New links added

I just got back from Japan and have add 2 new links listed on the right. The Kiso logging links to a blog for modelers of the narrow gauge Kiso logging railway.

The other link to various Japanese trains has many pictures, some color, some B&W of old trains, industrial, trams and steam. Lots of neat pictures. Some steam was still operating in the 1970's

The downside is that it's all in Japanese. But hey, like Playboy, who ever reads the words anyway!

I'll be adding some pics of my trip to my Onsen John blog, listed on the right here soon.

Pacific Electric GE 44 tonner

A friend of mine wanted a small PE switcher type of engine for his layout. I recommended a PE prototype, mainly since he already had one of these laying around. I used a PSC trolley pole for the single roof mounted pole. These poles are only used to trip the signals on the real ones. The pole was all soldered up and these are a bit fiddly to build! Burnt my fingers a few times.......

 I ended up making 4 total. I had 2 packs of these and they build up 2 per pack.
I'm using the Bachman 44 tonner. this is the later one with only one motor driving both trucks. The earlier ones don't run very well.

MOPAR car show

Here are some pics I took at the "Spring Fling" held at Woodley Park in the San  Fernando Valley. (just 10 min north of Los Angeles) This is the big West coast chow for all Plymouth, Dodge & Chrysler cars. There was some 200-300 cars there.

From the upcoming movie, "Winged Warriors"

Such a great day for rag tops!

Nice Airflow

Jay Leno brought out the Turbine

Very nice New Yorker. It can be yours for $49k.

A very nice elderly couple drive this 39 Cornet. It has a built 440 and goes like a bat out of hell!

The woman tells me they love blowing the doors off of "Boy racers"

Firebox models turntable conversion

Here are all the parts that come in the conversion kit. I've painted the parts a base coat.  I painted the side girders silver and gave them a light dusting of MIG powders and a coat of dullcoat. Letting everything dry for a while today. Off to the Summer Fling MOPAR car show today. I'll post some pics of some of the cars tonight.

Starting the Walters N scale TT to HOn3 conversion

I finally got the replacement turntable back from WallyWorld. It seems they had a few of these that had problems, so before you start taking yours apart, please make sure it works or no warranty! Yikes!!
All the important items need are pictured here.

 

So off we go!

Quincy Compound House

I also built the Campbell models Quincy Compound House. The only change I made was to once again use Grandt line windows. I overlaid individual 2x10s over the scribed wood provided to build the loading dock. I feel I get better color variations that way.

Can't tell from this pic, but I used a bunch of barrels from Bar Mills to fill up the interior

Need to finish painting some castings. The barrels have fallen over and can't get up!

Still need to finish up the ground cover

Another building for the Quincy module

Used MIG powders to weather the building.

Campbell warehouse

Just finished building the Campbell models warehouse.
Built as per instructions. I changed out the kit doors and windows for Grandt line ones.
I also replace the 2 doors in the front with some that are resin castings that I had in my parts bin. Not sure where they came from.

Need to add some more junk to the front.

The ground cover is still wet from the glue.

The detail castings are from Sierra West and Finescale Miniatures. The tractor is Athearn

The building is able to lift off for lamp replacement.

I painted the alum siding grey, let dry for a week and the went over it with burnt umber. Followed that with some "rust" colored chalk from MIG products. I used a picture of an old metal shed for colour reference. This will go on my Quincy model that I want to build later.