Yard Office Access Road Crossing

Number 72 setting out a Frisco boxcar at the loading dock in Owensville, Missouri. 

Locomotive Painting Project

I decided to do a custom paint job on one of my older locomotives that I actually attempted to paint back in 2006-2007. The original attempt was going to be a blue and white paint scheme related to the old Rock Island Railroad Bankruptcy Blue scheme of 1975.

Incomplete custom paint job on a DC Athearn SW1500 

Stripped and ready to go 

After stripping off the old paint, I sprayed the loco with a flat primer gray. I tried to find a flat green paint to match as close to the Bachmann 70 ton switcher green as I could. Unfortunately, I could not find an exact match, and the green that looked best was only available in gloss finish. No big issue, since I could dull this down with Krylon 1311 matte spray, and a whole lot of weathering. I'm looking for a switcher that looks quite dirty. 

Initial Painting 

I went ahead and sprayed the unit with Krylon 1311 Matte Spray to dull down the gloss. Next, I applied my custom decals made from an old set from Testors. After the decals set, I then painted the handrails with yellow acrylic paints. 

Fresh from the Factory 

The next step was to apply Monroe Models Weathering Powders to further dull the glossy paint. After applying the powders, I gave the loco shell a light coat of Krylon 1311. 

I use a variety of acrylic tube paints (I like the Liquitex brand) in burnt sienna, burnt umber, black, and white to create various grease and dirt stains. I also apply a bit of India Ink and alcohol wash to various areas, but a light touch and light quantity of wash is advisable. The AI wash interacts with the Krylon 1311 matte spray that can turn everything into a heavy white haze. A light touch helps to control the hazing, and I was able to haze a few areas where I wanted it. I wanted an extremely dirty looking loco to represent age and use. 

The Completed Project 

In Service on the Layout 

Before and After

Overall, I'm pleased with how it turned out. Not perfect, but good enough for me. I feel more confident with attempting this in the future with a locomotive I have on my wish list. I'm now hooked on sound-equipped locos, so I will be adding a high-end model to the roster when my hobby budget allows me to buy one. 

Tom

Trackside at Owensville

 Close up action at Fourth Street Yard

Track cleaning and running a locomotive is ongoing to keep things in top working order. I'm also in the process of repainting an Athearn Sw1500 blue box locomotive into the Owensville Terminal green and yellow paint scheme. The old blue and white paint has been stripped. The project is well underway with new paint and decals already applied. A photo of the repainted loco coming soon. 

Shell stripped and for new paint. 

Trackside Action

An Owensville Terminal Transfer using pooled power from Missouri Pacific pulls outbound cars at the Fourth Street Yard in Owensville, Missouri.

Layout Construction Highlights

I've created a new YouTube Channel for the OASIS District Layout.

Here's a video slideshow of the construction of the layout.

OASIS District Layout Completed

 

The OASIS District Layout is now completed, although a model railroad is never truly finished. I do plan to add extra details and tweak a few things on the layout in the future.  

I plan to post additional layout photos in the future and of course, I will be operating the layout quite often.

A sincere "thank you" to everyone who has followed along over the last 5 years! 

Tom

Layout Update 11-17-22

Lighting System Ordered

The lighting fixtures I want to use for the layout are back in stock! I placed an order, and they should be here by Saturday. 

My layout room uses daylight LEDs, but as you can see in the photo below the valance produces a cast shadow at the top of the backdrop. I'll be using 6500k cool white fixtures behind the valance,and they'll be mounted to the top portion of the backdrop brackets. This should be a super easy install. 

Valance produces a strong cast shadow 

Backdrop brackets at top will hold mounting clips for light fixtures. 

The layout will be completed after the installation of the light fixtures. Well, as finished as a model railroad gets! 

Until next time, 

Tom

Fascia Details and Repairs

 

I painted the car card and waybill boxes to match the fascia color. I also attached labels to magnetic tape for the car card boxes to coincide with track/industry locations. 

I also attached a track schematic diagram to assist the operator while using the car cards and waybill system. A simple but effective system to simulate railroad operations.

The crossbucks that were broken by the cat have been replaced. I went with an older style of crossbuck this time around. I like the look. The crossbuck signs were not glued in place this time around so they are easily removed. The cat no longer has access to the layout room, so that problem has been fixed. 

