B&M open side hopper

A weather job gone bad can be fixed up with light painted overcoats and heavy chalking.

  KATO ACF 70 ton open side hopper

 

At a recent train show I came across a gentleman selling a Kato B&M covered hopper. He had done a bad weathering job. It was mostly sprayed on black that looked like chicken pocks. The roof and under body were the really bad areas with paint spots the size of pin heads. Well he did not want much for the car so I decided to see what I could do with it. I had not seen any B&M examples for this car style so I was not sure if it was a car that actually existed. 

 

Once at home I went through my photos and equipment books but could not come up with a single view. I did find some stated facts regarding the B&M car group. One tid-bit mentions the cars were built for the B&M by ACF in 1946 in the number series 5500 to 5519. They were 70 ton steel 32 foot car (the model is actually  a 34 footer) 1958 cu. ft. capacity which is all seen on the car lettering. It was also mentioned that 5500 and 5501 were sold in 1960 to Revere Sugar. 

The KATO web sit gives some general information about the cars which is as follows; "Manufactured by the American Car & Foundry Corporation, the ACF 70-Ton Open side hopper car was build to transport granular bulk commodities, such as sand, concrete, powdered lime, and sugar (though obviously, not all at the same time). Many of these hoppers are still in service today".

The KATO cars come numbered as 5502, 5511, and 5516 for about $45. Getting a new car that has not been used but with a weather job that has gone bad for $8.00 was a deal. I did not take a photo of the car before I began the repaint....but wish I did. When I began this project I was not sure if I could get a finished B&M car I would like. My main concern was I wanted to save the lettering which did not have much over spray covering it. Also the lettering on this car is minimal which would help out. I did not do any changes or add-on details since I do not have a photo to work from. This could be done in the future if I decide on it.

I began by using Floquil SP lettering Gray (which is my normal primer colour on projects) mixed with a touch of reefer white. The roof and under body got a heavy coat to hide the black blobs. On the sides and ends I started with very light coat as far away from the lettering as possible. Letting each coat dry before more paint was applied, it seemed to be covering the black well. Once I got to the point that I thought chalk will cover the rest, I gave the lettering an final overcoat to dull it down some more. 

Since I could see this car in limestone or cement service I decided on a lot of white and Gray chalk weathering. I just piled it on. It seemed to blend everything together. I brushed some black and rust on some of the roof and side ribbing. The hopper bottoms and lower car sides got a touch of earth chalk. The trucks got a good dusting of white also. The couples had a little rust applied. That's it, a heavily weathered car which really looked good once set in my train consist. The heavy chalk was what the model really needed to bring it to life. One last note, Bowser appears to have a B&M fleet available of the same cars in the 2012 Walthers catalogue...George Dutka

All weathered up, B&M 5516 is now in regular limestone service on the White River Division.

CNR 52' flat car

The finished 52' flat car is ready for service on the White River Division.

 Proto 2000 Flat Car

Back in January I picked up a CNR Proto flat car kit. This was an easy kit to complete. A true one evening project. The flat kit is already painted and lettered. The deck is even done with a weathered look. When I finished the kit the deck looked good on its own, but did not match my other flats when grouped together. I decided to followed my normal procedure for finishing  flat car decks.

I brush paint the decks with washes of Floquil Grime followed with a wash of Roof Brown.  Once dry I dry brush Reefer White and Grimy black over the deck. I then chalk weather the deck and car sides. The car sides are lightly coated with airbrushed Floquil Boxcar Red.

For now the flat car is being run as an empty, but at some point I will find a load to add.

One last note...it is wise to change out the couplers that are included with the car. I did not since they looked pretty good to me. I did find the flat was uncoupling on the curves from the rest of the consists. Kadee's fixed the problem...George Dutka

1959 Billboard at West Hartford, Vt.

1959 sign located in West Hartford, Vermont just north of White River Junction.

Advertising Gateway Motors Inc. 

