SCL Family Lines hopper

Finished a project I have always wanted to do.  Being near the former RF&P sub, I would always see FL and Seaboard System covered hoppers.  If you are a CSX modeler in the modern and even in their infancy you have to have lots of Family Lines freight cars with the  forgotten Seaboard System cars thrown in.  Intermountain finally produced a 4750 covered hopper in both Family Lines and Seaboard System.  So those are 2 cars I won't have to do.  So this leads me to the 4650 covered hoppers.   Intermountain and Atlas do produce the 4650 hoppers but not in Family lines or Seaboard System.  Now these are becoming rare to see, especially the Seaboard System ones, I used some Herald King decals and produced one a FL one.  I used the Atlas 4650 hopper.  The decals are for the open hoppers but they are close enough for the covered hopper.  I plan on doing a couple more.  This one has escaped the CSXT patch for now.

Work continues on the canal

Well added more "water" to the canal this long holiday weekend.  The Woodland Scenic realistic water is good and easy to use BUT make sure you have your cavity completely sealed before pouring.  I found out that the hard way.  The only good thing was the cavity was sealed after the first application.   You add about 1/8 of an inch per pouring until you get to the height you want.  I also scratch built the dock and added some details for now.  I need to build a ladder and add a jib crane for raising and lowering freight from the dock.  I also need to build a small barge for the canal.  No idea on how to start on that. 

A new industry for the RVRR

Well spent last couple of weeks tying up loose ends.  Built a backdrop structure from scratch to act as a industry at the far end of the layout.  It somewhat a mill but could be any type general boxcar shipper.

Davenport #6 by the feed supply industry.

Added a open door to enhance the typical industry.  I need to add a figure and some sacks.

The typical customer at this feed supply store.

RVRR #7 picking up a boxcar.

I finally scratchbuilt a rooftop toolbox for the Climax.

I also completed the trestle and the support beams.  With the rock walls in place and dock drying in the garage as I type, I should be able to pour some realistic water tonight.  I scratchbuilt the dock (no pics).

The dock will be on the other side of the bridge.  That is tape in the foreground.  Got somehow control that Realistic Water from WS or you will have "realistic" mess!

Older CF7 Project: Finally some HO material!

Been slowly working on a CF7 and custom painting it into the RSS scheme.  So you ask, why in the world are you modeling that ugly yellow thing or what is RSS?  Well in my younger days I did a lot of rail fanning all over Virginia.  At a large paper plant in Suffolk, VA,  they had 2 of these yellow CF7's as the plant switchers.  These were awesome looking.  Of course my pics are in a photo album and not online.  But, I'll post a couple of pics:
RSSX CF7 # 7011 in 2007
RSSX #7011 in 1997 
RSSX #7009 CF7 2005

Well this is close but needs to numbered and weathered:

Old Reliable #7 for the RVRR

Put some regular decals/ dry transfers decals on my Climax last week.  I was not satisfied with the small numbers on the cab.  Also fixed my engineer so that he would "sit" correctly.  Also added decals to the tender.  I want to add tool box to the roof and maybe a scratch built wood rack.

Hidden staging on the On30 layout

Well it is not much but it is better than nothing.  Think of hidden staging on your layout like a play. The train starts behind stage, goes on stage, preforms and exits.  So I accomplished this by extended a industry siding through the back drop and put in about 20 inches of track.  It will hold #7 and about 2 cars.  Plenty for this layout.  The old starting point on the other end of the layout will serve as an industry.  Just got to figure out how to configure something in the narrow space.

The entrance to the staging will be hidden with trees.

The staging area above my workbench,  It could be easily extended but that is a project for another day!

More work on my On30 Layout

There just something about a small layout that gets you motivated.  Had some time over break and I got a lot accomplished on the On30 layout.
First I installed a Tam Valley Depot Hex Frog Juicer for the frogs on my layout.  These make stalling(especially short wheel base locos) on turnout frogs simply go away.  The board looks complicated but hook up took less than 5 minutes.

I also got a couple of flatcars built from Bachmann frames that were shortened and detailed.  Pretty much both were scratch built except the frame.

#10 has narrower boards

This no numbered flat has wider boards

As you can see in the background, I painted the woodsy backdrop by hand.  My layout is located in the wilderness near a river thus I have nothing but trees on it.

Backdrops should never overwhelm the layout.  Remember you want your trains to be the center of attention.  I believe I did a better job at this end.

RVRR #7 basks in the sunlight.  Still need to get my light done.  Too many shadows.

The last thing is the bridge/river crossing.  Since the area used canals, I thought it would neat to model one of those.  Rail service bringing in goods to transport to other areas via the canal and visa versa.  I think it is a neat concept.  I scratch built the bridge frame and will add the supports later.  Chooch makes the perfect canal walls but the color is not what I was looking for.  I'll color them a more prototypical gray.

The longer ties on the left will be a walkway.