Weekend Photo Fun 7/10/15

I recently acquired an N scale Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines transfer caboose by Bluford Shops. As details of transfer cabooses varied from road to road, the car isn't a precise detail-for-detail match for the PRSL N11 class but it's still a superb model. Bluford's products are excellent and those of you into N scale may want to check them out.

Bob

I dug up this N Scale 1989 Bachmann Spectrum GE Dash 8-40C.  Which I custom painted, for my fictional NE Rail system.

Scale: HO

It's the early 1960s and we find a pair of Kansas City & Gulf engines idling in the 12th St. Yard. Soon the duo will hook onto the "South Local" and bid a smoky adieu as they head south to work the industries.

The models:  Both models were built in the mid-late 1990s for my (then) KC&G "Ozark Sub" layout.

The Alco FA1 #203 started life as a Frateschi engine. The shell wasn't bad for its time (there were no P2K FA1's then), but the mechanism sucked big time. Plus, it had cast-on hand rails/etc. Out came the razor knife, and off came the cast on handrails. In addition I drilled the holes needed to add the details you see. Not pleased with the way it ran, I repowered it using the innards from a donor Atlas/Kato RS-3. (Did I really pay 29.95 for NIB Undec Atlas/Kato RS-3's???)  This engine received the KC&G's "1st simplified" paint scheme. Later photos will show an example of the "original" F unit scheme. Sharp eyes will note two spark arrestors atop the FA1 car body.  Care to guess what that represents?

The GP7 #412 was originally a Front Range product. One of the best (most accurate) GP7's available at the time, it too, suffered from an awful mechanism: The trucks were atrocious. (Binds, etc.)  I used to have to do quite a bit of work to get a Front Range GP7 shell to my liking, but the end result was okay to my eyes. To address the Front Range truck issues, I replaced them with Athearn trucks that I "lapped" and relieved the gears, squared the frames, and squared the "bolster" tang.  Seeing as Front Range Geeps DID come with a quality Mashima 18mm x 33mm flat can motor, I didn't have to repower with another motor as well. The #412 GP7 is in the "original" paint scheme the KC&G GP7's were delivered in, but the paint, indeed the engine, has seen better days. 

All KC&G engines were painted with Floquil paints, decaled using Champ alphabet decals, then weathered with a combination of Floquil paints, pastel chalks, dry brushed hither n' yon with flat white to help the poor lighting I had on my layout at the time, and then the finished kit n' caboodle was over-coated with Testors Dull Coat.

Oh... and I'm now 99.9% sure I'm going to install DCC/Sound and use my KC&G stuff on the upcoming KC Lines layout.

Here are a couple of pics showing the Spokane Southern's line relocation between Bessemer ID, and South Spokane, WA. 

We (Al DeBraal, Tom Szecesniak, Warren Bjornson, and yours truly) finally got the main line completed along the upper level of the three level (plus eight track staging yard) ahead of the Dupage Division NMRA annual layout tour in April this year.  The layout is HO. 

A lot has been accomplished, with an incredible amount of work occurring within the last year.  Here are two photos of where we were at on 27-Dec-2013.  East side of the support wall built to hold the shelves.

West side of the support wall from the same time.

Here was the east side the day of the tour.  I had a LOT of cleanup to do to get what is here presentable.  I found tools I had not seen in a year. 

The west side of the support wall the same day.  Had "tutorials" laid out showing the different methods we are using to build this railroad.  Steel studs, with 2" foam, 1/4" cork on top of the foam. 

The wife shot this of the first group touring the original part of the layout.  The wonderful part of this tour was it forced me to go back to the original part of the railroad and get it cleaned up and operational again, something that had not been done since our addition five years ago. We had a total of 38 people come thru on the tour.

With a little bit of luck, the main line and all passing sidings will be done by the end of this year, and then the operating sessions start again.  I am so looking forward to that day. 

The track gang is now down to the second level. 

Regards,

Jerry

Jerry:

Wow... you're going to have a doozie of a layout.  Hope you can make your goal and be up and running by the end of the year.

Shame you guys all live so far away. 

Andre:

Any time you fancy a trip up to this part of the world, the wife and I have a comfy couch we can offer you (Daschund cuddle doggies included ).  Do it after I get the main line up and running, and I'll make sure I'm holding an op session when you are here. 

There is a LOT of model railroading going on in this town.  We need to have another NMRA National convention here.  Have not had one here since 1976 (which I attended). 

Regards,

Jerry

N scale 128 Newsstand.

Here is updated pictures of my new atlas n scale caboose.