Diorama

Most of the model displays were rolling stock and locomotives. Ron Thompson brought a HO scale diorama that featured lots of scratchbuilt work inspired by prototype photographs. The locomotive and freight car here are the only items on his display that he did not scratchbuild. The size of his trees caught my eye and made me explore the scene further.

Eric

Pillsbury Mills

 Lonnie Bathhurst displayed a huge HO scale Pillsbury Mills complex. He has more additions coming to this model and estimates it will be 13 feet long when completed. You can see it is sitting on a couple long tables.

Eric

Traction

 Several modelers had traction models displayed. Doug Forbes had a number of HO scale models following Illinois Terminal prototypes. This small motor attracted my attention.

There's more to come as I process photos and determine what I need to snap again as I become accustomed to a new camera. I've have much to learn as I break it in at the RPM.  

Eric

Yo Eric,

Good to see you again today.   Am looking forward to your future posts/article.   I know you said it was a new camera, but the pics above seem to be quite good to show what was there.   

Hope to see you again next year.

Never a Disappointment

Hi Eric, thanks for generating a thread on the RPM. This was my 4th year attending this event and I'm never disappointed. I don't recall bumping into you, and if I did, sorry I didn't realize who you were. I have 400 images on my camera, some still, some motion, and I'm looking forward to reviewing each one. Like you said, lots of impressive stuff and always a pleasure talking to people.

Terry

Looking forward to your photos.

I wasn't able to go this year.  So I'm looking forward to the rest of your photos.  Hope to make it next year.

Thanks for taking the time to shoot and post photos for those of us who weren't there.

New Products

It's been a busy morning prepping RPM photos and details. Let's dive into some of the new products that were seen at the show. There were a few new products on display.

Chris Palomarez pointed out several new arrivals at the Athearn booth. These are recent arrivals and were not available at the recent National Train Show. 

N scale EMD SD-70 locos were on display.

Test shots of the new N scale 45-foot corrugated and low-cube containers were on display beside the new HO scale Genesis GP38-2.

The GP38-2 test shot looked very nice.

 
A new HO scale EMD SD45-2 was on display along with a couple of Gevo units.

Did you take a good look at the paint and lettering on the BNSF unit? It's not a mistake, just following the paint failure on a specific prototype.

I'm a sucker for a nice looking F-unit.

This brand new HO scale SD-39 wears an interesting paint over.

 
CMP Shops displayed a laser-cut HO scale company home. The model was developed using plans for an H.C. Frick company structure that was common in the Connellsville coal and coke district of southwestern Pennsylvania. I recall seeing many of these duplex homes when railfanning some coal branches.

Railfan Models displayed an HO scale KASGRO 325 ton, 12-axle, 36-foot, depressed center, heavy duty flat car. The kit builds into a model just over 15-inches long and features magnets to secure loads. A couple transformer loads are separately available. The completed car can navigate a 20-inch radius curve.

Next up for Railfan Models is an HO scale KASGRO 370 ton, 12-axle, 44-foot, straight deck, heavy duty flat car. A sample model was on display with a boiler load. It will also be available as a kit and builds into a 10.5-inch long car that will also navigate a 20-inch radius curve. Both of these kits feature 125-ton trucks with 38-inch semi-scale metal wheelsets.

Rapido Trains had a few of their new USRA double-sheathed boxcars to see at their booth. These looked very nice. Notice on the left side there is a grab missing. While it may have fallen out on the way to the event, it should be noted that the prototypes were built with only one grab in this location. A second grab was installed on many cars as they went through maintenance in the 1930s.

Rapido plans to offer these models in several roadnames.

Several detail variations were on display for their upcoming HO scale RS-11.  I know a few modelers have been waiting for these locomotives to arrive.

Models

The sheer number of stunning models people displayed at the event was overwhelming. I could not capture everything but grabbed as many as I could. Enjoy!

Ben Greuel showed an impressive number of weathered HO scale freight cars.

His well-worn RailBox car caught my eye.

Craig Wilson displayed some nice HO scale flat cars with open loads.

Tie downs and blocking details make these stand out.

Dennis Lippert had a number of his HO scale models on display.

Denny's freight car weathering is outstanding.

Denny has captured the look of the early 1970s freight car fleet with weathering, paint outs, and the changing paint and lettering schemes.

Traction

Mike Slater displayed a variety of HO scale traction equipment that followed colorful North Shore prototypes. 

The North Shore was an early adopter hauling trailers on flat cars.

We have forgotten how much freight moved on interurban lines around the country. Mike displayed several freight motors.

