BCRail_Andy's blog

A major milestone has been passed.  The first test trains were run across the Peace River bridge this weekend.  At this point everything is under temporary DC power.  Rail joins on the bridge need to be soldered for good electrical conductivity and all my locomotives need a good run to break them in.  Despite that, the test runs went well.

Almost 2 months since my last post so time for an update on my N Scale BC Rail layout.  The backdrop painting is complete and the foreground bridge scene is well underway.

Here is the current status of the lower deck backdrop on my N Scale layout based in northern British Columbia, Canada.  I am going against the conventional wisdom of 'understated backdrops' and going for detailed sweeping scenes.  It takes many hours of painting but since my layout will be fairly small it is a worthwhile approach.   I would like visitors to remember my layout for the backdrops as much as the trains.

This weekend was spent backdrop painting on the lower deck.  I am using a pale blue that won't distract from the foreground scenery.  I then blended the blue into white near the horizon line to simulate the effects of atmospheric scattering seen in real skies.  

Over the summer I spent some time on N scale locomotive detailing and painting projects.   There are no commercially available SD40-2s in the red, white and blue BC Rail scheme that I need to model the 2000-2004 period so I decided to try it myself.   The starting point was two undecorated Kato snoot nose SD40-2s.   I used detail parts from Miniatures by Eric for the following details: Canadian style steps, nose and ditch lights, over cab bell, lift rings and single rear light.

A long overdue layout update for August 2010.

Most of the last few months have been spent working on extending the lower deck benchwork and kitbashing some freight cars.  A few revisions were made to the track plan and a work continues on developing an operating plan.

The following are some images from the last few months of work.  

First off... Two kitbashed 60ft double door box cars that are close reproductions of BC Rail prototypes.

Here are a few images of some recent locomotive and freight car painting and weathering projects.    It makes a pleasant break from building benchwork.  

http://nscalefortstjohnsub.wordpress.com/

Hi There

As a new member to the MRH family I thought I would post a link to my layout blog.  

http://nscalefortstjohnsub.wordpress.com/

That is the central point for my construction journal, plans and photographs of both the prototype and models.  Expect new content 2 to 3 times per month.   

Andy