White River Junction

The 1959 billboard seen above was located in West Hartford, Vermont just a few miles north of White River Junction. The Ford Motors Galaxy car advertisement was for Gateway Motors Inc. that was located on Bridge St. in White River Junction. This sign could be copied and added to a billboard for anyone modelling that area...George Dutka

Crosby Coal - Coal Loader

My finished conveyer is ready to be installed at Crosby Coal.

Scale Scenics - Belt Conveyer

While building Crosby Coal I needed a few detail features to complete the scene. One I though would fit well into the scene was a belt coal conveyer. I purchased a white metal model by Scale Scenics #652-3508. This is a simple kit to construct. The holes in the wheels need to be reamed out with a hobby knife so they can fit on the shafts. Some flashing needed to be cleaned up also.  I used Walthers Goo for attaching all the detail parts. I then painted the conveyer with Floquil Pullman green. After this dried for a few days a wash of very thin Floquil Grimy black is applied along with some chalk weathering. The conveyer would be really dirty from all the coal. I do not like the looks a bright colours on my models. Especially when they have seen years of use. The wheels that are red I just dusted with red chalk weathering. The models details are highlighted with some rust chalk. And that's it...so now on to the next project...George

The kit is all laid out and I am ready to begin.

The model is almost completed...I use my tweezers to hold things in place while they dry.

A prototype view of a conveyer I found in the D&H Rouses Point NY yard near the car shops on April 1, 1989. Lots of snow that year....George Dutka photo.

WRJ Yard Office Sign Update

Note from Dexter Cheney...

The following comments I have just received from Dexter Cheney regarding the Central Vermont Ry. White River Junction yard office sign that I discussed in my  November 29, 2011 post.

"Yes, I am the person who "rescued" the White River Junction Yard Office sign, stored it for many years and delivered it to the museum in the White River Jct. station a couple of years ago.

The building, across the roadway in the yard from the coaling tower, housed the engine house foreman's office, CV North Yard operator (staffed 24 hours), car inspectors, & freight conductors' desk, and mail boxes for consists and waybills.  All of those functions, in addition to the bunk house were moved to new quarters housed on three floors in the roundhouse, which the bridge and building gang from St. Albans constructed in the former boiler room space on the yard end of the engine house.

I have sort of lost track of the timing, but my hunch is that the old yard office was slated for demolition in 1958 or '59.  I asked if I could have the sign and as many of the stored documents (copies of train orders, messages, crew registers, etc.,) as I could haul away from the second floor of the building before it was torn down.  The documents are now part of the CVRHS archives collection."

Very best wishes.

Dexter

CV Swanton

Swanton, Vermont in the 1950's. Bob Moeller collection.

CV Swanton station model in HO scale

April 1988

At the 2010 CVRHS annual convention The North Western Vermont Model Railroad Club from Essex Junction, Vermont displayed their new HO scale kit offering. It is a laser wood kit manufactured by Branchline Trains in their Laser-Art Series. The display model is not completed but it gives one the general idea of what is included in the kit. It has been built to look as it did in 1875. Most of us would be looking at constructing it as it would have looked in the 1950's. Bob Moeller has supplied me with a photo from the 1950's. I have also included some photos I took in the 1980's and later.

The station is marketed as Railroad Kit #101 for a price of $117. They appear to also include shipping. I am not sure how many of these kits are currently left but if you are interested check them out at www.nwvrailroad.org for more details.



The Swanton station was empty and the only railroad building still standing by 1998. The Swanton Historical Society had till the fall of 1999 to find a way to save the station. And save the station they did. The Station was moved on September 14, 1999. This was not an easy task considering it measures 20' by 90'. Luckily it did not have far to go. I remember viewing Jim Murphy's slides from the move. Jim Murphy was working as a  NECR dispatcher in St. Albans during that era. The NECR moved the station on a flat car. The time window was small, 5 hours to complete the move and get the equipment clear of the main line. The move had to happen between the AM southbound and PM northbound freight  trains. It all worked out and the station sat till 2002 when it was totally refurbished and now houses the Swanton Historical Society....George Dutka

The CV Swanton Station model  on display at the CVRHS convention 2010

photo by George Dutka

Swanton, Vermont station on April 29, 1988. At that time it was being used as the Abenaki Tribal Headquarters. This is the backside view. George Dutka photo

The Swanton station looking south, April 1988. George Dutka photo.

