Toppers

 

FOS kit-of-the-month "Topper's" is complete and staged in my back alley scene. Hey are you ready for a plate full of pancakes...George Dutka 

Modeling Ties

This diorama for Brian Smith was complete when I read an article in RMC about detailing used ties. I did a few ties this way and applied them off to the side of the siding as seen here.

If one looked through the June issue of RMC one would have noted an article on detailing used ties. I gave it a try and really like the final appearance. Basically one just files into the tie a couple of passes then make a few spike holes followed by a rusty application over the area...George Dutka   

Two ties have grooves applied and spike holes. The siding has just some rusty Bragdon powders in the area of the tie plates.

My PanPastels

 

PanPasels are my go-to these days when I want to change the tone of rolling stock and structures.

 Wondering what PanPastels are worth purchasing. Here we have my collection of PanPastels that I regularly use...George Dutka  

Neutral grey extra dark - neutral grey - neutral grey shade

Red iron oxide extra dark - burnt sienna shade - raw umber shade.

Crome Oxide Green Shade - Titanium White - Blender

Waterbury Update

Waterbury Station and water Tank. The station was built by Rich Cobb from plans in a past issue of Model Railroader.

Progress on My Waterbury Scene ....by Don Janes

     With the past year being basically a write-off for any social activities I have been able to make a fair amount of progress on my layout, especially the Waterbury Vermont scene.  This scene is my rendition of the town and not an exact replica.  The area actually started out as a fictional town in the early planning stages so the track layout and placement of structures is in no way a replica of the real place.  I had hand laid all the track and turnouts in hopes it would create some good operation opportunities.   I had originally planned to use a South River Model Works kit called Cambridge Crossing, a model of a former D&H station, for the station but then MR published plans of the Central Vermont Waterbury station which I immediately thought would work very well here.  I had model builder Rich Cobb build this structure for me as it was a perfect fit for my Central Vermont based layout. Since the track and turnouts were all down and working I just couldn't bring myself to tear it all up and attempt to replicate Waterbury so I left the track and built several structures to give the feel of Waterbury.  As well as the station being a prototypically accurate structure, I scratchbuilt a model of the CV freight house from drawings and photos that I got from  George and other sources.  It was compressed a little but it still looks similar to the real building. All other structures are generic representing industries that were in Waterbury such as a creamery, coal dealer, feed mill and a couple of others.

      Waterbury is on a north/south mainline so we will start at the south end of town and work our way north.  I have most of the structures finished or at least mostly finished and am working on finishing the scenery bit at a time as I work north.  There is quite a bit of opportunity for operation and this should be a fun area to switch once everything is in place.  The cations will tell the story. 

The small garage and O.V.Hooker are at the south end of Waterbury. The yard lead starts here

The coal dealer, creamery and feed mill (below) share the same siding.

The feed mill is the first Fine Scale Miniatures kit I ever built and is the only FSM kit I have left

Behind the feed mill are a couple of small businesses that don't require rail service

The Waterbury CV freight shed was scratchbuilt. It was compressed a little to fit the space

The hotel, yet to be named, is across the street from the station at the edge of town, It is a building flat kit from Nick and Nora Designs  

The small restaurant under construction is from Mine Mount Models.  The section house used to be on George's layout and will now serve the Waterbury section gang

Delabarre Woolens stands at the north end of town along the river. It has a rail siding.

This small boarding house is across the street from Delabarre and serves as home for some factory workers.

This structure is the office and warehouse building for the Delabarre mill.

Wordless Wednesday No. 432

 

    

More on ITLA Line Side Tool Shed

The finished model with a different style of roofing than included in the kit.

A few more photos from what I did and the leftover pieces that might work for another interesting structure...George Dutka 

The paints I used to complete the B&M coloring's on my tool shed. It is modeled very worn.

The white trim is painted on the sheeting ahead of assembly. I normally don't begin painting till after I complete my assembly but I like changing things up a bit at times.

Once the trim is applied to the shed there are these leftover pieces...I think there might be another built here...maybe an add-on to another structure. As I did the roof differently I now have some roofing available. I am thinking of constructing a third shed but this one with steel doors as possibly a structure for keeping flammable solvents.

ITLA LIne Side Tool Shed

For my second build the structure is in a bit of disrepair. The roofing is worn the paint is well faded and rear window is boarded up. I may build a third with thinner doors modeled as steel doors.

Here are a few more views of the two ITLA line side tool sheds I built in late winter...George Dutka   

The roofing for the tarpaper roof was made from the thin stock that much of the details were cut from.

Although there is still some paint on the this little line side structure it is well worn. I chose B&M colors. White trim and Floquil B&M blue. The rear window is boarded up.

My first build is Floquil tuscan red and grime on the shingles. PanPastels finish it off. Some AK stains are also applied.

The front side of  this structure. I placed a barrel inside the open door and other details around the base.

The pair of line side sheds ready for use on the WRD.

New England Railroading Updates

Worcester, Mass. Sept 11, 2016

The July issue of Railpace arrived this week with some interesting facts about what is going on in New England these days. I have not actually been up through Vermont, NH or Mass. in a number of years railfanning. I have although been to the Springfield winter train show two years ago but left little time for railfanning my favorite area.

