Image of the Month

Its been a long month, and I have been on the workbench building a sawmill for the club layout. However in celebration of my wife taking me to the circus tonight, I offer a rather interesting photograph from a forgotten era when the circus' traveled by train. Yes, Ringling still does, but it is not the spectacle it once was. Just admire the artwork on the side of the baggage car...



I will be back next month with more interesting tidbits and railroad stuff...

From My workbench

My last two structures are now complete for my Structures Achievement Program Certificate for my Master Model Railroad Certification, the first was a trestle I built 30 years ago. The second is called "a simple garage" is is based off a 1930's garage shop and is scratch built. It was a lot of fun to build.
It is board on board construction on the sides and back with framed front covered with cambell's corrugated metal siding.
























The automobile is from my weathering clinic and fits quite well in the overall scene.















The interior is complete with everything you see, I included the vector cut tools, door panels and other details. See my vendor write up below for more information.



Overall I have learned a great deal from the 12 structures that were required for this AP, I think my skills have increased a great deal. I want to thank everyone for their help at the LSR, Jerry, Duane, Larry, Charlie, David, Bill, Tom, MMR's many, and too many to list and each one, absolutely talented modelers.

I think I am going to tackle the Locomotive AP next, it should be an experience...

Image of the Month

Southern Pacific Roadroad

Southern Pacific RR brakeman Harry Martin smelling a tiger lily found beside tracks w. engineer Jimmy Belote waiting his turn, during regulation cooling-off stop between Sacramento and Reno.

Taken in 1942 by Life Magazine regarding Railroads at War, I really like the contrast in this photo.

From My WorkBench

Here is the latest scratch built structure completed. It is Virginia's 5 and Dime. I really wanted to pull out all the stops on this one. The 100s of details and 100s of hours paid off I hope. This was a real challenge but I learned a great deal and hope you enjoy it...
















The screen doors were salvaged from Christmas ribbon, I used the peeled paint method from Chuck Doan.












The interior was the most challenging aspect of this build, each of the 100s of cans, box, products
and misc items were scratch built using product packaging that do not exceed 1944. The counter tops and contents are scratch as well as the fan assembly and library latter
systems.



This structure is dated June 7th 1944 per the newspapers on near the cash register.
This was a lot of fun to build, I have 2 remaining structures to complete to finish my structures AP certification. Stay tuned for these new models, one of which is a automobile garage.

Product Review - Vector Cut

I am always amazed at what the laser has brought to the table regarding detail possibilities in model railroading. We have never enjoyed this level of detail before, particularly in HO.

So while building my latest scratch built structure, a HO automobile garage, (will post pictures later this month so stay tuned), I found a Vendor that has some outstanding laser cut details that I think you will enjoy.

Vector Cut

Dave at Vector Cut offers N-HO-O scale details, craftsman kits, and even model ship accessories as well. I personally ordered the tools and automobile parts that you will see on the website. The shipping was fast, free, Dave was very personable, and the parts were AMAZING as far as quality.

Ever thought of having HO Scale hotdogs, hamburgers, and donuts? Well he has got them!...So when you get a chance surf his site. When your there, check out his Gallery, talk about talent! The diorama's are simply, as they say now "off the hook".

For the impeccable quality of work, clever design (3 dimensional automobile doors), great service, and fast shipment, I highly recommend Vector Cut Details with 5 lanterns....

Image of the Month

Lets start off 2011 with a really cool video regarding troop trains during WWII.
You all know by now that I model WWII era railroading so this is just what the doctor ordered...

Vintage footage of Military Transport by Railroad is somewhat rare, the War Department at the time was reluctant to film such moves due to the military security could be compromised. This movie appears to have been released in 1943.

Image of the Month

Merry Christmas

-Mike

From My Workbench

As the plans that I posted suggests, I have completed 3 of the 6 scratch built structures required for my Master Model Railroader Structure Certificate. For more information check out the plans that were used in an earlier post... And here they are;









Southern Pacific Main Line Tender Oil Storage Tank.

Completely scratch built using a PVC pipe union believe it or not.
I covered the union with plascticstruct, constructed the legs painted
and weathered.

The Pumphouse... complete with interior....

These were real challenges particularly in the interiors, in this case
everything is built from scratch with the exception of the steam

engine (click on all of these pics for larger view).




Grizzly Flats Station.... (this was a lot of fun)... really tested my skills and almost an exact recreation of the South Pacific RR in Ann Arbor California around 1943. The interior is complete right down to the toilet paper roll and newspapers, the world war II theme is seen throughout.












The roof rafters alone consumed well over 200 nut bolt washer castings. I went a step beyond and added conduit and electrical boxes and switches, also the interior is lit with 5 0603 LEDs







This was a fun set of structures, hopefully if all goes well I will have the remaining 3 structures completed by this time next month...

Top 50 List

I was very pleased to have my blog named a "50 Best Blogs for Train Enthusiasts” at http://onlineengineeringdegrees.org/50-best-blogs-for-train-enthusiasts/ A list generated by Edgar Lovett. It was really cool to be listed among some really amazing blogs. If you get a chance check out the list that he has offer, but I warn you, there is tons of Railroad related sites that you will spend days looking through...

Thanks Edgar, I am humbled...

