New Power

While I am still going to work everyday, evenings and weekends are very open. I am getting more projects completed.  First up is an RS-3.  I picked up an Athearn shell in NH green and orange off of eBay.  I mounted it on an Atlas drive and installed a TCS Wow decoder with sound. I weathered it with oil washes an Pan Pastels

Next up are two RS-11's.  One is an upgraded Atlas and the other is a Rapido. I also weathered them with Pan Pastels.

The Atlas unit turned out nice, but is not a match detail wise to the Rapido model.

I hope everybody is doing well and staying safe.

More FA's

I have been getting the hang of weathering with Pan Pastels and I really enjoy working with them.  I decided to do a set of the green FA's and they look a little more worn torn as they have not seen the paint shop in a number of years, unlike the McGinnis units.  The deferred maintenance is starting to take its toll on the units and oil leaks are staring to show up.  I used linseed oil to simulate the oil leak and full spillage on the models.  I learned that trick from a Mike Confalone Video.



Oil Leak on this one

A nice hard working grungy look to the set. That Chateau Martin cars needs to be
toned down!  I may make that one of my next projects.

Painting Ties

I painted my track with Camouflage brown that is a nice base color for the track  I have now gone back and painted various random ties with a wash of various grays and browns.  I use acrylic craft paints that cost fifty cents apiece at Wal-Mart.   I add more gray ties to sidings and spurs and keep the main line in better.

Weathering, First Attempt

First attempt may not be entirely true, but it is with using Pan Pastels.  I started on some basic boxcars and then tried a Bachmann H-16-44.  I watched Mike Confalone's weathering videos from MRH.  Take a look below and let me know what you think.  I really find weathering back locomotives difficult.

The H-16-44 ready for Dullcote.  I did add Hancock Air Horns and some
bits of styrene to represent the steam generator.

Here it is after a round of pan pastels.

Another shot.

Please feel free to comment on the box cars and locomotive.  I am very open to creative criticism, and am always looking to improve.

Paint and Weathering Work Station

I have cleaned off the an old desk that is under the north end staging yard.  I have set up my portable spray both and a 5000 kelvin light for painting and weathering.  I can fold up the spray both and have more room to hand apply pastels and artist oils for weathering.  It is nice to have a separate space from the regular workbench to do this kind of work.  I hope this will mean I will get more projects painted in a timely manner!

Spraybooth, airbrush and good lighting.