Winter Progress

Progress is always good. I've been working on a series of HD flat cars, and wile doing that I decided to finish off some other fun projects. 

The first was a Reefer Kit I got at the Chicagoland RPM. This was a great event filled with like minded modelers. I'm planning on using this car in some vintage Skally Line photo shoots. I just need to build a corresponding NP W-3 and caboose.

I also wanted to build a BNSF Scale Test Car. This was a 3D print I had to detail out and build a frame for.

With the scale test car done, I decided I needed to finish the scale at Ardent Mill in Rush City. I poured concrete in the North ends of Track 4 (right track in the photo), 5 (center), and 6 (left side and home of the Mills scale). It felt good to finally finish that up. I do need to add the concrete pad for the car puller on track 4, as well as detail the interior of the building. I have plenty of time to get that done.

The November Break

In November I have to start making sure I take days off, before New Years hits. I took advantage of the time to make some Skally progress.
I've been working one end of the line to the other... in Rush City I added the roof to the engine house. I need to add some details and then paint it up. I also weathered all the new flour cars, so they don't look so... new.

 I added some sidewalks to 4th St. Now I need to fill in the park and add an artillery piece.

I forgot to mention I also started the electrical substation that sits just North of the Ardent Mill.

 I added the newest customer on the line, Interstate Energy. The LPG cars are already off-loading.

 I scratch built the unloading racks. I'll go back an spruce the scene up later, but it works for now.

 I finally made it back to the Rock Creek bridge. Sorry for the bad exposure on the shot. I hope to get some track permanently set soon on this one.

Tiller, or should I say "Titan-Lansing" now has started to materialize. I mocked up the sand sorting and cleaning tower (to scale) out of foamcore and I built the loadout shed (out of styrene). The construction trailer is there to remind me to finish the scene...

Lots of progress, but nothing done, so it goes.

Citizens of Hinckley Rejoice!

After a year of not being able to get across the tracks, the Hwy. 61 grade crossing over the BNSF Hinckley Sub. is in use! On another good note that means more customs for Slims Service, the BP station that sits on the south side of the crossing. It sounds like the crossing gates and signals are enroute and will be in place soon, ensuring a safe crossing for motorists.
A truck driver heads to cross the tracks:

The old dead end is a favorite spot for railfans to watch the interchange action in Hinckley. I still need to get a nice grove of trees planted here and the "Welcome to our town" sign.

An overview of the scene: Slims in the lower right corner and the BNSF section house up top. I will be using NJI crossing gates and signals to finish the crossing. The color differences in the rocks and ballast are due to them still being wet. I just glued them down a half hour ago, but I couldn't wait to photograph it. Once I finish the scene I will repaint the facia.

 A close up of the gas station. Prices are still high in Hinckley.

This station started as a Tomix kit. I tore it apart, resized everything and turned it into a BP station to match the real Slim's. I still have a lot of work to do, but it is a step in the right direction.

Hinckley Watertower

In preparation for my upcoming ops session (third week of December is my plan). I have decided to make things a little easier on the operators. Both the operators know the prototype line, one knows it almost as well as I do, but I want to make it easy for any operator. I have decided to mark the north and south ends with the respective water towers of the towns that sit there. Lucky for me, both towers are close to the tracks, so it will add to the scene.
The first tower I make will be the Hinckley, MN tower. This sits just north of the junction of the SCXY and the BNSF.

I picked up a Walthers Modern Water Tower and was I ever let down. DOn't get me wrong, I can make it work. This is a prepainted model, I had to sand off the horribly done seam on the side.I will probably remove the cast on light at the top in favor of some more appropriate details. Here are the pics after I finished the sanding. By the time this post goes public, I should probably have my compressor back up and running and will start painting this to look a little more like the real thing.

I think it will be nice to be able to tell operators that Hinckley is North and North Branch is South. They will be able to glance to that end of the layout and see the water tower rising above the rest of the scenery. I hope it helps!

