Eric Hansmann

Looking forward

As a new year opens, sometimes I look at my workbench and am disappointed with the unfinished projects. I was hoping to decal three boxcars in November and only finished one. It’s been a busy time of year with a couple trips to visit kids and grand kids, and prepping articles for Model Railroad Hobbyist. I must remind myself that it’s about balance and perspective as I review a busy 2019 and look forward to another trip around the sun.

P&R GAc steel drop-door gondola kit

Bob McGlone sent an email the other day with an interesting model announcement. With his permission, it’s now a blog post.

I’d like to make early rail modelers aware of a new item that is now available. It’s a 3D printed model of the Philadelphia & Reading GAc class steel drop-door gondola.

Roster shots

This 36-foot C&O boxcar is one of my recent builds. This resin kit and the decals were created by a friend.

I often snap photos of projects as they progress on my workbench. It is so easy to capture images with a cell phone, point and shoot camera, or a digital SLR. I’m able to share ideas and techniques with friends and I can send out a call for help when I screw something up.

Easy boxcar update

I like to wrap up a project or two before a prototype modeler meet so I can take the models for display. A couple of months ago I came across an Accurail 36-foot boxcar that I had detailed but had not completed. That’s how the model appeared when I decided to finish it off.

2019 RPM Chicagoland summary

A Burlington 2-10-2 lugs a freight on the HO scale Midwest Mod-U-Trak layout in the RPM Chicagoland model display room.

I’m still catching up from the RPM Chicagoland prototype modeler event. I enjoyed meeting many modelers, renewing friendships, attending presentations, viewing a wide variety of models on display, and visiting a couple local layouts.