FBOX Weathering

I've been picking up some of Exactrail's new FBOX Hy_Cubes. These are great cars all the way around, the molding, lettering, body mounted coupler, metal wheels... they are some of my favorite rolling stick. But there is always room for improvement. For my newer cars I like to hit them with a dusting of a diluted L&N Grey, 8 parts isopropyl alcohol to 1 part paint. I also take a micro brush and apply roof brown to the sides of the wheels. This tones the car down and gets rid of that "new out of the box" look.

The other area that I've been upgrading on my cars are the crossover platforms. FVM and Athearn have been including these on many of their new cars. I like them for a few reasons: 1) They look more prototypical. 2) They close the visual distance between cars, making our oversized N Scale couplers look a little smaller. and 3) If I take my cars to a FreemoN ops session, I can more easily distinguish my cars from everyone elses.

This upgrade is so easy it is crazy. I use BLMA 403 platforms. You get enough for 10 cars in each pack. I drill a #80 hole directly on top of the center of the molded on platform, put a little CA on top of the molded platform and on the stem of the etched platform and stick the two together. No painting is needed as most platforms are bare metal. Make sure to put the platforms with the notch on the end with the brake wheel.

Between the weathering an the platforms the cars appearance improves and an otherwise great car gets a little better.

MILW 7

Another "restoration" project has been finished up by the Skally Shops. Milwaukee Road SD45 #7 has been completed. This engine is pretty unique in that the dynamic brake fans had been removed by the MILW shops, but the dynamic grills were left in place.

This engine started out as a new Kato unit (another DRGW unit bites the dust).  I removed the dynamic fans, added a T-Vent, added grab irons, lift rings, a MILW side bell, cut levers, wipers, a firecracker antenna, rear mu hoses (I used the Kato molded on on the front) and a non-working strobe light. I also removed the front drop step. I upgraded the couplers to MT-1015's. The paint is MILW Orange and Engine Black. The mu hoses and class lights are dressed up with a little silver. The handrails at the ladders are white. The decals are Micro-Scale and the weathering is chalks.

SOU 2597

The Skally shops have finished another custom job. SOU GP30 has finished its restoration and after it finishes it's final inspection by the CEO of the CRR Blue Ridge Division it will be shipped to that line to be ushered into service.

 

This Southern GP30 was an Atlas GP30 that received extensive work. The short hood was raised, BLMA fans were installed. The raised roof over the cab was cut back to match the prototype. It also recieved custom cab shades as well as a high hood bell, firecracker antenna, airhorns, lift rings, grab irons, mu hoses, air hoses, mirrors, wipers, walkway lights, an Atlas sand hatch on one end and a custom sand hatch (in front of the conductors cab window). Did I miss anything? I also used a pair of MT 905 Z Scale Couplers for the photo shoot.

This engine is off to work the Southern Interchange in Marion, NC on Ken Borowski's Blue Ridge Division Clinchfield Layout. This layout is fantastic and deserves a look if you haven't check his site out before.

ILSX 1345

ILSX GP10 1418 had been on lease to the TCWR when its prime mover failed. It was dragged back to the ILS Bethel Shops where it was repaired and primed to go back into service. Recently it was moved to the SCXY to help with the additional carloads that will be generated by Tiller Sand in North Branch. But behold: ILSX 1418 never made it to the Skally. While in for the rebuild, the shops renumbered the 1418 into the ILSX 1300 series and it emerged as ILSX 1345.Here it is moving a lone sand hopper down the line.

 I did a quick repaint and renumber on this unit to keep up with reality. While I had it in the shop (on the workbench) I did one other quick upgrade. I replaced the oversized couplers with some MT Z Scale couplers. I think they look a lot better and they still work with the rest of my N Scale couplers. I hope to take more of my fleet this direction in the future.

SCXY Corp. HQ

I was planning an April Fools Post for today, but I got something done yesterday so I thought I would share that instead. I that I should finish the new St.Croix Valley Railroad Corporate Headquarters. I did take a little modelers license on the building and I still need to add a couple of details (foundation and AC unit) but it it good enough to go to Rush City now.

BNSF Stored Power

I know there has been some talk about CN picking up a bunch of spare engines, some of which have been in service on the BNSF. After CN picked up all the C40-8s that were available I don't know what they are going to get, but there are over 40 engines in storage at Northtown Yard (NTW) right now, not counting BNSF 4663, the C44-9W wrecked in the Fridley derailment last year. I think most of the BNSF paint schemes can be found in the lineup.

 

The view under the St.Anthony bridge. These are the lines to the right of the TBOX car in the photo above. The snow is gone now, but I'm guessing the engines are still there. BNSF 8193 is a SD60M, the rest are SD75Ms.

 

MILW 5658

Another MILW U30C made it's way to the Skally. This one was finished just in time to have a photo-op with the BN F45s before they all head off to their prospective lines. Oh to watch the big coal drags back in the day...

 This us a Kato U30C I added a few details too. I used BLMA grab irons, mu cables and cut levers. It has Gold Medal wipers, an Atlas Strobe light and a MbE Sinclair Antenna. The paint is Polly Scale MILW Orange and Engine Black. The decals are all Micro Scale. I gave it a light weathering using Tamiya chalks.