Baggage cars got airbrushed last night.

As an example, check out archive.org/details/trac... (which I recently picked up a copy of). In addition to some history and some layout pics, we've got: * Extensive articles about both track and wire installation, with diagrams and templates * Building and wiring(!) a car * Several prototype plans

Any modeler born after 2000 can’t model, all they know is preorder, program they decoder, be gay, make poor financial decisions, complain on they youtube channel and foam gevos

The Krauss Maffei for a clubmember is finally back on the bench after months. Previously I made the exhaust flaps and now I have to make radiators. One is already fixed in place and the other is being assembled separately. I want this project off my desk already.

Some late night club nonsense. Seeing if the Q2 can get around the tightest (flat) curve on the layout with @prrshepherd.bsky.social and @dagg3r-actual1-1.bsky.social

Last night I gave the new milk car a run with the two unpainted baggages. It took a while but more cars are hopefully coming.

The NYC&HR milk car finally got decals. Now that its lettered, Im feeling the green was a good choice. Sets it apart from passenger stock.

Finished the decals on the doodlebug. Next is a decoder.

Slow progress on the baggage cars. Been very low energy lately.

These Empire State Express cars have definitely hit the backburner. Still needs two more coaches but I havent had the energy.

Doodlebug is getting lettering.

"This is getting out of hand. Now there are two of them"

Also on the bench is a labelle baggage car. Nothing special, just a straight build.

Doodlebug got painted. Guna redo the white on the cab and then its time for lettering.

On the doodlebug front, I cleaned up all the doors, soldered them in (instead of gluing), filled the holes in the roof, primed the body, and painted the roof. The original open frame motor truck still has power so Im guna keep that as is.

This donation came in at the club and I just had to fix it up. Allegheny & Western is getting a new doodlebug.

E units on freight?!? It's more common than you think! Figured I give these newly rebuilt E units a true break in run, pulling 40+ club cars that ride like the brakes are on. They performed fantastic and are ready for service! #modeltrain #modeltrains

Paystub Special

Im calling the flask car finished. Gave it passenger trucks because the bolsters were in the wrong spot. Oops.

And while I had the green paint out, I decided to spray the Empire State Express combine. I think the express trains were painted green in the 90s, but I havent seen any reference to it so I dont really know! I dont want to just blindly follow MTHs paint choices.

The milk car has gotten a coat of green. While I dont know the color its supposed to be, my era of 1901-1902 is right in the wine-green livery transition so I went with green.

First test of the SW-1. She sounds a lot better with some lubrication. And Im pleased with the sound performance.

The SW-1 has been wired up and tested. Once again a flawless DCC install. And she even has good volume with an ESU sugar cube speaker. She does sounds like a coffee grinder filled with gravel, but what can you expect with straight cut gears and cardan shafts. Now to add weight everywhere I can.

Spent the weekend at a con so no trains have been worked on. But I do now have (yet) another brass project which is fun. I dont have a problem, I can stop whenever I want.

Here’s an exclusive first look at my HOn30 Mason Bogie “Calla Lily”. I just finished her tonight, so I don’t have any fancy outdoor shots yet.

If you like warhammer, you should follow my gf, she does amazing painting.

The Americanized Marklin glass tank car has gotten MOW lettering and a silly Rule G violating slogan. Considering painting the deck wood color. Not sure yet as I kinda like the overall black.

Some very serious modelling going on. A Marklin flask wagon Americanized with a wood flatcar kit.

My string of boxcars grows.

Recently finished a couple boxcars and ran the milk reefer before painting.

The milk car now has vents and more detailed doors. Still need to add ice hatches to the corners.

My SW-1 is getting lettered for my clubs road.

Been struggling to find the drive to work on stuff. But I forced myself to do some annoying tasks for 999. Reattached the pilot, scratched a new tender step, and repaired the flare where it had broken.

One of my many brass projects is NYC&HR 999. Had to modify the pilot to add a coupler pocket.

A very normal train.

Two F&C resin kits that have been sitting on my bench a while while I sourced decals since the ones that came with the kits were unusable.

Stripping an MTH bipolar bc I have historically probable plans. Say hello to the NYC NS-1 class electric, or 'N' motor.

Does anyone by any chance know of a small DC motor above 17000rpm? Or maybe a 2:1 gearbox I could put inline? My S motor still cant pass 60mph top speed and I really wanted her to do 90.

You mean this nonsense where we were testing just how much that garrett could pull? That helper was only needed for the grades.

Forgot to post this from Friday. @prrshepherd.bsky.social's LMS Garrett pulling all my goods stock. The 1377 class was just following for fun.

A bit more work on the NYC&HR express milk reefer. Built up the doors and sides, and added the roof ends. Next is the end railings, roof hatches, and side vents.

Last night I got to expand my TotC freight by 3 cars.

More variety. An MDT reefer got grab irons, and I put together a bitter creek flatcar. I dont like messing with brake rigging bc its hardly visible while on a layout.

These two NYC&HR boxcars are now finished. Im really happy with how these turned out after weathering.

Building old kits can be both fun and frustrating. This is a Concord Car Works kit of a 28' CNJ boxcar. MSRP was $2.85. Im guna repaint it bc Ive never liked printed sides, but I want to keep it CNJ.

The only good corporate posting is completely unhinged corporate posting..

If anyone wants to follow me for non-train things, my alt is @spitfire-rambles.bsky.social

A bit of a variety today. Didnt get much done until Sunday night. Gas piping on my last two 60' coaches, numbers on the BlueLine boxcar, a Mantua clearance car I didnt know existed, and I finally put a 17000rpm motor in the S-1 so she might be able to do 60mph now.

Finished two more 60' coaches, minus weathering. Even added gas piping to the roof. My other cars will need similar treatment. Not sure if I want to give the observation marker lights or flags.

Boxcars got decals! The brown one still needs dots painted on the initials and the blue one needs numbers and weight data.