Modutrak N Scale layout

The Modutrak N Scale layout was very impressive. Most of the scenery was complete on this 10 x 60 foot modular layout.

A tripod and more lighting would make this look even better.

Kudos to the Modutrak group for bringing their impressive layout. I look forward to seeing it again at RPM Chicagoland.

More models!

Dennis Eggert displayed several road-weary HO scale C&NW locos and equipment.

 Dennis Eggert's HO scale Dodge Center facility.

Jeff Eggert displayed a few HO scale pieces of work equipment.

A few HO scale Milwaukee inspired models were displayed by John Donensfold. My apologies if I misspelled the name. 

Vehicles

Members of the 1/87th Vehicle Club had a number of interesting displays. 

Sam Denehy customized quite a few vehicles for this scene.

Dave Roeder built this garage scene.

Dave added lots of interior details, too!

Thomas and Robert Kelly worked together on these models.

We get a look inside the shop of Thomas and Robert Kelly's scene.

Not all the vehicles were HO scale. Steve Hurt displayed a few large scale models. He included a few prototype photos that inspired his work.

The weathered finish on Steve's model was amazing.

Steve included loads of details on the Rock Island hi-rail maintenance truck. Details in the cab, under the hood, and in the tool box. Check out those customized bumpers.

Model photos continue!

Lou Nigro showed his scale house scene and a Central Vermont boxcar built from a resin kit. Both are HO scale.

Michael Ferris displayed a variety of HO scale passenger equipment that followed followed Illinois Central and Southern Pacific prototypes.

Michael also showed an impressive array of GM&O diesels.

This early car ferry was seen at the Wabash Historical Society tables.

Several impressive O scale models were displayed by Ed Neff. This X23 boxcar follows prototypes the Pennsy converted to maintenance service by the late 1940s.  

O scale cabooses and passenger cars were also displayed by Ed Neff. All of these were scratchbuilt.

Dioramas

Dioramas of various sizes were seen on a few tables.

James Wiggen showed his N scale Boston & Maine models on this scenic diorama.

A couple of CN switchers work a small town on Pete Munger's HO scale scene.

Pete has nicely captured a small town scene on his diorama.

Lee Singletary's diorama is inspired by the L&N facilites at Flomaton, a favorite railfanning spot of his in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Lee included several interesting details in his work.

Lee's coaling tower and water tank are scratchbuilt and include lots of Tichy and Grandt Line parts.

Bob Rivard and Frank Jordon collaborated on a long narrow HO scale scene inspired by the High Line in Minneapolis.

The bridge and road details on this long diorama were amazing.

A grade was also incorporated into Bob Rivard and Frank Jordon's display. Notice this bridge is lower than the on in the previous photo. You can also see the grade in the first image. This HO scale diorama stretched across a couple of tables and was about 16 feet long.

Thanks Eric

I want so bad to go to the St. Louis RPM event someday but it's a long walk from California! Your photos get me there in my mind. I sure do appreciate it.

Hell rick I'm in Nebraska and

Hell rick I'm in Nebraska and I'd like togo.

I usually forget about it until it's too late or I can't find the time to go.  I've always heard good things about it.

Someday! 

Weathering

I'm back from a lunch break.

There were several people demonstrating weathering techniques. I only caught one in action but snapped several of the results.

Jeremy St. Peter works with oil paints to add weathering detail. Here's a look at an in-process HO scale boxcar.

Just beside Jeremy's work-in-progress was this fabulous HO scale model.

I came across this work in progress and thought I should check back.

Here's Rick Dakota Kempf working on a large scale covered automobile rack. He's adding a scene to the car inspired by a photo on his mobile phone.

Rick had several models on display. All were HO scale.

Rick often uses prototype photos to inspire the graffiti work he applies to the models.

The parade of model photos continues!

While HO scale models dominated the displays, there were models in other scales. This 1:29 model dominated the table.

Gene Fusco created art for this Pennsy flat car and printed it in 3D. All but the couplers, wheelsets, and truck springs were printed. That is a quarter to the right of the model. He also displayed a Pennsy ore car

Here's a closer look at the detail on Gene Fusco's 1:29 scale flat car.

Mike Satke showed a few N scale Union Pacific special trains with big steam at the head end. 

Mike's UP 844.

Mike Satke's N scale UP Challenger was very impressive.

James Wiggin had a few N scale diesels displayed beside his diorama.

C&EI modeler David Forbes had a number of HO scale models on display. 

David's blue and orange C&EI passenger equipment caught my eye.

David Forbes displayed this custom laser-cut HO scale C&EI standard depot. 

