Going to try my hand of creating videos as my layout progresses and how to videos.  Enjoy making videos plus it will keep me motivated to keep progressing on the layout.  

First went up today.

https://youtu.be/xku7UuoocF4

Joe

Creating the next background structure for my Fort Smith, Arkansas layout.  Colonial Bread Industrial Bakery.  This is an ITLA scale models laser cut wood kit.  
 

Like many Fort Smith companies served by the Missouri Pacific in the 1970s, the Colonial Bakery building has been torn down.  So, I have taken modeler’s license until I have time to do research including locating pictures of the original building.  
 

Another structure completed for the layout. Ward Cold Storage Company.  The look I was going for is an older building, built 30-40 years before the 1970’s era, showing normal aging but maintained and still in use.  As the majority of the building will get the same color, I went ahead and put the main walls of the kit together using CA before painting. 
 

Completed the bridge section today.  Performed my first powered run!

Joe

Last section running to the bridge was placed Sunday.  Since then I have “manually” run a string of cars across the bridge in both directions.  Very smooth running and no problems noted.  Last step is running power.  

I would consider this project to be one of the more “challenging” I have taken on.  Could have made it a lot simpler and gone with a simple 2x4 to bridge this section.  But wanted something functional that would also draw interest to the layout.

Fort Smith Biscuit Company ready for the layout!  

The kit is not an exact replica, (Plan on scratch building at some point), but pretty close to the first building that once stood in Fort Smith, Arkansas. (A second building was later constructed across the street with the two connected by a skyway)

Finding modern images of the buildings has proven difficult but was able to find early 20th century postcards images as a modeling guide.

The crew was working hard today laying the approach to the lift-up bridge section.  
 

‘Joe

As the paint dries on the bridge project, I was able to wrap-up a structure project for the layout.  Quick application of dulcote to kill the shine on the downspouts and will call it done.

This structure will not be served by the railroad, but will be used to hide where a building flat ends.  (Lance Mindheim trick)

What’s an old brick building without a ghost sign?  In this case a long forgotten advertisement for “Orange Crush”.

Joe

Bridge project complete.  This will be part of a “lift-up” hinged section that allows entry into the train room and continuous run when wanting to watch the trains.
 

Joe

Completed my first test run on the new layout!  Locomotive ran the full mainline and yard tracks without issue.

Next step is to start measuring footprint for industries that will be switched and start laying spur lines. 
 

Video is from an earlier “section test” after finishing wiring and track cleaning.