Well said. I'm glad that I had an interest in railroad structures when I started shooting pictures as a teen in the mid-1970s. There were a lot that still stood back then and I carried forth throughout the decades. Few survive these days. Catwaba, SC was a neat spot. This 10/31/1992 shot shows the layout, with a steep grade rising from the SAL to the SOU. The SOU's line crosses on the bridge in the distance. There was once an interchange yard on the grade. That interchange track is gone today, but some overturned lengths of rail can still be found in the woodland.
The interlocking tower is close to done just needing some weathering. The kit is top notch being done very well/precise. The only real issue was the stairs where it consists of about 30 parts including separate runners, bracing, railings and steps. The steps came on a sheet with adhesive on one side but the adhesive barely held and the steps would come off just looking at them lol. So I took off the adhesive and glued directly to the runners which holds way better. Also built a cabin and covered bridge. Next up is this very detailed cafe by Blair Line. I've built several of their kits and all have been as good as it gets so hoping this turns out to be equally as nice. Fully detailed interior with counter, stools etc. so definitely getting some interior lighting. I have a miller engineering "cafe" animated sign which I got for this kit but the plug is arranged as such where in order to make it part of the building it would have to be installed over the kitchen area so as to not block the view of the dining area. Not sure if that will look right but if I can make it work then that would be sweet.
Thank you! I wish I could take credit for it all like your excellent scratch builds but I have to give most of it to the kit from American Model Builders. I just painted and assembled.
@freddy_fo Oh, don't be sooo modest, good sir! You did a most excellent job of "just" painting and assembling, AND dealing with very naughty, very wee, n-scale bits. Moose thanks you for the compliment on da moose-builds, although, they were just a moose scratching an itch...
I have no reason for that tower, but now want one The painting is what makes it, great job! Can you take a picture of just the tower please, so we can see the detail?
Thanks. I too saw no reason to have this but I'm a fool for certain architecture and structures so I had to have it. It's a nice model for sure. I did get some weathering done so now it's not so clean. Mostly white powder over a hint of black wash.
Does that bring back memories of Wisconsin north of Green Bay into UPSMichigan. A lot of small railroads and spurs that were small gauge. That looks like 1970 when I went into the army and then Milwaukee.
Needed to add weight to my Bandai tank cars and container flats so more tungsten putty. Found also that my Bandai trucks were giving me fits and after a bit of trail and error found that Kato 11099 truck fit those cars with minor mods to the underframes. So a batch of those trucks now due to arrive from Japan either today of Monday. 100_0007-1 by John Moore posted May 18, 2023 at 10:07 AM
Taking my new TomyTec M of W set and turning around the road wheels to track wheels on the little back hoe and crane and both trucks. 100_0012-5 by John Moore posted May 18, 2023 at 10:07 AM And now starting to convert my Japanese style Kato cabooses to American by installing cupolas on all three. They have also got Kato couplers installed replacing the rapidos and MT smoke stacks. 100_0015-6 by John Moore posted May 18, 2023 at 10:07 AM I love these little Kato cabooses because they have lights at both ends that are bidirectional. 100_0011-3 by John Moore posted May 18, 2023 at 10:07 AM And the first set of signals assembled and painted, the M of W trucks have had parts added that came with them and have been decaled and the three Kato cabooses have had their conversions done and now awaiting cupola window glazing. 100_0016-1 by John Moore posted May 20, 2023 at 11:12 AM
I had the cupolas in my parts box from several projects where I used the cabooses. I did not cut into the roofs of the units but instead shaped them to fit the roof curvature. I just finished up detailing my high rail vehicles. The little crane came with two booms and I used the extended one on the crane and the retracted one got mounted on the short truck bed. Gave the long bed truck an amber bar light and installed one on the crane and the backhoe. The long bed truck has a load of 3 wood barrels of spikes, three wood crates and a load of ties. The short bed has a load of wood timbers and short ties plus a wood barrel of spikes. These TomyTec sets are selling out fast.
Well my workbench today was Harley stuff, I painted my exhaust shields and mufflers as I have too much chrome, but you didn’t come here to hear about my bike. It WAS going to be the only workbench item for today, but I own cats. Yes plural, but this time it’s only one that caused the problem. Now when a building is completely leveled it usually has something to do with explosives, or leaking propane (looking at you Palmer Chocolates). I have discovered that one furrball has the capability to completely obliterate a building in a split second. The KITT Transfer building on the layout actually exploded when my cat bolted from the layout after he discovered I discovered him. Only 2 walls stayed together, everything else was everywhere. I found one wall about 6 feet from the layout, 4 walls were on the floor, the roof ended up somehow under the layout and even the loading dock took flight almost going into the lower tunnel. Oh and to top it all off, I was just talking to someone on marketplace that’s possibly interested in buying it. So yea… I rounded up all the pieces and glued it all back together, making my workbench activities train related as well today.
I forgot to post a photo of the enhanced M of W trucks and crawler crane and backhoe. 100_0017-2 by John Moore posted May 20, 2023 at 10:34 PM
My workbench has my laptop,a box of flextrack, and pencil and paper. All to inspire me to take the next step in constructing the layout. I need to plan out the next sections and I like to pencil rough sketches before moving on. If I have doubt I build in Anyrail to confirm grades and fitment. This mess is one yard consideration. The glaring annoyance to me is the short tail/drill track to work the yard. I think I'll run the raised double mainline along the back with Union Car Repair in the corner. This will end up with the service tracks in front of some of the yard but I think I can work it out where it won't be an annoyance. We will see.
