New England Brownstone castings

It appears that BEST Trains has acquired New England Brownstone molds from Russ Greene. I have a few of their castings and the ones I have used are very nice. BEST will begin with their first offering beginning with this small double box culvert. BEST mentions that about 1,000 items are in the acquisition and they hope to have them all available in the future..George Dutka  

GMD Recollections - North to Alaska

Appropriately enough, there were flurries in the air as ARR 4001 was on view on Jan. 05, 2000.  Note the stylized North Star and Big Dipper located high on the hood above the "KA" in the road name.

By Peter Mumby.

During the late 1990s and early 2000s it was not at all unusual to find new units from GMD occupying the shop tracks at CP's Quebec St Yard in London, Ontario.  They would generally sit there for several hours before being retrieved by the power from the next Chicago-bound freight.  What made the situation of ARR SD70 MAC 4001 somewhat different is that it stayed around for the best part of four days.  This allowed for photography in a number of different contexts and lighting situations.

Following delivery each of the new locomotives was given an individual name; 4001 was dubbed the "Spirit of Alaska."

CP 5607 and a GMD unit in primer paint had joined 4001 by Jan 08, 2000.

Skies were clear on Jan 07, 2000.

Wordless Wednesday No. 520

 

    

Snapshot - March 2023

VIA 72 is approaching the home signal to the CN Strathroy Sub., Feb. 11, 2023 in Komoka, Ont. A neat looking bridge that would be nice to model. 

This bridge location at the approach to the Komoka home signal on the Chatham sub. is a nice place to photograph trains. The VIA train is in the process of slowing down for the switches located on the Strathroy sub. at the junction of the two subdivisions. I normally am up close to the bridge for a 3/4 shot but this time I stopped me car back a bit and took in the action from the side of the road. Komoka has a number of bridges one can take photos at...George Dutka  

Doubleheaders Layout Tour 2023

An overall view of the Hespeler arena registration center for the Doubleheader layout tour. There was 6 layouts and displays setup. Four N scale and two HO scale modular railroads.

On Saturday I attended the Kitchener, Ont. area Doubleheaders 39th layout tour. It has been a number of years since I have been there for the tour. The tour was smaller than from years ago with about 20 layouts listed in the Cambridge, Waterloo, Guelph and Kitchener areas. There was one in particular that I had not seen before and the reason for my visit.

The Waterloo Region Model Railway Club located in Maryhill has been building and operating a 1970's version of the CP in Northern Ontario radiating out of Sudbury. They have operation days were a 24 hour day is condensed into a 8 hour day on the layout. This club is one to watch. More on this club shortly...George Dutka

This is the Waterloo Region Model Railway Club layout. The large yard which emulates CP Sudbury is well underway with a scratch built station under construction and a completed ice house. Oh that is member Chris van der Heide who  has moved to Sarnia. He commutes to Maryhill to work and operate the layout. Chris also models Algoma Central and has a blog about it.

In south Cambridge I drove by this ex-CN caboose which has really been dressed up with signs since the last time I visited the area. I will have to make a trip here in better weather to try their ice cream.

Jeff Pinchbeck models the CP Sutherland Sub in 1938 which is located in the Saskatoon area. Although his layout had not changed much since my last visit you may note some unpainted boxcars in the background. Well Jeff has been 3-D printing some of his rolling stock and maybe offering them in the future through Black Cat Decals...more on his models shortly.  

B&M 1102

A closer look at the weathering and engine black fading that was applied to a B&M HH 600/660 an Atlas model.

Following this Wednesday Wordless Wednesday I thought I should fill you in about the weathering. I like how this engine turned out with a good amount of weathering. It began with a coat of Floquil engine black, once decaling was done and a flat finish applied some acrylic hood top paint chipping was done followed by a coat of Bragdon soot (a black shade) and some dark rust. the whole engine got a light application of PanPastel blender which faded the black a bit...George Dutka  

This Atlas model is a great running little switcher.

BEST White Haven Shed - a hint of paint?

I decided to bring back my most recent project to the workbench to add a hint of paint.

I decided to take this little BEST shed a bit further by adding a hint of the original coloring using PanPastels and chalk as the paint. I felt just the stains needed something else to make it pop. What do you think? George Dutka   

 

Kitchener Train Show

Gary Clark with his replica CN caboose. The WOD will be in Strathroy this May to have a ride on their fleet of rolling stock. Gary is a CN engineman and from what I hear number two seniority in Sarnia. I worked with Gary when he was in London years ago.

This past Sunday I attended the Kitchener, Ontario spring train show. I was participating as one of two working on models at the NMRA-WOD craftsman corner. I had on hand a FOS kit-of-the-month. A good show with lots to look at even if you where not purchasing anything...George Dutka    

Otter Valley Railroad had a display of their new trash cars. 

I am working on Nate's Batteries. I got the basic assembly together at the show. This is a FOS Facebook image of the model.

Steve works on an ITLA tower at Kitchener.

Throwback Thursday - Grey Cup 100 Tour

Via 6445 and its train visited Sarnia on Nov. 03, 2012.

By Peter Mumby.

The Grey Cup was first awarded in 1909 as being emblematic of the "Canadian Dominion Football Championship."  The trophy had been donated by the Earl Grey, who was Canada's Governor General at the time.  Although there had originally been no such stipulation, this gradually became an East vs West competition.  Initially only amateur teams were involved, but by 1954 only professional teams played for the cup.  In 1958 the Eastern and Western leagues amalgamated to form the Canadian Football League (CFL), and subsequently the Grey Cup game existed as the CFL championship.  Since competition had been suspended during the latter years of the First World War, the 100th edition of the Grey Cup game took place in 2012.  In honour of this occasion a special display train toured the country pulled by specially wrapped Via 6445.  The accompanying coaches were loaded with displays and featured exteriors wrapped with CFL team logos and Grey Cup scenes.  As much as possible, the train visited each community where a Grey Cup winner had been based.  

A Sarnia team had twice won the national championship in 1934 and 1936.

Wordless Wednesday No. 519

 

   

BEST - White Haven Shed Part Two

The completed shed with three coats of stain and a few AK washes applied. The shingles are not included in the kit. I had leftover BEST shingles in a green tone.

 A closer look at the BEST shed that I recently completed...enjoy...George Dutka  

A bit of powder weathering is added around the windows and eves. Bragdon dark rust is the tone on the roof seams.

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.