Here are few photos of Dawson Station under construction. I think I've discovered another secret of model railroading: building is as fun as operating.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqdtsOM94qTwjPHMNvgxC6nJhBbaVF4L-Q_YZtPa24sj7phwrm8ZfU-ZgyCE2qivAFCmiTeMfFEgIyS_piBmmb6BF3Y1RKT31_g3Q2dAdegXvfW5CoA9mwnu4PfpVo4LJD-bGkEBOhq2k/s400/layout2.JPG)
Early work on the puzzle portion.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_n5lygPrXVCQx1MUgMgJ6PyvO5YxRS8cIrN1SkdFYYv3OOFVu6q2xTYozw6_-nz3BQBf3tbHKqIbUrSqq7iOT86pNW7dGOl73a8F0nOdakAj0kSMw8uX7ZGi0d5Qh_9CW8LJ8eWMZmH0/s400/epim5557.jpg)
Work on the loading shed.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXSnDypyRRfl3-IcYqB1n3DqXo6s5OAM5Vow7nMGS9yk4MupRhlZfNuShr78o4qvpeLzLsfbuA_Iu-08QA3oHgp36SLI4_lh0ndd9rtnFirWCBGfxEpuPvzGoD2YPhd8U5DEvWMhJ8XdQ/s400/ePIM5573.JPG)
There is a stream running under the mill. In the mid 50's, they channeled it through a concrete tunnel to keep it from washing away the timber supports. A recent EPA study found more fish in the tunnel that out.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwTGDl4iKOCF4QikgYVy_oo1uohDaMAjqJbSrTzw0K80wqKM7kVr-xo1nIHLZ17A8dAVuLIGMRIwp9c0FypxPXzB0F1dZwcT9x9GpLVvXoXXWCJtPZIDuvnwqiEeDjH65Ml6-JPymQDhs/s400/ePIM5575.JPG)
The stream is of course, bridged by large timbers, no doubt cut on site. The owner of the hobby shop doesn't seem to mind that I come in every week and buy several lengths of balsa. They are only 22 cents apiece. The smallest regular balsa I can get is a foot and a half wide in scale. It works well for a lot of things at the mill, but I had to buy some special "scale" stuff for the loading shed and dock.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMkqwl6TZOPIGselLLQXKH-aM99L5q1TBiHswUUuIlv9s3_-81j1XTFie_OT19ZzqR35el5In2Khn6TTAQJ7ST8e2dZJainxCv5vTbswr0BBDqXrYp-xGts72WXvufA7sZcGihXZLBNo/s400/ePIM5577.JPG)
In the movie
The Girl with the Pearl Earring, the painter Veermer asks the maid, "what colors are the clouds?" She initialy answers "white", but after studying them for a few moments, begins to detail all the different colors she sees in them. How about asphalt? I thought gray was gray, but after studying it for a bit, it is a bit more subtle than that. I wouldn't be too concerned, except that it need to match the backdrop image. Most of my photos are in overcast weather with a bit of dampness on the ground. That changes the color dramatically. You can see I'm still working on it.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgONV2_JlSEjSB3ESFumIa2hh_90OJw6UhEbmq8EvEhqGudVlWkjlNucdp7zINhOtzlPKrsdQtNG20cBGKHu3ICKKbdk0HVMorbNrur22L-pIr5N-UGDSoIMu-kSLgru82otGPrxRShgoQ/s400/ePIM5584.JPG)
It is starting to take shape (and color). You can see my "test patch" in the lower center. Next up, the chip loading rig.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX3vWlwL0fZqpBZWeSz9q1hw6iAQzGsAMtE2PQjHkJZOYfjX5ecH3bcRUIoFjhQ8hzEr9vh98XJh85Gf8xpt_Fybzl6vl0oKfUbdlC1NsfMABlo9IULkSn1szvTKjzXLbPeimvIs5H4EU/s400/ePIM5656.JPG)
