I started with the idea of a 6x16 foot layout shed, she nixed that, so was working on a hollow cor door, she nixed that, so am down to a 24 x 45 inch layout. Pretty soon I'll be packing everything up.
I 'think' I'm finished with two of the three structures that will be featured on a new T-TRAK module: Two Guns, AZ, a lonely desert highway crossroads... The "Two Guns Gas N Go" from Showcase Miniatures, and the "Yard/HiWay Cafe" from Blair Line... ~Bruce
this weekend, I spent some time working on some weathering techniques, as it's long past time to start weathering the rolling stock fleet (back in the 90's, when I modeled 'modern day', everything was weathered)... I started with the wood side cars, which will represent the oldest cars on the layout, and worked on some techniques; using acrylic washes, drybrushing, and airbrush effects ('soot' 'dust', and 'earth') to get the effect that I wanted...apart from some random stains and wheel splatter, here are the results, posed on the lower (westbound) track, while new, unweathered cars are shown on the upper (eastbound) track for contrast. ~Bruce
Currently I am working on a Kaslo Shops SD50F kit. When the small parts are installed I will be painting it for my BNSF railroad in the new paints cheme with swoosh initials n the sides. The tentative road number will be 7398.
Does anyone else have a problem with stuff is always on the workbench but never finishing? Right now I have on the bench: - A London underground model from Shapeways that I need to paint, power, etc etc - Several locos (probably a dozen) I need to convert to DCC (range from drop in to really hard) 2 Japanese bullet trains Kato Mikado Japanese Electric Con Cor Zephyr set Tomix Thomas A couple diesel drop ins Eggliners for my sons g scale ceiling train - Lots of electronic automation things I want to do from automation to lighting to DCC++ boosters and throttles, etc - This doesn't even count the always evolving/present landscape, lighting, buildings, etc that need to be done to the layout. I committed to my wife last night that I wouldn't buy anything else this year until I knock out some of this stuff. To be honest I'll try to get 75% of the DCC conversions done and some work on the London Underground cars and I'll be happy! I hoping posting here will force some accountability on myself
I know how this goes. I have more model kits than I can count that I haven't even started yet, along with model train projects.
just finished one of the last Intermountain kits I have left in the stash (I enjoy building these)...I do wish they still offered these as kits, rather than all 'built ups' now; many of the details on the built ones are missing, and the hatches are all glued in the closed position-I do want a few of my reefer fleet modeled with open hatches...during my era, most everything wore the latest "Ship and Travel" scheme, and SFRD marks lost the 'periods' after each letter. I now have close to 100 of these cars and a handful of the earlier "Strait Line Map", and even earlier "Curved Line Map" cars; those will be heavily weathered in comparison. ~Bruce
Just a few stand-in loads for gons and the like- preconstructed steelwork/ girder assembly size to fit 42' etc.
Well, I got my banquet table/workbench in the mail Friday. Also got something not train related but equally awesome...a Bandai 1/72 scale Perfect Grade Millennium Falcon kit! Each one of the tiles in my kitchen is 12" square. Gives you and idea of how huge this kit is.
Just finished kitbashing a firetruck. It began as a Mack and I grafted a Road Apples Chevy pick up cab to it. The fire station is a Model Power kit that I need to add the details to.
Your firetruck and fire station looks great jlundy46!!! I want to model the same as you on my N scale layout. Joe
Thanks Joe. I didn't like the entrance on the right side of the station so I put in a solid wall from another kit I had. I also have a Showcase Mack firetruck and Chevy pickup. The pickup cab will require modification so the fenders and front wheels will line up.
I don't know if you do facebook or not, but this group does a lot of the Bandai and film style Star Wars models. The main admin, Guy, is re-manufacturing the old Floquil paint line out of England. Apparently all the paints used by the modellers on the 1970s Star Wars films was the standard Floquil railroad paint line. He has re-branded it as "Archive-X". So this group I have seen has been a Mecca for the studio modellers as of late. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1696820240623353/
Finished the wall with plugged windows. The state trooper probably stopped in for a free cup of coffee.
Heavily weathered ExactRail ATW RD# 4236. I had previously graffitied and weather painted the car but just wanted to try out some new powders I received...I just need to re-stencil the road number that was vandalized.
Took a while to get to it and complete but now finished with an MTL undec Box. Decided to go with the Cotton Belt theme.