I Have Been Busy

Greetings all,

I tell you what, I have been really busy of late, doing clinics for the local divisions, doing train shows in Fort Worth and Houston and to top it off, building scratch built structures for my Master Model Railroad Structure Certificate.

I wanted to post some of the plans that I have been working on, as soon as I get the models judged I will post pictures here.

The first structure I have completed is South Pacific Coast RR Station based off some plans I found in the Narrow Gauge Gazette. Due to copyright, I dont want to post the plans but the model came out really nice, again once I get it judged I will post pictures of it.

The second is a main line oil tank that I designed myself, being that I model Southern Pacific, I needed to have a oiling facility and pump house to store and deliver tender fuel oil to my locomotive fleet.
Here is the plan for the tank...

This model is now completed and ready for judging...

The third (of six) structures that I need to scratch build is a pump house that will be paired up with the tank shown above. The plans are from Railroad structures and estimates by John Wilson Orrock, 1918. This book I found to be an AMAZING compilation of structures and other railroad plans, I highly recommend it and it is free and available on Google Books.

Here is the plan as it appeared in the book;

I translated this into a scale plan using Excel and built the model, or should I say I am building the model using these plans...I hope to have this model completed in the next couple of weeks so watch for the December posting for the finished models.

I just wanted to also give a shout out to Scotty Mason whom I met while doing the Houston Show, he is a genuinely good dude and it was a real pleasure chatting with him.

Thats it for now, thanks for being understanding this last month or so and I will talk to you soon, have a great thanksgiving.

- Mike

Image of the Month

I was in Hearne Texas yesterday on the way to College Station to see my new grand daughter :) and of course had to do some rail fanning. I have seen this station before but wanted to get some shots of it. It is a 1901 MP/SP station, it is unique in that is was built between a cross over main line giving it a triangle foot print. I plan on taking more measurements and eventually scratch build this beauty. Nice work by the team that restored this truly incredible structure.

New Clinic

I just completed a new clinic for our NMRA division meeting. I thought I would share my techniques related to weathering. Here are some of the examples that I built to show the techniques I used. Depending how how heavily you want to weather, you can utilize different techniques.
If you are interested in joining the NMRA or happen to live in the Dallas Metroplex area, please contact me at lsrnmra@hotmail.com

Image of the Month

A nice Edison video of some railroad action from the turn of the last century. Shows front end shots, brakemen on top of cars, crossing flagmen, semaphores.... Well worth a watch.

Road to my MMR

One down, 6 certificates to go for my Master Model Railroad Certification.

My next will be Master Builder - Structures.

Image of the Month

I was researching this car after I purchased the brass version of it. Apparently Southern Pacific in the early 50's sponsored this car for blood donor campaigns. It was was converted from the SP observation car 2903.
...from the Journal of American Medical Association in 1952...
"A specially equipped railroad blood donor car, named "The Life Line," was dedicated in San Francisco in November at a ceremony sponsored by the Southern Pacific, which built and will operate the car over its lines, and by the Irwin Memorial Blood Bank of the San Francisco Medical Society, which will staff the car and supervise the extensive blood procurement project. A. T. Mercier, president of the railroad, dedicated the car at the conclusion of a morning program. The principal address was given by Dr. John W. Cline, San Francisco, President of the American Medical Association. Keys to the car and passes with which the staff can travel on Southern Pacific lines to and from duty aboard the blood donor car were presented by Mr. Mercier to Dr. Paul M. Aggeler, president of the Blood Bank Commission."

From my workbench

As I said earlier, I am back from the LSR convention in San Antonio. After last year's Best of Show Novice, I really wanted to see how I performed against the pro's. Entering the contest room, I was not disappointed, there were several models there and each was world class.I entered 3 categories this year, displays, passenger cars, and maintenance of way. When it was all said and done, I placed first in displays, first in passenger, best overall kit, second in maintenance of way, participation award (for most overall points) and best of all, show most popular for the passenger car. I was elated!....I have posted pictures of the blacksmith car and passenger car here during the build so I will not show them again.

My display this year was a huge project, it consisted of 3 Sierra West Kits of which I kit bashed the Eureka Engine House and Logging and Tractor Repair Sheds. The wood cutters kits sits on the side of the diorama. Each of these are complete with full interior and custom lighting. Here are a few shots...

Side View Engine & Machine Shop Side

Tractor & Logging Repair Side

Through The Trees Inside Engine House

Tractor Repair Shop

Engine and Machine Shop

Wood Cutters Shack on the side

Until next year in Lubbock Texas, LSR Convention 2011...

The LSR Alamo Rails convention was a blast!

Well I am back from the LSR convention held by the folks in San Antonio. What a blast it was! Many thanks to the crew from SAMRA for a great time and very well run convention. I spent many hours in the contest room, going to clinics and visiting some really cool sites in San Antonio. One of the days was spent at the Wimberly, Blanco, and Southern live steam railroad. My first trip to such an event and I am totally hooked on it. This railroad was off the charts in quality, here are a few pictures of the locomotives there....

The detail on these locomotives was amazing.

Disney's Lilly Belle

Prepping for the run.

Blowing down after a day of running.

A wonderful day and convention from beginning to end. I faired really well in the contest room as well, stay tuned for the next posting from my workbench for the models I built for the contest this year.

Image of the Month

This is an interesting photo of what appears to be a road gang showing how versatile the Model T actually was....