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 Posted - January 18 2019 : 6:10:16 PM
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This is a painting from the 19th Century of El Paso, shortly after the Southern Pacific
hit town. It is at a place known locally as Harte's Mill Crossing, where the Spanish first
crossed in El Paso in about 1598, and where Fort Bliss was established for a time, fending
off Mexico from the south and Apaches from the north. While looking for a lumber
salvage yard to buy a hollow core door, for a micro layout, I ended up here, at the
banks of the Rio Grande, where this bridge is now a steel span owned by the UP.
BNSF is right up the hill, coming down from the north. The place was still quite a lot
like this painting, in terms of its rugged landscape, although much has been filled in.
Got this far last night, roughly mapping out the Rio Grande river, the flood plains, and
sunken road.
Going to add wooden stringers in to fill out the trestles, which are plastic Tyco trestles
sawed to length. Used plaster cloth squares by WS to form the terrain.
A wash of WS earth color. Next week going to take a pail and shovel down to the banks
of the river and dig up some dirt for cover. Found some HO grape vines while buying
plaster cloth. Nice little find, El Pasoans have grown wine grapes since they first stuck
a flag in the ground.
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Posted - January 18 2019 : 6:28:57 PM
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Wow - great modeling Chops!! Good luck on the project!!
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven." - Matthew 5:16
Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/rpmodelrailroads
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Posted - January 18 2019 : 9:25:15 PM
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Interesting with much potential Jeff. Look forward to your progress.
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Posted - January 21 2019 : 8:51:39 PM
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Went down to Hartes Mill Crossing today. Snapped some quick photos from the over fill
of Mt. Cristo del Rey, before being discreetly followed off the property by local security.
Much of the over fill is probably smack where this picture was painted sometime in early 1880's.
Previously, human habitation dates to at least 12,000 years, and this is the spot where the
Spanish first crossed over into what is now El Paso ("The Pass").
Over here is what appears to be an older Army Administration building, probably dating
to at least 1900, before Ft. Bliss moved to its current location. General Black Jack Pershing,
famous for his chase after Poncho Villa's ill fated raid on Columbus, New Mexico, would have
been here.
Another view of the immediate area, which is likely very similar to 1880,
as the rail line hasn't been moved. Similar to the landscape in the painting,
and within yards of the point where it was done.
A click or so down the Border Highway is the bridge that replaced the timber trestle that spans
the Rio Grande from New Mexico. The border of Mexico intersects a few more clicks down river
to the south, and New Mexico essentially begins here. If I recall, the steel trestle came in around
1910.
Curious little streams come out of nowhere in the desert. On the top of the mountain
range behind this point of view there is a small spring of water, where water has absolutely
no business exisiting- having to be forced upward through the mountain, by an under ground river.
Then a bonus:
https://youtu.be/_O4kFRrN_lI
BNSF runs North-South out of El Paso. Used to be ATSF. Got here very shortly after SP in 1881.
Then down to the ancient river bed:
A different angle on Mt. Cristo Del Rey. The river used to be several feet deep, flood
like blue blazes, before being nearly dried up by cotton and pecans, and Elephant Butte
dam a hundred miles north in New Mexico. Up until the dam was built, sturgeon used to
live in these waters. The air smells like sea salt here, which is perhaps from this entire area
being an ancient sea bed, and the earth is notable for its exceedingly high salt content.
Dinosaur tracks were discovered on this face of the mountain, about ten years ago.
A scraggle tree, like the one the guy in the painting is chopping down. Actually a cottonwood,
which line the river all the way through New Mexico and turn vibrant yellow in autumn.
Got my dirt!!
Edited by - Chops124 on January 21 2019 8:57:29 PM
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Posted - January 24 2019 : 7:33:10 PM
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Compressing the track while the Gorilla Clear Glue sets up overnight.
First time using Modge Podge: sets up real nice, but unlike white glue doesn't dissolve
Sytrofoam. The river sand turned out to be remarkably absorbent, making it very easy
to work with. Finger prints, unwanted ripples will be smoothed out with an application
of water and a paint brush after it dries.
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Posted - January 24 2019 : 10:29:01 PM
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Getting better and better, Chops! Keep up the great work!
By the way, I really like how you decided to use sand from the real region you are modeling, to act as landscaping material. Awesome!
