UPDATED as of Nov 5 2012. Go to last page for new pics
I've been slowly progressing with the military base on our HO layout. It is loosely based on the various military installations found in the Mojave desert in California. Maybe Barstow logistics base, maybe Twenty Nine Palms, maybe Edwards, etc...
Our Santa Fe themed train layout is set in 1957, so I tried to keep most of the military equipment close to that era. Most are Roco Minitanks which had to be painted and lettered, although the pickup you might see in the pictures (next to the Quonset hut) is Busch and the sedan is by Mini Metals (Classic Metal Works).
Those are all Athearn 50' flats. They came with Santa Fe trailers which I used elsewhere on the layout or just left in the boxes. I added wood decks and Kadee couplers. I plan to add Kadee airhoses for them too.
I think the base and military train is looking pretty good so far and I still have several details to add. This includes more wheel blocks, tie downs, and various supplies/boxes/artillery in the back of the empty cargo trucks. I might even add some early jets flying overhead (maybe an F-100 Super Sabre, or an early test version of an F-104 Starfighter).
Here are some pics:
Matt from Anaheim, CA and Bayfield, COClick Here for my model train photo website
7j43kMight I suggest some sort of loading/unloading ramp for the equipment? And maybe a road to the base?
Thanks for the suggestions.
I plan to add loading ramps at the end of track (where the orange wheel stops are currently). Probably make them out of styrene and in the style of the many Santa Fe concrete loading ramps you can still see along much of the BNSF transcon.
I thought about adding a gravel road to the base with a gate and guard house. I think Walthers makes/made a guard house with a gate...maybe for their Ford plant set? I'll have to look around and see what is out there.
That's a nice area and a unique "industry". But I do have a nit to pick - I don't think the missile launchers would be shipped by rail with the missile loaded, even if they are training rounds. Those who may have had experience might chime in, but to me it's like when we flew a squadron cross-country to a different training base - we loaded the missiles on the planes when we got there from that base's supply. There's no sense taking a chance something might, like, sort of fall off, you know?
A launcher off the flatcar with the missile loaded might be appropriate though. Otherwise I really like it. The military loads on flatcars always look good to me! Tanks for sharing (pun intended!)
George V.
Don't worry about the nit pick George, as you are right on about the missiles. From the research I've done, they normally would be transported (if by train) in box cars or crates (unassembled). The thin aluminum is/was too fragile to carry on the truck while in transit on a train even if the warhead was on it or not.
But I really like the look of these early cold war missiles (Honest John and Lacrosse), especially the test painted versions like the ones I did. So much so that I couldn't hide them in a box car
Michael
CEO- Mile-HI-RailroadPrototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989
MotleyThat backdrop is well done, did you create that your self?
Thanks Michael, but well beyond my skills or printing equipment.
The backdrop was made by Backdrop Warehouse. It's a big printing of an actual photograph taken near Goffs, CA. Actually there are two put together as the other side wraps around the other corner of the wall.
Here is a link to their website:
BackDrop Warehouse
Here's a photo that shows the backdrop better:
Ah, that brings back memories of shipping armor by rail out of Fort Carson, Colorado in the 1980s. Great job! Love the Quonset.
Someone mentioned unloading ramps - I seem to recall some permanent, concrete ones (which at least looked like they had been around since the 50s) and metal-plate ones to just drive lighter vehicles off, circus-style.
You need tire tracks and tread tracks! I think that whole area should be covered in tracks from wheels and treads. We used to tear the heck out of the desert.
I don't know about the missiles, but we could never, never, ever ship a tank with the .50 cal on top. On the M-60 they were actually in a small cupola, not fully exposed, and we still couldn't do it. A little side scene with soldiers installing the machine guns on the freshly-unloaded tanks would be good. And what is the plan for unloading those large crates?
Sean
HO Scale CSX Modeler
Fantastic scenery
I live in southwestern NM and it looks a lot like some of the area around here. I dont model the desert but it does look fantastic. I especialy love the backdrop, do you have the address of the outfit that did them for you I think I would like to get mine done by the same outfit when I am ready and get to that point. Keep it on the tall skinny stuff. Neil
ps disregard the above request for address I just saw the link.
