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The overall view of Gila Pacific layout #2 underconstruction which shows the switchback layout being incorperated into the newer layout. Both ends of the switchback have been extended to allow longer trains.
The masonite mountain profile board has been added to the right. It is attacked to the layout joists with 3/4" x 3/4" wood the full height of the masonite.
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The Gila turntable pit has been added to the right end of the switchback layout. The extended switchback lead can be clearly seen. The tall montains have been added and the photo backdrop has been moved to this new location.
The turntable is a Cliff Line Scale Models Gallows Turn Table kit that is mounted on a block of wood which is mounted on an Atlas turntable. The Atlas unite is mounted under the layout and the block passes through a round brick covered center.
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Bob Silivera's Tina Pacific pile driver is at work on the bridge leading to Pondersoa. This is an operating pile driver and was a sight to see work.
A new arched bridge abutment has been add to the end of the track. It was constructed of balsa sheet that has the rock work burned in with a small soldering iron.
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The layout is nearing completion with the linoieum backdrop installed and painted. The clouds and background still have to be painted and the front edge of the layout needs plaster, rockmolds and painting. That is a much younger Ron at the control panel. Only one cab has been installed with the cab to the left still to be built and added.
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The town of Gila and the Gila Station with the backdrop clouds and mountains finished. Many of the structure details still have to be added. The front balcony has to be add to the Gila Gazette building and the Gila Freight House is still in the framing stages.
This is a Campbell Scale Models kit that was built in stages until the complete framed building was finished and then it was replace with a scratchbuilt model of the finished structure that was built from a Jack Work article several years before.
Both shorty passenger cars built from one Ambroid combination passenger car kit are complete. One of these cars was shown under construction on the Layout 1 photo section.
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This phase of the Gila Pacific RR was started in 1972 and moved to its present location in 2003. It was basically finished although there were a lot of areas that I wanted to refine and do-over. I built several electronic controls, starting with the Lynn Wiscott tat-2 trottle and finished with hand held throttle. The problem was by the time I got around to building the published throttles the components were obsolete and hard to find. I was also experiementing with Modeltronics and Lambert self contained sound units with not good results. I kept blowing speekers.
These setbacks nudged me into 1.5 scale live steam - the sound was "true steam" and good control was built in.
Durning this time the Gila Pacific RR roster grew to about 35 locomotives and many freight and passenger cars.
See
Layout #1 for the track plan and photo's of the first phase of the Gila Pacific RR.
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