Assembly of the ATSFYV Interlocking tower at Merced, CA

1
Assembly of the ATSF/YVInterlocking tower at
Merced, CA

• Irish Tracklayer
• 2006
• The last train ran over the Yosemite Valley Rail
  Road August 24, 1945. The tower was completed in
  August 1906 and demolished in 1947. The tower had
  a nine lever interlocking machine.
• This is the first laser cut building produced by
  Irish Tracklayer. These instructions are not all
  inclusive as modelers may wish to add their own
  interpretations as to coloring and interior
  detail.
• A complete interlocking system of levers, cranks,
  rods, rod supports and exit cranks are available
  to add real purpose to the tower. To a limited
  extent, these can be made to move using switch
  machine drives.
• Visit irishtracklayer.com for new products.
• Irish Tracklayer
• 2682 West Palo Alto Avenue
• Fresno, CA 93711

2
Wall construction

• Paint all parts at this time. The first coats of
  paint should be added before removing the parts
  from the sprue.
• Suggested colors are Floquil depot buff for the
  sides and roof brown for the trim. The window
  frames are white. The roof is red. Add any
  weathering, especially if your technique requires
  a rubbing pressure. Add the glazing after the
  paint has dried.
• Add glazing at this time.

3
Window assembly

• The small window goes on top of the large window.
  This is the upper sash. The other parts on the
  sheet of windows are trim boards for the exterior
  walls.
• The South and North sides are the 15 foot sides,
  the East and West sides are the 14 foot sides.

4
Window assemblyPage 2

• View of upper window being attached to window
  frame.
• Adding window to wall. This can be done before
  assembly of the walls or later.

5
Adding the floors

• After two walls are attached to each other, add
  the bottom floor. It might help to draw a line
  where the second floor attaches to the two walls
  as an aid to keeping everything square.
• If you are going to add some interior detail,
  this might be the time to do it as the building
  is quite open. The kit includes a lobby gate,
  desk and railing. Since I do not have access to
  any interior shots of either floor, use your
  imagination. My recollection of the Fresno tower
  was a wall with a 2 x 10 to act as a counter top
  to set a lantern on.
• After your have completed the interior and added
  any lighting effects desired, glue the remaining
  two walls, being careful to match the 14 foot
  side with its mate. Then the 15 foot side should
  be in the proper place.
• If you want to add the interlocking levers and
  make them move, holes should be cut in the floor
  before assembly to accept the rod and crank
  movement.

6
Adding the floorsPage 2

• The doors probably should be added after the
  closest wall is in place to avoid clearance
  problems.

7
Adding the ceiling

• The ceiling is made of two parts which allow it
  to fit tightly on the building. The roof is
  square but the building is 14 x 15 feet. Glue
  the simulated tongue and grove centered on the
  roof base. Center the assembly on the roof,
  measuring carefully in all four directions.

8
Fitting the roof

• After gluing the ceiling to the roof base, test
  it for a tight fit on the completed four wall
  structure.

9
Adding the ceilingPage 2

• Center the roof/ceiling assembly as shown in the
  photographs. Measure each side and glue in place
• The roof joists and trim board can be added at
  this time. 2x6 material has been provided for
  this purpose.

10
Roof construction
11
Roof construction continued
12
Shingle the roof

• The shingle should be painted before attaching to
  the roof. The wood roof should be painted the
  same color as the shingles. Lap the shingles as
  would be done in common construction practice.
  If you do not like these asphalt shingles,
  simulated wood shingles can be made scissors and
  a strip of paper. With this method you can create
  irregular width shingles for a more common roof
  appearance.
• Trim each side as you complete it. The hole for
  the chimney will be made last after you decide
  what side of the roof looks best.

13
Shingle the roofPage 2

• The completed roof is shown in the bottom
  picture. A Grandt Line chimney has been provided
  but you must make the square box that is shown in
  the photo on the first page.

14
Completing the model

• The stairs steps are made of 2x10 boards. You
  must cut them to match the width of the landing
  provided.
• Trim boards will be added at this time if not
  already installed.
• The sign Merced Tower No.2 can be made by
  copying the drawings included with the model,
  using the copy machine to increase or decrease
  the size as needed. Glue the resulting copy to
  the tower boards included or make different sized
  ones for other names.
• The Merced tower sign on the preproduction model
  was made taking an alphabet that seemed right,
  using a drawing program to stretch it to the
  proper size and printing it. You could even make
  your own decals from such a drawing.

15
Window screens

• The pictures show a typical window screen. Note
  that the screen is flush with the window trim.
  The half round wood molding holds the screen in
  place. It is one-half inch in diameter.
• The bottom frame is thicker than the other three
  sides.
• The hook that holds the frame to the structure is
  too thin to photo etch, but could be simulated
  with thin styrene. The attachment in the photo
  is a modern style device.
• Screens were made of woven wire. Reguardless of
  original color, the would be come blacked with
  soot from the passing stream locomotives.