It appears the New Haven, Vt. station maybe saved and moved if a grant is secured. The station would be moved to near the town offices.

CN is now only running #324 from Montreal to St Albans, Vt. three days a week Southbound trains operate Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. With this traffic downgrade I wonder what the future of the line will be.

Vermont Rail Systems is not interchanging with CP at Newport, Vt. anymore. They have moved traffic interchange to Whitehall, NY. I am wondering about the CP lines future to Newport.

Don and I visited the Worcester Union Station back in 2016. It looks really good and worth a visit. I had not realized that it was renovated and reopened in 2000 at a cost of $32 million as mentioned in Railpace...George Dutka

Snapshot - July 2021

CN EB #402 has just passed Komoka Rd. and is now passing an auto shop that one can find some neat looking vehicles at times. May 6, 2021

There is an auto shop next to the Strathroy Sub. in Komoka that sometimes has some interesting custom cars and trucks parked along the tracks. There was a weekend that there was two 1950's pickups parked in a great location to include an engine in the background. Unfortunately the time I spent sitting there resulted in no train. I should have just shot the trucks, but for some reason I didn't....George Dutka

For this view I was playing around with the charcoal setting on my computer.

Goldenrod

My order of goldenrod arrived back in Oct. 2020 as I had run out.

Here is a look at what comes in a package of goldenrods...there is a lot in each package. I ordered two packages back in Oct 2020 from Credit Valley. According to Ian Stronach they are sold out now along with Scenic Express another location I have picked up packages at train shows. Hope they restock soon...George Dutka

Modeling Goldenrod

 

Since I model the fall goldenrod is something that is required. One also needs more packages of miniNatur product than one thinks. The goldenrod comes in three colors...two are seen here...George Dutka 

A couple of views of goldenrod being applied to Brian Smith's diorama

Throwback Thursday - North Conway

Mother nature has taken over the yard in North Conway as a short local freight prepares to leave town. DI-1/ID-2 was a turn from Dover to Intervale but usually terminated at North Conway. By this time it was an "up one day and down the next" job due to poor track conditions. Its last run was October 31, 1972.

Ian Stronach sent me this photo he took back on July 31, 1970 after reading my June Update. Thought it would make a great Throwback. Peter Mumby is up at his cottage for a bit so no Throwbacks for now. Once he is back home we should be able to get together and download some more of his views...George Dutka 

Wordless Wednesday No. 431

 

   

CP Heritage

CP 235 on May 25, 2021 at Denfield Rd. wooden overhead bridge. Morning railfanning in a mix of sun and clouds turned up a pleasant surprise.

Peter Mumby and I met up for a morning of railfanning near our home. We start off just east of Komoka and move to were we feel an interesting shot might be found. On the scanner Peter noted the CP dispatcher was clearing a wb from London and with a heritage engine on the lead. We decided to try our luck at Denfield Side Road a railfan favorite (both the CN and CP can be viewed here). The lighting is not that great as it is getting overgrown but we thought we could get a pretty good overhead view of the train without a lot of shadows...well here is what we saw...George Dutka

MEC Section House

My MEC section shed with a hand car inside. I don't recall if the Northeastern roofing was included or that was something I added. Paints are all Floquil. At that time I built this model I was using mainly chalk weathering.

Here is a look at my MEC section house I built maybe 10 years ago. It is Creative Laser Design kit...George Dutka   

June Update

On June 18, 2021 I traveled to Sarnia to meet up with Don Janes. We had a nice conversation on his front porch. I actually was there to purchase his Canon camera which is an upgrade to mine. He is going for a newer version. Departing Don's I stopped by the Sarnia station just in time to catch CN eb 274 passing the station.

Not a lot of modeling has been done this spring although I do have a lot of winter projects to still cover on this blog. I hope to get to some upgrades on the layout such as the Bellows Crossing diamond. I put an order into Tichy awhile back and now have the parts required to finish off the GT boom car that has been sitting on the corner of my desk for a year now.

I actually have been out more railfanning this year than any other. Here is a bit of this and that to keep you updated on things I found interesting...George Dutka 

Jim Sloan sent me this neat sign he sized for using on a layout. Might be something you will like to use also.

Kip Grant e-mailed awhile back regarding the post of the auto factory worker that was spray painting without a mask. Here is what he had to say.

"Funny you should wonder when respirators were required in spray booth scenarios.  I just watched a video of Allis Chalmers tractors being manufactured and they were spray painted by guys in respirators and this would have been the late 40’s, maybe 1950.  One guy on each side of an assembly line through a booth and nothing but orange paint being sprayed on just about everything.  The tires and wheels and I think the batteries, gages, and some other sensitive components were not installed yet but everything else had no choice…it was Persian Orange!" Kip

A second hand SP 654734 was seen on CN wb 501 at Komoka on June 22, 2021 after dinner.

Check out the July issue of RMC for this feature on North Conway. Also I noted there was a nice article on the CN Dundas sub in the July Railfan. RMC Facebook Dan Munson photo.

I finally sent an order into Tichy since we still are not having train shows. I needed some windows to finish my GT boom car.

A look at a construction photo. My last structure completed is this FOS kit of the month diner for my back alley scene no. 2.

Kathy Millatt is offering some shirts through her blog. I really got a chuckle out of this one...very creative.