Colorado_MacI don't know about the missiles, but we could never, never, ever ship a tank with the .50 cal on top. On the M-60 they were actually in a small cupola, not fully exposed, and we still couldn't do it. A little side scene with soldiers installing the machine guns on the freshly-unloaded tanks would be good. And what is the plan for unloading those large crates?
Thanks for the info Sean. I'll take the gun off the M41 tank on the flat. As for the crates? Hmmm might need a crane to get them off. One of the M35 trucks is a crane version. Maybe that would work:
Matt, is this a unloading area only, or is going to be part of the main base? More building regardless. But, I am sure you are planning on that anyway.
Do like what you have done so far.
Cuda Ken
I hate Rust
You need a couple of fork lifts for unloading the crates, they could be yellow or army green, this being a stateside base, overseas they would be green..
Jay
C-415 Build: https://imageshack.com/a/tShC/1
Other builds: https://imageshack.com/my/albums
cudakenMatt, is this a unloading area only, or is going to be part of the main base? More building regardless. But, I am sure you are planning on that anyway.
It's mostly just the unloading/loading part of a much larger desert base. I don't have room for the main part of the base and I like to keep the scenery as open as I can to give it a look of wide open spaces. So I was going for just the rail interchange part of the base.
The rest of the layout, off to the left in the photos I posted here, is a basic town with route 66 going through it. More photos of the overall layout can be seen on the HO scale page of our model train website (link below):
HO layout webpage
modelmaker51You need a couple of fork lifts for unloading the crates, they could be yellow or army green, this being a stateside base, overseas they would be green..
Great idea for using forklifts. But I think I'll have to make some concrete pads for the forklifts to operate on. Not sure if they could ride on desert sand.
Southwest Chief It's mostly just the unloading/loading part of a much larger desert base. I don't have room for the main part of the base and I like to keep the scenery as open as I can to give it a look of wide open spaces. So I was going for just the rail interchange part of the base.
That's a wise (that's what I'd do) decision.
Mark
Actually the military has some large-wheel forklift trucks that are designed to be used in the field, (no paving), they would also have graders and bulldozers, it's not all just trucks and tanks. However since this is on a permanent base it would make sense to have have concrete pads along the tracks and a large concrete pad for unloading and temporary parking for vehicles and stacking of crates before they are reloaded into tucks. The road to the rest of the base would likely also be concrete rather than gravel. A stateside base would be more permanent than one in a war zone and an unloading/loading area would be part of a depot with several buildings including warehouses to store those missles and other armamant- not good idea to store all the ammunition in the hot desert sun..
You "need" some flat cars with Jeeps loaded crosswise.
Troop movements are a great excuse for special passenger trains, Pullman style:
Southwest ChiefAs for the crates? Hmmm might need a crane to get them off. One of the M35 trucks is a crane version. Maybe that would work:
Doh!
markpierceYou "need" some flat cars with Jeeps loaded crosswise.
That would look good. I have some reference material on how military equipment was loaded onto Santa Fe trains during WWII, including crosswise jeeps.
But the jeep models are on the expensive end. Around $10.00 per jeep. And that doesn't include paint and decals. Yep they had to be painted and lettered.
Just for quick reference, here is an online store that has them for $12.40 a piece:
Roco Jeep
When you start adding things up, these military trucks, jeeps, tanks, etc... are expensive. Kind of like the real things
Got some new photos to share:
Matt, really great job. I have an advantage in that I have worked at or around the railhead at MCLB Barstow many times in last 12 years.Some of the off loading area has concrete on both sides of the tracks and at the rear as many of the loads are backed off on to ramps.I will be at Barstow tommorrow and will take a picture of the loading ramps. They have been in use since WW II and should be right for your era.
Also,the area around the railhead has large groups of people around for short periods of time ,so there are always many port-a-johns lined up!
Another possibility would be lighting. Because of the extreme heat the Corps. tries to do much of the rail activity at night. Just about any kind of pole mounted lighting would be right based solely on the era you are working in.
Matt, some air conditioners and/or swamp coolers need to be added to all of the building.
The Twenty Nine Palms Marine base area gets mighty hot in the summer. Otherwise those who work in the building will be oven fried troops. Been 117 some of the times I was there.
Ken G Price My N-Scale Layout
Digitrax Super Empire Builder Radio System. South Valley Texas Railroad. SVTRR
N-Scale out west. 1996-1998 or so! UP, SP, Missouri Pacific, C&NW.
