Hard to believe that June is about half over and so is 2013. Time flies! With another work week about done for most of us, its time for Weekend Modeling Plans! With soccer out of the way for the better part of the Summer and the June magazine issue shipped, my chance to work on all things model railroad has increased. I have one more weekend to get a lot done before my favorite prototype/model railroad show, Galesburg. This year will be somewhat bittersweet however, Harry Grossman, the man who started the model show out at the Carl Sandburg College will be stepping down after this year. This will end his 19 years of running a great model railroad show. From it's humble start in the Carl Sandburg College gym in 1994 to a show that now takes over the entire campus and includes not only model trains but a toy show, antique tractors, military vehicles and this year R/C planes, Harry has been at the helm. Harry started the show when he still worked at the College and used the sales of entry tickets to go to the Carl Sandburg Scholarship Fund. It was and still is a great way to give back to the College and those that desire a course in higher learning. Since this would be Harry's last year, I wanted to do something special. I usually do a "tribute" locomotive but this year would be different. Since Galesburg is a Burlington town and Harry loves the CB&Q, I wanted to do a CB&Q engine and ask for donations for a chance to win the locomotive with the proceeds going to the Scholarship Fund Harry Started. To take it one step further I wanted to do something a bit different. What if BNSF did the same as UP, NS and Pan Am and painted up a heritage locomotive? So this weekend I'll be putting on the finishing touches to BNSF #9370 the CB&Q heritage locomotive: I still say I would railfan the BNSF more if their locomotives looked like this, but I must admit, I do suffer from a bit of "Burlington Bias." So my weekend will be busy with all things Galesburg, from finishing up the heritage unit, to getting Jess the Railfan Jeep ready for next week. I have a few T-Trak modules that need some work done as well since they will be at the show along with my fellow club members. Speaking of club members, the yard for N-Trak that we have been working on for the past year will have it's first show at Galesburg. A busy weekend, I hope I can get it all done. So how about you? Any midwest members coming out to Galesburg and getting ready this weekend? What about local shows? T-Trak or N-Trak module work or maybe more work on the home layout. Whatever your plans may be, let us know! We'll come back on Monday the 17th and see how we did. Sunday is Fathers day, so Monday lets see if those fathers got some new train items. Also, next Friday WMP may be somewhat later than normal as I will be posting it from my i-Pad somewhere trackside in or around Galesburg. Pictures, we'll see. Until then... High Greens!
Jim, that's a great tribute to someone who has given a lot to the hobby and to the community at the same time. Your model is a great one, and hopefully the raffle will bring in a lot of support for a good cause. This weekend will be one of finishing up and planning. I want to do a small pour of Envirotex water beneath the carfloat apron, and then I'll perch a seagull or two on the pilings to complete the scene. I still need to work out the track plan and building configuration for the tanning company and the nearby Railway Express depot, and once I do that I can start laying track. My order of Intermountain wheelsets showed up, so I will be getting back to the long process of upgrading plastic-wheeled cars to metal. My plan is to paint and weather the trucks as I do this, so it's a bit more than just swapping wheels. Nice weather is predicted, too, so I know I'll have some lawn maintenance to do, and I'd like to get in a bicycle ride over the weekend some time.