I'm still waiting for my preferred lighting fixtures to get back in stock. That's the last step to go. 

Summer Update 2022

Not a lot going on with the layout this summer, except for one of my wife's cats who decided to jump onto the layout and do his best impersonation of  Godzilla.  My crossbuck signs were completely obliterated, and some of my rolling stock took a fall to the floor (fortunately no damage to them).  I am going to have to make the new crossbucks removeable so they can be taken down when the layout is not in use.  I also rigged up a couple of black tablecloths on the layout valance to discourage the cat from jumping onto the layout.  So far it works, and the good thing is it's easy to take down when I want to operate the layout.

Tablecloth clipped to valance.

I have also started weathering my fleet of freight cars.  My first attempt at weathering cars was back in 2007 with a couple of my Athearn Blue Box and Accurail cars.  I was never really happy with my weathering attempts, so I neglected to weather the bulk of my rolling stock.  Over the years, I have watched several videos on freight car weathering as well as reading several old model railroad books on the subject.  I still have a bit of a mental block when it comes to weathering.  I think it stems from the fear of ruining a model, especially my more expensive locomotives.  I feel my techniques are improving, but I want to continue to learn how to improve.  

I weathered these two Athearn cars using Monroe Models (AIM) weathering powders.  I really like working with the powders more so than using pastel chalks.  Pan Pastels are a medium I may use in the future.

Athearn Gondola

Athearn/Bev-Bel 40' Boxcar

I was able to attend the National Train Show in Collinsville, Illinois (St. Louis Area) this past Saturday and picked up a copy (only $20 at the show) of Mike Confalone's freight car weathering DVD (5+ hours; $29.99 USD).  I really like how realistic Mike's layout looks, and his scenery and weathering work is outstanding.  I am hoping to improve my weathering techniques through the lessons learned in this video and a whole lot of practice.

Layout lighting has not yet been installed due to supply issues.  I am waiting for a couple of light fixtures that are on backorder.  Hopefully they will be back in stock soon.  I still need to paint my car card/waybill boxes black to blend into the fascia.  Looking to have these last installations finished by Christmas at the latest.  I hope!

Until next time,

Tom

The Santa Fe Visitor

Some foreign power in the 4th Street yard at Owensville, Missouri. 

This old Bachmann F9 unit was recovered from a trash dump by a great grandmother who wanted to salvage it for her great-grandson. After some cleaning and soldering a few broken wires, it's back in business. She and her great-grandson were thrilled. I also replaced the horn hook couplers with some Kadee no. 5s, so now he can use the old loco with his newer rolling stock. 

Layout Photo Scenes

 A few scenes from the layout.

Wordless Wednesday 3-30-22

BLI Trackmobile Update (Video)

I'm still debating on using the Trackmobile as motive power for the Factory Track on the layout. One drawback I was having with the BLI unit was its traction limits with pulling several boxcars. Anything over 60' in length caused the wheels to slip. I managed to add some additional weight to the unit. It can now pull two 50' without wheel slippage. Here's a video sample of the Trackmobile in action.

Backdrop Blending

I finished blending the photo backdrop trees into the sky. Nothing fancy.

I'm at the final stage of layout construction. All that's left to install is layout lighting. I'm almost finished with the layout! 

Until next time, 

Tom 

Fascia and Valance

I'm getting closer to completing the layout. I'm painting the fascia and valance this week. I still need to blend the photo backdrop into the sky, and layout lighting will be the last major installation on the layout.

The car card/waybill boxes will be reinstalled after the fascia paint fully dries. I'm not sure if I will be painting these dark gray or leaving them their natural wood finish.

Until next time, 

Tom 

Wordless Wednesday 3-16-22

 

Trackside Details

I'm adding scenic details to the layout. I learned about creating these from an old George Sellios video about his Fabulous Franklin and South Manchester model railroad layout. Metal banding, wood scraps, broken glass, tie plates, spilled grain, and old ties are littered around the yard tracks.

Until next time, 

Tom

Sample Operations (Video)

I've been testing out different operating schemes over the last few years. Things are just about finalized for my operating system.

Here's a sample of my operating sequence using car cards and waybills.