Wordless Wednesday: National Train Show 2014

Layout Update Mondays: Centennial Caboose

The Big E Centennial Caboose at Mallary Pavilion.

We are entering the home stretch in the run up to the National Train Show in just eleven short days.  I have been very busy making sure everything is ready to go.  Just a few quick photos today from projects completed over the last week.  Above, the finished display caboose was painted up for The Big E's Centennial Celebration.  It has been fun figuring out how to make and install custom decals.  In addition, I finished scratch building several grade crossing signs as well as did a little more detailing around the Young Building.

Grade Crossing signs.

Details around Young Building.

Wordless Wednesday: Ntrak Ore Dock Bridge

Layout Update Mondays: Details, Details, Details

Mallary Pavilion in progress.

In two weeks, the layout will be packed up in a trailer and on its way to Indianapolis, IN for this year's National Train Show.  I've been working non-stop to have the layout ready for the event and have been adding numerous details all around the layout. In the photo above, the Mallary Pavilion has been mostly landscaped - the remaining pieces are to add leaves to the trees, plant a few flowers, and finish painting a caboose for the display track.  Below is a photo of some of the interior details added to the Railroad Headquarters building.  It's not quite finished but you can see where it is headed.

A few interior details for the Railroad Headquarters building.

Details on the loading dock.

The loading dock has also received a few empty pallets and crates to create the illusion of freight being unloaded.  In addition, the scenery has also been spruced up with some of the grass tufts from Walthers.  The final photo below is of the weathering on Memorial Avenue.  I used some chalk and the effect is subtle but makes a big difference when looking at the layout in person.

Finished weathering on the road.

Wordless Wednesday: Steve's Swamp

Module Monday: Logging Module

The Logging Module with Valley Ntrak.

Over the year's I've had a chance to photograph numerous modular layouts at the Railroad Hobby Show and interview the module builders.  Here is a look back at one of these module profiles which was compiled during the 2009 Railroad Hobby Show.

Module Spotlight Scale: N Size: 2'x8' Standards: Ntrak Years Constructed: 2006-2008 Features: Logging Camp, Switchbacks, Waterfall Era: 1950s-Present Club: Valley Ntrak Owner: Bill Pontin

FBill Pontin's Ntrak Logging Module was the winner of the Best in Show Module Award as part of the 2009 Ntrak Winterfest Convention held in conjunction with the Railroad Hobby Show.  The module made its debut in 2008 after two years of construction.

The module features a logging camp scene with several switchbacks to reach the logging area.  Bill scratchbuilt everything on the module including most of the equipment.  Details are numerous on the module with lots of small scenes to see.  One of the neat effects is how the tree line changes from the left side of the module to the right.  Full pine trees fill the hill on the left side while only stumps cover the right side of the module where the logging area is.  To add to this effect, there are painted backdrops which help to extend the scene.  Bill also added animation with a waterfall that "works."  By using rotating light behind the static water fall, he is able to make it look as though the stream is actually running.

An overview of the module.

Wordless Wednesday: Big Boy

Module Monday: Chenango Branch

A freight rounds into town on the Chenango Branch.

Over the year's I've had a chance to photograph numerous modular layouts at the Railroad Hobby Show and interview the module builders.  Here is a look back at one of these module profiles which was compiled during the 2009 Railroad Hobby Show.

Module Spotlight Scale: HO Size: 28"x144" Standards: Club Years Constructed: 2005 Features: Bridge, Town, Tunnel Era: 1930s-1940s Club: Central New York Modelers Owner: Russ Gills

The Chenango Branch of the New York Central Railroad rambled through upstate New York and served milk plants and stations, gravel pits, ice, and passenger stations during its existence.  While the branch was abandoned in 1944, Russ Gills has kept the legacy of the branch alive with his 28"x12' module set with the Central New York Modelers.  Only a single mainline track is visible, with the other hidden under the back hills, to capture the feel of the branch.

The module captures many scenes from along the branchline including a depot, milk station, stores, and bridges.  On the left side of the module trains emerge into the scene through he south portal under Palmer Hill.  The mainline then makes it way over the Chittenango Creek stone arch bridge.  The line then snakes its way into town past several stores and buildings based upon those in Lebanon, NY.  The buildings are mostly scratchbuilt with the exception of the depot which is a modified Branchline kit.  The scenery on the module is dramatic with a creek running along most of the module and vertical scenery along the back of the module.  A photo backdrop helps extend the scene.  Also, lots of period vehicles and details set the time frame of the module in the 1930s and 1940s.

Russ received help on portions of the construction of the module by several club members.  This included Louis Frees and Bernard Watkins (benchwork), Bill Brown (rocks and backdrop), and Mike Fuller (vehicles).

Arriving at the station.

History Fridays: 2006 Willimantic Train Show

Stu Dom tests the new Staging Yard at the Fall 2006 Willimantic Train Show.

For a 20 year period - starting in 1994 and ending in 2013 - the club would display layouts in support of the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum's semi-annual spring and fall shows. This was a fun show for the club as it was close to our home base and supported a nearby railroad museum.

One of the more memorable year's for the club at this event was the fall of 2006.  We were in the midst of a massive rebuild of the HO layout and had - accidentally - double booked the show weekend - committing to the show in Willmantic as well as supporting A Day Out With Thomas at the Valley Railroad in Essex, CT.  This created some logistical hurdles but actually gave us a lot of incentive to use the weekend as one last hurrah for our old layout and have a test run for some of our newest modules before the 2007 Railroad Hobby Show.

The activity for the weekend started on the prior Wednesday evening setting up the old modules at the Valley Railroad - where we would operate for two weekends.  On Saturday morning of the weekend of the show, most of the club members met in Essex to help ensure operations were off to a good start at the Thomas event before a smaller group traveled over to Willimantic to set up the new modules for a test run at Windham High School for the show on Sunday. Sunday, the club members were split as one group was once again at Essex for the day while the other crew went to Willimantic to shake down the new modules.

We were able to test run the club's new Staging Yard as well as the Delany Yard complex and Brookside Farm modules. The show in Willimantic ended at 3 pm and the layout was quickly broken down and then hauled over to Essex. After the final train returned at the Valley Railroad, the club members spent a long Sunday evening taking down and setting up a larger layout for the following weekend in Essex with several modules which had spent the day operating in Willimantic.

While it was busy, playing the double header was a fun experience for the club and most likely a one time occurrence as we generally don't have eight corners available at any given time. The Willimantic show, unfortunately, has most likely come to end as the person in charge of the show passed away a few years ago. While it was there, it was certainly fun for the club and provided some great memories.

Exhibitor Thursday: Scenic Express

The Scenic Express booth at the Railroad Hobby Show.

Exhibitor Spotlight Name: Scenic Express Display Style: Tables Type: Retailer Size: 27'x34' Present Location: Better Living Center Home Location: Delmont, PA Website: Scenic Express

For the last week, I've been busy working on scenery on the layout - using many materials purchased at the Scenic Express booth this past Springfield.  For many years Scenic Express has set up a large display inside the Better Living Center which includes working layouts showcasing the scenic materials the company sells.  The setup takes up the equivalent of fourteen tables - which fills a space larger than some of the modular layouts at the show. 

Recently, the company has been featuring live demos at their booth - providing an up close look at how the scenery materials can be used to enhance a layout.  The company has a busy road schedule and is slated to be at the upcoming National Train Show in Indianapolis next month...a good opportunity to pick up some more scenery materials and details for the Tribute to Springfield layout!

To learn more, visit the Scenic Express website at: www.scenicexpress.com