My CP Rail D&H division

Jan, the new Geep looks good, as does that rust bucket of a hopper. CSX knows how to make a hopper look interesting eh?
I haven't tried converting to FVM wheelsets yet

 

outstanding work as usual !

 

Thanks guys!:tb-biggrin:

 

With work so slow I was able to finish up a couple more projects:

First I went back and weathered the graffitti on this CV boxcar (thanks Gary!):



I went nuts on this one to hide some years old awful weathering treatment I had done, these MRL hoppers tend to bleed their original BN green and primer gray from what I saw in photos:



Here is an Atlas Gondola:



Here is a corn syrup tank I used powders on, the picture does not capture the texture the powder left:

 

As you can tell, the sunlight was giving me problems, but here is a shot of my other NS GP60 I finished last night:



I used BLMA sunshades and rooftop A/C unit, an Atlas MU cable, a miniatures by Eric snowplow and weathered with airbrush and powders. This is now ready for intermodal duty, and I am almost done my Maxi IV weathering....

 

Personally I think the MRL would have been just right without the graffitti... How did you do such a great job, I have been trying to think of a way to achieve that look but haven't been able to.

 

I love how the CV boxcar turned out, it looks spot on! All the equipment looks great, but that one really resonates with me. Nice work.

 

Looking really good Jan. That CV box is a real standout. All in all you're building a very convincing fleet.

But I'm still confused over your new layout concept... Are you abandoning the FEC by converting those modules to a CP/D&H theme? Do you have a specific home layout or do you put together modules as needed? All CP or a mix of CP & FEC? Inquiring minds want to know...


-Gary

 

Thanks guys!

I am also particularly happy with the CV boxcar, its definitely one of my three or four best. As previously indicated, the MRL hopper is really a cover-up. Several years ago I hit it with an early weathering effort consisting of Floquily weathered black. It was awful. But its a nice enough car I decided to play around with a save. I tried covering it up with Polly BN green following dulcote as the prototypes seem to be showing their prior green color. I added primer gray along the edges and drybrushed over it. It looked better but still not great so I hit it with large grafitti. The other side of it has no grafitti because it did not need the coverup. I'll see if I can get a picture of it up. Thats how I did that- brush on the green, dry brush on primer gray in a mist and heavier at the edges of the green.

Gary, I have not abandoned the FEC, I still have my "new" Ft. Lauderdale intermodal yard that I have not touched. The "old" Ft. Lauderdale yard was sitting in the garage unused and thats what I converted to the new yard. My home layout is a CP/D&H modular layout that is my primary focus. Unfortunately the FEC club has been waning in activity and energy and has not been inspiring new effort from members so all my work has been focused on the CP home layout. Unless something energizes me I would bet that the new Ft. Laud yard will be winterized in the next year to join the home layout fulltime. Taylor/Binghamton yard is getting there, couple more months of work and it will probably be done by September. Than I can start work on the industrial area.

All in all, a great form of stress relief!

Next up- I am finishing a Kato Maxi IV and a trio of Microtrains Conrail Ortner hoppers...

my best,
Jan

 

Thanks for clarifying that Jan. Too bad about the FEC activity, but it's good to see you're CP work - very inspiring. Looking forward to the next round of cars too!

-gfh

 

The north side of "Taylorton yard" has begun to take final shape: I got the backdrop set-up and the trees at the end, as well as the assorted storage containers and sheds. I still need to blend the backdrop here and there and add the sanding tower but this should give you an idea of where it stands:



and this is the whole yard including the unfinished south module:



Snow is a real pain to work with- even using scenic cement it tends to yellow (there is only so much animal piss that will pass.....)
my best,
Jan

 

Haha! Lookin' good Jan!

Mike

 

I got a bit more work done on the south module of the yard, as well as got some pictures of some completed projects:

Here is the newest member of the roster:



A FVM CP GEVO. These tend to stay very clean, even on the D&H division so I hit the lower areas with dullcote and gave it a light dust coat and it is ready for service- VERY nice models!

another shot:



This is some foreign power that I planned to use on the one CSX train I was going to run (someday), a garbage train:



I weathered this model, added a rooftop A/C/, moved the horn per the prototype, added sunshades to.

and another picture of my GP38-2 switcher:

 

Now, some rolling stock, starting with a MAXI IV I have been weathering. We see a lot of these in South Florida on the FEC and the ones I have been seiing have been hit pretty hard with grafitti, so this one I went to town on:







and this is one I just started- a new Athearn 3-unit drawbarred husky stack (a work in progress):



my best,
Jan

 

Lovin' the SD40-2 Jan and the Maxi-IV looks spot on too. I love the modules too mate!

 

SD40-3 (upgraded electronics), I saw it last weekend up in Proctor, MN. Nice work capturing the look. The FVM GEVO, they all look right at home on your (very well done) layout.

 

Thanks guys! I'm hoping to start going nuts on that BNSF husky set and a UP AC4400 I have as borrowed power once I get the airbrush fixed,
my best,
Jan

 

I finished up a pair of FBOXs and figured I'd post a side-by-side comparison:

On the left is an LBF/Huberts FBOX- I changed the wheels to MT low-pros. It has been heavily grafitti covered to cover an early BAD weathering job from several years ago I did on it that I was unable to fix.

On the right is a new Exactrail FBOX with their metal wheels (which are very nice) it got only a light touch of dust weathering, dullcote and some grafitti (the other side got only some small grafitti "markings"):







You can see the differences for yourselves but the biggest flaw evident on the LBF is the roof that did not fit well (this was common on the LBFs). Of course the two companies chose to model different phases of the TTX logo which is nice for the variety.

I'll throw in this: Here is a SOO line hopper I faded a bit of the blue streaks on and added a bit of dark powder to:



enjoy!
Jan

 

I finally got around to hitting that Athearn 3-unit BNSF Husky-stack with some weathering, I still want to put some FVM wheels on it but otherwise I am pleased!









On to a couple of AGP hoppers....
my best,
Jan

 

Very inspiring work!
I can actually hear a train coming in the distance!