RRModels006

Model Railroads

Page 6

Housing the Little People (and their animals) Continues

The Barn

The third building to be installed was the barn. It was purchased online May 29, 2009 as a new, pre-painted kit – Piko 62120. It was very easy to assemble. The complications started when I decided that the barn needed a high foundation to make it look more massive than the farm house.

Publicity photo, not mine…..

Above – July 13, 2009 – The foundation height is roughed in.

Above – July 14, 2009 – The Garden Boss and I decided that the way to get the barn up higher would be to put it on a high stone foundation. Forms were made, mortar was poured and small pea gravel was floated on the wet mortar. Because the form is tapered at 45 degrees under each end, smaller pebbles are being used at each end.

Above – July 15, 2009 – The side foundation walls are out of the forms. Note the 45 degree angle on the wall and on the (upside-down) transverse form piece underneath.

Above – July 27, 2009 – The forms were shortened and the end pieces of the foundation were poured.

Above – July 27, 2009 – The four pieces were then assembled using mortar cement. A reinforcing screen and treated lumber mounting piece were fabricated. The foundation will be filled to the top of the 2×4. It will create a void to allow the final pour on site to fill in the pea gravel base.

Above – July 27, 2009 – The 2×4 was wrapped in parchment paper to assist release after the pour. The wire handles help with lifting the increasingly heavy piece.

Above – July 27, 2009 – After the initial pour.

Above – July 27, 2009 – Preparing the base with pea gravel.

Above – July 30, 2009 – Here's the deal: (1) The wood plug (2×4) was knocked out leaving a hole in the center for mortar to run through so it could lock onto the gravel (2) The screen and treated wood mounting assembly was put in place (3) the mortar was poured (4) the mortar was smoothed (5) the gap in the corner will be repaired.

Above – August 1, 2009 – The barn is mounted on the foundation. Note the screw in the lower middle of the long wall.

Above – August 1, 2009 – The screw noted above, and one on the opposite side, is attached to a treated piece of wood inside the barn. That piece, in turn, is screwed down to the original piece of treated wood that was floated in the mortar as shown two pictures up.

Above – August 1, 2009 – The newly painted barn roof was installed. The graphics on the roof, shown in the first two photos, were not in keeping with the times.

Above – August 1, 2009 – The corner gaps were sealed.

Above – August 1, 2009 – Dirt has been moved in around the foundation with a dirt and gravel (crusher fines) driveway up to the door put in place.

Future – The plants, people and animals are next.

Above – March 15, 2010 – Hmm, looks like we are losing ground on this project. The pebbles are falling off the west side base, the east side dirt ramp into the barn has crumbled and not many plants are growing.

Above – June 29, 2011 – A year and some later the plants are looking MUCH better, so let's address the east side ramp and pebble loss.

Above – June 29, 2011 – Forms were made in the workshop and a new ramp has been poured using the same method as shown previously for the base. A hole was dug for it. The temporary aluminum sheet keeps the loose pebbles under the barn base from filling the hole.

Above – June 29, 2011 – The ramp is installed.

Above – June 29, 2011 – Acrylic mortar sealant is used to seal the ramp to the barn base; it will also be used reattach the pebbles that have fallen off the barn base. The missing roof segment was an accident but it allowed a chance to improve the mounting of the inside light.