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Fran
and Miles Hale
Model Railroad Builders
5608 North
Mercier Drive
Kansas City, MO 64118
phone/fax 816-746-1567
custom model railroad builders model
railroad insurance estimate value replacement custom model railroad builders custom model railway builders HO scale O scale S scale N scale G scale Z scale HO gauge O gauge S gauge N gauge G gauge Z gauge HO guage O guage S guage N guage G guage Z guage 3/4" scale 3/4" gauge/4" guage 1 indoor layouts outdoor garden layout railroad railroading custom built structures clinics plans model plan fran and miles hale woodland scenics super clinic university, master model railroaders, mmr, model railroad designer, model railroad planner
Gallery
Click on gallery images for larger versions.
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The Unitah Water Car was the subject of a construction article in the Sept/Oct 1987 issue of the “Narrow Gauge and Short Line Gazette” the car and the tanks are scratch built. |
The
Cork Gulch Turntable was an engineering marvel in the late
1800’s.
The hillside turntable is modeled here with floor to ceiling
scenery. |
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The May 2001 issue of the “Railroad Model Craftsman” shows the stencil painting techniques we use for realistic background painting. Its inventor John Lowrance, MMR and Miles present this technique at national and regional conventions. |
Graham
Mine is perched on a hillside and has an animated mine shaft
hoist cable. The cable slows and stops and then picks up
speed only to slow and reverse the direction again. See the animated
clip for a close-up of this action. Click
here for Action Clip |
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 The
photo to the left was the cover of the “RMC” for April
1994. It shows the method we use for building tall pine trees in
scale.
These trees can be five feet or down to one foot in height. This
is one of the few methods we know to make truly scale trees for
forest scenes. |
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 This
engine in 1/8 scale Live Steam was the cover shot for July
1991 on “Live Steam” magazine. The article featured
our way of laying realistic looking track in 1/8 scale
for outside riding railroads. |
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This is the engine facility for the yards of Fran and Miles’ South Park Valley railroad in On3. |
This complex of buildings graced the Dec. 1983 cover of “Model Railroader” magazine. All the buildings are scratch built. Some are built on blocks of wood while others are built with framed walls, just like the prototype. The buildings were done from drawings and photos by J. Harold Geissel. Note the gingerbread trim on two of the buildings. |
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 The roundhouse won the RMC magazine Craftsman Trophy at the 1984 Kansas City NMRA National Convention. |
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The
back details of the roundhouse can be seen in this shot. |
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We
use even grained basswood splines for our subroadbed. These splines
assume a spiral easement curve automatically. We
also draw the plan full size on the floor and then plumb bob
the track center to the benchwork. This ensures accurate layout
for the mainline and sidings. |
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This
small gas station in O scale always gets attention with its rotating
pegasus emblem. Click here for Action Clip |
Realistic
animation is our specialty. We strive for smooth and even movement
at a speed that looks to be scale. Here is an oil pump performing
its continuous job. |
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This shot was the lead to an article in RMC magazine showing our method of making a solid sided car look like individual boards. Air brushing for effect and for weather is a hallmark of our model building. We have been matching custom colors for architects and engineers for 25 years. |
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This model of the LaGrange Interurban depot was done for the Oldham County Historical Society. This project included the entire set including the surrounding buildings and the ground around the depot used to turn the cars. This display is interactive and can be seen in LaGrange, Kentucky. Just touch the button and the interurban (streetcar) will run or the display and then reappear, turn around, and stop at the depot. We do museum quality work for everyone of our clients! |
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This
grain elevator was used for the article "
Scratchbuilding the Silos" in the February 1984 issue of "O" Scale Railroading. The silos on the Great Southern of Lorrell Joiner were already built so this model was used for the step by step photos to illustrate the article. |
All
text and photos are copyrighted material of Fran and Miles Hale. No
text or iimages may be copied, altered, or used without written
permission.
© 2004
Fran and Miles Hale
