www.kimoli.ch - scale landscaping

After my visit to the Cumbress & Toltec Scenic Railroad in Chama in 2013 I was extremely impressed of this kind of "timetravel" in a world, where steam locomotives still are working horses instead of "pieces of art" in a museum.
Soon I've got the idea of modelling the Chama yards in scale. Well, I had to realize that the dimensions of this project will be much bigger than I expected. I asked a friend of mine, Roland Kink, if he is interested in the project because I was looking for a sponsor and, because I have not enough space for this layout, somebody who wanted Chama in scale for himself. In Roland I found both, so the project can be realized. He also will write a big how-to story for the Swiss railroad magazine "LOKI". Perhaps we will also write an article for the guys in America, we'll see.
The plan is to finish Chama untill summer 2015. We want to present it on several exhibitions here in Europe, but closer information will follow.

On this page you can find some current information about the work. I will try to keep this up-to-date by monthly new uploads.

Kim Nipkow, Dec. 2013


An exact plan of the layout:

October 14, 2015

Well, I must admit that I am a terribly bad blogger. Almost a year has past since my last update on Chama.

But anyway, now, almost one week before the grand world premiere at the 5th US Convention in Rodgau, Germany, Chama is almost finished. I have worked very hard during the last weeks and everything is looking more and more like the real Chama.
Everything will be completed by next week.

For the ones that haven't the chance to come to Rodgau and visit Chama or just can't wait until next week, there is a possibility to get a little inside view into the project. This Friday, October 16, my sponsor Roland Kink and I are holding a lecture at the monthly meeting of the American Railroad Fans in Switzerland.

So far for the organizational part. Here are some snaps of Chama,ZH not NM (Zurich not New Mexico) ;-)

- Kim

November 9, 2014

The weather is turning worse, the model railroad season is coming!

I had a little time (I am very busy at the moment with my degree work for grammer school) to work on the Chama project in the last couple of weeks:

I ballasted the south-part of the yards and applied a dirt and earth cover for future grass.

I also picked up the work on the many structures again: The newer engine-shops building and the freighthouse (actually already the second one. The first one has been destroyed by a wrong, very agressive glue...) are ready for painting.
The remaining two roundhouse stalls are still under construction. I hope I will be able to finish them next week. Then, all three buildings will be painted and finished.

Also, there is a brand new building kit waiting: The first ever produced H0 scale Chama depot by Crystal River Products

So there is still a lot to do. But as soon as all buildings are completed, I hope, the big part of the project will be done.



Looking north, the oilhouse on the left, the engine shops on the right and the two stalls of the former roundhouse behind them.
In the back: the freighthouse "version 2.0".


All buildings are built of various styrene sheets and profiles.


The very prominent wall of the remaining Chama roundhouse under construction.


Looking south, sandhouse in the foreground, behind are the service facilities.
The freighthouse on the left is encased with corrugated iron.

August 21, 2014

The wiring is compeltely done and Chama is now fully working. First test runnings went well.

During the summer break I also weathered the tracks. I used a three steps technique: Airbrushing and staining the ties and painting the rails. As everything on this project, a step by step instruction how I did this will be published in a future article in the Swiss LOKI magazine.

Now I will start landscaping the scenery in the southern part of the yard.



The finished tracks




Airbrushing the ties in a sandtone color befor staining them with a brown - gray wash.

May 4, 2014

After a longer break I've picked up the work again.
Painting and finishing the fascia isn't really an enjoyable task. But it has to be done...

I also already have drawn the plans for the new shops building. So this will be totaly scratch built from photographs and Google earth.

On the photogrph you can see the main ON/OFF button for the layout, one of three Lenz XpressNet Digital plus plugs, and three turnout conrol switches directly built in to the fascia. Behind the fascia are the transformers for the switch machines and the digital control system.

February 26, 2014

The tracks are completely laid and wired. Switchmachines are also in place. Everything works fine so far.
The next step is to build more buildings...

December 16, 2013

The first two buildings have been finished: The oilhouse and the sandhouse.
The first one is made of styrene and the scond one of wood. Both are scratchbuilt.