Walthers Office and Guard Shack

I started with the Walthers small metal office and guard shack. 
 

I decided to elevate the building and used the foundation pieces from some Pikestuff I had sitting around. I cut apart the guard shack and made it into a switchman’s shanty. 
 

All the structures were sprayed with gray primer and the I used a variety of Vallejo paints to add color to the structures. 
 

Next up I gathered a bunch of my interior details to create an office and crew area typical of many modern railway offices. 
 

With the interior better figured out I started detailing each piece adding more details as I go. 
 

A scene

I decide to place the two structures on a small diorama representing a tie up track and a switch. Nothing fancy, just enough to tell a bit of a story. 
 

I also decide to super detail the track adding various details to the switch and rest of the track. 
 

Once all the track was in place and detailed I sprayed it all with brown camouflage paint. I then went over the track with various colors of Vallejo paints to add age and weathering. 
 

I then carefully worked in some ballast and carefully secured it around the switch.

Inching closer

Added a bunch of signs and other details to the interior. Seems like as I add I keep finding things I forgot, so I keep adding stuff. 
 

I also decided to add some interior lighting, which is not my favorite thing, but the effect is really neat and this building deserves them. 
 

The interior is neat

I like what you have done with this structure, especially the interior.  Well done.  

Must be a flood zone.

I can't think of any other reason for building up the foundation that high, except to prevent the office from falling victim to frequent inundations.

As a related thought, are there any ventilation holes in the foundation or crawlspace access? 

It's a neat idea to apply to that rather generic (and thus asking for a customization treatment) kit.  

Thanks!

Nevin: I have an affliction that I have a hard time not super detailing my building interiors. 
 

Jeff: I kind of modeled this after an office I had on the old Camas Prairie. It was actually an old depot they moved to the new site. It was not quite this high up, but was raised off the ground unlike the Walthers flat on the ground kit. The entire yard was lower then then the surrounding levy, so probably all in a flood zone. 
 

I also added a streetlight to hep illuminate the scene. 
 

I can see putting it on a

I can see putting it on a slope, with most of the foundation buried on one side and exposed on the other...   the steps being partially buried as well.

Looks Great!!

I really like the interior and the ballast too.

Thanks guys!

The ballast is a mix of medium and fine Woodland Scenics that I have added real dirt to. I have a few grades I have mixed up to represent different types of track. 
 

Always more details. 
 

Lots of pictures of the

Lots of pictures of the turnout.  What brand is it? 

Walthers.

Jim: it is a Walthers Shinohara Code 83 switch that I have added a few details to. Working on a few more layers and details. 
I added a path over the tracks, the wet spot is glue drying. 
 
 

Photo Dump

I am calling the scenery and structures complete on this build. 

Foundations - Not just for floods anymore...

Another reason for the elevated foundation could be for better unobstructed visual sight lines when vehicles are parked near the building.  

Really nice build.

tall foundations

I like them as it makes it easier to crawl under there for plumbing or other repairs. The turnout looks nice, the only thing I'd try to change is the gap between the points and the stock rail looks excessively wide. I think you got a defective batch of Great Northern decals though?  :> ) .....DaveB

Jeff and Dave.

Jeff: I think people have got use to building their models without foundations that they don’t realize buildings are usually not flat in the ground. Style of building, location, cost, all really can change why a building is built the way it is built. 
 

Dave: The switch is a stock Walthers products, I think it is a #5, which in its is an odd size turnout compared to prototypes. This is where the model reliability and fidelity have to part ways to allow equipment to navigate the turnouts. As for the Greg Northern signs, I think they are perfect. ; ). 

I saw you moved the derail Greg

Smart move.  You have a great attention for detail and we all enjoy seeing it.

Derail!

What’s funny is that as soon as I glued it down I realized it was not a great location. The more I looked at it the more it bothered me, so I moved it. 

It was missing something.

I really liked the Greg Northern office but I wanted something else. So I added a tree. 
 

Very Nice Work

Very nice work.  I like the way you painted the buildings.  The colors you used are very eye-catching.  Great overall scene.  Nice job.  Thanks for posting.

DEW

Thanks DEW

Thank you for the kind words! 
I usually prime my buildings with basic rattle can paint and various mixes of Vallejo paints to brush paint my structures. It takes time, but it the effect it well worth it in my opinion. 
 

Colors

Just wondering, if you don't mind, what colors (aside from the primer) did you use on the buildings?

DEW

Paints.

DEW:  My go to paint colors white, flat yellow, flat earth, black, I mixed the colors as needed to get the colors I wanted. 

Thanks

Greg:  Thanks for responding - Much appreciated.

DEW