Finally, Santafewillies layout thread

[santafewillie]

As promised I have returned after a short break to return to a normal life and clean up some of the mess that the tornado left me. There's still a lot more to do in the way of tree removal, but my HOA (I'm the President and only member) is not too particular about how quickly it gets done!
We left off at the small farm across the road from the next ranch, the Stallings Horse Ranch, named after some friends of ours who are getting out of the horse rearing business.
First an overview.

The barn is a laser-cut wood structure from the now closed American Model Builders, the log cabin is a cardstock structure downloaded from the Illinois Historical Society years ago.
We see Janey practicing barrel-racing in the practice pen.

To the south is the ADM grain elevator from Walther's.

I recently added a safety rail around the dust collectors.

Behind the elevator is a cemetery. This is made with parts from an old Woodland Scenics white metal casting kit, with additional headstones from their current plastic kit and many simple ones that I made.

Lots of room left for future occupants. Note that some pictures were taken at earlier stages and don't show all of the current headstones.
In the next installment, we'll look at some more rail-served industries south of here.
Thanks for looking and I'll get back on track more quickly.

 

[Bruette]

I love the horses! For me that says Texas.

 

[Colorado Midland Modeler]

As promised I have returned after a short break to return to a normal life and clean up some of the mess that the tornado left me. There's still a lot more to do in the way of tree removal, but my HOA (I'm the President and only member) is not too particular about how quickly it gets done!
We left off at the small farm across the road from the next ranch, the Stallings Horse Ranch, named after some friends of ours who are getting out of the horse rearing business.
First an overview.View attachment 195555
The barn is a laser-cut wood structure from the now closed American Model Builders, the log cabin is a cardstock structure downloaded from the Illinois Historical Society years ago.
We see Janey practicing barrel-racing in the practice pen.
View attachment 195556
View attachment 195557
To the south is the ADM grain elevator from Walther's.
View attachment 195559View attachment 195560
I recently added a safety rail around the dust collectors.
View attachment 195561
View attachment 195565
Behind the elevator is a cemetery. This is made with parts from an old Woodland Scenics white metal casting kit, with additional headstones from their current plastic kit and many simple ones that I made.
View attachment 195562
View attachment 195563View attachment 195564
Lots of room left for future occupants. Note that some pictures were taken at earlier stages and don't show all of the current headstones.
In the next installment, we'll look at some more rail-served industries south of here.
Thanks for looking and I'll get back on track more quickly.

I'm glad no one in your neighborhood got hurt in that tornado. Your layout looks great!

 

[beiland]

Thanks for all of the thoughts. I meant to include that no one in our small enclave, 8 occupied homes on 75 acres, was injured. There were 7 deaths including two children just 3-4 miles east of us. This particular tornado which ranged between an EF2 and an EF3, traveled over 100 miles that night. Thankfully also, the power company restrung all of the downed power lines and restored power by mid-afternoon on Monday, Memorial Day.

WOW, I just got around to visiting your subject thread, and hearing of your close call with that Tornado.

I'm glad you survived that incident, and your layout as well.

It must have given you thoughts of mortality, given that it killed a couple of kids only several miles away,..and the total damage to that close neighbor.

Best of luck to you

 

[santafewillie]

It's raining outside which curtails activity out there, so what better way to spend a wet morning but to add another installment to this thread.
We left off going south from the grain elevator and cemetery and we come to R.J. Frost Ice and Storage. This is a "rail sized" kit from Walther's. I have not yet completed the parking/loading apron out front, but it will come some day.

Maintenance team on the roof checking out the refrigeration unit.

Next door is Drywell Inks, a DPM Gold Series kit from the turn of the century (2000). Both of these industries are served by separate spurs out back.

Drywell receives bulk ink by tanker and transfers it to barrels for customers.
We then come to a row of rural businesses.

On the right is Walther's Antiques Barn, specializing in "junk".

Then there's the General Store, a laser-cut wood structure from Blair Line.

I like the effect of the sign painted on the side of the store.

Lastly we have Fred & Red's Hamburgers. Another simple laser-cut wood structure, this one also from Blair Line.

That's it for now. Thanks for looking and have a good day.

 

[santafewillie]

Welcome back. Life has gotten in the way of updating this thread, but I found some time since it's 20° outside and I am pretty much staying in today. Cleanup from last May's tornado has progressed, thanks to all who commented on that event.
As I posted in the beginning, I would probably jump around a bit due to sections being incomplete or I might lose interest in that area. Here's a jumping off point. I left off on the outskirts of a town called Gainesville on the lower level. I am shifting focus to a town called Vernon on the upper level. Vernon is named after my late father-in-law. As it has been in earlier posts in this thread, some of these pictures are 8-10 years old but I tried to include recent improvements and upgrades where needed. For now, I am skipping a 14' industrial section along the west wall and starting on the south side of a 24' aisle. I'll be going from North to South.
First, an overall view of the beginning of this segment.

This part starts on the outskirts of the North end with Mark Smith's trailer. The trailer came from NuComp Miniatures (now defunct).

We're not in the best part of town.
Next door is a rooming house.

