My Favorite Structure: The Thunder Mesa Depot | Workbench Wednesday

A visitor to the studio recently asked what my favorite structure was. It was very hard to choose just one but in the end it came down to the Thunder Mesa Depot. This structure is my version of Ward Kimball's famed Grizzly Flats Depot, crossed with the Frontierland - New Orleans Square Depot from Disneyland. In this WBW, I give a little history of both of those stations and describe the features of my model and how it came about.
Thanks for watching!
Dave
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Music:
"Cowboy Sting" by Kevin MacLeod - KZbin Audio Library
"Reuben's Train" KZbin Audio Library

[@damianstellabott3613]

The interior of Frontierland station had clear oak bead board siding on the walls and false ceiling. The side facing the berm is a mirror image of the track side. The berm side bay was for ticket sales, and the trackside bay was the telegraph office. On the interior the ticket office had partition walls similar to what to Main St station that did not go all the way to the ceiling. The telegraph office had a low "fence" so guests could see the functioning telegraph. An endless magnetic tape machine was hidden in the cabinet below and was wired to the receiver so that it would click away all day. The transom windows over each door had crank mechanisms to open and shut them. The door on the waiting room end had display cases mounted on the wall flanking it. These were moved to Main St station in the 90s. Much of this remained in the station building until the early 2000s when the station was gutted and converted to a PBX for DCA. I took some photos of the inside a week prior.

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

Thank you for the information!

[@johnbanicki7232]

Great building. Thanks for the background.

[@jimmanley4300]

When I think of a depot, that building shape is always what comes to mind.

[@user-bm8dz6zd5z]

Dave you should be an art teacher. You are really talented and inspiring!

[@Hanzo.Azmodan]

Yes, I have to agree that the shape of that depot is the de facto design of a wild west railroad station. It's really a lovely building and a credit to your skill Dave.

[@stevemellin5806]

Glad I got to see Ward Kimball s station at his house before it burnt down . what a tragedy.

[@adamwalker3071]

Thank you so much. That is my favorite thing on your layout as well, and one I hope to build myself one day.

[@doncure2019]

Another great job Dave

[@lynnmccurdythehdmmrc2561]

Great lesson in history and the making of your depot. Thanks for sharing.

[@chrislambert5249]

Thank you!!

[@trishameigs1554]

Interesting tonight! Really enjoyed it!

[@mransr]

Just checked that auction site, they had 2 SSltd Grizzly Flats depots, an HO one for $9.99 AND an O-scale one for $169.99

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

Wow!

[@scottrobertson56]

Wow times two!

[@mransr]

Opps sorry guys, it was $99 for the HO one, and it looks like is sold for about $150.

[@loispadgett6306]

I enjoyed the story behind the station and why you built it. Thanks for sharing wirh us. GOD BLESS 🚂💖🚂💖🚂💖🚂💖

[@allenlandis4504]

A really great-looking moddel. Another great show in the can..

[@WMTrackdog]

Your a talented artist and story teller.

[@oliverwebb7304]

Love it. How about adding a Wells Fargo wagon...

[@fairestofthemalllocomotive4802]

My favorite structure on the layout!

[@davevan8864]

Lots of inspiration there......many thanks

[@stug1939]

also the depot in the movie was located in Fulton corners which included buildings moved to the set location from Pasadena which were slated to be demolished, saved breifly for use in the movie. starred Burl Ives and the same kids from Song of the South...not sure which movie came first

[@vito3533]

I’ve been following your channel for a little while and you definitely got me hooked on On30 and more into American modeling (I typically did European G scale alone, now I do both). Finally tackling the project of my own On30 9x4 layout after a few micro layouts. Where is the best place to start with making structures, to any capacity? I am a fairly novice builder in terms of structures and you seem like the perfect person to ask for advice about anything of the sort. Where are the best places to find materials? What materials work the most effectively in 1/48 scale? Materials to avoid? Cheers, Dave

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

Start with a kit you like. You can find more info on suppliers on my website: thundermesa.studio/useful-links/

[@gardenrailroading]

Hi Dave, not sure what sound system you use for the Thunder Mesa Depot, however you can use a Adafruit Audio FX Sound Board for about $25 and another $10 for a small amp to have a great sound system with up to 11 triggers. I made a clinic on building them for our train club.

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

Good info thank you!

[@txag007]

Great video Dave! Will the Golden Horseshoe Saloon get built in town or is there not enough room to support an establishment of that sort?

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

That would be pretty big!

[@rjjrrailsgscalesolenske5231]

Have you done a video on how you make your buildings on cnc ,what type do you have and is it extremely difficult to do. I want to possibly get one and make buildings for my g scale layout. Unfortunately not many options out there for g scale thks in advance