Large Scale Central

Miks 2017 Vic Smith Build Mik's Grove Station

The MIK - Annual Build Challenge
#61

Conundrum, whether to keep working on this, or spend the next two weeks trying to get the Schmatterhorn more sufficiently completed for the WGH train show at Pomona on Feb 11-12 ???

I’ve got the station pretty far along - almost done, just add signage, cargo details and the roof needs weathering but I was hoping to spend more time getting the signal tower detailed, maybe even a working signal, but the Schmatterhorn is still just bare foam, and the show is just two weeks away, and I really dont want to just show up with bare foam again like at Costa Mesa. The problem is that my time is not my own, and I may find myself hard pressed for time to work on either these between now and the show. That’s a big reason I pushed the opportunity to work hard on the station during last weekends bad weather. Get while the gettings good.

#62

Do both!

#63

Thanks John (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-tongue-out.gif)(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-tongue-out.gif)(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-tongue-out.gif)

#64

Vic, you’re among friends here. If you can’t finish the build to your liking there’s not one of us who won’t understand.

On the other hand, if you show up at the show with a bunch of pink foam, well, just think of the horror of it! the strange looks! the embarrassment! the humiliation!

If you must choose, I say do something about that pink foam first.

#65

I need to do something about that layout, that’s for sure. I’m stopping to buy paint for the layout tonight but I don’t know how much time I will have this weekend for actually painting the layout. As for the station I’m thinking of just trying to use the evenings to finish it up as I think I have everything to finish it without buying anything else and use the next two weekends to try and get as much done on the layout as I can.

15 days to go for the show

18 days to go for the challenge

#66

Now for a variety of reasons I’m having second thoughts about even doing the show :confused:

#67

Decisions, decisions!!

#68

I have to give the WGH show people a confirmation or decline decision by Monday. I also have alot of stones left over. Need to give some thought to what I can do with it. I’m thinking a small water tank to go next to the station but nothing solid. Weathering the roof tonight and adding cargo/baggage to the platform. Will do the station signage this weekend. Need to find a picture of an old chalkboard schedule.

#69

Sounds like you’ve about got the station close to finished. Any idea how long it might take to get the layout ready to show?

#70

It’s not the layout, it’s alot of other factors that have me second guessing the show. In the past I could rely on the Bob and Sandra Baxter from the Door Hollow to give me an occasional relief break during the two days of the show, the last couple shows where they have skipped I had another friend who would stop by but last show he told me he wouldn’t be able to help out anymore so that leaves me in a lurch.

Also I am really supposed to be bringing the larger Borracho layout to the shows, but it takes two people to carry it in. When I’ve tried doing on my own I damaged it getting it into the car. That’s why I have been taking the smaller pizzas, I can get them in and out on my own but I’m still on my own with no relief, that means no toilet breaks, and you have to pack in whatever food or drink ahead of time.

Plus my wife is reminding me of how exhausted I am after each show and that it effectively eliminates a three day weekend. So I’m thinking of giving this show a skip, that way I can just go to the show and spend my time walking around the show (IOW enjoy it) I can then plan for the shows next year. I should have a new vehicle next year and I am thinking of adding a small trailer to make getting things in and out easier. I’d like to be able to take the Borracho along with the smaller pizzas.

#71

Cost tally: I found a semiphore signal arm on eBay, way better than I can make or paint, so that’s $5, should be here by next Friday, plus $2 for sheet basswood to cut and make the eave trim. So I’m out $7 in total so far.

#72

No friends to help? No friends at the show? That’s a big reason why I don’t do the shows with our Denver Railway Society because I know only one guy and when I go I feel like a stranger and get rather lonely actually. Earlier, when my children were younger, I would run trains mostly for them and we’d have a great day of it, but now they have other things to do.

I think you’re smart to include a couple of store-bought items, and the build is coming along really really well.

#73

Yeah I’m pretty much the only one who’s into trains, let alone interested in commiting a full weekend to a show. I’m pretty much sure at this point I’m going to skip this one.

For storebought stuff, I am trying to keep the spirit of Mik alive by scratching/scrounging as much of it as I can. For example reusing last years tin, using only what I have on hand or finding material, I scratchbuilt the mailbox I’m adding, and my signal post was found in the scrap wood pile out back so it’s “preweathered”. But something’s just look better bought. Actually the only reason I bought the semiphore arm was that this seller was offering it for about 1/4 the price of other sellers, and knowing Mik loved a bargain I figured that was also sticking to the spirit of Mik.

#74

Okay I just realized that I don’t have a layout to show how it’s going to look in situ. So like Devon I am going to make a diorama base for it. A quick and really dirty base as I don’t want to buy anything new for it. I have a small square of beat-up plywood and some New Blight track. No pics probably until the weekend, scrounging around for details on the station.

#75

My semiphore arm arrived yesterday, I’m off sick again, sinitus is back again. So I mounted it this morning. Looks really good! The station is pretty much done now. pics later today.

Still working on the diorama base though.

#76

Work to date, this came out far better than I ever hoped.

Diorama base needs more work but between being sick as a dog and being sequestered by lousy weather, I was able to get a really big jump on it this year.

#77

My favorite pic so far

I’ll keep working on the diorama base until the end of competition but that’s it for me on the station itself.

#78

Looks terrific Vic. I’m always impressed by your skill and attention to detail.

In fact, you’ve inspired me to buy a 30" circle of track and try my hand at a tiny, transportable layout. But I have to finish the Z scale flatcar, my castle, the motorcycle factory storage shed… if I get distracted again (Squirrel!) I’ll be until 2018 getting anything finished.

Again, very impressed.

#79

Wow, that looks terrific, Vic. The details really make the scene come alive. Looking forward to the final product. Hope you get to feeling better soon.

#80

See Vic and this is why you are my idol. That is a great little building. It does not have to be massive proportions to look great in large scale. Great job.