This project has been on the back shelf for over 3 years now and while talking to a friend I figure it is time to start working on it again.  

So I've scratched this itch I've had sitting in my closet all these years...a Bowser Challenger, well built and all ready to go...It looks like I'm sinking back into big stem...Oh My!!

The Canadian arrived in Sudbury for the first time yesterday (in a big box carried by Jason Shron of Rapido Trains.)  He actually came out to see our NCE setup, theoretically, but once the train came out of its box, all eyes were on it, and not the DCC system. 

To All: I love the unusual. When I spotted the photo of a converted Southern RR boxcar for use

          in Kaolin Clay loading,  I decided to model one. Here are the pix  of modeled, then painted

         lettered and weathered finished car. The starting point  is a Kurtz Kraft unpainted PS-1 kit

         that I assembled. I added coupler cut bars and underframe brake lines and components.  .

Well now - can you model this small? In the eye of a needle?

I have painted molded figures in N scale somewhat well, but this person really "takes the cake". He sculpts AND paints - 1:5000 ? - 1:10000 ? molecular paint thickness ?

http://www.willard-wigan.com

To see his work, visit his gallery:

http://www.willard-wigan.com/gallery.aspx

Some Background

So it's now mid April and my fiance and I have been living in our house a solid month now - time for an update.  For those of you who may have read my previous blog entry back in January, I was amidst the initial planning stages of a freelanced regional railroad I had named the BRE.  Well, now I'm switching things up a bit. . .

       When my wife and I purchased our home for our growing family in early 2005, I already knew what I was going to do with the basement. So after moving in and replacing the roof the following year. I was ready to start building my layout; The Metro Belt & Terminal RR, designed by Dan Murdock and featured in the "Beer City Bunch" magazine of April 2001. I had chosen a prototype (no prize for the winning guess)!

The main scene/diorama on my layout represents my hometown, Miles City, Montana, in 1959.  This diorama is 16" deep and 16' long, along one side of a former single car garage.  In order to provide staging and multiple train possibilities there are two hidden tracks behind the diorama, next to the wall.  I need access to these tracks, but don't want to see them otherwise.  So the backdrop behind them needs to be easily, and selectively, removable.  In many areas

I have placed this short video of two new Heritage paint schemes that have appeared.  Model Railroading is FUN.

To All: How about this prototype rerailer!

          Yours, Elvin Howland/E. St. Louis Rail Group Layout