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven." - Matthew 5:16
Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/rpmodelrailroads
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Posted - January 29 2019 : 8:09:19 PM
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Planted grape vines last night (Woodland Scenics). The stone boundary fence is
made from kitty chow. I was staring into space wondering how in the world I was
going to model that peculiar wall, and found myself gazing at the cat's dish.
Going to try to lay in that funky little log bridge over the wet spot later tonight.
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Posted - January 30 2019 : 2:20:27 PM
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Used Gorilla Clear Glue for water effect. Very easy to work with and retains a little
flexibility, unlike epoxy resin that dries hard and cracks. May use it to water the
river bed.
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Posted - January 30 2019 : 9:13:12 PM
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Looking great, Chops - nice work!
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven." - Matthew 5:16
Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/rpmodelrailroads
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Posted - January 31 2019 : 8:45:04 PM
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Getting down to the home stretch. I have not yet tested the track to
see if it even works. I'm pretty sure I got it flat and level, we'll see...
Using a carved block of Styrofoam scrap for the adobe hut. So far
it is looking pretty good. Using Modge Podge. This is really great
stuff to work with.
The scraggle trees on the left were made from tumble weed strands,
dipped in Modge Podge, and rolled in WS turf.
Going to use a carved bit of kitty crunchy to make the adobe oven
next to the adobe hut.
Next phase is to let the sand dry out a bit and pour in a container
of Gorilla Glue Clear for the water.
The two structures are by an unknown craftsman (I am not that good)
that I found on a back shelf in an El Paso junk shop for $20.
The ox cart was scratchbuilt by the late "Doc" Harrison, a long time
member of the El Paso Model Train Club, a piece that ended up
in a junk bin!
Edited by - Chops124 on January 31 2019 8:47:05 PM
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Posted - January 31 2019 : 9:08:21 PM
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Wow!! Nice!
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven." - Matthew 5:16
Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/rpmodelrailroads
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Posted - February 01 2019 : 9:53:43 PM
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Posted - February 01 2019 : 10:13:23 PM
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Awesome work Chops!!!
Mike
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Posted - February 01 2019 : 11:12:57 PM
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| Awesome!
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Posted - February 02 2019 : 12:34:11 PM
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hey Chops
Bachman is remaking the 2 Old West buildings again 
oh I think back then the Railroad Crossing signs were a T shape sign
Edited by - microbusss on February 02 2019 12:53:24 PM
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Posted - February 02 2019 : 8:53:04 PM
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Keep up the great work, Chops!
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven." - Matthew 5:16
Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/rpmodelrailroads
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Posted - February 07 2019 : 7:54:07 PM
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Nice compact layout Jeff. Look forward to updated photos of your progress with it.
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Posted - February 09 2019 : 09:26:29 AM
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Really nice little layout Chops. Like the way you modeled an entire area an the history behind it.
Master Of Plasticville
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Posted - February 09 2019 : 2:34:16 PM
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Great work, Jeff ! That's awesome!
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Posted - February 10 2019 : 03:51:39 AM
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Gotta get off my keister, finish the adobe hut, add a few people as
seen in the painting, and see if it actually turns on!
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Posted - February 16 2019 : 02:43:07 AM
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Got a phone call and ran it over to the El Paso Coin Club Show
as part of the El Paso Transportation and Railroad Historical
Society Exhibit. Had to finish it up fast, paint was still wet
on delivery, but the Shark Master's (RP Model Railroads)
Jupiter that he sold me worked perfectly. It will get
another dozen hours over the weekend with little
rest!
https://youtu.be/01PkpLDjEkk
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Posted - February 16 2019 : 06:49:36 AM
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Awesome, Chops! The Jupiter looks great on Harte's Mill Crossing. 
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven." - Matthew 5:16
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Posted - February 17 2019 : 3:36:59 PM
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| the early railroad crossing signs in the 1860s to 1890s were a T shaped sign
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Posted - February 17 2019 : 9:30:05 PM
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Ran Jupiter for about 16 hours during the show, over this weekend past.
It held her own and only started to falter in the last hours. I put her up
and took out another Bachmann American type, also NOS, put it on the
rails, and it took three laps before splitting a gear. I put Jupiter back on
the tracks, and she again ran flawlessly. I don't know what changed,
the motor wasn't over heating, I can't figure it! 
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Posted - February 17 2019 : 11:12:07 PM
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quote:Ran Jupiter for about 16 hours during the show, over this weekend past.
It held her own and only started to falter in the last hours. I put her up
and took out another Bachmann American type, also NOS, put it on the
rails, and it took three laps before splitting a gear. I put Jupiter back on
the tracks, and she again ran flawlessly. I don't know what changed,
the motor wasn't over heating, I can't figure it!
