I’ve been slackin’ on blog posting, but model projects have kept moving. It’s time to catch up.
The lead image shows four models that were recently primed with Vallejo Desert Sand. Several other models have moved along on the lineup card.
Nine of the top ten models on the updated line up are weathered and ready for service. Only the Union hopper remains unfinished from the hopper upgrades earlier this year.
I was thrilled to finish off a pair of HO scale Red Caboose kits for B&O M-26b boxcars. A few extra details were added along with custom decals for the model to reflect an as-built appearance. These are occasionally produced as ready-to-run by Intermountain, but older kits can be found at train shows and some hobby shops.
I need to pull together a longer post on these models. With a few upgrades, the Red Caboose kits fit great into a model fleet set from 1925-1940.
The four latest models have all been painted. In the foreground are a pair of Speedwitch Media Pere Marquette automobile boxcars. I backdated these to follow the as-built appearance of the PM 88000-88349 car series. K brake components were installed along with a vertical staff hand brake.
The gondola is a Resin Car Works L&N steel gondola, while the background car is a Funaro & Camerlengo Reading XMp class 36-foot double-sheathed boxcar.
I recently applied decals on the Reading car. These were custom created and printed by a fellow Pre-Depression Era modeler. The lettering reflects the prototypes after a 1924 corporate reorganization when the Philadelphia & Reading became the Reading. New cars were delivered with the new name while older cars were updated when repairs were required.
I’m almost done applying decals on the two Pere Marquette boxcars. Once those are done, I’ll focus on the L&N gondola. We’ll see where we go from there!
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Eric, as always your craftsmanship is excellent.
I need, want is more accurate, some 40’ automobile boxcars. I want them to look like yours, but that is where I get derailed…(!)
Eric – thanks for the update. Your posts are always inspirational. I have a couple questions. I’d never heard/seen of the Desert Tan primer. How did you find it and why do you use it vs. others? I picked up a Badger Stynlrez primer six-pack that includes a neutral yellow (tan) color. (https://spraygunner.com/airbrush-paint/badger-airbrush-co-paints/paint-sets/stynylrez-6-tone-color-pack/) I went back through some of your blog posts looking for paint techniques – do you outline your process anywhere? I was hoping for a “Painting” tag but didn’t see one. Might be worth an add, as your work is fantastic! Really looking forward to more details on your M-26 build(s). This one turned out great! Again, thanks for sharing!
Thanks for your comment, Ben. I went through and tagged five posts with Painting. I noticed a couple early posts were categorized as painting. I really haven’t gone into much detail on methods since a February 2017 post. Probably the most detail was posted in December 2015 with several models rolling through the paint booth. All the painting work was spurred along purchases of with a Paasche spray booth and an Iwata airbrush earlier in 2015. Encouragement and inspiration from Bill Welch also pushed me along. Entering paint in the search box will turn up many more posts, but not all deal with airbrush application.
As for the primer, I liked how the Vallejo paints worked with my airbrush and just decided to use their primers. Friends have had great success with the Badger Stynlrez product but I think their recommendations came up after I bought a couple bottles of the Vallejo product. The website has a section on surface primers that show all the available colors.
Lastly, I forgot I had published the Red Caboose boxcar upgrades on the Resin Car Works blog. The details were specific to the B&O M-26b class cars.
I think that covers everything in your comment. Thanks for dropping by! – Eric H.