Scratch Built Models

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Each of the following models has earned a merit award in the NMRA Achievement Program.

None of these are for sale at this time but rather just for your viewing pleasure.

Gresham Mill also known as Sixes Mill - HO - Built by Steve Funsten - Piedmont Division, SER, NMRA

The prototype for this mill (originally built in the 1820's) is located in Holly Springs Georgia and is still standing today.

Scratch built board by board from photos. The rock walls are carved Balsa foam, roof shingles are Bar Mills.

It is lighted and the water wheel is powered by a small gear reduction motor.

Lamy, NM depot - HO - Built by Peter Youngblood MMR- Piedmont Division, SER, NMRA

(front, rear, detail images) exterior "stucco" is fine grit sandpaper. Interior

is fully detailed including paver tile floors and lighting. Formerly an AT&SF depot, it's still used by Amtrak today.

DRGW Chama Coaling Tower - On3 - Lex A. Parker MMR #300 Niagara Frontier Region, NMRA

Rico CO Depot - 1:24 - Built by Alan Mole - Piedmont Division, SER, NMRA

Built 1:24 scale from CAD drawings and photographs from ”The RGS Story”. Model building using western cedar, with complete interior and lighting.

Won “Best in Show” – Also written up in the Garden Railways magazine in February 2011.

DRGW Chama Oil Storage and Hand Car Shed - On3 - Built by Lex A. Parker MMR #300 Niagara Frontier Region, NMRA

Note : spout operates and water sound FX with leak as well as loading. Roof has individual cedar shingles made from cigar wrappers.

Tank is made of individual boards both tapered and battered to form a tank with a batter.

Southern Station in Spring City, TN - HO - Built By Jim Schall - Smokey Mtn Division, SER, NMRA

Only commercial material roofing, siding and strip styrene for windows.

DRGW Chama Shops - On3 - Built by Lex A. Parker MMR #300 Niagara Frontier Region, NMRA

This is a modified structure using only Thomas Yorke plaster walls and CHB machines.

Coca-Cola Covered Bridge - HO - Built by Steve Funsten - Piedmont Division, SER, NMRA

The inspiration for this covered bridge came from a photo of a model on George Sellios's "Franklin and South Manchester". Built board by board with close to 700 individually weatherd boards cut from Northeastern Scale Lumber stripwood. The Coca-Cola sign was painted using a homemade computer designed stencil, the interior has dim golden LED accent lighting and roof shingles are from Bar Mills.

Atlantic Service Station - S scale - Built By Jim Schall - Smokey Mtn Division, SER, NMRA

Freelanced composite of a number of 1940s-50s gas station photos, styrene constuction.

DRGW Chama Oil Dock - On3 - Built by Lex A. Parker MMR #300 Niagara Frontier Region, NMRA

Wheel Shop - HO - Built by Jerry (Mitch) Michnewicz - Piedmont Division, SER, NMRA

The structure is constructed on a curve to accommodate and fit close to the turntable and was accomplished by heating the DMP section and shaping. The roof has a layer of gravel for weather protection and rain down spouts are located at each section of the structure. Many air vent turbines are located on the roof and two lifting posts (chimneys). A safety information sign is secured to the roof and supported with steel rods(piano wire). Safety and warning signs are posted on the outside of the shop. The roll down shop doors are partially open to allow on lookers to view the interior of the shop. "No trespassing" signs are posted on the building along with company information. A ladder next to the office door gives access to the roof. The shop interior is detailed with lights machinery, wheels and workers.

GT Handcar Shed - O scale - Built by John Leow - Winnebagoland Division, MWR, NMRA

Scratch built using a plan from the 2/74 issue of RMC. I cut the lumber on a band saw from an old piece of redwood. All of the windows were built up from bits of wood.

Lehigh and New England Dexter Tower - S scale - Built By Jim Schall - Smokey Mtn Division, SER, NMRA

Lehigh and New England Dexter Tower on the cement branch. S Scale from photos and ARHS plans.

Rattlesnake Mine - 1:24 - Built by Alan Mole - Piedmont Division, SER, NMRA

Built in 1:24 scale from HO plans. Two separate buildings built using western cedar. Hoist house had completed interior.

Old Farm House - HO - Built by Steve Funsten - Piedmont Division, SER, NMRA

Board by board construction. scratchbuilt windows, carved balsa foam chimney, Bar Mills shingles, Noch flowers and grasses. Lighted interior.

DRGW Chama Scales - On3 - Built by Lex A. Parker MMR #300 Niagara Frontier Region, NMRA

Lucky's General Store - HO - Built by Steve Funsten - Piedmont Division, SER, NMRA

Named after "Lucky" the best Golden Retriever ever. Built using board by board construction. scratchbuilt windows w/real glass panes, Woodland Scenic dry transfers, Northeastern Scale lumber and shingles, Noch flowers and grasses. Detailed & lighted interior. homemade general store and lucky sign.

Sawmill - HO - Built by Steve Funsten - Piedmont Division, SER, NMRA

Similar in size to the FSM Super sawmill but designed and built board by board.

The sawmill is lighted and the saw is powered by a hidden can motor.

