Chevrolet Two-Ton Truck - Alloy Forms

I purchased a partly built stake truck this fall at one of the trains shows. I believe it is an Alloy Forms models of their 1955 Chev two-ton truck. It is a metal kit that was partly glued together and painted. The paint job is good other than the tires and rims which I repainted. I added a bit of chrome paint to handles and so on. I powdered up the box, glued the stakes and cab on. I added a bit of rust to the bottom of the body and plates to the front and back. Some hay rolls I have on hand went into the back. I am thinking I should still add a couple of mud flaps...George Dutka

My truck before the rust happened.

Wordless Wednesday No. 259

Woodstock, Ontario - Bob Fallowfield

The Kelsey-Hayes industry in Woodstock makes for some interesting photo options.

Here are a few more views of the Galt Sub layout found in Bob Fallowfield's basement...enjoy...George Dutka

A view that Don Janes took during our visit.

The weathering on Bob's rolling stock is very realistic.

Another view of some nice looking rolling stock in Woodstock, Ont.

Bread and Butter Freight Car

More rolling stock for Neil Schofield's CP Newport Sub. Neil Schofield photo

Neil Schofield sent me some photo of his layout in progress. He also sent me these two views of CP International of Maine boxcars he completed as a kind of a change of pace from plowing though his layout projects. Neil calls these his bread and butter freight cars. He sure did an excellent job with these models. Thanks for sharing and allowing me to post them on my blog...keep up the good work and looking forward to seeing a completed layout...George Dutka

A script version of CP's International of Maine Division boxcars. Check out the upcoming Model Railroad Planning 2018 for more of Neil's modeling.

Carl's Troutateria Layout is for Sale

If you ever wanted to own a layout that had been featured in the modeling press, here is your chance. Christopher Creighton has decided to sell his Gn15 mini layout, Carl's Troutateria is now for sale. It was featured in the September 2012 issue of Railroad Model Craftsman. Christopher can be reached at this e-mail address below if anyone requires more information...George Dutka

christophercreighton@hotmail.com

Live VIA and Amtrak Mapping

Peter Mumby passed along this link (found below) that is really neat to view. It locates all passenger trains operating live at the moment with details about the run. Just click on the train number for the information...George Dutka

http://www.asm.transitdocs.com/

Toning Down Tree Colours

My newest project is finishing, my N scale module that ties in with Peter's. The trees looked off so some toning needed to be done.

This past week I spend most of my modeling time finishing off a N scale module that Peter and I have been building for two years now. We did not touch our modules at all last year but a push is on to have them done for Peter's club meeting in January....good to have focus. Peter gave me some trees he purchased recently that are a Woodland Scenic offering. They are fall coloured foam trees that seem the right size for N scale but bright in colour. I used three on my module. To me they look just to bright so I dug into my various tree making material looking for something that might be used for toning things down. I used dollar store hair spray followed by some Noch olive colors foliage...George Dutka

The finished tree with the material used. More views of the module and other trees shortly.

DPM - Brick Garage

One end of the structure got a new door as it was missing. It actually is a multi-level door cut up to fit. This end is a motorcycle repair shop.

I picked up Schutz's Garage (kit 201) a Design Preservation Models already built back last spring. I thought I could fit it into one of my scenes but as it turned out it became another models I sold off...captions tell the story...George Dutka

This is how it looked when I got it home. I have already added the new stacks and chimneys, sanded the roof smooth as it was kind of rough and clipping some of the molding tabs off.

I coloured the walls using PanPastels, repainted the roof black using acrylic paint and added some powders. I used a pencil to add the tar-paper sheet lines, then some gloss-coat to the seams. Some signs and junk are applied to the model.

The other end is a rad repair shop...one can display it any way you want.

The Galt Sub - Bob Fallowfield

One of the runs Bob ran for us during our visit to the CP Galt sub. Bob is a tech guy who really knows his stuff. His signal system works the same as the real thing. The train order signal is lighted and actually operates.

On Tuesday Don Janes and I traveled to St. Catherines to visit Bob Fallowfield's and his CP layout. The Galt Sub is set in the fall of 1980 on a prototypical detailed layout. Bob mentions his layout is actually not finished yet but you would never know it. The scenery and structures are very realistic looking, the room has a finished appearance with spot lighting well placed. Bob mentioned this layout is his first attempt, but once again you would never know it by looking around the room. This appears to be the work of a seasoned modeler. What I really liked was the weathered rolling stock and engines which look very realistic. The layout looks as good if not better in person than in the many prototypical photos Bob posts on his Facebook page...link below...George Dutka

Bob Fallowfield’s Galt Sub

Bob and Don during our visit. Note all the spot lighting which are really helpful when railfanning the trains.

