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Castle Ticket Stand
The castle in Ruritania/Graustark is home to members of the royal family, but it’s also open for tours. Here you see the ticket stand where a member of the castle staff is directing tourists.
Once the groundcover has grown up around the bases, it will look better, but it’s pretty good as it is.
More Building Work
This Hauptstraße (Main Street) building was in need of some work. I’d never put the sign on the front, and some of the other signs were fading. In addition, the “foundation” was made of cast material that didn’t stand up to the weather as well as I’d hoped.
It looks a lot better now. The sign is using a new preservative technique that I first tried on my castle sign… I thoroughly coated it with UV Resist, then once it was dry encased it in resin, then resprayed with UV resist. We’ll see how it holds up, but I’m hopeful.
Summer cloudy day run
Structure refurb
This switch tower was having some issues. I’d used acetate for the windows, which was yellowing and deteriorating. Cracks in the windows were letting in dirt, the LEDs were fading, and the base was a little warped.
I Love Summer
Haven’t posted in a while… work, kids, other hobbies, etc, have me pretty busy. Bought an M998 (HMMWV) that’s eaten up a lot of time, but yesterday I was running trains and thought “This looks pretty good, I should take a picture”
Another slow period
Nothing much exciting is going on with the railroad at the moment. I’m working to fix some of the buildings that have deteriorated due to the weather, and weeding. I did add some dirt to bring up the level of the “land” so I could get more ballast on the track. But it’s mostly just been running trains and admiring the view.
Another video
Station for Castle
On a forum I frequent, someone suggested creating a “whistle stop” type station to put near the castle, so tourists have a way to get there. Here’s what I came up with.
Continue reading Station for Castle
Castle Color
Castle progress, now painted in its “final” color
Kite Kid
Here’s something that was suggested on one of the online forums I follow, a kite flying kid to go with the picnickers.
Logging Scene
Added figures and logs to the crane by the sawmill
Picnic Scene
Working on a picnic scene
More Castle Progress
This is cumulative from the last four days…
Here’s the gatehouse
Progress on fitting the roof curve ot the turret 
A different view
The arcade
Progress on the main building
Arcade windows and door
Started on the Castle
I’m adding a castle (probably the final building) to the layout this spring. I’ve started working on the overall plan/layout and checking the size to ensure it won’t overwhelm the layout…
Here’s an elevation of the front… 
Winter Quiet
I’m working on indoor projects at the moment, as the weather hasn’t cooperated for outdoor/train running time. A couple buildings are being fixed up (and a new one built) and I’ve managed to make some more progress on my crossing gates. I’m also working on a Z scale on G scale flatcar, that will be pulled by my LGB loco while a Marklin Z scale loco goes around it. More when it gets warmer.
Night Time in Ruritania
Here’s the locomotive servicing section
You can see the HSB passenger cars in front of the station Continue reading Night Time in Ruritania
Another run of Frank S.
Ticket, Please
LGB in the Snow
I love my live steamers, but the sparkies need some winter love, too