Originally posted by Chops124Â -Â February 17 2019Â :Â 9:30:05 PM
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Whoa - I have no idea, Chops. That is strange.
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven." - Matthew 5:16
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Posted - February 19 2019 : 2:05:09 PM
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| Nice layout, Chops. Keep up the good work!
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Posted - February 19 2019 : 4:18:58 PM
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Bachmann's are funny that way, particularly the older ones. The
shells are rather nice, but the drive trains as a rule tend to be
not so durable as one would like.
I suspect that the mere act of picking it up and reboxing it
maybe moved a contact from the tender bogie a few microns
to the left or to the right, and conductivity was restored.
In the very last minutes of before I was going to pack up
to depart the show, she derailed (having run without a
hitch for days) and flung herself over the side onto the
floor!
Lucky, there was no cosmetic damage, only the pilot wheels
got knocked loose and the tender lost its screw. Went back
together in minutes, will probably run even better now!!
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Posted - February 19 2019 : 5:15:32 PM
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quote:Bachmann's are funny that way, particularly the older ones. The
shells are rather nice, but the drive trains as a rule tend to be
not so durable as one would like.
I suspect that the mere act of picking it up and reboxing it
maybe moved a contact from the tender bogie a few microns
to the left or to the right, and conductivity was restored.
In the very last minutes of before I was going to pack up
to depart the show, she derailed (having run without a
hitch for days) and flung herself over the side onto the
floor!
Lucky, there was no cosmetic damage, only the pilot wheels
got knocked loose and the tender lost its screw. Went back
together in minutes, will probably run even better now!!
Originally posted by Chops124Â -Â February 19 2019Â :Â 4:18:58 PM
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LOL, it took the plunge and survived.
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven." - Matthew 5:16
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Posted - February 21 2019 : 5:03:18 PM
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*changes all the trains to a European loco & cars made to look like a USA Western train*
now you have a Spaghetti Western
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Posted - March 02 2019 : 04:32:16 AM
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| You know, that ain't a bad idea!
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Posted - March 02 2019 : 1:11:09 PM
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quote:You know, that ain't a bad idea!
Originally posted by Chops124Â -Â March 02 2019Â :Â 04:32:16 AM
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but make sure you get locos & cars from the Italian Railways cause am pretty sure thats what they used
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Posted - March 02 2019 : 11:08:29 PM
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I think so too, but I got some British stuff lying around that might
do the trick reasonably well. I'll make a brief spoof of the classic
"The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly," one of my favorite films.
I wonder if I could blow up a railroad bridge, like in the end of that
film?
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Posted - March 17 2019 : 05:59:11 AM
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Video link broke, now it is reloaded:
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Posted - March 17 2019 : 7:07:46 PM
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Jupiter looks awesome on Harte's Mill Crossing.
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven." - Matthew 5:16
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Posted - June 17 2019 : 10:56:44 AM
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Layout looks great, exactly what I am thinking of for a portable for shows. I might remake my whole table as it is a bit on the heavy side and hard to handle when I am alone. Bachmanns are just hit and miss as you have found out. The newest version of the 4-4-0 has moved the motor to the boiler, so the models are nolonger a tender drive. I wish they would issue the Reno and Inyo of the V&T, as that is what the Bachmann model is based off of. They do the General but its way off, the General has a shorter wheelbase and totally different smoke box. The Tyco/Mantua General is much closer to the real one.
What curve radius did you use on that layout? Cant tell if its 15" or 18" radius track. Mike
Still NT's, I have Aspergers.
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Posted - June 17 2019 : 12:03:20 PM
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I used a hollow core table bought from a lumber scrap yard. You can
cut, or not, the length to fit and it is quite light and firm. I did this one
to fit easily in my hatchback. Looking forward to what you create!!
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 Posted - June 24 2019 : 12:57:17 AM
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I would have to make it two sections that are stackable to fit in my Jeep. Wont fit otherwise. Your set up is close to what my mind is thinking. But I plan to use some of the old Kibri wild west buildings so I can do a gun fight scene. I may have a near mint Tyco Rio Grande twelve wheeler soon. So 18" radius curves most likely. Mike
Still NT's, I have Aspergers.
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Posted - June 24 2019 : 01:28:25 AM
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| Sounds awesome. Hope to see pics as it comes along.
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