A scene from Woodstock, Ontario.

One of the many rural scenes. The derail in the foreground actually operates.

Another view of Woodstock.

 

My small pocket camera could get down low to the scene similar to what Bob does with his phone.

There are a lot of rural scenes on this layout that make for good photo ops.

Although this scene looks finished Bob mentioned the poles have yet to be strung.

A last look at Woodstock.

Chris Adam's Valley Line Layout....by Don Janes

An aerial view of the Old Saybrook station.  The freight house in the background has been moved (in real life) to the right hand end of the station and is now a Pizzaworks restaurant. 

A New Haven Branch Line That Fills A Basement

       While on our October layout tour Greg Stubbings and I paid a visit to Chris Adam's Valley Line layout.  We both had followed Chris's blog, The Valley Local and looked forward to seeing the layout in person.  Chris graciously welcomed into his home on Friday night.  It was a pleasure to finally meet Chris.  Not only is he an excellent modeller but also on the board at the Essex Steam Train and Riverboat RR in Essex CT.  as well as being a qualified steam fireman on that railroad.  Since we had just visited the railroad earlier that day it was very interesting having Chris give us a lot of facts and history about the railroad.

    After giving us a tour of his model railroad and a background about how it all came about he explained how it operated.  The layout represents three separate New Haven lines, the Shoreline through Old Saybrook which is on the busy Northeat Corridor, the Air Line and the  Connecticut Valley branch from Old Saybrook to Hartford, CT which is what Chris has based the biggest part of the layout on.  Chris has spent countless hour researching the Valley Line, how it worked and traffic that was on the line.  He is faithfully representing several of the towns the line served and the industries that were located in those towns. 

Here is a track plan of Chris's layout which fills his whole basement.

      The first scene you see as you enter Chris's basement is the Old Saybrook station on the busy Shore Line.  Here there is a non stop parade of crack NH passenger trains which enter the scene from staging yards at both ends of Old Saybrook.  Chris has done an excellent job of recreating this scene as it looked in the late 1940's.  Although it is a small portion of the layout is has a great visual impact and once you learn more about Chris's operating plan behind the Valley Line you can see why it is so important to operations.
     The rest of the layout is basically the Valley Line which meanders through the countryside serving the many industries that once existed in the cities and towns in the area.
      Most of the track is in place and operational but there is still a lot of scenery to do but the areas that Chris has finished look great.  His attention to detail really shows in the various scenes he has created and if these are any indication of what is to follow this is going to be a really incredible layout .  Chris is very fortunate to have a group of friends that are willing to share their knowledge, time and talents to help him complete his dream layout.
     Greg and I really enjoyed our time with Chris and hopefully will be able to get back in a few years to see how the layout has progressed. Be sure to visit Chris's Blog at http://blog.thevalleylocal.net/

Business is brisk at the fuel dealer and freight house behind the station at Old Saybrook

The tower operator at Old Saybrook doesn't have much time to relax due to the high volume of traffic on this busy main line

A view from the tail of the wye which leads to the Valley Line

These are the two staging yards that hold the Shoreline trains that make up the parade of traffic through Old Saybrook.  The lid over this yard also serves as a place for conductors to do their paperwork

New Haven RS-2 0510 is a Proto 1000 unit that Chris has superdetailed to match the prototype that operated on the Valley line

This great looking bridge scene is of the Shailerville Bridge at Haddam, CT

This small Shad Shack sits just at the base of the bridge and really adds a nice touch to the scene

Although no longer in use the old Rocky Hill station still stands as a reminder of days gone by.  It was built for Chris by good friend Bill Schneider

The freight house at Rocky Hill looks to be in much better shape and is still in use

This good looking rock cut just outside of Rocky Hill was also done by Bill S.

The Goff Brook Farmhouse scene is one of the newer finished areas on the layout and Chris is in the process of adding photo backdrops to complete the scene.

The Valley Local headed up by 2-6-0 #278 has just complete its work at Rocky Hill and is ready to head off to Middletown

Engineer Gregg Stubbings (left) and Conductor Chris Adams take a break from their switching chores at Rocky Hill to pose for a photo

Wordless Wednesday No. 258

Wickham Cars - Smith Falls, Ont.

At the Museum in Smith Falls, June 12, 2017.

Yesterday's post on Trevor Marshall's Port Rowan in 1:64 featured some information on a speeder I saw this spring in Smith Falls. It is an usual looking thing. Trevor mentioned the speeder came from England...check out his blog at link below...George Dutka

 Port Rowan in 1:64