It is April 1988 and we are looking north from the siding switch. Note the frt. house in the distance. George Dutka photo

The Swanton station has been moved the previous fall and was awaiting restoration. It is seen here when I visited the area in May 2000. George Dutka photo

The Swanton station as it looks fully restored during a visit Oct. 2010. George Dutka photo

Swanton, Vermont Oct. 2010 or eight years after restoration.  George Dutka photo

Sylvan Scale Models

Sylvan Scale Models operations are housed in a replica station in Clare Gilbert's back yard. The baggage cart seen to the left on the platform was pulled from the dumpster at the Burlington, Ont. CNR station years ago.  January 2012

A visit with Clare Gilbert


On Monday I tagged along with Gary Pembleton to Sylvan, Ont. about 30 minutes from London to visit with Clare Gilbert. Gary is a retired CNR dispatcher known as GAP in the rail world  and had a package for Clare to forward at the Springfield show this weekend to Bill Badger. Forget about the postal system when you have a direct route.

I have know Clare for years but have never visited his home and shop. Clare's a very fine modeller and owns Sylvan Scale Models. He has build some years ago a CNR style station in his backyard that houses his company. Currently Clare has two employee's working full time. He also notes that his business has been around for over 20 years now.

We had a nice visit and a tour of his scale models operation. All the model making, packaging and shipping happens in the station. In his home he has a room which is his modelling room were prototype masters are made. Clare also has a room dedicated to his research material. As most single modellers and builders there is elements of his work on displayed throughout his home.

We had a good talk and viewed many of his current projects along with some of his masters from the past. I was impressed at how many model manufacturer's use his products and services. Lately his projects are focused on model cars, trucks and boats but he has done some non railroad projects to keep his shop humming along....if this seems interesting you might want to check out his revised web site...George

 Sylvan Scale Models 1/87 vehicles, HO-Scale, N-Scale and O-Scale models

Clare Gilbert is in the process of telling us the story behind the stations he manufactured for  Rutland Car Shop. He has one of the masters in his hand. This is Clare's modelling room were many of the masters are made.

An overall view of Sylvan Scale Models.

Crosby Coal on the White River Division

Crosby coal replaced the Summit station scene which was a temporary stand in scene.

 A New Scene 

on the White River Division

My summit station scene gave way to a new coal dealer. The water tank and section shed at Summit that I removed were of Maine two foot origin and was intended as a stand in till I could build a more permanent scene.

Once the details were cleared from the area I used my RotoZip tool to cut out a section were I was going to add the coal dealer and siding track. I wanted to place a coal load or two at Crosby, but did not want to cut into the layout trackage since I would never spend time switching this industry anyhow. The trackage seen at Crosby is only staging and not connected to the layout. The switch area and some trackage is hidden by tree groupings.

My RotoZip is put to work opening up a space for Crosby Coal and a siding.

I built a base for my structure to rest on out of cardboard. Once I had the height adjusted right I built up the areas with cardboard and covered it with Woodland Scenic plaster cloth. For the trackage I laid out some cork roadbed over the scenery. I adjusted the height near the mainline just in case some day I want to cut in the staging. At this point some Goop is mixed up and applied along with ground foam and dirt. The roadway is limestone screenings that continued the original roadway. I spread some Woodland Scenic coal around the structure and on the trackage behind.

Crosby coal is test fitted. I had built up the area around the structure with additional cardboard before the plaster cloth was added.

This area now awaiting the arrival of Crosby coal as soon as the scenery dries and the flex track and ballast are added. The area  is seen covered with dirt, ground foam rocks, coal and a limestone roadway.

I finished off the scene with a Classic Metals Works truck, an old time Woodland Scenic tractor, a coal loader, some men, shovels, skids and barrels. For now one empty hopper is spotted on the siding...George Dutka

The Rutland Ry. rolls by the finished scene just like it would have on the prototype.

Crosby Coal - the model

Ready for placement on the White River Division.

