Scenery definitely brings the layout to life

Been working on the dreaded back corner of the layout.  Since it's inception in 2004, my layout has had about a dozen of industries in this corner.  Engine facility, paper plant, grain elevator, etc are a few of them.  I finally used smaller industries and even added a small spur for a small engine facility or maybe some thing else?    Anyways, I finally settled and then slowly added scenery to spruce it up.

Klotz Distributors has a overgrown and junky spur.

Patriot Industries deals in pool chemicals thus has a fence around it's facility.

Looking down the Klotz spur.  Boxcars filled with all types of wood are unloaded here.

The Patriot spur still needs a little more weeds to make it just right.

Some tank cars have been spotted.  Still need to add gates and security barbed wire at the top of the fence.

New 6 axle power on the Virginia Midland

VM #281 switching Mid-Atlantic Feeds

 

 

A closeup of VM #281

 

Virginia Midland needed some 6 axle power for their increasing workload. Being on a branch line, most 6 axle power cannot be used. A SD20-3 was constructed from SD35. It does well for all the switching on the line. A SD20-3 is basically a SD20-2 like Chessie System and CSX have but it has 4 stacks instead of 2.

Decided to weather up a covered hopper also.  This patched hopper looks as if it was decaled, but right out of the box I covered up the reporting marks and data with tape.  Weathered it and then took the tape off.  An easy way to make a freight car look as if it got a new owner.

 

Detailing late RF&P GP40's and GP40-2's Part I

RF&P HO modelers have been "spoiled" by Atlas and Athearn in them releasing most of the diesels needed for a HO layout from the late 1960's to 1980's.  We have had Atlas do the GP40 and the GP40-2.  Athearn has done the GP35's and the SW1500's.   These locomotives, especially the Atlas GP40's and GP40-2's are great looking right out box.  The Atlas one run of GP40's included #122, #124 and a no number.  the no number unit is perfect to model the other numbers.  These are tough to find these days and I am currently don't have a  #127 on my roster.   Atlas found out that not putting a number on a loco usually doesn't sell well and have not done that in a while.  So how do we detail these?
First let's start on the cab roof.   Always check pics of the locomotive you are doing.  I have seen where the beacon and antenna are opposite.  This was on the GP40-2.  We need to add the firecracker antenna and the roof beacon.  The stock horn on the Atlas GP's is fine.  The firecracker antenna for the GP40's goes on the conductors side.  Looking straight down in the horn with the horn pointing straight, it's about at 8 o'clock.  The roof beacon is about 4 o'clock.  The part I use for the beacon is the Details West lollipop antenna.  It's a good stand in.

Notice the firecracker antenna and beacon location.

The GP's did not have sunshades but holes are drilled for them.  Take and insert the sunshades and with a hobby knive, cut it off at the base of the tab.  This fills the hole nicely.  Add the wind reflectors as per the prototype.

Notice the wind deflector added.

Changing numbers is easier than you think.  Trying to match that gray color is next to impossible.  As you can see from the above photos, I prefer the last RF&P scheme with circular herald.  Take some Microscale Microsol and brush it on the number.  Let it sit for about 10 minutes.  The number should lift right of.  You may need a stiffer brush to lightly scrub it off.  The long it sits, the easier it is.  The paint is intact and your free to decal a different number or the herald.  Don't forget to add the RF&P herald to the rear hood on the GP40's!  Speaking of the rear of the loco.  Let's move to that area.  The RF&P Geeps had rear horns and a exhaust port that are pretty easy to model.  Lets start with the exhaust port:

Exhaust port is located above the rear right number board.  This is one of my 1st methods of installing the rear facing horns.  A better option is explained below.

The exhaust port is build out of styrene.  I use Evergreen Styrene strips #156.  Measure from the top of the number board to the roof line.  The port is angled at the bottom so using a hobby knife cut about about a 35 degree angle.  The Evergreen #156 bags comes with several strips, so if you don't get the angle right, keep trying.  Do the angle first, length second.  On the top, I used a [ channel piece of styrene.  I don't know what the size is but it should the same width of the #156.  I found it by accident in my scrap styrene. 
The 3 chime rear horn is a little challenging but a great add on.  I have done many options over the years but the last is the best method:

The rear facing three chime horn is a must for any RF&P Geep.

