Backdrops

[Keith Hayes]

There is no end to keeping all you nitpickers happy. Chris you better not look for the RGS boxcar with the setting sun logo!

Jim, I think you are talking about Cloud City Coal across from the roundhouse? That has been there for a while, and uses a Banta coal house. Seems like I got some Monster log siding like Jeff is using to create the office for that operation. The spur currently can host three cars past the crossing, and I am strongly considering extending the spur 2-3" to accommodate one more carload. I also need to build a second coal house for the extended siding--not sure if I will use a Crystal River model or freelance it. Plans also include modeling the locomotive coal bins under the giant white rectangle that Robert likes so much. A lot of coal moved across the line!

[Keith Hayes]

Just for you, Chris.

All the photos I found indicated the cars had nice whitewall tires. So I got some white paint out for the coupe.

Sporty!

[Jim Courtney]

 . . . that loading dock looks in need of some dirt topping.

Are you sure it's dirt, Chris? More likely horse manure.

[South Park]

"All the photos I found indicated the cars had nice whitewall tires. So I got some white paint out for the coupe.

Sporty!"

==========================

  I would bet finding photos of several year old cars around these
Front Range mining towns with whitewalls would prove difficult,
if not impossible.  It just wasn't in keeping with the hardscrabble
and practical living paradigm.

[Mike Trent]

Not everyone in the 30's lived a "hardscrabble" life.

I'm sure white walls weren't common in and near the Front Range, but there were some.

As an example of a well paying supplimental occupation in the 30's, consider bootlegging. Don't ask me how I might know that....

[Robert McFarland]

Evidently there was some bootlegging going on in Como.

[Keith Hayes]

Well, I cannot say for certain, but my paternal Grandfather told stories of bootlegging along the South Platte. My memories are dim, but the details were too close to not be real. Being the border between two counties (Jefferson and Douglas) and remote from the respective County Seats, and with a convenient distribution system in the railroad, the South Platte was a bootleggers dream.

And only the coupe will receive white walls.

[South Park]

I did not say everyone lived a hardscrabble life in the 30's.

I said it would be difficult to find a photo of a car in a Front
Range mining town wearing whitewalls.  Hardscrabble life
is just one reason.  Another would be the bad roads that would
turn whitewalls into dark greywalls in no time flat.  Another
reason would be the practical vs. "showy" lifestyle that miners
and mining communities were known for.  Where would a
person wishing to be flashy with his whitewalls take his car
to show them tires off ???  Down a muddy road to anywhere ?

I run whitewalls on several of my early cars.  They are a PITA
to keep white, even when they rarely get on dirt roads.  I can only
imagine how fast a nice set of whitewalls would grey out in 1930's
Leadville.  More backwater towns would be even worse !

Back country moonshiners did not want to draw attention to
themselves by being flashy.  It only drew Johnny Law.

[Chris Walker]

Since I'm not from Whitewall country, how do these two Model A's fit into your quest for a photo.....
see top photo: http://c-sng-discussion-forum.254.s1.nabble.com/Vehicles-td2435i80.html#a10360

[South Park]

  Just the sun on blackwalls.  You'd need a much closer, better detailed photo
to show them to be actual whitewalls.  You can see the same effect on the
uncleaned blackwalls on my truck:

[Keith Hayes]

I was at a Kinkos/ FedEx place this week and noticed that they will do larger format prints too. The Walmart website is programmed to a couple sizes of prints. Kinkos seems to have the capacity to run more different sizes and has the advantage of different weight papers and different finishes, in the event anyone is interested.

[Paul R.]

Keith and all,
The Leadville depot that I am building will be facing the operator, is there a commercial backdrop I can use? and maybe on towards Climax?. Paul R.

[Paul R.]

All,
I have done a search  and Backdrop warehouse has several I wonder if they would be suitable,  there is also a photo on line that may be ok. Paul R.

[Keith Hayes]

Paul,I think Backdrop Warehouse is your ticket. The view west from Leadville toward the Sawatch range is spectacular and easily photographed.

[Paul R.]

Thanks Keith ,
That's what I need to know. Paul R.

[Paul R.]

Keith,
 we have fixed the first of 3 backdrops photo shows the backdrop hanging to give an idea how it would look.Paul R.

[Fred H.]

Paul R., that looks fantastic. Wish I was modeling a smaller scale. The majesty of the mountains really transport you there, don’t they? As for me, my wife is a landscape painter. Maybe I can talk her into helping out my cause.  Undoubtedly it will cost me dearly. If you think OUR hobby is costly, you should bunk with a shoe collector. — Fred H.

[Keith Hayes]

That depot is looking mighty fine!

[Jeff Young]

Looks great, Paul!