In-ko-pah Railroad: An authentic miner's cabin

Been a long time since I last updated this, but I finally have something new to show...
First off, I built a small water tank to provide water for the cabin. It's supported by a "wooden" platform made of styrene. The rear of the platform will rest on a stone ledge:
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The pipe is made of brass rod with slices of 1/16" styrene tube added to it. The faucet handle is a snap fitting from the fabric store. The hose is a length of solder attached to a short piece of brass rod, which fits into the styrene faucet. A slice of heat shrink tubing forms the "brass" connector on the hose:
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I now have the cabin, outhouse and tank permanently installed on the layout. I still have to add plants and some clutter:
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Pure artistry Ray! Superb finishes to your creations. An absolute delight to view and read your threads.
 
Absolutely superb Ray. Your modelling is a real inspiration to us wannabes. All you need is an old timer kicking back in an old chair and the scene could be a photograph of a real place with a lazy day...stunning.
It is not only your pretty amazing modelling skills but also your artistry with colours which sets them at just the right intensity for models to give the effect of real buildings as seen from a distance.

I am just drooling......:love::love:
 
WOW that just looks fantastic Ray so life like :bigsmile:
 
The sun is finally starting to reach the area where I placed the cabin, so here are a few pics with most of the plants and junk installed. Still have a few little things I want to add later:
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Enjoy!
 
Gawd that be lovely.....As usual Ray you really show us how to do it. I will be plagiarising your work unashamedly! :clap::clap::clap::clap::clap:
 
Utterly amazed. Just found this thread. Looking at the intial pictures I thought you had just done a close crop on the original prototype picture............then I realised it was your model ! Extraordinary modelling skills you have there sir. Quite an inspiration.
Max.
 
Don Gilham said:
In case anyone's missed Ray's link, he has also posted some fantastic pictures on his website for anyone interested in old USA buildings. Thanks Ray, fan-bloody-tastic :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/Photos_and_Graphics.html
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It is a link that I have had at the top of my list for a time and it deserves it Don..a great site and a wonderful insight into the modelling mind of Ray besides being a fantastic resource for the rest of us American layout gezzers.
 
J2s said:
...Have you any photos and/or notes about how you managed to make plastic sheet look more like wood than wood does?
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Garden Railways will be publishing an article showing how I made the cabin. I'm also working up an article for Westlake Publishing's "Modeler's Annual" that will describe it too, along with some further refinements of the process.
 
Fantastic work Ray. I'm just so envious of your skills and patience.
But can't help asking (with tongue firmly in cheek) "don't you have weather in San Diego?" Like rain or wind. How's the fine detail like the barrels or little rocks lining the path going to stand up over time?
 
gregh said:
Fantastic work Ray. I'm just so envious of your skills and patience.
But can't help asking (with tongue firmly in cheek) "don't you have weather in San Diego?" Like rain or wind. How's the fine detail like the barrels or little rocks lining the path going to stand up over time?
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Thanks! The "soil" around the cabin is all mortar, tinted and mixed with dirt and small rocks. The white stones are embedded in the mortar. The plants, barrels and old boards are all glued in place using "Liquid Nails", a durable construction adhesive.

My layout certainly does benefit from our mild climate, but the weather still can take a toll. I've learned from trial and error (an on-going process) what works and what doesn't. My earliest plants were just plastic flower parts spray painted various colors. These didn't last very long. Some of my "second generation" plants got badly pummeled by a rare hailstorm a couple months ago. The more recent stuff held up fine.
 
Ray Dunakin said:
Thanks! The "soil" around the cabin is all mortar, tinted and mixed with dirt and small rocks. The white stones are embedded in the mortar. The plants, barrels and old boards are all glued in place using "Liquid Nails", a durable construction adhesive.
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Ah ha. Should have known you'd think of everything.
Love your 'plants'
 
outstanding.. possably the best in g
 
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