2025 Year End Projects Part 1

 I like to clean out as many projects as possible over my holiday break. First up was some vintage rolling stock. The 3 B&O boxcars are X-15 conversions. I converted three FVM wagon top boxcars. This involved changing the bottoms of the cars and the frames. Lots of fun work. I did each one in a difference B&O scheme. Hopefully I can find a 4th car to wrap up the set someday.

Then I knocked out some Tichy composite gondola kits. These aren’t accurate for the MILW, but that’s what went with. They are also insanely light, so I’ll have to build loads for them to get some weight.

Next up was a Wisconsin Central crane tender car. I converted a bulkhead flat to match the prototype. Now I need to build a crane to go with it.

Jordan Spreaders Part 2

I wrapped up some more Jordan Spreaders. The WC ones were for my collection. One went to my friend Grant up in Calgary, and one will likely be headed to England. It looks like I’ll have a couple more to do in the near future.

WC 315, I had to splice together brass all weather windows for this one. I had the decals custom made by Circus City.

 

WC 310, on this one I did brass handrails, and brass lifting arms out back. My favorite detail is the retailers in their baskets.

SAR 9051 this one is hopefully going to see some service north of the border this winter.

CP 402894, this one was made possible by an older set of MicroScale decals. 

Boeing Cars

I completed these years ago, but I guess I forgot to post pics. My friend Lee reminded me when he sent pics of his Boeing train running at a FreemoN event in Boulder City, NV. The kits were from Baldylox, I did all the prep, paint, decals, and weathering. 

I was also lucky enough to see the real TBCX 777009 at the “Depot” in the Boeing Everett plant.

Jordan Spreaders

I didn’t realize I had never posted pics of most of my Jordan Spreaders here. I make these using kits I get from Baldylox Designs on Etsy. I have a few more in the works, but I wanted to get these pics posted here.

Weathering Projects

I wrapped up a few random weathering projects. The first two are ballast hoppers for my White Pine layout. I used these two prototype photos by Dan Mackey for reference.

This covered hopper was a project for my friend Harz. He photographed the prototype years ago and found the main decal for me to use on the model.

This boxcar was just a fun weather practices project. 

Pueblo Union Station

I enjoy building things for friend’s layouts. They go through all the work of building a layout for us to come and enjoy for ops sessions, I feel it’s the least I can do to contribute in some small way. I have done a couple of small projects for my friend Rob’s DRGW Tennessee Pass layout. The latest was building a station for his Pueblo yard. I tried keeping it as close to scale as possible. I’m also added some interior scenes as well as lighting. The whole complex measured 34” end to end. Not bad for N scale!

A view of the whole complex on my workbench

The previous work I did for Rob was making the bridge supports for his Canyon Scene

BN Projects

I line up projects so I can spray a lot of the same color at the same time. I knocked out some BN projects for a friend’s layout and one just to see if it could be done. 

BN 631020 was the first done. BN had two of these 8 axle flats, so I figured it would fit in well in Havre Yard.

While looking through Havre pics, I found a shot of this signal maintainers truck. It was pretty easy to make using Showcase Miniatures parts and a scratch built box.

The next truck I found brand new in a hobby shop in California for $1.50. I weathered it and added some details. 

Lastly was the snow dozer. This was a Baldylox kit that heavily upgraded with brass details. I added grab irons, chains, and the front window guards. I painted and lightly weathered it. I think I’ll do a couple more in other paint schemes.