Trackside Detailing

A neglected area next to the tracks.

On a modular layout at Trainfest this year I thought this modeler did a fine job placing a container and trailer next to a structure. It looks like what one may find in some areas where older structures are found...George Dutka

Wash Day 1946

Roanoke, Virginia 1946

A group of photos showing the washing process back in the day and something we don't see these days...George Dutka

Detailing the inside of a Gondola

Ready to roll on the WRD.

I purchased this Walthers 52'6" Thrall corrugated gondola with some weathering done by Jim Sloan this fall at the Woodstock train show. Jim had done a great job weathering the model but I wanted to take it a bit further adding some rust inside and some leftover shipping loads...George Dutka

Next to some powders here are the other ingredients I used to detail the interior. For the wet stuff I added AK slimy grime dark and Vallejo engine oil stain.

The interior includes a Tichy barrel, a couple metal gear castings, wood and steel bars made from ITLA kit scraps. Some Scenic Express ground foam and real dirt found at Westboro complete the detailing.

A closer look inside. Jim had scored a scrape along the inside wall. I added some colouring to this with acrylics and Bragdon powders.

A look down at the finished model.

Guess this prototype view of the interior of a similar gondola has a lot more scrap than I added. Maybe a second gondola will be added to the fleet with a similar look.

Sylvan Truck - Rusted

Some rust on the fenders and doors make this 1930's model seem well used by the 1950's.

I decided to add some rust spots to the 1937 flatbed truck as by the mid 1950's it would have been getting pretty old if still running. Acrylic tones are used...George Dutka

The paints used for the rust spots.

Throwback Thursday - That's an Oopsy!

CN 9660 has stubbed its toe on a turnout alongside the Kingston Subdivision in the vicinity of Ajax, Ontario.  By the time your intrepid photographer arrived on the scene, the Pettibone crane had things well in hand.  All of this occurred on July 16, 1988.

By Peter Mumby.

In this slow speed incident, only the leader (GP40-2 9660, GMD 1976) was affected.  Of the three trailing units, only F7Au 9166 (rebuilt 1973) is visible in this image.  At the time of the photo, the 268 GP40-2s on the CN roster were still considered to be premier mainline freight haulers, while the rebuilt Fs were operating on borrowed time.

In this series of posts, I generally refer to changes that have occurred over the years subsequent to the photo.  These changes usually include alterations to trackage, operations, locomotives, or rolling stock.  Certainly, the F unit in this consist is long gone, and most of the GP40-2s have moved on to scrappers or the second hand market.  But the greatest change that stuck me on contemplating this photo was one of access for the railfan photographer.  At the time of this photo I was largely ignored by the workers present; this would not happen today!  Between changes of attitude, changes in fencing, and even the disappearance of parking spots, I just don't think it would be possible to take a picture like this in 2018.

Wordless Wednesday No. 307

South Troy, NY

Inside the Roundhouse - St. Albans

May 22. 1966

Here we have another view taken by Geoff Southwood inside the St. Albans, Vermont roundhouse...enjoy...George Dutka

Air Slide Models - Part 4

A trio of air slide hoppers is seen on the White River Division.

Here is a look at a few more of my air slide hoppers...enjoy...George Dutka

I had purchased this air slide already built this year at a local train show. I applied a bit of acrylic rust and coated it with PanPastels.

I also picked up this car at the Woodstock train show. It needed some gluing, minimal rust spots added and some gray PanPastel weathering. I now have a good size collection of these cars for use when required.

Working the Station - 1945

Being the war years women filled in as the regular crews.

Two interesting views that one could model on a layout sidetrack...George Dutka

Bath time...might make an interesting scene on the layout.

Life Like Tractors

The paint I used to weather my tractors followed by some rust Bragdon powders.

I got a couple of packages of Like Like tractors through my friend Gary that was part of an estate. The first two I did for Gary and Larry and at Trainfest I completed weathering one for myself. I still have two that Peter and I will work on together...George Dutka

Gary's model that I finished. The wheels are painted chalkboard black with the treads highlighted with dry brushed gray. The stack and some engine parts are highlighted with silver. The seat is painted black also.

The tractors come in three packs which are good for flat car loads. Mine are weathered up and used at the farm.

My finished tractor ready for use on the WRD.

I weathered this tractor at Trainfest. The rust and dust is minimal on this model.

I think by painting the tires and highlighting the treads are the biggest improvement to the model.

Rutland Railfanning....by Don Janes

 

Rutland #37, a USRA Mikado is just leaving North Bennington with a freight train

Chasing Rutland Trains on the Green Mountain

    I recently finished installing a new Tsunami 2 Steam decoder in my Rutland 2-8-2, an Athearn Genesis model. After working my way through adjusting settings to improve the many features this decoder offers I decided to send the engine around the layout for a test run.  At the same time I thought this would be a good chance to try out the new Canon 50mm 1.4 lens I just purchased for my camera.  

   I have to say that even though I have just touched the surface of what this Tsunami 2 can do I am extremely impressed with this decoder and its features and will likely replace all my older steam Tsunami's with them in the near future. As for the lens I think it did a great job also.  You do have to get used to a prime lens in the fact that you cannot zoom it but rather move around to get the proper composition.

   I might also note that the Alco RS-1 in the photos has a Tsunami 2 decoder installed in it and really sounds great also.

    Follow around the layout as we shoot a couple of Rutland trains along the line.

Our train has just departed North Bennington and is crossing the stone arch bridge south of town.You Can see the creamery in the background.

Further south #37 is about to pass North Dorset and will take water at the line side water tank. Not much action at the station, just the operator who will hand up a clearance to the crew.

A closer look at #37 at the station.

Our last view of the steamer is it crossing a long deck bridge over the Connecticut River

Back at North Dorset we catch Alco RS-1 #405 pulling into town.

#405 has cut off it's train clear of the crossing and has backed into the factory to lift an empty flat car that had brought in supplies.

Over at East Northfield we stop and get a shot of Rutland #500, a GE 70 tonner assigned to the stone crushing plant there. The 405 should be along shortly. It has just had an ESU Loksound Select Micro decoder installed in it. The crusher is scratchbuilt.

This is the last shot we got of 405 as she popped out from under the highway overpass.  The signal on the adjacent track is lit up green for an approaching CV train. Hopefully next time out we can catch some trains on that line.

AHM Firehall - Rebuild

Some additional work is done to the top area of this structure that adds more interest.

At this years Fine Scale Expo Gator Dave had an interesting AHM firehall model that he had changed to a garage as a display. I now have a train show find for a second fire hall that I might try the same thing with...George Dutka

I had posted about what I did to my part firehall kit a few months ago if you check back through the posts.

I found this fire hall just outside the parking lot of the Albany-Rensselaer station now in use as a restaurant, Nov. 2018.

Troop Kitchen Car 1945

1945

Two views of a troop kitchen car when in military service near the end of the war. Many of these style of cars were purchased by railroads after the war...George Dutka

My Project at Trainfest

My finished shed on my workspace at Trainfest.

One of the few projects I worked on at Trainfest was this brick office structure. I had a second one in rough shape to view a before and after once completed. I had painted the wall primer red and the roof Home Hardware camo olive. The building was glued together with canopy glue and mortar added. Some acrylic gray is painted on the concrete areas then it was time to use my PanPastels and powders...George Dutka

All spray bombed and ready for glue.

The brick office is now assembled, trim painted and basic weathering completed.

The roof being metal got some rust applied using acrylic tube paints. Signs, box's, barrels and newspapers scattered around add to the scene. I also rusted up the door as it would have been metal.

Now to make the before version look like this also.