Author: Golden1014

I'm an American, living in Germany.
Ackley, Iowa Layouts, Freight and Passenger Car Modeling1 Comment

No. 72: Ackley Layout – South Side Scenery Work

Golden1014

This is a long overdue post but I felt it was important to make a record of the work that was done in September and October 2017. My layout depicting the M&StL main line in Ackley, Iowa has a 16 x 2-foot finished area with a 12-foot staging yard on each end.  As of mid-September, I had installed landforms and basic scenery on about 20-22 square feet of the layout.  In early October I began installing landforms and scenery on the last 10-12 square feet of the layout, which depicts the south end of town.  This area of the layout … Continue reading No. 72: Ackley Layout – South Side Scenery Work

Prototype Topics, Railfanning & Museums1 Comment

No. 71: St. Louis Aerial Photography

Golden1014

A few weeks ago I got really frustrated trying to find Sanborn maps for some areas I’ve been researching in St. Louis.  I’ve been trying to assemble material for a couple of blog articles on small layout ideas but have not been able to gather suitable information. In frustration, about three weeks ago, I went back to the US Department of Agriculture website and ordered a complete set of their earliest available aerial photography for the entire St. Louis area.  The process was so easy that I’m disappointed with myself for not doing it much earlier. The USDA site can … Continue reading No. 71: St. Louis Aerial Photography

Ackley, Iowa Layouts, Freight and Passenger Car ModelingLeave a comment

No. 70: Ackley Layout Progress, Nov 2017

Golden1014

After 45 days of working on rolling stock and other projects, I returned to working on the Ackley, Iowa layout just before Thanksgiving. I know, Thanksgiving 2017 is already old news.  I was busy at work and out of town again over the holiday, and the kid’s busy schedule keeps me busier than I deserve, so haven’t been able to post any updates for about three weeks. In the 45-day period that I spent away from the layout to finish other modeling projects, I got a lot done.  I rebuilt my sandblaster and blasted about 25 built-up models to get … Continue reading No. 70: Ackley Layout Progress, Nov 2017

Modeling ProjectsLeave a comment

No. 69: Portugal…and Progress on Portage, Nov 2017

Golden1014

Portage Structure Progress This week I put most of the finishing touches on the tool houses and interlocking tower for the Portage, Iowa scene on Mike Moore’s Illinois Central layout.  I installed shingles from Minuteman Models on all the buildings and, after a little trial and error, ended up staining them black with a Sharpie pen.  Below are the photos of the “shingling” in progress. As I mentioned in a previous post, I attempted to paint the shingles black because I accidentally ordered light gray shingles instead of dark gray or black, but painting them did not work well.  A … Continue reading No. 69: Portugal…and Progress on Portage, Nov 2017

Freight and Passenger Car Modeling2 Comments

No. 68: Progress on Freight Cars, Oct 2017 Part 2

Golden1014

‘Round and ‘Round with Cylindrical Hoppers  A long time ago, a friend offered to do a free sound install for me.  I paid for parts but not labor, so in return I offered to weather up some models for him.  He said “Sure, I’ll send you some cars–get them back to me when you can.” I have always thought I do a pretty good job of weathering models.  I expected him to send some box cars or something like that.  But no…he sent four Canadian cylindrical grain hoppers.  I have no idea what to do with cylindrical grain hoppers.  No … Continue reading No. 68: Progress on Freight Cars, Oct 2017 Part 2

RPM and Modeling Events4 Comments

No. 67: US-Modellbahn Convention Rodgau

Golden1014

My wife gave me a few hours off from family duty last Saturday—it was my 54th birthday—so I could drive up to Frankfurt to attend the U.S. Model Railroader convention in Rodgau, a town southeast of Frankfurt.  After living here two years it the first time I was able to get away and spend some time at a modeling event. It was a really neat show.  It was something like a U.S. RPM meet, with a lot of vendors and a couple of manufacturers, but unlike U.S. RPM meets there were no clinics, no model displays, and nothing resembling a … Continue reading No. 67: US-Modellbahn Convention Rodgau

Modeling Projects2 Comments

No. 66: Progress on Portage, Oct 2017

Golden1014

It has been a busy week on Albersbach’s only railroad.  Some good progress was made on the Portage buildings for Mike Moore’s layout, and I got a little bit done for my layout too Progress on Portage When we last saw the Portage buildings they looked like this: This week I have been working on cutting, prepping and painting all the trim and detail parts.  First I cut out all the trim and all the detail parts and taped them to a piece of cardstock for painting.  Cutting out the trim for the corner of the buildings is a little … Continue reading No. 66: Progress on Portage, Oct 2017

Freight and Passenger Car Modeling, O Scale & Proto 482 Comments

No. 65: Progress on Freight Cars, Oct 2017

Golden1014

A quick post on progress of freight car model construction and also construction of the Portage Tower models for Mike Moore’s layout. Proto 48 Models I was able to finish a lot of small projects this week and also contemplate a few new ones.  First I finished installing the running board for an Intermountain 1937 double-door box car that will be finished as an SAL AF-3.  I scratchbuilt the latitudinal running board supports and am not terribly happy with them, but they are much better than the kit-supplied parts.  The running board is an aftermarket part from Protocraft.  The car … Continue reading No. 65: Progress on Freight Cars, Oct 2017

Ackley, Iowa Layouts3 Comments

No. 64: Modeling the Marshall Canning Company of Ackley, Iowa, Part 2

Golden1014

Recently my friend Doug Harding traveled up to Ackley, Iowa to visit the Ackley Heritage Center, which is located in the former Illinois Central depot in the bustling metropolis of downtown Ackley.  The Center had several dozen photos of the Marshall Canning Co. and other industries in Ackley and they were happy to share with Doug.  Doug scanned them and sent them to me the next day.   The best photo I have of the Heritage Center is below, taken on my one-and-only visit to Ackley in 2015.  One of my daughters took this one.  I guess I forgot to … Continue reading No. 64: Modeling the Marshall Canning Company of Ackley, Iowa, Part 2

Freight and Passenger Car Modeling, O Scale & Proto 481 Comment

No. 63: Freight Car Modeling, Sep 2017

Golden1014

Progress on model construction has gone very well in the first two weeks of September thanks mostly to a work trip to Stuttgart. I spent four nights in Stuttgart last week and was able to get a few hours of work done every night. The first car I built up while away was an HO scale Tichy flat car from the Central of Georgia Historical Society.  I bought it at the last St. Louis RPM directly from the society table there. The model is part of the society’s “Fix The Flat” program.  Proceeds from the sale of the model are … Continue reading No. 63: Freight Car Modeling, Sep 2017