Chama pix from Jim Gore

The coaling tower at Chama is a true railroad icon. As many of you know i started a kit of this several years ago. It was perminantly side tracked as too complex/confusing to build. On the original model all of the lumber framing was folded paper.

Jim Gore requested the completed art to see what he could do with it. I swear the man thrives on punishment.

Here are some of the pictures of his accomplishment. Jim chose to replace the cardstock beams with wood.

Comments

[bob bruce]

Nice job, Jim! What scale?

[Jim Gore]

O-scale. Actually, it has On30 track on the diorama. Glad you like it.

[John]

Jim,

You are a master at model building. Thanks for the photos.

John

[Dave Rarig]

I've liked this one since you started it ; wish I could see it in person! Great job.

[mwbailey]

Thom, Dave, I know you guys do not resist modelers using other "construction materials" with your kits, so here's a bit of encouragement. Where parts of your kits would require a lot of patience -- stairs, ladders, maybe windows and lumber/timbers -- why not design the kits to use cardstock AND/OR other materials. I haven't checked, but if your window openings called for specific sizes available from other vendors, that could be called out as alternates in your instructions. Maybe that could help you in completing kits that have become too complex/confusing! Just some food for thought.

[Dave]

You can find windows that fit our kits but we think paper looks better.

[Jim Gore]

I agree with Thom. Glazing the paper windows is about as easy as the plastic ones but with a more realistic thickness. I must admit to being interested in providing a list of "alternatives" parts with the kits, but that creates a heckuva lot of work on the part of Thom and Dave. For this kit, I could provide a list and suggest plans to work from, but in most cases, I think that the pleasure of the modeling is in working the "puzzle" as it were, to find what makes the model work. I know ... I know ... I am a glutton for punishment!

Jim

[mwbailey]

Yes, Jim, you just may be a glutton, but your work stands out. I'm glad you saw the possible utility of alternate parts -- I certainly wasn't talking just about windows! Keeping in mind that all of us are not necessarily "modelers", solely; a few alternatives might come in handy. Yet, chasing down what works can be fun, and allows cardstock (and other) modelers to use a bit of creativity.

For example, I saw some scenes on model railroads that I thought were very clever. . . until I saw the same scene a second or third time. Then I found that Woodland Scenics was the "clever one". Point being, working with a Clever Bros kit to do something other than "as printed" can be fun and challenging. On the other hand, sometimes I would rather work with a unique challenge than build another set of stairs from cardstock. . . .

To each his own, of course. Keep up the good work Bros and Gore!!