The In-ko-pah Railroad is going to be a part of the West Coast Regional tour! We’ll be open 9-4 on Saturday, July 7. If you’ve never visited our layout before, and you’re in the area, here’s your chance. The In-ko-pah Railroad was featured in the December 2011 issue of Garden Railways magazine. For more info about the tour, go to http://www.sdgrs.com/
Good news Ray. Wish i lived closer would love to see your layout someday. Make sure you get pictures and videos.
Ray, hope to see you–and it (the layout).
On another subject, how did you do the tarpaper roofing on that building with ??? you and Cris??? standing in front of it? I am at the roof-building stage of my cabin project and need a tarpaper roof. I once used masking tape painted black, but that’s strictly indoor and I’m thinking my cabin might see the outdoors someday.
Joe, the roofing on that house was made from wet-or-dry sandpaper with most of the paper backing peeled off. It was then painted on both sides. I glued it to the roof using something called E-6000, which was a mistake. It started peeling off the roof within a short time. I repaired it but it’s peeling off again, so I need to completely remove it and redo it.
What I would use now is acrylic matte medium, both under the material and over it, to seal it. Also, I’m considering using Tyvek instead of the sandpaper. I’ve used Tyvek for a few other things and it holds up extremely well outdoors. It would also save me the trouble of peeling the backing off sandpaper.
Thanks, Ray. My small cabin project is creeping along and I’m obsessing over details such as the foundation–a wooden outrigger-like thingy that supports the house, which is meant to sit on the side of a hill. The “timbers” are .250 x .250 styrene and I put a nice slit in my fingernail (cut right through the nail and into the skin beneath) because I forgot to watch out for that dang razor blade inside the Chopper. Not the first time I’ve done that.
Looking forward to seeing your pike in a coupla weeks.
Last Saturday the In-ko-pah Railroad was part of the West Coast Garden Railroad Tour. We opened at 9 a.m. and had visitors almost the entire time, until almost 4:30. I was surprised at how many people showed up, and how many came from out of state. We had visitors from Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Texas, Colorado, Ohio and Florida! About 160 signed our guest book, and there were probably a few more than that. Cris and I wish to extend a big “thank you” to all who visited! We had a great time. I wanted to get some good shots of the crowds but as usual when there were a lot of people there I was far too busy to get any photos. Here’s a shot from one of the quieter moments:
(http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Events_files/Media/IMG_1490/IMG_1490.jpg)
In the weeks prior to the tour, I labored to get the railroad up and running after an extended “down time”. I got the Hotel Torgo finished enough to show, and added it to the town of Dos Manos. (It still needs a few small details, some lighting, and a partial interior.):
(http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Photos_files/Media/IMG_1492/IMG_1492.jpg)
The house in the lower left corner of that photo needed repairs to the roof. I had originally used a glue called “E-6000” to attach the simulated “rolled roofing” material, and it didn’t hold. Also, the overhang on one side had warped badly from the sun. So I scraped off the old roofing material, heated and straightened the warped section of roof, and then laminated another layer of scribed siding to strengthen the roof and prevent further warping. Then I applied the “rolled roofing” – painted strips of Tyvek, held in place with acrylic matte medium. Ironically, this had to be carefully cut and torn to represent old, slightly tattered material!
(http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Photos_files/Media/IMG_6704/IMG_6704.jpg)
My mini-people also needed a bit of work. Some had faded a bit and needed to be touched up. A couple had become badly mildewed (a result of using a clear coat that was not compatible with the polyclay) and needed almost complete repainting. Mini Me ended up with a new shirt. I added a lot of new, handmade plants to the layout, mostly on Grandt Cliff near the Cliffside Mine, as seen in the photos below:
(http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Photos_files/Media/IMG_1559/IMG_1559.jpg)
(http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Photos_files/Media/IMG_1555/IMG_1555.jpg)
(http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Photos_files/Media/IMG_1537c/IMG_1537c.jpg)
Well, that’s all for now. Enjoy!
Ray,
So good of you to share your truly unique RR with 160 lucky people.
I wish I had been one of them.
Maybe one day after my Powerball Retirement Plan comes through 
Ralph
Ralph Berg said:Concur on both points :) Railroad is looking great Ray :D
Ray, So good of you to share your truly unique RR with 160 lucky people. I wish I had been one of them. Maybe one day after my Powerball Retirement Plan comes through ;) Ralph
And on that Powerball Retirement plan… I’ve missed a few payments. Those were probably the pay-off weeks !
Beautiful. Loved the pictures of the mine complex. Thank you for sharing!!!
Tom
Ralph Berg said:I didn't know that you are a Redneck! Welcome to Glorious Unsophistication!
Ray, So good of you to share your truly unique RR with 160 lucky people. I wish I had been one of them. Maybe one day after my Powerball Retirement Plan comes through ;) Ralph
“If your retirement plan includes winning the Lottery… You might be a redneck.” Jeff Foxworthy
“If your retirement plan includes winning the Lottery… You might be a redneck.” Jeff Foxworthy
“You just might be a redneck if you think ‘parasites’ is an accessory for a double-barreled shotgun.” David Meashey
Great layout.
Best,
David Meashey
The Powerball Retirement Plan is actually Plan B.
Plan A: Work my current job until I am no longer able…then pass out shopping carts at Walmart.
But anyway, Ray, I’m sure your visitors where thrilled with the chance to see your RR. I know I would be.
Ralph
