Rod Stewart at ITLA

Nick of ITLA with Rod Stewart at the ITLA head office.

Not sure if you follow ITLA's Facebook page but Nick who lives about 20 minutes away from me has sold a number of kits to Rod Steward over the years. Last summer Rod was in London for a concert and Nick of ITLA was sent tickets and had a back stage visit with the group. The following day Rod visited ITLA and Nick got a few photos of Rod at the head office and shop (which is actually his basement). This photo is from his Facebook site.

Since then Nick has traveled to London, England, I believe in December to take in another one of Rod's concerts and to visit his home layout. Rod has a number of homes, two in the US (Florida and California) and I believe there is a second layout in one....George Dutka 

Prototype Corner - The Rapido Bus

 

The Rapido Bus is on display on October 01/17 at the train show in the Brampton area.  For modelling purposes, disregard the old guy standing in the doorway!

By Peter Mumby.  

Most of us are familiar with the high quality models of North American locomotives and rolling stock produced by Rapido Trains, Inc.  Over the last several years they have also produced models of GM buses, models based on the prototype bus owned by the company.  In this photo it is on display at the Greater Toronto Train Show in the Brampton area.  For a related view, see the post of June 29, 2018.

MEC Style Section House

My MEC style section shed that is located just outside the WRJ yard.

I built this Creative Laser Design's MEC section house, a laser cut kit offering back in 2010. It was one of my first laser cut kits that I built. Before that all was scratch-built or the stick and plan kits from past eras. Since then the this company has disappeared and now I have gone back to my old ways of scratch-building to have a second copy of the structure, but this time more worn for when the WRD eras move forward....George Dutka   

It was a nice little kit that came with Northeastern slate shingles. I think the next one will have worn tarpaper roofing.

Throwback Thursday - Rear View

Via 6436 is sitting west of the station at Jasper, Alberta on July  10, 2006.

By Peter Mumby.

For modelling projects, we appreciate having photos available showing all sides of the prototype under consideration.  With many locomotives, especially passenger types, it is the rear view which seems to be most difficult to come by.  Today's offering is Via F40PH-2D number 6436.  For a second look at a similar unit, check out the post of August 13, 2020.  

Wordless Wednesday No. 518

 

    

GT - Portland, Maine

 

CN 4-8-2 on April 22 1956 at the Portland, Maine GT station. Edward Ozog photo.     

Sunset Motel - Office

A little better look at the office which was the first of the three structures I completed...George Dutka  

I added a bit of extra detailing that is not included in the kit. There is a nice selection of signs though that really work well.

I leaned a few of the extra signs along the base of the buildings mainly to hide the tab construction locations.

The roof is weathered with AK road asphalt powders.

The pop cooler is a build up that one needs to play around with. The Coke sign is from my stock of signs. I weathered this structure a bit more than the other two.

BEST - White Haven Shed

The finished BEST model with a tarpaper roof applied.

I built this "Just the Basics" kit which took no time at all. The stain and painting took longer than the actual construction....George Dutka

Vetero aged barn wood is applied to the walls. Three coats are required. I tested in on the scraps first...which is a good way to see how things will look when you are not sure. The top tone on the left is Hunterline weathering mix, one coat. I wanted to see the difference in tones. Vetero might have its place as a tone one can build up with more coats but I think I will stick with Hunterline for most projects for now. You will also note I used a lot of bracing as the test scrap walls really distorted when stain was applied.   

MIG Rail Center "Buff" which is actually suppose to be the gold for the CNR green and gold paint scheme is not the proper color for on an engine, but good for other projects.

AK rainmarks is steaked down the walls as a wash. Streaking grime and AK slimy grime dark are also applied.

Diner in Palmer, Ma.

The interior was interesting too see and I should have taken a photo with my phone, next time.

The day before the Springfield 2023 train show I visited Palmer and stopped at the diner a few doors down from Palmer Hobbies to get a coffee. It is kind of a neat old diner that appeared to serve a nice breakfast...at least it smelled good. The coffee was just the typical diner style of coffee. Reviews report good food but very slow service. I did get my coffee quickly though...George Dutka  

The diner is located just across the street from the Palmer library which has a railroad room full of railway photos and books...well worth a visit.

Sunset Motel

There are three structures included in the kit and a nice looking sign.

The Sunset Motel is open for business. This Blair Line kit was a fun build and I hope the new owner and customer will find it a comfortable stay...George Dutka  

All the coloring on this structure was done using MIG products. The construction is tab and slot which did not need additional reinforcement. 

I had switched out the printed roof shingles for tarpaper. I did not feel the shingles looked very realistic. Some old signs, papers and weeds finish off the detailing.

Wordless Wednesday No. 517

 

   

Otter Valley Buisness Card

My Otter Valley hobby shop order included their new business card that is a laser cut metal one with a wheel and track gauge built into it...George Dutka   

Ghost Railbox ABOX50026

The weathering I applied was lightly done. The patchwork and fading is part of Athearn Grime series.

This Athearn 50' boxcar with combination doors is part of their "Gime" series. The car has some patchwork done plus fading. I gave the car a coat of Model Master clear. The roof recived a coat of India ink and alcohol which gave it a oxidized look. I then added some AK rust steak and Vallejo rust texture marks. A light coat of PanPastel Raw Umber Shade is then applied. 

On only one side I appled AK pencil marks on the side ribs. On both sides I used the pencil gun metal on the grabs and stirrups...George Dutka  

The car looks pretty clean with most of the weathering on the roof. 

What's in the Box No. 53

Here is what came in the box. One supplies their own roofing cover. There are two helpful booklet that can get you motivated to begin.

BEST " Just the Basics" offers a nice mix of structures that follow a prototype. This one is called White Haven Shed, the prototype was in Affton, Mo. but the style lends itself to be located anywhere...George Dutka

Not a lot to it but can be modified...just a bit of creativity can change it around.

GMRC with CV 8080

Bellows Falls, Vermont sometime before 1979. Dick Gassett photo, Tim Stevens collection.

Kevin Smith passed along this wintery view of CV 8080 with a Green Mountain plow. The photo is undated but neat to see...George Dutka   

Westboro NH Freight House on the WRD

A view I took in 2020.

Here is a view that compliments one from a couple of weeks back of the Westboro, NH freight house being placed into the shop scene. My model is a BEST kit. The B&M prototype frt. house was a much larger structure but for such a compact scene this version works well. The sign is a copy of the original one...George Dutka  

Motel Completed

This is one of three buildings that make up the Sunset Motel.

I finished the rooms portion of the motel kit offered by Blair Line. All the coloring was done using MIG products. I have found that MIG paints flow very nice and coat well...George Dutka  

Wordless Wednesday No. 516

 

  

Shiny and Clean

Brian Smith sent me this clean looking car which he saw down in Florida. I thought I would share it with you...George Dutka

Snapshot - February 2023

January 20, 2023 at the west end of CP yard in London, Ontario.

Not that often around here do we see the orange "Every Child Matters" CP locomotive. This  is only the second time I have come across this engine. Although it was an overcast and rainy day it was leading and worth a shot...George Dutka