber have you used Mike?

I use western red cedar as it has fantastic anti-rot resistance, has great grain and is easy to work with. It also weathers nicely

 

[casey jones snr]

The Britains cattle look good, the 1/32 scale isn't obvious.

 

[beavercreek]

It is not too obvious Casey but there was no real option as there are not any 1:24/1:22 models with a good selection of different poses like the Britains jobbies..
The poroblem was that I wanted US hereford cattle and Britains' own colour scheme was not correct for the American breed (less white than our ones over here).

So I had to repaint all of them..... boy was I tired of beef by time I finished!

 

[trammayo]

You have a great eye for detail plus the patience for research! Where did you obtain the cedar from Mike, or have you a link?

 

[dunnyrail]

The Britains cattle look good, the 1/32 scale isn't obvious.

With my Irish 15mm to the foot Cattle Cars I used the schleich Cows which I think were certainly too large. With I had thought about using Brittains ones, my get some as I still have the Cattle Cars.
JonD

 

[beavercreek]

You have a great eye for detail plus the patience for research! Where did you obtain the cedar from Mike, or have you a link?

Hi Mick
Thank you for the compliment, but my patience was wearing thin with the cattle repaint as each one had to be a 'little' different but still look the part!

I have tried to get the scale size western red cedar strips over here but they are too expensive and as I have not got a table saw fine enough, cutting the strips myself is out of the question.
I always buy from this guy in the US as even with the shipping and the possibility of import taxes, the strips from the US work out cheaper than buying over here.
He will also do cuts in different sizes to those which are on his ebay shop if you ask.

Here is the link to his ebay shop.
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/nwpmodelrrlumberandhobbywoods/

As to cutting them oneself....
If anyone on this forum has a fine grade table saw that can do down to cuts of strips 1/16 inch thick , then I would really like to talk to them!

The cedar planks can be easily obtained as it now widely used to clad or fence 'modernist' designed buildings. (example 20mm x 45mm x 1metre is about £2.50 metre.)
Example of a company doing it...I expect cheaper stuff could be found:
http://www.southgatetimber.co.uk/products/details/Western_Red_Cedar_20_x_45mm_P_A_R__Fencing

 

[trammayo]

Hi Mick
Thank you for the compliment, but my patience was wearing thin with the cattle repaint as each one had to be a 'little' different but still look the part!

I have tried to get the scale size western red cedar strips over here but they are too expensive and as I have not got a table saw fine enough, cutting the strips myself is out of the question.
I always buy from this guy in the US as even with the shipping and the possibility of import taxes, the strips from the US work out cheaper than buying over here.
He will also do cuts in different sizes to those which are on his ebay shop if you ask.

Here is the link to his ebay shop.
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/nwpmodelrrlumberandhobbywoods/

As to cutting them oneself....
If anyone on this forum has a fine grade table saw that can do down to cuts of strips 1/16 inch thick , then I would really like to talk to them!

The cedar planks can be easily obtained as it now widely used to clad or fence 'modernist' designed buildings. (example 20mm x 45mm x 1metre is about £2.50 metre.)
Example of a company doing it...I expect cheaper stuff could be found:
http://www.southgatetimber.co.uk/products/details/Western_Red_Cedar_20_x_45mm_P_A_R__Fencing

Thanks for that Mike.
When I used to buy cedar for public buildings (parks, etc), the sawmill used to say that they had to let the sawn timber rest before they could plane it. It may be available over here in "full size" version - I'll check next Thursday when we go into town.
I have different blades for the saw bench and, if I can procure cedar over here, I'll give it a try! It works OK on pallet wood but I might have to make a ply overlay for the table as the gap for the blade/s allows for different kerfs and 1/16 will drop through! Plus, as the blades are 12" dia, there will be a lot of sawdust!

Meanwhile, I have bookmarked the two links.

 

[gregh]

Another great project. I dips me lid to your skills. You managed to fit a lot of detail into a small space.

 

[Bill Barnwell]

I had built the old Pointrock stockyard about 7 years ago. It was built from plastic fencing. It also had a now badly rotten 'bodged' ramp.
Due to the plastic type, it didn't take paint well and also was not resistant to UV so it began to look a little shabby.
Time for a replacement!
After looking at many photos of the real thing and some amazing model ones, I planned it up and worked out a solution that would fit into the small footprint of the site and be a little believable.
I decided that I was going build the new one from western red cedar and it would be twin ramped (one for cattle the other higher one, for sheep to access the twin deck stock cars).
Even though the red cedar wood is extremely rot-resistant, I soaked all the fence planks and all the uprights in 5 star Cuprinol, just in case.