A New Coal Dealer

on the White River Division

I have recently finished construction and installed my Branchline Crosby Coal laser kit. The prototype is one of my favourite structures along the old Rutland Ry right of way. Seems ever time I passed by the area I had to stop and take a photo of the building in its present state. I decided to apply a finish to my kit similar to what I have seen on my visits.
 

  The Branchline kit was not all that complicated to build although the coal bin floors gave me some problems. The parts are peel and stick which adds to the ease of construction.

Two words of advice in building the kit. One, read the instructions first and follow them as close as you can...something I have a hard time doing myself. Two, leave the ladders on the back off till you are completely done. I did not and both ladders have been broken and repaired at least twice.

All the part sheets are laid out while I read the instructions.

The walls are assembled along with the bin floors. The structure is only sitting on the base. I did not glue the structure in place till it was finished.

I used two of my weights to hold the coal bin floor, walls and supports in place while the glue dried. It was tricky to get it all together. So I decided to first do one side wall, floor and supports. Once dried the other wall was glued in place. That is what is seen completed in this photo. One more floor section is still to be added. It appears to be a tough chore for one to glue the 5 floor supports to the two side walls all at once.

 I added nail marks with a pin in rows 2 feet apart before beginning assembly. The interior of the walls and roof panel were painted black once the basic assembly was competed. The coal chutes were added last to the structure but before the roof. The details for the chutes was not that clear. It helped having my own photos. The chutes are attached with Walthers Goo which made them more flexible and less apt to being broken off. I used two glues while building this model, white glue and Walthers Goo.

The ladders included with the kit are thick wooden laser cut pieces. I did use them since they would not be seen once the model was placed on the layout. I would suggest using finer metal or plastic ladders to emulate the metal ladders found on the prototype. I used up almost all the scrap wooden bits and pieces that held the wall sections in place as bracing. Although the model is small and there seems to be a lot of bracing with the bins and roof section I did not want to take chances once I started applying the finishes. I have had smaller building warp when not braced.

Most of the paint and weathering is completed. The decals are now ready to be applied.

Two walls were painted while the front and end wall were left as weather beaten. The back and end wall had a coat of Floquil tuscan red applied. While still wet I blended in caboose red to brighten it up a bit. I then added Hunterline original weather mix once the walls were dry. The Hunterline mix was also applied to the front and side that were to be left weathered. Once dry I went over the weathered walls with dry brush Floquil grime, SP gray and concrete. I then added dry brush caboose red to locations that showed some colour in my prototype photos. I also dry brushed some reefer white at the same time. The whole process was a see what happens when a colour was added.

On the rear wall once the red's and Hunterline wash was dry I also dry brushed some caboose red and reefer white as accents. At this point I toned the whole building down with a light air brush coat of caboose red on back and one side and grimy black on the other side and front. I brushed on some gloss coat at the decal locations.

The decals went on well and I just brushed on a little dull coat over these areas. Once dry, I then dry brushed these area with Floquil grime then added a thin wash over the area.

The slate roofing is being added. I elected to use Northeastern Scale Models gray slate instead of the paper shingles included in the kit.

Crosby coal is completed. I just need to glue on the tar paper canopy. The chalk colours I used are seen in the foreground.

Crosby coal then got dirty via my chalk weathering. I streaked some white chalk down from the lettering. Black chalk on the coal chutes and doors and openings.

The roofing was added once the walls were painted and weathered. The roofing that is included with the kit just did not work for me. I decided on using BEST #3086 36" rolled tar paper on the canopy. On the main roof I used sheet Northeast Scale Models Inc. Gray slate #HOSHG3. Once all the roofing was in place a little chalk weathering is applied.

The concrete base was given a wash of Floquil grime followed by chalk weathering. The areas were the coal would sit was painted grimy black, then a coat of white glue was brushed on. I then just poured Woodland Scenic coal over the piles. Once dry the loose stuff is brushed off. All there is left to do is glue the structure on the footings and install on my layout.

Next post you will find out how the finished scene looks on the White River Division...George Dutka

Crosby Coal

Crosby Coal in Danby, Vermont., Sept 1994. The canopy has been rebuilt but the coal chutes are now missing. Take a look at the photo below and you will note there is still a good amount of coal in the chute.  George Dutka photo

A look at the prototype structure
once serviced by the Rutland Ry.