The structure contains about 600 boards and 290 individually weathered sheets of Williams Bros. aluminum roofing. BTS log carriage and roller kits

The AT&SF Canyon Diablo - HO - Built by Peter Youngblood MMR - Piedmont Division, SER, NMRA

The AT&SF Canyon Diablo, NM double-track covered deck steel arch bridge is scratch built entirely from Plastruct and is an actual 4'-6" long, a slightly compressed version of the prototype. It was built in two half's pinned together at the center for ease of handling. The inset image shows a pair of buzzards (and their byproduct!) typical to that area.

DRGW Howe Truss Bridge - On3 - Built by Lex A. Parker MMR #300 Niagara Frontier Region, NMRA

Trestle - HO - Built by Jerry (Mitch) Michnewicz - Piedmont Division, SER, NMRA

DRGW Chama Sand House - On3 - Built by Lex A. Parker MMR #300 Niagara Frontier Region, NMRA

REA Freight - HO - Built by Jerry (Mitch) Michnewicz- Piedmont Division, SER, NMRA

This structure is a freelance building constructed to fit a specific space on my layout. It is about 155 scale feet long, 24 scale feet high and 36 scale feet wide. Door openings are about 14 scale feet by 16 scale feet high. It is a one story building with five loading/unloading dock with open doors at trackside and one for loading/unloading to truck traffic at street side. On the back side of the building are four open freight bays with open doors and a cargo type people door for access to and from the building with trash cans on the platform and two large paneled windows near the interior office area.

DRGW Chama Oil Storage and Hand Car Shed - On3 - Built by Lex A. Parker MMR #300 Niagara Frontier Region, NMRA

The Old Barn - HO - Built by Steve Funsten - Piedmont Division, SER, NMRA

Steve Funsten's first scratch built model and first model to earn a merit award.

DRGW Wood Trestle - On3 - Built by Lex A. Parker MMR #300 Niagara Frontier Region, NMRA

Scratch Built Cars/Rolling Stock

MRL Bulkhead Flat Cars - HO - Built by Steve Funsten - Piedmont Division, SER, NMRA

While not complete scratch builds, the loads and log bunks were. The log bunks were made with brass and both cars were extensively patched and weathered

DRGW Box Car - On3 - Built by Lex A. Parker MMR #300 Niagara Frontier Region, NMRA

MOW Bunk Car- 1:24 - Built by Alan Mole - Piedmont Division, SER, NMRA

Built to go with the MOW kitchen car kit.

D&RGW Flanger OF - On3 - Built by Lex A. Parker MMR #300 Niagara Frontier Region, NMRA

This is a rare version where the blades had an extended attached blade.

Lawndale RR Gondola- HOn3 - Built by John Leow - Winnebagoland Division, MWR, NMRA

Scratch built from wood in October 2012 using plans from NGSLG May/June 1986.

D&RGW Boxcar Rebuild- On3 - Built by Lex A. Parker MMR #300 Niagara Frontier Region, NMRA

Reading Combine - S scale - Built By Jim Schall - Smokey Mtn Division, SER, NMRA

Built from RMC plans - Trucks, couplers and styrene only commercial products.

Lehigh and New England Bobber Caboose - ? Scale - Built By Jim Schall - Division, SER, NMRA

Decals, Taurus ladder set, air lines, wheel set and couplers only commercial products.

Gorre & Daphetid 40' Box Car - HO - Built by Steve Funsten - Piedmont Division, SER, NMRA

Board by board construction, Kadee trucks & Couplers. Custom decals.

D&RGW Reefer - On3 - Built by Lex A. Parker MMR #300 Niagara Frontier Region, NMRA

The roof is constructed as a “murphy roof” with 2 layers of sheet metal (gloss paper) held down by battens also wrapped in metal with a tongue the slips in between the outside edge, then flipped over and secured under the roof walk.

Colorado and Northwestern flatcar #7 - HOn3 - Built by John Leow - Winnebagoland Division, MWR, NMRA

C&NW flatcar #7. Scratch built from wood, 5/2012. Plans from NGSLG Sept/Oct 1992.

D&RGW Wheel Tie Car 06092 - On3 - Built by Lex A. Parker MMR #300 Niagara Frontier Region, NMRA

Southern 42' Brass Flat Car - HO - Built by Steve Funsten - Piedmont Division, SER, NMRA

While it surely won't put any Korean builders out of a job, it was good enough to earn a merit award. :) All brass construction with real wood decking.

Oahu Railway and Land Boxcar #627- HOn3 - Built by John Leow - Winnebagoland Division, MWR, NMRA

Scratch built with styrene using a plan from July/August 1990 NGSLG.

D&RGW Stock Car - On3 - Built by Lex A. Parker MMR #300 Niagara Frontier Region, NMRA

D&RGW Work Gondola 06299 - On3 - Built by Lex A. Parker MMR #300 Niagara Frontier Region, NMRA

Motive Power

Gilpin Tram Shay #4 - On2 - Built by Matt Coleman - Piedmont Division, SER, NMRA

It is O Scale, 2ft Gauge (On2) and is a model of the Gilpin Tram Shay #4 as she appeared about 1907. It was scratchbuilt in 1982, before any of the imports came of these locos. I used modified PSC castings for the trucks and engines, and it has working valve gear and is driven through the Shay drive train. The body was made from 0.020" and 0.015" brass. The frame was made from brass shapes, with end beam castings modified from PSC castings.