Model Railroader – October 2019

October 2019 53

One solution could be to carve the

volutes and scrollwork in wood or plaster

to make molds for resin castings.

Another approach would be to create

these and other details using 3-D print-

ing technology. Most of the windows

and doors would also probably be best

modeled with 3-D-printed parts.

The wrought-iron window grates,

light fixtures, and Moorish screens

would likely have to be photo-etched.

The screens above the doors are several

inches thick, so they could possibly be

made using a 3-D printer.

For the scalloped columns in the por-

tico, one could carve a master from bass-

wood, use that to create a mold, and then

cast all six columns from resin or plaster.

The irregularly laid tile roof presents

another challenge. Although textured

styrene sheets could be used, they would

be uniform in appearance. One tech-

nique I found in an architectural model-

ing book involves using a sharp hobby

knife to split drinking straws lengthwise.

The halves are then cut to length to

model individual tiles. Handlaying indi-

vidual tiles would be tedious, but it

would better capture the irregular look

of the prototype’s roof.

The stucco walls could be built from

textured sheet styrene, but note that the

faux Moorish screens over the restroom

windows are integral to the walls and

not separate parts.

I don’t know if I’ll ever build this

structure. However, for me the most

important part of this project was draw-

ing the plans and producing this article.

I wanted to do my part to help preserve

this classic architectural design. Perhaps

my article will inspire another skilled

modeler to take up the challenge and

build the East Los Angeles Station.

Bruce Briggs lives in the Phoenix

area. This is his first article for

Model Railroader.

Research sources

The following books were invalu-

able in my research about the East

Los Angeles Station. – Bruce Briggs

The Los Angeles & Salt Lake Railroad

Company by John R. Signor (Golden

West Books, 1988)

Union Pacific in the Los Angeles

Basin by Jeff S. Asay (Signature

Press, 2010)

This street side view of the East L.A. station shows off many of its architectural details, including carved stone scrollwork,
Moorish screens above the doors, and ornate wrought-iron grates over the windows. Ivy has covered the station’s stucco walls
for most of its life. Bruce Briggs photo