Graffiti Artists

Displays of modern models included numerous incredible examples of graffiti and weathering, duplicating prototype photos.

Pacific Fruit Express

Some people really like PFE--and I have no problem with that ...

Western Pacific MOW

A complete WP MOW train was shown by Kerry Cochran.

Incredible Machining - F scale 1:20.3

In F scale standard gauge, Jim McDaniel showed several highly detailed models, including a scratch built fully-sprung, equalized passenger truck with working brakes, made of basswood, poplar and brass. It's a work in progress for a 80' parlor he's constructing in this impressive scale.

Jim also showed a caboose with full interior detail including paper on the toilet roll.

N scale Civil War models

N scale modeler Mike Blumensaadt MMR of San Francisco showed a Civil War diorama depicting the "Dictator" mortar and its support train. The Dictator was a siege mortar weighing in at 12,000 pounds that could lob a 200-lb shell about 2.5 miles. It saw limited use in 1862 until suffering barrel damage from use.

Alvin Ho's Rock Island passenger trains

Author-modeler Alvin Ho showed several complete Rock Island passenger trains constructed in HO scale, displayed alongside copies of past magazine articles in which he described construction. Having an author side-by-side with his models and articles, with the opportunity for Q&S about either, is pretty unusual.

City of San Francisco

Next door to Alvin, another modeler presented the complete AT&SF San Francisco Chief consist in HO scale, with superb weathering on the diesels.

O scale with chipping method weathering

O scale was represented by this boxcar using weathering as described in the card below the car.

UP locomotives and tank cars

Scott Bates showed several Union Pacific diesels and modern tank cars, all with exquisite weathering.

3D printed Sears, Roebuck & Co. houses

3D printing contributed to numerous models at the event. Modeler Mike Chipman, whose day job is General Partner of the Arizona Diamondbacks pro baseball team, showed three examples of HO scale Sears, Roebuck & Co. kit houses that he has 3D printed. These are for personal use on his layout, not a commercial offering, although I tried in vain to convince him to sell them. It doesn't show well in the photos, but shingle siding and other fine details are well reproduced in his designs.

Owl Mountain Models passenger car antennas

Owl Mountain Models showed and sold numerous current products, including these all-brass kits for passenger car rooftop antennas. Once installed, they are robust enough that you can "pluck" the brass wire without damage - a plus for layouts with heavy operations, like the La Mesa club in San Diego where co-owner Jason Hill operates. To purchase these, see the Owl Mountain website.

New sources of products

Among the benefits of BAPM is the chance to discover smaller online vendors of specialty products. Wutter Vehicles & Details has a variety of detail parts:

Bruce Barney operates as AL&W Lines Kits with a page on Facebook.

A fine day

All in all, it was a fine day with ample chances for new knowledge and inspiration.

Unfortunate postcript

Unfortunately, as hinted at the start of this series of posts, after BAPM ended and at a different location, Butch Eyler's vehicle was burglarized with the loss of 11 models. Most of his models are modern freight cars with graffiti. Modelers encountering such cars at pawn shops, flea markets or other unusual outlets, or on eBay, with unknown sellers or those who do not appear to be the modeler, should beware or contact Butch or law enforcement.

Thanks!

Thanks for posting pics of the BAPM. I know Butch and usually meet up with him and his grandsons at the St. Louis RPM. Really sorry to hear about his misfortune. Hard to believe that someone would stoop that low to steal models, but I guess that's the way some people operate.

Terry

Good pics

Thanks for posting. Wish they had one of those meets here n Austin TX

Alvin Ho RI Models

A few years ago at the Naperville/Lisle RPM meet, Alvin showed a functioning RI signal in N scale. He captured the distinctive hooded signal head using etched parts. Impressive. Most impressive.

They were at BAPM 2019

I didn't take a photo, but Alvin did display those signals at BAPM, wired to an Arduino for demonstration purposes to show aspects changing. You are correct - They are pretty amazing.

Wutter Vehicles

Is a regular poster on another forum I regularly visit.  Nice to see him out and about getting good press.  He's done a lot of design and testing work on his designs.

The loss of Butch's cars is tragic, however the consensus elsewhere on the interwebs is his stuff is likely dumped in the bay or one of its rivers somewhere.  The smash and grab racket in the Bay area is apparently well known, and generally targets vehicles in restaurants and gas stations close to freeway exits and entrances. They seem to grab and chuck later - computers, other electornic and cash are apparently sometimes found and traced, but stuff like Butch's is usually never recovered.