I made each fence section separately. I used Titebond exterior wood glue for the planking. To see how it stood, I just pinned the uprights of the fence sections to the base and also the cross bars without glue.
Once put together (without glued uprights), I put the new construction into the site and left it there for a week or two to see if the cat or other wildlife, weather etc would cause any catastrophes.

It seemed to be pretty sturdy, so I glued, using waterproof clear sealant, the pinned uprights to the base, glued the fence sections together and readied the gates for the future fitting of hinges and latches.
Although I had built in some 'ricketiness' into the appearance the wood looked 'so very new' so I weathered it using pigments and alcohol. It then had three coats of exterior matt varnish spray.

I still have to build the entrance 'funnel' fencing that is used to get the cattle through the narrower entrance gate from the road-trucks.

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I had built the old Pointrock stockyard about 7 years ago. It was built from plastic fencing. It also had a now badly rotten 'bodged' ramp.
Due to the plastic type, it didn't take paint well and also was not resistant to UV so it began to look a little shabby.
Time for a replacement!
After looking at many photos of the real thing and some amazing model ones, I planned it up and worked out a solution that would fit into the small footprint of the site and be a little believable.
I decided that I was going build the new one from western red cedar and it would be twin ramped (one for cattle the other higher one, for sheep to access the twin deck stock cars).
Even though the red cedar wood is extremely rot-resistant, I soaked all the fence planks and all the uprights in 5 star Cuprinol, just in case.

I made each fence section separately. I used Titebond exterior wood glue for the planking. To see how it stood, I just pinned the uprights of the fence sections to the base and also the cross bars without glue.
Once put together (without glued uprights), I put the new construction into the site and left it there for a week or two to see if the cat or other wildlife, weather etc would cause any catastrophes.

It seemed to be pretty sturdy, so I glued, using waterproof clear sealant, the pinned uprights to the base, glued the fence sections together and readied the gates for the future fitting of hinges and latches.
Although I had built in some 'ricketiness' into the appearance the wood looked 'so very new' so I weathered it using pigments and alcohol. It then had three coats of exterior matt varnish spray.

I still have to build the entrance 'funnel' fencing that is used to get the cattle through the narrower entrance gate from the road-trucks.

View attachment 213356

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View attachment 213359

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View attachment 213361

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View attachment 213365

 

[Bill Barnwell]

great looking cattle yard, the upkeep must be tremendous, could and probably spend quite a bit of time studying all the fine detail, thanks much for the share, Bill.

 

[casey jones snr]

Very nice Mike, although I did like the tired rikity look of the old cattle yard. I note that you favour the superb Schleich products. I have a fair collection of Schleich cattle, horses and Cowboys. Schleich do a couple of Rodeo sets for the North American market which I would like to add to my collection, sadly they are not available to the UK.

The Schleich Rodeo sets finally appeared in the European market in 2017, I managed to get a few sets. I note that this year Schleich are releasing more models of the Texas Longhorn.

 

[Riograndad]

Beavercreek been beaverin` again,great stock yard Mike,excellent build,I have often thought of building something on theese lines but alas no room,as I run regular stock trains I really need one,rethink of space maybe on the cards in the future,Beavinspired of courseand as for 1;32 cattle,,,,,if you feed em up they may even end up as 1;22?

 

[Riograndad]

View attachment 232899 View attachment 232900
The Schleich Rodeo sets finally appeared in the European market in 2017, I managed to get a few sets. I note that this year Schleich are releasing more models of the Texas Longhorn.

Casey,I find this post very interesting,,,,Rodeo sets over here?do you know if still about and where to get some,I ask as fed up with changing figures into western styles,new hats etc,Must say like the Schleich models as used in my horse car,but really need some good western figures,any help would be great,cheers Rio

 

[casey jones snr]

Casey,I find this post very interesting,,,,Rodeo sets over here?do you know if still about and where to get some,I ask as fed up with changing figures into western styles,new hats etc,Must say like the Schleich models as used in my horse car,but really need some good western figures,any help would be great,cheers Rio

They are still available. I ordered some from Schleich on line and purchased others from Geoffs Toys in Loughborough.

 

[Riograndad]

They are still available. I ordered some from Schleich on line and purchased others from Geoffs Toys in Loughborough.

Thanks Casey,will follow it up,thanks again