You may recognize this as a Bar Mills laser-cut wood kit known as Wicked Wanda's. This is sold as a house of ill-repute, but I have them elsewhere. The storage shed next to it also came from NuComp.

At the time of this picture, there was only one set of tenants. Another gentleman[?] moved in upstairs in 2022. 1984 in the layout era.

Continuing South, we come to the Saw Pit Store. This is another laser-cut wood kit, this one from JL Innovative Design.

Note the very old gas pump out in front of the garage.
I'm at the 10 picture limit on this post and will continue soon.
Thanks in advance for looking and I hope that you enjoy these shots.

 

[Bruette]

Thank you, I loved it, especially the Beagle!

 

[traiNscale]

yes! Layout Stories, keep em coming!

 

[gjslsffan]

Looking good Willie!

 

[TLOC]

Nice as always…

 

[logandsawman]

Welcome back. Life has gotten in the way of updating this thread, but I found some time since it's 20° outside and I am pretty much staying in today. Cleanup from last May's tornado has progressed, thanks to all who commented on that event.
As I posted in the beginning, I would probably jump around a bit due to sections being incomplete or I might lose interest in that area. Here's a jumping off point. I left off on the outskirts of a town called Gainesville on the lower level. I am shifting focus to a town called Vernon on the upper level. Vernon is named after my late father-in-law. As it has been in earlier posts in this thread, some of these pictures are 8-10 years old but I tried to include recent improvements and upgrades where needed. For now, I am skipping a 14' industrial section along the west wall and starting on the south side of a 24' aisle. I'll be going from North to South.
First, an overall view of the beginning of this segment.View attachment 212318
This part starts on the outskirts of the North end with Mark Smith's trailer. The trailer came from NuComp Miniatures (now defunct).
View attachment 212319View attachment 212320
We're not in the best part of town.
Next door is a rooming house. View attachment 212321
You may recognize this as a Bar Mills laser-cut wood kit known as Wicked Wanda's. This is sold as a house of ill-repute, but I have them elsewhere. The storage shed next to it also came from NuComp.
View attachment 212322
View attachment 212323
At the time of this picture, there was only one set of tenants. Another gentleman[?] moved in upstairs in 2022. 1984 in the layout era.View attachment 212324
Continuing South, we come to the Saw Pit Store. This is another laser-cut wood kit, this one from JL Innovative Design.
View attachment 212328View attachment 212329View attachment 212330
Note the very old gas pump out in front of the garage.
I'm at the 10 picture limit on this post and will continue soon.
Thanks in advance for looking and I hope that you enjoy these shots.

Very nice scenes! By the way, my grandfathers name was Vernon.

 

[santafewillie]

Very nice scenes! By the way, my grandfathers name was Vernon.

Interesting bit of history regarding my FIL. Since his name was Vernon Earl Day, he was listed in the Dallas phone book (remember them?) as VE Day. At some point, a reporter for the local paper looked that up and interviewed him for a VE Day article in the 50's sometime.

 

[westtexjohn]

I have been wanting a mobile home model like Mark Smiths place. I found a NuComp kit on feebay and ordered it.
Thanks for posting and giving info on structures. It sure helped me spend more money.

John

 

[santafewillie]

I'm documenting the manufacturer whenever possible before I start forgetting who they are! NuComp put out at least 7 different mobile homes that I have. Simple but not always easy to put together. Another coming up in the next installment.

 

[santafewillie]

I'm on a roll right now. Here are some more from the town of Vernon. Next to the Saw Pit Store is the West's home. this is one half of an old DPM kit called Emery Lane. I showed the other half back in post #62.

That's his son out front mowing. The grandkids are helping with the garden while Grandpa West oversees.

Grandma West also does flower gardening.

Before we get to the next home, let's look across the tracks at the Coop Feed & Fertilizer distributor. This was scratchbuilt from DPM modular parts.

Note the broken drainpipe in picture #2 which was intentional.
Next to the West's is the Jones home. I don't remember the origin of this structure.

Since I took the original picture, I added a hedge along the fence.

Next to it continuing South is Billy Joe and Bobby Sue's trailer, another trailer from NuComp.

There's a scratchbuilt chicken house and yard out back.

Since these original pictures were taken, I added some yard art. This is why the Jones's added the hedge.

I've hit my 10 picture per post limit. See next installment for a close-up.

Thanks for looking and I hope that you are enjoying the tour.

 

[Bruette]

I hope that you are enjoying the tour.

Absolutely, the number of details is amazing.

Thank you!

 

[traiNscale]

love those trailer scenes!

 

[Gary B]

Willie, I love your complete scenes. You captured every detail so well. Bravo!

 

[Colorado Midland Modeler]

Great scenes, all of them! I particularly like the trailer scenes, the Saw Pit store, the West home, and scratch built chicken house and yard. I noticed in the trailer scenes you have what appears to be Basset Hounds, where exactly did you get them? I grew up with Bassets, so I wouldn't mind getting a few of them for my own layout. Thanks for posting!

 

[santafewillie]

you have what appears to be Basset Hounds, where exactly did you get them?

I'm sorry that I don't remember exactly since I've had them for at least 25 years. My best guess though is that they came from a set from Preiser.