My Michigan copper hauler project got a boost at the end of last year when I found this Blackstone C-19 on sale at that Hobby Shop in Maryland. It's the straight DC model which means I can run it now and convert it later. I gave a lot of thought to which version to choose but what sold me on this one (besides the excellent price) was the funky mismatched domes, which seems like something a small operation would do if they had to fix something, and more importantly the single air pump which reminds me of Q & TL #5. It is a beautiful model and I'm sure I will play around with it to get it the way I want. I know it's bigger than #5 and the smokebox is different but my back story on this C-19 ended up in Michigan is that the mining operation got in on someone else's buy for a good price or they bought it used. I like it, I don't have to try to scratchbuld or kit-bash it, ... works for me. For now, it's a way to haul copper ore and lumber down and coal for the hoist and mine operations up. Maybe some mixed trains, too. (Gotta get that mail contract.) Andy Tetsu Uma "I know I have a lot of irons in the fire, but I get to work on them on my own schedule."