I started by using a Atlas stock horn.  It's the horn that comes on the Atlas GP40's and GP40-2's.  You can order them from Atlas.   Cut the mounting tab (discard) and the lone rear chime off.  Glue the removed chime between the 2 remaining horns.  Next take small piece of  styrene and glue it where you removed the chime.  This is the mounting pad to the rear of the loco.   After the chime and mounting pad have dried, glue it above the rear headlight.  The only downfall is that the horn is easily knock off.   I will detail Athearn's SW1500 in part two.

Lynchburg Railday August 13th

One of my favorite train shows is coming up in 2 weeks.  Lynchburg Railday is an annual train show ran by the Blue Ridge NRHS.  It's in it's 33rd year.  It's the only train show in Lynchburg/Roanoke VA area.  The model and photograph contests are an added touch and I have to say I won a few times down there.   So if you are I the area or live a few hours away, it's worth the drive.  I live 2+ hours away so it's definitely worth the trip.  Come by to my tables and say hello.
Here is more info on the Blue Ridge NRHS and Railday:
Blue Ridge NRHS
Lynchburg Rail day Saturday August 13th 9-4

Hope to see you there!

A couple more things off of the "To do list"

Finally completed 2 projects this week that I wanted done for a while now.  First is the last locomotive the Virginia Central (VC)had.  It was a lime green Porter #3. 
This locomotive is on display at the Virginia Museum of Transportation:
http://vmt.org/Loops-Collections/Diesel-Locomotive-Loop/Diesel-Locomotive-Rod-Driven-3.html

So I started with the 45 tonner of Bachmann and went from there.  I scratch built the gas tanks on each end and the electrical cabinets near the cab.  The Porter is about 90% correct.  The prototype was a little longer and a few other small details. 

Here's a prototype of her in action.

She was once in yellow

 

 

She started out in Gray Ex-Navy loco.

Now she is finally in HO model form on my layout.

 

The second completed project is just going to be a static display.  It's passenger car so it won't navigate my 22 degree curves well.  It's the RF&P ACL-pool sleeper: Caroline County.  You say why did you model this?   Two reasons.  I was raised and went to school in Caroline County, Virginia and my daughter's name is Caroline.  The decals are a special Microscale run through the RF&P modeling editor Craig Harrison.  If you need some, email me.  I definitely will get you in contact with Craig.  The decal sheet lets you decal any passenger car the RF&P had in service.  On to the pics:

Hard to get a close up of this long car!

Close up of the lettering.

This car is Walthers ACL Pullman 10-6 sleeper.  You would have to use styrene strips for the lettering.  The lettering boards were orginally purple with silver lettering but were repainted shortly after delivery.  I have never seen an actual pic of the Caroline County.  If you know where I could find one, please email me!  I eventually want to do the Spotsylvania County.  This is where I work and live now.
 

Video of the VC returning from unloading facility

VC #3 with Soundtraxx Tsunami decoder provides greats sounds as the empty hopper train heads across the City Junction and back to the VC yard.

Finally an Update!

Being keeping myself busy this summer with plenty of model including working on the layout.  I want to get the scenery done before I head back to working in mid-August.  I just finished most of the ballasting for the layout.  I just completed the VC's 2 track yard and the VM's 3 track yard.  I used some real limestone ballast instead of the crushed walnut shells from Woodland Scenics.  This real rock looks good and is easier to work with.  Looks as if I have a bunch of WS ballast to get rid of!  Here are some pics:

VM GP11 #200 and VM U23B #289 wait for their next assignment.

An overhead shot of the same locomotives.  The white ties represent clearance points in the yard.

The other end of the VM yard with the scenic divider on the right.

A shot from above at the same location.  Yard is a little crowded today.

This view is from the VC yard.  Not much of a yard with only two tracks.

This view is the other end of the VC yard.  Scenery needs to be completed on the left.  The turnout on the right leads to the connection track with the Virginia Midland(VM).

 New power for the Virginia Central.  Another GP35 #5.  I did not want to paint it in the same scheme as #3 another because most of the time real shortlines don't have any matching power.  So I painted her in a generic gray with yellow chevrons and the yellow sill stripes.

The VC's main horse power coupled up ready for their next assignment.