Putting a frame around it.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6d-UbNO9pEWcgDilXeFFUsfNeEH4cwhglEu1x_jWveMNBCJaUrEKUNawY8KnPfbfqsswe97mGka9kfNZ-KzGUgcKXhQA__R4TxdzJCDHDoaTtflEBMBKy1gZWtfpVEKn2KH8aDffx5Bw/s400/ePIM5658.JPG)
Backdrop a-la-inkjet! Printed in 8"x10" sections on matte brochure paper and then glued to 1/4" foam core board.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiM8NyeDs4abLszjjliVQYo1g12Z3PbjpsiInluVkUVfz5V8X7VoVBaBkM3IEMfaewk5zgIkCoCfB6gtoSWOvGmd-zKRZlLs-qeiSBwbFpcV4Qmk48x-chVghhH6bNScGTy8ohK-TmJSc/s400/epim5581.jpg)
Work on the chiploader. Those are Legos at the top.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDJFpXyUCsFt-EIW93_CXhpH3vm4Mlzva2XwgpW7r7vGxtix345kjbE6_gMhBz2gN1kO_szq9rvI_ZKUlED0H7hO5Dl4rbYM7ARN8dP0n4Rrk2g2TglNpp3nWAbZUMa6rYSVA92Ugcjw/s400/epim5657.jpg)
The underside is rather simple. Just power and two switches.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJtIIPruvjCXqbScxCg8TCzGBEI5vGyqA4vYZ6O8G8Dtf5lNApzdqK8pNwZqqVUEE3n51fAtdZbF0vcyQuhtbSk3pSASPJuoamfKnhU_jlAzlPo0Yzu4fbX6oESqWgzo20crcuAMxEnS4/s400/ePIM7184.JPG)
Working on plexiglass cover (Nov '09). The temporary protective covering is blue.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhukcygfLG81D0TfuSyFZoQuylEkSAh7NQCbu9Vcox4iPjeuCMBXYWXlcgymmhb4SHm1iOKIoh41ZW6FWKR6T9WpHc-Y9euw_cMzhLbKv-6z9HuHKpAy5hh637yFuV9shkr0dg42Rff6tA/s400/ePIM7192.JPG)
New cover test fitting without backdrop (Nov '09)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjenvShCM_8QQWqiw9fikE8Nls1QCqCNS8tByCzpjIPJ8aO_8C9mT2ZB6RZ5vQ4oGPHAyBaZD4p1xB7gD6Dg8WPaUjM5A_uUoxOdb_oV4d3N9nzSDHm6dOHuo03rCaIucIxj72ktZxDEc0/s400/ePIM7196.JPG)
Assistant art director helping with new backdrop, printed in two section on a 24" x 36" (Nov '09).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7kSBl7kh6kyEZs-92w94vu8FYy0rViv5pWgDckw7ac7S4pldmhBrW9wM_lsKNDdasc6hZvLVLEDxLZrOUoCimuvo22_UyLXPwaexHMhhaNCFdcOk-0UcJ0TiBYVD74ldJwKrbxr2Jhqk/s400/ePIM7349.JPG)
Packed and ready to go to the hobby store for a holiday display. A perfect fit and lightly anchored to the folded back seat. It is also a snug fit in the back of my extened-cab Dakota, although tougher to get in and out. With the plexiglass cover, the weight is also reaching the limit of what I can do single-handily (Dec '09).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiulhvRP8iUKAdzbPKQeaaWz3aidwBqhIjaLRvelWtRYT7mnqpnYNj_KfN7y3W_zQPlNM978mZ9W8hCJYqwQoxy9cHgbsQuhvM0KDt2gcEr2mi_Palnr7AzXs0a-I62p5U3vpMlARrVjXU/s400/eIMG_0085.JPG)
Working on turnout switching with microcontroller (Feb '10).
But wait,
there is more . . .
what an awesome model ! I wonder where did you get this wonderful stuff, you collection must be great!
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