Youth

I met a couple of younger modelers from Alabama who were attending their first RPM. They were amazed at the level of modeling on display and the access to vendors and manufacturers. 

Radisson McGuire showed an impressive display of military equipment loaded on flat cars.

Joshua Singletary displayed a variety of HO scale covered hoppers with varying degrees of weathering.

Joshua also had some motive power on display.

This remnants of a previous load in this Seaboard Coast Line gondola caught my attention. Joshua and Radisson are looking forward to their next RPM meet.

Thank You Eric!

...For going to all this effort to share that meet with those of us that can't make it up that way.

Wonderful stuff going on there.

The evolution of this hobby and its techniques in my lifetime has been nothing short of amazing.

Truly an excellent time to be in this hobby.

Andre

Rolling along with more model photos

The M&StL is a favorite of Clark Propst. He uses prototype images to upgrade models with details and weathering. Check out Clark's new weigh data and journal inspection stencils on this HO model.

Clark Propst often uses conductor reports to determine specific cars to model for his HO scale layout.

Brian McQuitty displayed several in-process HO scale tank cars that follow prototypes of the 1970s. Brian included lots of his progress details.

Prototype tank cars often have details that are slightly different than an available model. Brian has documented specific changes so his work reflects the prototype.

Some modifications can be extreme, but Brian McQuitty's goal is to reflect a specific prototype.

Fenton Wells models southeastern railroads and displayed a variety of HO scale models for different car types. He presented a clinic on Essential Southern Freight Cars.

The Southern converted a number of cars for pulp wood service. Fenton showed a few of them in his display.

Some cars in dedicated service are not cleaned regularly. Fenton did a great job in modeling leftover bark and chips from previous pulpwood loads.

Wrapping it up

This last batch of photos captures the work of modelers who have a focus in the 1905 to 1935 years. 

Jeremy Dummler displayed this Yosemite Valley 2-6-0. It is an HO scale brass loco with a few extra details.

A few freight cars followed Jeremy's loco. He is switching to O scale so this was the last time for his HO equipment at an RPM. He hopes to have one or two models on display at RPM Chicagoland. 

Jeremy has also posted a gallery of photos he snapped at the RPM. 

A few HO scale freight cars were shown by Kristin Dummler. She and Jeremy are married and share interests in earlier railroading and industries. She upgraded this old Ambroid wood kit. 

Poultry cars are a special interest for Kristin. She has worked to restore this HO scale Ambroid model.

Kristin found another Ambroid model but the parts were in sad shape. She is scratchbuilding this model following the kit instructions and details. Kristin will present an updated version of her excellent poultry car clinic at RPM Chicagoland.

Rene LaVoise used an Accurail 36-foot boxcar as the core for this Southern Railway ventilated boxcar. He picked up the parts and instructions during Fenton Wells' clinic at the 2018 Carolina RPM.  

Here's what a HO scale MDC Old Time tank car can look like with a Shapeways frame and running boards, brass castings, and careful work. Rene LaVoise displayed two of these conversions and plans to letter them for UTLX. 

Richard McQuade used a prototype photo to guide his work building this HO scale Grand Trunk boxcar.

I brought a few HO scale models to display. A few were in-process.

This is a Tichy USRA single-sheathed boxcar with Westerfield decals. I followed the details on a prototype photo where part of the road name had been painted out. The prototype car was originally lettered for Pennsylvania Lines but the PRR reorganized their corporate structure in 1924, eliminating Lines. Some newer cars were updated with a simple paint out rather than a complete repaint and re-stencil. I used masking tape to cover the area while the car was weathered. After the weathering was applied, I pulled the tape away to reveal fresh original paint. 

An Accurail 36-foot double-sheathed boxcar was the starting point for this model. Details were added to reflect those seen in a couple of prototype photos. I want to retain the original factory lettering.

The 2019 St Louis RPM was great fun. Just over 600 people attended  It was a pleasure to see so many wonderful models and meet lots of fine modelers. I learned some new tricks and came home inspired to push a few projects along. Here's the RPM event calendar so you can make plans to attend an upcoming event.

Great coverage

Thanks for including large scale equipment in your photos. I tried to meet up with you a couple times but you were always covered by someone. Next time!   The Rock Island truck pictured is currently up for a charity auction on ebay also,  hopefully headed to a good home that makes a great donation.

  The show was great as always. Incredible new modelers show up every year too.  

Thanks, Steve Hurt 

Thanks!

Thanks for taking pictures and documenting the St. Louis RPM!  It is a great show and a fun time!