Review by George Riley/photos by the author
Bodie, Calif., is a gold-mining town frozen in time. Where 10,000 people once called home, the current state park is one of the best-preserved ghost towns in the United States. Founded in 1875 when gold was discovered, the town of only a few dozen quickly expanded, becoming a boom town. However, as the gold ran out and metal prices fell, Bodie went into rapid decay as the population moved on. By 1932, the once-thriving town was all but empty. The climate of the high desert has allowed for many of the structures to remain in a state of arrested decay. Many of these buildings today still have relics of the past remaining in their interiors as they were left by the departing residents. With this “time capsule” effect, Bodie is a great resource for anyone researching or modeling the mining boom in the western United States during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Among the remaining buildings in Bodie is the Miners Union Hall. The structure was built in 1877 to serve as a meeting place for the local miners’ union. It was also frequently used as a theatre for performing artists, productions by local amateur groups and traveling troupes. Although well-weathered, the building is remarkably intact.
Bollinger Edgerly Scale Trains’ hallmark is providing the modeling community with laser-cut kits based on historically accurate buildings. Their release of the Miners Union Hall is no exception. The model is large by HO scale standards, with a footprint of 5.25” wide by 13.25” long. The additional boardwalk adds another 1.25” to the front.
Construction of the carcass uses a laser-cut core over which siding is laminated. Sanding sealer was applied to the core and roof panels prior to assembly. As with most laser-cut construction, I chose to pre-stain and pre-paint the structure’s elements while still on their carrier sheet. To weather the model, the sides and ends were stained dark brown, while the front was first stained, then given a wash of diluted white paint before being sealed with a clear gloss lacquer from a spray can in preparation for decals.
Once the four walls were assembled, the injection-molded window castings were primed and stained before installation. The front door consists of laser-cut laser board which readily accepts stain. It too was added in turn followed by all of the windows having glazing applied with thick PVA (canopy) glue…
A broadside view of the Miners Union Hall model from Bollinger Edgerly Scale Trains.
