More Than a Model: The Scratchbuilt Spirit of Beaver Creek Railroad

In the realm of model railroading, scratchbuilding and kitbashing represent the highest expressions of craftsmanship and storytelling. While kits and ready-to-run models offer convenience, they often lack the distinctiveness and historical character needed to portray specific places and times. Enter the world of custom construction, where modelers create one-of-a-kind structures that both serve the layout operationally and ground it visually in a specific era. A perfect example is the 4-track engine terminal built for the Beaver Creek O Scale Railroad by Dan and Armando Vargas of Images of the Past.

Why Scratchbuild or Kitbash?

Custom structures allow modelers to replicate prototypes that don't exist in kit form. Whether it's a unique railroad terminal, a regionally specific station, or a long-demolished shop building, these efforts breathe authenticity into a scene.

Publications like Model Railroader, O Scale Trains, and Railroad Model Craftsman have long showcased the value of this approach, documenting projects where modelers translated archival research into physical models using a mix of scratchbuilding and kitbashing.

The Vargas brothers’ engine terminal fits right into this tradition, an original creation tailored to the needs and visual aesthetic of their railroad, assembled from a mix of kitbashed components, styrene, cardstock, and balsa wood.

The Beaver Creek Terminal: Vision and Foundation

Set within the highly detailed Beaver Creek O Scale Railroad, the terminal needed to function as a focal point, a home base for motive power and a hub of industrial activity. Drawing inspiration from mid-20th-century servicing facilities, Dan and Armando sought to capture the look and feel of a working steam-era engine terminal.

Their design process began with historical research: period photographs, track plans, and architectural references all informed the overall shape and features of the structure. Rather than replicate a single prototype, they synthesized features from several sources to create a plausible yet unique facility, grounded in railroad realism.

Materials, Kitbashing, and Construction

Unlike enclosed engine houses, the Beaver Creek terminal is an open-air

facility, built without walls, windows, doors, or roof vents. This design reflects many real-life terminals that favored airflow and accessibility over full enclosure, especially in milder climates or during transitional diesel operations.

The model was constructed from a mix of kitbashed parts, sheet styrene, cardstock, and balsa wood. Kit components were repurposed for structural framing details, while styrene and cardstock were used to fabricate roof panels, fascia, and other architectural accents. Balsa wood played a crucial role in forming the visible roof support beams and cross bracing, providing both strength and a wood-like texture that responds well to stain and weathering.

This minimalist design required careful planning to ensure that the structure appeared robust and prototypical, even without the visual weight of enclosed walls.

Lighting, Detailing, and Atmosphere

While the Beaver Creek engine terminal does not feature interior lighting or complex shop detailing, the structure’s sense of realism is achieved through its carefully considered architecture and weathering. The Vargas brothers focused on making the terminal visually convincing from both a railfan’s and operator’s perspective, ensuring it conveyed the story of a hard-working facility weathered by years of use.

Subtle details such as layered roof textures, realistic proportions, and exposed balsa roof trusses contribute to the building’s authenticity. The exterior is brought to life through nuanced weathering techniques, including airbrushed soot, chalk dusting, and hand-painted wear, giving the impression of a well-used terminal that has seen decades of steam and diesel service. Every beam and post was treated to reflect the passage of time and exposure to the elements.

Crafting the Beaver Creek Railroad

Beyond the engine terminal, Dan and Armando Vargas are the visionary builders behind the entire Beaver Creek O Scale Railroad. Through their company, Images of the Past, they have dedicated themselves to constructing a layout that captures the essence of mid-20th-century American railroading. Their meticulous attention to detail, commitment to historical accuracy, and mastery of modeling techniques have resulted in a layout that is both operationally functional and visually stunning.

The Beaver Creek Railroad showcases a variety of scratchbuilt and kitbashed structures, realistic scenery, and carefully planned trackwork, all designed to create an immersive experience that transports viewers to a bygone era of railroading.

The Vargas brothers' work stands as a testament to the artistry and dedication that define the model railroading hobby.

For more information and to view their portfolio, visit www.imagesrr.com.

Why It Matters

Scratchbuilding and kitbashing are more than just modeling techniques—they are powerful tools for storytelling. For Dan and Armando Vargas, the Beaver Creek engine terminal was designed to look like it belonged on the railroad: appropriate to the era, plausible in its setting, and seamlessly integrated into the larger narrative of the layout.

Every structural choice, from the open-air design to the weathered textures, was made with a clear intention to support the realism and atmosphere of the scene.

This approach, driven by the Vargas brothers' deep understanding of railroad history and their commitment to capturing the essence of the era, is what gives layouts like Beaver Creek their depth and authenticity. Structures like this terminal don’t merely fill space; they establish place and bring the railroad’s story to life.

Final Thoughts

In a hobby increasingly filled with ready-to-run and prefab options, projects like the Beaver Creek engine terminal remind us of the power of creativity and customization. Kitbashing and scratchbuilding are alive and well, especially in the hands of professional modelers like Dan and Armando Vargas, who blend technique with vision to create scenes that are as historically grounded as they are visually stunning.

If you're looking to elevate your own layout, take a cue from their work: start with research, use what you have, and don’t be afraid to cut up a few kits along the way.