James River Branch: Water Main Valves

Naughtright Water Main Valves

It was done solely as an excuse to use a neat MakeMyModel item (#311000105). But it also added interest to an area that was otherwise just weeds. Not that it's important to fill every available square inch of layout space with stuff—empty or "negative" space is just as important to have as details; it just seemed like a natural location for such an item. And being right at the edge of the layout would permit close examination.

Being subject to close examination, however, meant making an improvement: replacing the lumpy, solid disks that were supposed to be the valve handles with something more like the real thing. Old etched brass freight car brake wheels were just the trick.

Step one was to make a foundation. The ground was on a gentle slope, and I thought it might look odd having the valves sprouting out of a grassy hillside. So I made a styrene "box" with a recessed "lid" into which the valves and some gravel would go.

Step two was to finish the valves. The rapid prototyping material used by MakeMyModel has a waxy surface that's difficult to paint. I've found that thoroughly cleaning it with rubber cement thinner and a stiff brush is effective. After attaching the brake wheels, I painted and weathered the valves.

Step three was to make a fence. I was about to scratch-build one when I came across a gorgeous Z scale etched nickel fence set from Hugwa & WiygN (#220000968) in my bottomless pit of etched metal kits and details. A single length of fence was simply bent at its posts, which were installed into holes drilled in the foundation part. (By the way, here's a seriously bizarre thing that happened: I completed the foundation before finding the fence, and I used totally arbitrary dimensions based on what looked good. And... the fence exactly fit the foundation!)

Step four was to install the valves on the foundation, and bond a layer of track ballast in place with a few drops of cyanoacrylate.

Step five was to apply final weathering, particularly to the fence. In order to avoid plugging the nearly-microscopic holes, the lightest wisps of rust paint were dry-brushed onto the fence.

Step six was to excavate an opening in the layout scenery with a sharp knife, and glue the assembly in place.

Step seven was to admire!

Municipal water main valves can make for interesting and colorful details.

Here's a before-and-after of the valve handles.

A foundation is made from sheet and strip styrene stock.

The parts are painted, assembled and weathered.

A hole is cut to accept the finished detail assembly.

The assembly is set into a blob of glue in the hole.