Notes on Designing, Building, and Operating Model Railroads
A hobby adventure
Freight car colors are a constant topic with many modelers. We aim to paint our models reflecting the prototypes as closely as possible. The lead photo here represents my efforts on six Accurail USRA double-sheathed box car kits. The photo captures them after the gloss coat dried to seal the Westerfield Models decals.
Continue reading “What is box car red?”
After building a handful of freight car kits and detailing a few more, I had a traffic jam at my paint booth. I prefer to paint several models at a time but wasn’t expecting an eleven car pile up.
Continue reading “Line up card”
We tend not to share our failures, except among close friends and family. I’ve had my fair share of hobby project failures across a wide array. I avoided sharing the dismal results, mainly out of embarrassment. But I learned something new with each of those difficulties. I may have changed a technique or materials to move onward.
Continue reading “Failures”
A couple models have inched forward in the finishing process. I recently painted and decaled a couple of box cars. I employ several steps to move a model from the undecorated state to one that is ready to weather. The B&O M-15b seen in this lead photo has a fresh gloss coat.
Continue reading “Gloss coat and RPMs”
The weather warmed up a bit here in the Chihuahuan Desert and the winds calmed down. Clouds dispersed and we had a few quiet, sunny days, which are perfect to paint models. I have a few resin freight car kits that are ready for the paint booth so a few were carefully washed. I prefer to paint a few models at a time to make efficient use of time and materials.