Coal chute Sept 1994

I finished my Branchline model kit of Crosby Coal just before Christmas. It took me most of December working on it on and off. I also got a chance to installed the model on the layout before the end of the year and everything looks fine. I will begin the review of my project today by showing you some of my prototype photos I had taken over the years. The structure built reportedly built in 1914 still stands as far as I know. I had last visited Danby, Vermont just over 3 years ago. My original post which details the construction of the base and an additional prototype photo was Nov 8 2011...George

A look at the rear of the structure. The prototype ladders are all metal. The ladders in the kit are laser cut wood but might be best modelled with a finer metal ladder. May 1991, George Dutka photo

At this point the coal chutes are still in place but the awning is all but gone. May, 1988, George Dutka photo

Most of the paint is gone from the front facade although the lettering is still good. May, 1988, George Dutka photo

MEC Green Paint

The green machine rolls along on the White River Division.

Painting MEC boxcars green

Pierre Oliver contacted me about colours I have used on my MEC boxcars. I presumed he was looking for information about the green colour cars, but it was actually the boxcar red he was interested in. Since I went through the effort of writing about MEC green for Pierre, I decided to post my comments. I took a few photos of my boxcars a few days ago, so one may judge what looks best. 

This MEC boxcar is an example of my early modelling. Even back then I did add some details such as wire grabs, operating levers and wire stirrups. The car was painted and lettered as mentioned below. When I first started weathering my rolling stock in the early 1980's, I just put a coat of Floquil dust over the entire car. Years later when I began chalk weathering this car did get some additional chalk. Oh by the way this is an old Tyco car.

The MEC PS-1 is one of a group of boxcars Peter and I built during the 1990's. The car is pinted with Accupaint and is sandwiched between two cars that were painted with the old Floquil Vermont Green formula.

Years ago (early 1980's) I painted my first MEC boxcars using the old Floquil Vermont Green formula which looked really good to me. Since then Floquil  has changed that colour and I do not use it for any rolling stock. I really liked using that old colour as it also matched well for Vermont Railway boxcars and North Stratford Ry boxcars. I had a North Stratford car that was a custom boxcar offering back in the 1980's by Bev-Bel and did match the old Floquil Vermont Green well. I built a PS-1 as a second North Stratford boxcar and used the Vermont Green. I weathered both boxcars up so one would never notice if there was a difference anyhow.

Since then Peter Mumby and I built a small group of 40 and 50 foot MEC modern boxcars. For these I painted them in Accupaint Pine Green. In my Nov 3, 2011 post I explained painted a couple of MEC gondolas using a mix of Floquil dark green 25% and Floquil CNW Green 75%...which I think looks pretty good. The CNW paint has a gloss finish making the boxcar ready for decals. I used this mix only because I did not have any Accupaint on hand and my other greens were dried up. Check my photos and you be the judge if this mix works for you.

Over the years Bob Bennett has done numerous articles for RMC using Accupaint Pine Green as one of his choices, the other being Polly Scale MEC Pine Green. I have seen other authors describe using Polly Scale MEC green on boxcars and engines. John Nehrich used Floquil Dark Green on his MEC wooden outside brace milk car. Floquil's current dark green looks more like coach green to me and lighter than what was once available.

There are many good choices to use for MEC green. When you take into consideration weathering and the varying light angles plus the age of the cars paint, your favourite choice could be correct.

By this point looking at my photos you probably are thinking why does this guy have boxcars from the 1960's through 1980's in his collection when he models the 1950's. Well over the years I have dabbled in different era's and now have enough cars to run one train for each decade following the 1950's up till the end of the 1980's. I don't plan on building many more modern cars although it has been fun, and I did learn a lot about changes made to rolling stock through the years.

The boxcar to the right is a Bev-Bel custom offering while the PS-1 is one I  painted and lettered back in the 1980's.

This photo was taken from a different angle but in the same light a few minutes after the one above. Note the difference in colour just by changing the angle of view.