Pictures of my old HOn30 module

Pictures taken in Bakersfield California

The module is based on a 1946 article from National Geographic. The small island of Sao Tome is off the coast of west Africa. There were caoco plantations served by a small narrow gauge railroad with a steam engine . The Anne O. Model! .

The new module January 2004
steam ferry boat Model! .
New England sail boat excursion .
My attempt at a sail boat .
Big sail boat .
Another view of Big sail boat .

Sao Tome
600mm gauge. 20km, opened in 1913, still open 1946. Reference - Durrant, A.E., A.A. Jorgensen, C.P. Lewis. Steam in Africa, London, 1981, Hamlyn. source - Michael Johnson

The module was designed to be compliant with the National standards of the HOn30 modules. Click on the word module for more information. The facia is "reflective" so the opposite side can be painted flat black to comply with the East Coast requirments. The Left Coast requires a "Hunter Green" facia. Efforts were made to match the edge of the module to facia BUT make the right end landforms differ from the LEFT end landform. The track plan was as simple as a first time module could be. An 18 inch curve (minimum radius standards) with spiral transitions. Two cabs RED and Blue with center position off.

Lights: In January of 2002, a light standard was proposed that was similar to what was seen at the NNGC in Salt Lake City. Here are some pictures: Light | Light 2 | Light base |

2001 Design :
Summary: the module arrived in Bakersfield California with NO damage. The crate had some edge wear due to being dragged across concrete, but that was expected. However, despite several attempts to find out the maximum weight requirments of the airlines, I got bad information. I was told the maximum carry on weight limit was 90 pounds. The module and crate together were 86 pounds, with handles on both ends to allow two man lift. When I attempted to check in the module at the counter, I was told the maximum weight limit was 75 pounds for American West, and 65 lbs! for Mesa Air. However, for a slight extra fee...
Through the kindness of the Bakersfield host, the module remained in California for the next meet.

A few pictures on the module over the last year 2001-2002:
module image 1 First appearance in Bakersfield 12 Jan 2001. Note the Jungle vines on left side.
module image 2 Roberto's train on the jungle module (Bkrsfld-01)
module image 3 HOn30 caboose and ore cars (Bkrsfld-01)
SLO display Way too many palm trees (200+) ... can barely see the "cousins" cars.
Station The Jungle station based on Woodland Scenics Flagstop Station. The monkey's are in the tree tops and messing up the station. (Bkrsfld-02)
LEfonts at Station The elephents are getting frisky (Bkrsfld-02)
Figures on Module Still life on jungle module. Drinking and climbing trees are bad for your health.
Friends (Bill and Anne) near to Module Bakersfield 2002
Module on the way to meet by airplane Bakersfield 01
Yes, The words "fragile" are written on the top side. The top side is the side leaned away from the baggage cart. You know, the thing with wheels that is INTENDED to roll easily. A few minutes after I snaped this picture, my other piece of checked luggage, (the one with my dangerous tools like screwdrivers and a wooden mallet) rolled out of the cart and onto the wet concrete. I had to tap on the glass to get a baggage handler to pick it up and put it back in the cart.

The stumps are hydrocal castings from a latex mold as described in the Hayden / Frery books on water soluable methods. The majority of the stumps need to be colored further with chalk. The dominant color of the stump comes from concrete die that was added to the hydrocal before the stumps were cast.

The base of the module is styrafoam that has been formed with a rotory brush to make a scenic contour. This was covered with a "Nutmeg" color latex paint that was used to hold down the first layer of ground foam. The second layer of ground foam was held in place with diluted matt medium. Green and black polyfiber creates the undergrowth texture seen on the left side of the module. The matt medium holds down the fiber also.
The (approximately 200) removable palm trees are made from cake decorations, bambo skewers, wire coat hangers, thinned white glue and strips of brown paper from Wal-Mart. The instructions were found in an article in Model Railroader.

Palm tree articles
"Modeling palm trees and orange groves", Model Railroader, September 1999 page 76, Realistic trees using grocery store supplies, (GROVE, "NICKLE, CHARLES")

Here are other articles that could be used to improve the palm trees. I attempted to use the feathers as fronds and did not like the results, however this could be due to my limited modeling skills. There are comercial palm trees (See * Scenery) that are outstanding in their detail, with cast trunks and feathers cut to shape, however they are outside of my price range with the number of trees needed for the module.
"Creating realistic palm trees" Railroad Model Craftsman, November 1998 page 70, ("HOLE, JACKIE")

"Modelling palm trees" Continental Modeller, February 2001 page 68, ("ADAMS, PAUL")

"Realistic palm trees on a budget" Model Railroader, July 1996 page 93, ("FRAZIER, BETTY")

Modeling the great American deserts Model Railroader, December 1983 page 111 ("JUNGE, MARK")
"Mr. Lukesh revisited, palm trees with feather fronds" Model Railroader, August 1975 page 44, ("KUYKENDALL, RON" )

"Making palm trees" , Model Railroader, December 1968 page 46, ("LUKESH, JOHN")
Then there are web sites that talk about palm tree fabrication , mostly people that hobby in war games.

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