Recently, I finally got around to painting and lettering those little whitemetal hopper cars. Decided on a fictional LS&MS scheme and numbers just to finish them. Next Ill stuff them with a load. But do I go with coal or iron ore? 🤔

The B-2 switcher is getting close to painting. I even primed most of it after these photos. Latest changes, I added the handrails, domes, and a rear light on the tender. After realizing I forgot it, I scratched up a whistle for the center dome. After painting, I can worry about cab detailing.

Keeping the campaign train rolling, here’s a video of Coal River Valley 4-8-2 number 708 leaving Statesville on the club layout last night!

The B-2 switcher is getting close to painting. I even primed most of it after these photos. Latest changes, I added the handrails, domes, and a rear light on the tender. After realizing I forgot it, I scratched up a whistle for the center dome. After painting, I can worry about cab detailing.

Last night I made a simple motor mount from bent sheet brass.

I forgot to post this. Did a bit more work on the switcher. Added the airpump and some steps as well as fixing the feedwater piping. Still needs handrails, domes, and a rear headlight.

Last night I found a bit of energy to work on the B-2 switcher again. I was dreading doing the injector piping but it seems to have come out pretty well. Next is some extra steps and the airpump. Then the domes can be fixed in place and sandpipes corrected.

The last of my purchases from Timonium were these two wood boxcars and a bag of small brass trucks. Might use the trucks on these tiny ore hoppers. A fun detail to tell equipment is from the turn of the century is the lack of side ladders, which were later safety appliance act additions.

Have a quick picture from last night of my NYC&HR G-8 consolidation and my A&W SW-1 switcher.

Another purchase from Timonium was these roundhouse coaches. Normally I wouldnt go for these molds but its so rare to find anything in my road I just had to. Plus they look good behind small engines. A quick bit of weathering along the lower side and theyre ready for the club.

Instead of trying to green cars so much why don't we just invest in trains. city trains. under ground trains. above ground trains. trains between cities. trains between countries. TRAINS THE PEOPLE CRAVE TRAINS

Picked up a few things from the Timonium show this past weekend. One of which is this little brass railtruck for $20. The old motor was DOA and took up the entire back of the van, so remotoring and DCC is the plan.

This weekend I got to see the T-1 AutoTrain in person. Damn does it look good.

This weekend, come to Great Scale Model Train Show in Timonium, Maryland! We have AmWoods at the MARRS modular club! Turn right as you walk in and go all the way to the end.

A new arrival for a future project, some BMT D type 'triplex' bodies from www.3dsubway.com. These are only body prints so Ill have to scratchbuild the frames, trucks, drive mechs, and underbodies. A long term project but one I wanted nontheless.

Having a play with the proportions for my B-2 build. That middle dome is S scale but it kinda works. Unfortunately, the boiler is a bit too small and the stack is too tall, but I cant find anything better in my stash.

The combine got underframe trussing, handrails, and bolsters and the roof got rounded and filled. When I actually have energy, these kits can go together quite quickly.

Always a good operating session when you can clear the yard, if only briefly. Our annual invitational session was a load of fun, having enough people to operate the entire layout.

Fatigue sucks so much. I want to not be stuck in bed.

Did a little more work on 999. Had to solder bushings into each of the rod bosses to fit on the markits crankpins.

One combine has come together. Next is the roof and underframe.

And because I never know when to quit, here are two 60' combines that Im building differently. One has a continuous windowband while the other ends with the windows. Might do something different with the vestibules. Not sure yet.

Finally got around to getting ICRR 382 a brand new numberplate fitted and man, she looks better with it

Friday saw the club debut of the newest coach, along with my two other narrow vestibule cars (and the milk reefer).

I was able to bring down my newly rebuilt Key Alco FA1/FB1 to the club for some laps. Here, they are passing by the Bethlehem Steel plant. Nice locomotives, took some time to rebuild, and still need a little work, but im happy with them. #modeltrain #modeltrains

New proto-freelance/alternate history traction system just dropped. 👀

A bit more work on the coach. Got the inner handrails and roof clerestory finished. Last to do but certainly not least is the outer handrails and associated ironwork.

The coach got trucks and underframe along with the other end vestibule. And this time I went with 4 wheel trucks just like my previous narrow vestibule car.

A little bit of work last night but important work nontheless. Found a design for the doors I can live with. The doors themselves are Bitter Creek castings. Now to make the other end match.

Metro North Open House in New Haven, CT.

Last night saw the new baggage cars get a run in.

New coach has been started. A 60' labelle 1905 kit with slightly shortened sides because Im turning it into another narrow vestibule car. Annoyingly, due to the shortening, the windows are now not aligned. Oh well.

After a week of low energy I finally found the drive to put decals on the baggage cars.

The locomotive from my last post is now back together and ready for service, now with an added B unit! Can't wait to bring them to the club for their test/shake down run. #modeltrain #modeltrains

Cant recall if Ive posted about this before. This is a Mantua clearance car that I found on ebay a while back. All I did to it was clean it up, add my usual monofillament trussrods, and paint. At some point I want to make a more accurate one, if anyone has any turn of the century photos of them.

Baggage cars are coming together. Got the black on the letterboard, roof, and underframe.

The newest locomotive project is underway!! Always like to fully tear down a locomotive to give it a full service. Bonus points if anyone can guess the locomotive! #modeltrain #modeltrains

More club fuckery, this time with @charliefrom215.bsky.social's E6, @prrshepherd.bsky.social's RS3, and my B11k.

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"