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First let me state that I'm not promoting trespassing, however I may have a different view than many on this subject. I do believe absolutely in asking permission to enter property when a clear and present opportunity to ask is available. This might be someones backyard or an active industrial complex. On most if not all but once or twice, this has worked out spectacularly and I've been able to get into places most don't, just by asking. I've had fantastic luck and thank all those who have let me ...

RL Crap basically fell on top of me, so I'll cut straight to the chase and throw photos up next week.

Starting with the G-Scale, the first interior part of my LGB Bobber is glued into place. The track is being reworked to run around the couch, coffee table, then around the back half of the room and reconnect with cross over switches to access where the engine shed will be. Also at this month's show I picked up a piece of replacement LGB Track. Exciting, No? I also skipped the show ...

So I decided to go through my N scale equipment today and repack the box I've been keeping them in. I've gotten into the bad habit of just sitting new stuff that I've purchased on top of the box where they teeter and risk falling off. I know my collection of trains isn't as large as some others, but it surprised me. I have 36 North American locomotives (so far) and I didn't even count my freight cars. The box is almost full (it's 20"w x 21 1/2"l x 14"d) so I might need to get another. ...

A couple years back I stood on the supposed Towle right-of-way overlooking both Drum Forebay Rd and Interstate 80. I was trying to figure out how the Towle Bros line had gotten to this point from Towle. Supposedly they had come up Canyon Creek right where the freeway sits currently. Well, looking at it from where I was standing, I didn't like it and still don't. Its just the height differences and change of direction. The freeway didn't cut that much away! Well if one looks directly across I-80 ...

Yes I am still here. Not a lot of internet time. I do miss all the back and forth and also the forth and back. Then there is always the stories from Charlie and friends. I have a trip planed this summer. Any one want to run a "Where is Mr. Train this week" contest? Contact me and I can email my details. I will not be here to run the contest as it should be run. But I would stop in to see how much fun every one had. Any one interested contact me soon.

Originally Posted by Pete Nolan

I decided to post this as an early view of the 614' container ship--a 2200 TEU built in the mid 1990s. This is a mock up, so nothing's glued down, nor exactly lined up. For comparison is the 375' 550 TEU ship that I've shown earlier and, also, on the smaller ship, a 125' Active-class cutter that I'm thinking about. Those are 10 x 5 container stacks that I may produce to populate the decks of these kits, or an intermodal facility.

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Originally Posted by Pete Nolan

These ships are still a few months away, but I thought I'd show the first production model now. The hull is in three sections, and you can see the breaks in this photo. The bow and the stern are cast from resin; the mid section is built-up from styrene, with a thin casting on top for the full-width clamshell hatches which open to both sides to allow the below deck containers to be loaded and unloaded.

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Originally Posted by Pete Nolan

Here's the hull painted up--pardon the rather garish colors but I'm down in Alabama with only a kiddie paint box. I'm awaiting the photo etch railings and stairways, and a return to Ohio in early February for deck parts like masts, winches, bitts, anchors, etc.



Here's a view of the ship almost fully loaded:

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Originally Posted by Pete Nolan

I'm considering a Z scale modern container ship for my next project. This would be in the "feeder" ship category, not one of the monsters. Right now I have an N scale ship of 60' beam that can be anywhere between 350' to 550' long. Since I'm going to have to cast a new bow and stern for the project, I'd like some input about what Z scalers really want. I could do a new ship of between 500' to 600' long, with a beam of 90', or a smaller ship of perhaps 300'-350' with a 45' beam.

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Originally Posted by Pete Nolan

When I consider this topic, I often think of my fantasy of modeling the entire state of Rhode Island in N scale in only 35 acres (or 18 acres in Z scale). That would allow me to model every manhole cover in an entire state. There's got to be a hanger that big--well, no, there is not, and outdoor N scale, which I once considered, isn't quite realistic.

I've modeled track plans very conservatively for the past 25 years and the two last layouts. But I've had big spaces-- 12 x 19 and 11

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- all window-frames & doors (cab door is functional) have been applied to the shell
- lower skirting was attached to the frame
- the pilot was fabricated using frames & steel-pipes
- compressed air cooling equipment was mounted to the roof

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- chrome-trim (actually brass made from brass) & dummy-hex-nuts were mounted on the pilot
- anti-climber details & rubber ...

TrainBoard Attached Images

• frontpilot3.jpg (116.7 KB, 4 views)

With our hike rained out this past Sunday, my gal and I went shortline hunting instead.

First up, I was curious about whether Cal Northern GP15-1 #113 had been relettered back for CFNR after its return from the Mare Island Rail Service so Davis was first on the list. Sure enough, #113 was there along with #502 and #504 gensets. Also sure enough, she (113) has been relettered so a photo shoot ensued. Bingo right from the get go this trip is starting well.

The Western ...

My "new", it's been almost 9 months, girlfriend doesn't know the area much but loves to explore and hike. She even digs exploring old railroads with me. So over the last few months, we've been out and about checking out local trails and historical spots. Her enthusiasm and my need for exercise due to a recent diebetes diagnosis has led us on all sorts of adventures. On several of these I've spotted new "backyard" railcars or railcar bridges in the area and have added several ...

As promised and a bit late, the photo updates to the Walthers Burlington Northern/BN MOW Diner and Sleeper. Lets start with the diner:


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I happened on this gentleman and wow what kits.
Not for the faint of heart but nice models.
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http://www.fiferhobby.com/html/kmp_models.html