Santa was late....

It showed up a little late, but its here.

Ho scale

I think I might have to make a set for myself.

Here a tree, there a tree, everywhere a tree....

Time to start do some scenery, I cleaned the workbench and layout room. So I decided to make a mess again.


The Beginning

 I add a row of clump foliage to the horizon, this helps give some depth. It also saves on creating a lot of trees

 But you still have to make some trees, only took about an hour. Tomorrow night I should be able to start planting. Once that is done, I can start making all the foreground trees.

Wow

I can see my workbench....

A little weather

Crappy night outside. So a little weathering inside.

The Juice Train

She'll be comin round the mountain...

When I finish making it :)

A little Celebration!

The Golden Spike!

Well sort of, it's more of a silver colour. Anyways tonight marked the completion of all trackwork on the layout. Now to climb under and connect all those leads.

Some Misc. Prototype.

 Some old work horses bring a mixed train into Portage Jct.

This one snuck in just after sunset, I am not sure if the CN Police were trying to beat the train back to the yard, or trying to get a look at me. Although the new paint scheme is nice on their cars.

HO Scale & Steam to Boot!

The start of an HO Scale repaint project I am doing. It seems weird to be working with this scale again, as I went to N Scale almost 15 years ago. Both of these pieces are getting repainted into the EH&S colors/schemes. More progress to follow.

It's Finally Done!

Well the main line is finally done on the new track plan. I ran the first train around for about a half hour with no issues. Now onto the yard.

I will try to add a video later this week.

A little trip west.

Well it just so worked out that I had to make a work trip to Calgary last week. And wouldn't you know it, Supertrain 2012 was at the end of the week. So the show was a good mix of layouts and vendors, Some very nicely done modular layouts. And I didn't take a single picture of model trains, I saved that for the day spent in the mountains.Would have been better if the sun had stayed out all day, not just when there was no trains.

Some Progress

Nothing much to report, got some of the decals started tonight. Managed to get some time track-side this weekend too, will post pictures later this week.

A new airbrush....

Well, its been a while since i did anything train related so here is an update. Last week i went to Artists Emporium here in Winnipeg. On sale they had an Aztek 470 kit for $79.99 instead of $169.00, Ok I can splurge for that price. And WOW what a difference it makes of the Badger I was using.

So i started re doing some of the U25's that were posted about below. While painting the noses on the units, I had one U25 masked for the usual Reading Green. And while changing paints to the Reading Green from the black, I looked up and saw the unit below.

Now this was the first iteration of the EH&S back in my teen years. That is a Tyco GP-20 sitting on a Athearn GP-9 frame. Fairly basic black & yellow paint, All done with Rattle Can. Upon seeing this I looked back at the one U25 awaiting another coat of green paint, looked at my current cup of black paint in the airbrush and you get the following.

So this units frame isn't quite finished yet, it only has the yellow applied for the battery boxes. But mounted on the frame I think it looks sharp.

Now I am not sure which one I like better......

Woodland Scenics® Tidy Track™

Well what else can i say, this is an impressive little system.

Lets start with Roto Wheel Cleaner™, I like this for the obvious reasons. It cleans engine and rolling stock wheels, Can be placed right on the track to get power. You can also use the clips and use a power pack on the workbench. The other use I like it for is running the loco with the shell off. This makes applying lube to the gears simple and lets it run through top to bottom. I think its well worth the purchase.

I also picked up the Rail Tracker Cleaning Kit™. I like this because I have a number of tunnels that curve. It work well, doesn't take the effort of the bright boy and seems to work as described.

Wanted - Kato

I am looking for two Kato U30C shells with the railings from the older run in the 90's. I don't need the mechanism just the bodies. Send me a PM. Will consider the entire unit if the price is right.

Had a minor issue with some brake fluid......

The next town.

Well started laying out the next town on the line. This will only have a station and two small industries. A Fuel dealer and two small shops for boxcar loads( Haven't decided yet ). There will be a small engine shed located here as it supports the mine around the bend. On the tracks that are temporarily shown in the pictures below, the Tall standing T-Pins are the end of the track.

Quick Picture.

Done painting for a bit so I threw the bodies back onto the frames. Makes some space on the bench, I still have to finish the trucks & Fuel Tanks. I have to make a repair to one of the u25's, I got a little softer than expected stripping the paint and i accidentally broke part of the nose. That's why there are now only 3 painted. Not the 4 I planned on. The U30 frame is still in its primer for a little longer, the C-424 just needs it trucks done.

Still Painting...

Between work and soccer tournaments I haven't had much time to do anything. But I have been working on painting 6 engines. There drying as i type this with their second coat of Reading Yellow on the cabs and hoods. Hopefully tonight i can start getting the undercarriages ready.

Will post some pictures later.

Stripped and Ready!

Not quite like it sounds. 4 U25's are disassembled and ready for masking. Tomorrow  night I'm hoping to get the first coat of paint on. Walkways were all done tonight and are all a nice shade of black.  On a side note the newest part of the layout has about half the roadbed installed and ready for track, Maybe next weekend.


Here is the Shells awaiting the masking.

And here is roughly what they will look like when they are done.

Some New Arrivals

Few things showed up in the mail while I was away.

Progress Continues

Well I got the 2" foam cut and glued in place. On top of this will be the 1" foam that I laid out the track plan on. So I may even be able to have some track down by next weekend. Tomorrow I plan to attach the pink foam and seal up the joints.

Change of Pace

Well I had a few hours tonight with nothing to do, and I wasn't up to working on the benchwork. So I started working on a freight house. I received a number of Walther's modular kits a while back, I must say I am impressed with how well they go together. Here is the outer walls and foundation after a couple of hours.