Hills City Park

Located just off Main Street on the west side of the town of Hills, the Hills City Park is a young railfan’s dream. The park lies adjacent to the prototype Hills Line offering views of the industrial track from atop the swing set.

I had to include it on The Hills Line.

The parking lot was previously built as part of Main Street when I constructed the Hills Grain and Feed complex. However I needed to add grass flock to the scene to fill between the lot and the industrial track, plus the shoulders of Main Street. The same techniques I’ve used over the years still work, so much so that I used up the last of my static grass I had on hand to finish this scene.

The small picnic shelter was scratchbuilt with styrene and stripwood. The roof was made from leftover parts from the Eldon C. Stutsman main warehouse, using the same techniques.

There’s a farm fence on the south end of the park, ostensibly separating the playground from the Stutsman elevator. I used piano wire and screen door material to construct a small portion of it, orientating the mesh to match the prototype arrangement. Weathering was done with PanPastel powders.

The playground equipment came from a Bachmann kit. I’ll probably paint the slide a metal color. But for now it just has an India Ink wash to bring out the limited detail present. Woodland Scenics Fine Earth Blend was sprinkled around the ground to represent the well worn turf.

Look out Rochelle. There’s a new contender in town!