So for Christmas I received a Campbell Grain Elevator. I opened the box screamed and closed the lid. Now that I've read the instructions a few times it seems like it's going to be a lovely build. Though it is intimidating. Never done a craftsman kit. And I know it will be a great activity to keep me busy while designing a final track plan and waiting for funds to build it. 

Any advice for a first time builder of craftsman kits? Anyone built this kit and have any pictures to share?

This past weekend I had the privelige and pleasure of visiting a modeler I have come to admire and respect. I am referring to Lance Mindheim. Lance had a holiday get together at his home in Maryland and although I live in Florida I could not pass up the opportunity to travel to Maryland, via Amtrak of course, and spend a few delightful hours admiring the Los Angeles Junction, the Downtown Spur, my personal favorite and a new N scale layout he is building for a client. Even a layout that is just track laid at this point still yields a wealth of information if you look closely.

In keeping with the holiday spirit, I decided to sit down and create some trees for the layout, specifically some pine trees using several Campbell Scale Model trees that I acquired in a trade several years ago. I don't recall seeing these at any subsequent shows, and traded a surplus Athearn boxcar for several boxes, as I think the seller was trying to unload these kits and really wanted the car I was trying to sell.

Years ago, I built this structure after seeing it in a photo in a field near a train track. It seemed it wasn't being used anymore and there was no indication in its surroundings what it may have been, as tall grass was around the area of the structure.

Anyway, I liked the look and saved it from my last layout and would like to place it in a field on my new layout - Stonehammer branch line terminus: http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/28481