Walthers’ Washington Salvage series in HO scale offers the model railroader a range of versatile and flexible models that will enhance not only their intended subject but other model scenes as well.

Walthers Cornerstone
Washington Salvage Scrap Yard in HO scale

by George Riley/photos by the author

Whether they are called "junk yards" or the more politically correct "recycling center," salvage facilities are an important function in many manufacturing processes as well as providing a significant cash stream to the railroads. The salvage facility is the collection point for reusable raw materials that would otherwise be deposited in landfills. Nearly every category from drink bottles, glass, and cardboard to a variety of metals and worn out machinery can be found on the premises of these businesses.

On a model railroad, a salvage yard is a natural industry that can easily be included on layouts representing not only different regions, but also different eras. Whether built to fill in an empty corner as was done with our samples or as a large center stage business, the scrap industry offers not only interesting operations but also will provide dramatic and detailed industrial scenery.

Walthers now offers a selection of five injection molded plastic kits and seven prefinished resin details as part of their Washington Salvage Yard series to flesh out an HO scale junk yard of any size. The keystone of these models is the Metal Clad Processing Building (933-2928) with its truck scale and chain link fencing. The completed model replicates in miniature a common metal framed and metal clad building with an attached brick faced office. This easy to assemble, versatile kit can be used for any number of alternate businesses that can represent any enterprise from a light manufacturing facility to a wholesale warehouse. While a bit fiddly to build, the included chain link fence produces a finely rendered representation of this common industrial fixture. Best results were had by pre-painting all of the parts before assembling in place directly to the model site.

Also among the plastic kits are three items of processing machinery; a Ferrous Shear (933-3630), used to process metals into small easily handled and shipped pieces; a Baler/Logger (933-3631) that presses processed metal into square bales in addition to being able to flatten automobiles for shipment; and a yard conveyor which in addition to moving scrap within the yard can also be used to load out trucks and rail cars. Each poly-bagged kit is easy to build and finish. A little added weathering is all that is needed to build these into very realistic models.

Corrugated Metal Fencing (933-3645) rounds out Walther’s list of available plastic kits in this series. Representing eight-foot-tall metal panels with steel posts this type of fencing is often used to provide security to the yard, this kit provides several feet of easy to assemble fence.

Each of the Washington Salvage Yard kits are molded in color making them a perfect starting point for those just entering the hobby of model railroading. Their detailing will also satisfy the more experienced hobbyist as well.

To flesh out any HO scale model salvage yard, Walthers offers a collection of pre-decorated resin details that represent commonly seen scrap items. These range from crushed cars to various piles of assorted raw and processed scrap items. Once added to the layout and blended into the base scenery these items are very effective. Additionally, many of the items can be used to detail other model scenes where trash and junk seems to naturally accumulate. To provide rail service to your facility, you'll want to acquire some gondolas, either traditional low-side cars or the more modern, high-capacity high-side gondolas. Round out the scene with some backhoes, loaders, and heavy duty dump trucks (also available from several manufacturers through Walthers).

Walthers’ Washington Salvage series offers the model railroader a range of versatile and flexible models that will enhance not only their intended subject but other model scenes as well.

The Railroad Scrap Pile (933-3738), Junk Truck Row (933-3739), and Junk Automobiles Row (933-3633) are just three of the fully assembled, pre-painted resin detail items that are featured in the Washington Salvage Yard Series.