Static Loco on Display - 1
Y
ears ago I built an O Scale Indiana Harbor Belt engine
model. It's un-powered, collecting dust, and really does
not fit as an operating unit with my 1950s themed lay-
out. Unlike full-sized railroads, I could not simply send it to the
open hearth via a scrap dealer. It is disappointing that no IHB
steam engines were ever preserved, so I decided to make my
own vintage engine display.
Rather than weathering it like a running engine, I used powders
to make it look like it has been sitting outside for years, patiently
waiting for local volunteers
to repaint it. I assumed that a
static engine would not have
a coal load but might have a
steel sheet welded across the bin to give it some shelter from
the weather. To protect the engine from graffiti and over-enthu-
siastic railfans, a chain link fence was needed.
Starting from the ground up, a piece of 3/8” plywood painted
gray forms the base. A length of O scale flex track provides rails
for the unit. I painted the rails a rust color and put down a little
ballast and ground foam between the ties. Track under a static
engine is definitely not up to mainline standards. So gave it a
buried, over-grown look. I glued down ground foam and weed
tufts to the base to complete the un-kept look. Then I sealed
everything with a heavy coat of matte medium.
To construct a 6’ scale fence, I drilled holes in code 100 rail for
the posts. I mounted them on the base, and soldered music wire
through the holes as pipes. A gate was formed out of brass rod.
Tulle was wrapped around the frame as fence fabric and tied
off at intervals. Then a fresh coat of silver paint finished the
1: An overhead view of IHB 102, an 0-8-0 locomotive on dis-
play. The rails along with the locomotive are slowly rusting
away. Weeds beginning to grow in the display are due to lack
of maintenance.
1
Recycling that unused locomotive ...
Static loco
on display
– Daniel Kleine
Model Photos by the author
MRH-Sep 2013