Electriccharlie Matt, really great job. I have an advantage in that I have worked at or around the railhead at MCLB Barstow many times in last 12 years.Some of the off loading area has concrete on both sides of the tracks and at the rear as many of the loads are backed off on to ramps.I will be at Barstow tommorrow and will take a picture of the loading ramps. They have been in use since WW II and should be right for your era. Another possibility would be lighting. Because of the extreme heat the Corps. tries to do much of the rail activity at night. Just about any kind of pole mounted lighting would be right based solely on the era you are working in.
Thanks,
Photos would be awesome. Not too many on the web to look at of the real MCLB. Although I go by it often while on I-40 or when I happen to take the Southwest Chief.
Here's an earlier picture that shows the loading ramp I built for the two tracks. I need to get some plates to go between the flats cars for loading circus style. And I still have to airbrush the ramp a concrete color:
I have a few pole lights installed although I still have to hook up the wiring. But it should make for some nice night shots. I wasn't sure if they looked too modern for our era of the mid to late 1950s, but I think they look OK.
I also just got a great set of 1950ish US military figures that should compliment the other figures I already have (Walthers #590-1010248) but haven't put out on the layout yet. The 1950s figures set is Walthers #590-10594. They look like this:
Ken, air conditioners are definitely on the list for items to get. I was thinking a few window mounted units would look good on the office buildings. Not sure what to do for the quonset hut. Maybe add a window unit to that as well.
My congratulations on your scenery. You are the only other peson I have heard of who has modeled Joshua Trees, (mine are on the Goldfield & Hangtown at www.freewebs.com/awwallace and Jan 2011 MR. Have you also considered putting one of the star dishes at the Goldstone Deep Space facility on one of your backgrounds? That would really get attention, and that area is on a military base.
I am very familiar with the area around Barstow and Yermo. It is surprising to some to see just how much there is in the way of grass, weeds, and bushes in our California "desert". (Speaking of Yermo, what about a model of the Edison solar plant; the glow off the tank on the tower would light up the room). What we have is more properly dscribed as "arrid plains" instead of sand, as most regard a "desert". In spring, the area just norh of Ludlow can be a sea of yellow blossoms. Some remnants of the Tonopah and Tidewater right-of-way might make a nice touch.
It is good to learn there are others who appreciate our "desert" scenery. Well Done!
There is a old concrete ramp at the Military Academy at West Point that hasnt been used in ages.I was told that it was used to unload tanks when they brought them in for training.I worked at a Army base (now closed) in New Jersey.I dont remember ramps but tracks went right into the warehouses and the loading docks inside as I recall were door level.WW2 era I assume.I was at Camp Navajo,Arizona recently and it is a very interesting place.While I didnt see any train movements there were three or four GE switchers on site
What are the red/white missiles on the two trucks? They are nothing like the Honest John you have of course.
Seems good in that most items if not all reflect 1960s+, with the M60s, etc. NO M1A1s for example to confuse the timeframe. I was wondering though if the tractor for the tank trailer was a M900 series, I couldn't really see?
Richard
Train ModelerWhat are the red/white missiles on the two trucks?
They are Lacrosse missile trucks. That's the early test paint for the missiles (white and orange) instead of in service drab green.
I used the old Roco #114 Lacrosse missile trucks and used the cab from the newer Roco M35 (Roco #771).
Train ModelerI was wondering though if the tractor for the tank trailer was a M900 series?
The trailer is a Roco M48 (Roco #168 tractor with fuel trailer). But the cab it came with was lacking in overall detail and didn't have window glass or rubber tires. So I used the cab from the newer Roco M35 (Roco #771).
The tanks pictured are M41 Walker Bulldogs. I'm currently looking for one or two Roco M48 Patton tanks if I can find them. Hard to find the old out of production models.
The trucks are all M35s. I know they are appropriate for the late 1950s, but the older CCKWs have that neat vintage look to them so I'm wondering if I should get more of them instead of the M35s.
Yes those CCkWs look great.From what I read they lasted into the 50s in US service and the 70s in some other countries
I love it. If that picture was actually taken at Goffs there was a small Army base there during WW2. Also other bases along with Army air fields in the general area for desert training during WW2. So you are not far off at all. That CCKW fits right in.