Finished the stock car last night after work...

Now it's off to the paint shop. I'm using Micro Trains 1015 couplers and some N scale trucks I have floating around. 

Here's a family album of some of my rolling stock. The boxcar in the back is a 36 footer based on a ICRA design. The stock car in in the middle and a scratch built gondola is to the right. The floor will be either a steel reefer or boxcar. The material in the center beam is lead for weight. I want a few reefers and boxcars, so I'm working on masters to make resin copies. If I have extras, I can make them available if anyone is interested.. 

New HOn30 car...

A new car for my HOn30 line, the Ferrocarril de Tropico, is a stock car. I'm following roughly an article written by Al Turner from the Feb 1987 Model Railroader on scratchbuilding narrow guage cars. Good article for someone interested in trying they're hand at this.

I used HO 2' x 6' strips across the car and then I'll cut the door way open. I'm using the Grandt Line stock car detail set for the doors and other stuff, along with a pile of Tichy details. More pictures as I go along.

Also, the bridge is in the paint shop. I'll have photos when it's done..

The bridge...

I've had this kit for awhile, but it wasn't until the train show in Bakersfield that I got worked up to get after it. That's because I had the chance to talk to the owners of Central Valley. Jeffery and his wife are the nicest people and after bringing my kit to the show, Jeffery got me new parts for some of the details and I bought the walkway kit as an add-on for the bridge. Check out www.cvmw.com for info and pictures of their other kits.

I'm half way done, Just the bracing and the track deck. They include thread for the cabling, but I'm gonna use some piano wire, which holds up well to lots of things!

Got a shorty baggage car done this weekend. At least, it's cut down and ready for striping and painting... Just need a little putty on the roof.

I'll post up a photo when done..

Passenger cars!!

Well, with the new year, it's time to get the excursion fleet back into shape for the summer. Besides 4 Bachmann coaches, I have an RPO, Observation and a Wheels of Time Harriman baggage on the way. I've also got a Rivarossi baggage that is ready to be cut down for the fleet as well. More photos as I get cars done. 

Power for the excursion train will be provided by 1-2 SP Black Widow GP9's....

Some video...

I get a chance now and then to run on Jeff A's SP Oregon division layout. Jeff has a great layout for 4-5 guys to run and thanks to his buddy Ray, the electronics of it make it really great. Of of the things you enjoy is the fact his dispatcher is 50 miles away from the layout. Along with full signalling, this is a really good operations layout..

I shot some video at the last run we did and posted it to YouTube.

We're going to do another this spring, but with a few surprises...

Been awhile..

I'm working on a plan for a fairly large N scale layout in my spare room. I've also been playing with HOn30 plans. One project I wanted to dork around with was a yard tower. Here's the finished, unpainted result..

I'm still working on other projects. Work as settled down schedule wise, so now there is more time to play.