Skally Engine House Update

I finally made it up to Rush City Friday. I want to thank the Skally Crew for their hospitality. SCXY SD40M-2 1326 was switching out cars while ILSX 180 and 1345 were waiting next to the corporate HQ. The SCXY reporting marks were taken off the 1326, so hopefully the "Radio Equipped" stickers arrive soon!

The next SD40M-2 was purchased direct from UP and should be getting it's new paint job at the WSOR Horicon shops this week. Once it arrives, ILSX 180 will depart the line.

The new Skally engine house is HUGE! It is 28' x 270'. If my math is correct it should hold two SD40M-2s (SD45s) a GP8 and a GP9. Every Skally painted engine will fit inside!

It has been great watching the line grow. Car volume will continue upward as more business comes to the line over the next couple of years. What a great time to be a Skally Line fan!

Tiller Part VII

A quick update on the structure progress. The first set of silos are coming along, I mounted them all to one piece of styrene after adding all the bracing for the support legs. The elevators are all installed, as is the safety ladder on the end. Next up is figuring out the mess of down spouts and safety platforms. The silos are over 60 N scale feet tall and the elevators are over 80 feet tall, pretty close to the prototype.

The ladders and cages are a Gold Medal Models brass kit. The platform was modified from another GMM kit.

Tiller Part VI

It was time to start on the Tiller Corp. buildings. I decided to start by scratch building the main sand silos. I scratch build them with 7/8" wooden dowel, .010" and .020" sheet styrene and .080" styrene H beam. They stand about 3 1/2" tall and will be a nice start to the complex once I get some detail parts on them and get them painted.

Rush City Redo: Structure Update

I wanted to update everyone on the Rush City Structures. While progress has been slow for a while there are updates to be made.
The Jasper Masonic Lodge got a roof! I used RS Laser Kits shingles. they are a little stiff, but they look good installed. For the white rubber roof I used a thicker plastic grocery bag and affixed it using 2 sided tape. This turned out pretty nice.I started on the foundation, building up styrene, so I could add the front stoop. I still need to build the roof over it, but it was progress, nonetheless.

I also started the Federated Co-op buildings in Rush City. While the real spur sees little use except for car storage, I figured I could use it for fertilizer deliveries until I get around to building Peterson's Country Mill in North Branch.

That's all for now, hopefully I will make more good progress over the summer!

A Little More Structure

As the winter wears on I find it difficult to make a lot of progress. The projects are stacking up fast. I am working on getting Rush City more complete for the WGH show late in March. I have made progress on the Jasper Masonic Lodge. I got some N Scale glass block windows from Depots by John. I have to say I am very impressed. Most of the windows in the Lodge are frosted glass block, I replicated this my hitting them with some Testors Dullcote. The large fromt windows will not recieve this treatment as they are clear glass block. Soon I will be working on the foundation, fire escape and the roof.

As I was getting close to a roof for the Jasper Lodge, I figured I only wanted to do one shingle order, so I had better figure out all the shingles I would need for my next two buildings as well. In an evening I made cardboard mock ups of the Federated Co-op in Rush City. While the siding that serves it is more for SCXY storage, I figured it make come back to life as a rail served fertilizer dealer. I did compress them slightly as I don't need the buildings overpowering the scene. Construction has started on both buildings. Here is the South building:

 Here is the North building for the Federated Co-op:

Here's a shot I took of the real place. Not to complicated, but it will take me some time...

Jasper Masonic Temple

Today is a quick structural update. I've decided to make a little progress on the Jasper Masonic Temple in Rush City. Why would I model a Masonic Temple you ask? Because it is there and it has a little history to it.

 

Photo from the MNHS Archives circa 1905.

According to the Minnesota Historical Society this was originally the Rush City Flour and Feed Company, which is good as the largest SCXY customer in Rush City is still the Horizon Mill (a large durum flour mill).

 

A photo I took late last year, you can see the Horizon Mill in the background.

I have gotten the majority of the major work done. The front is a resin kit I chopped up, the rest is scratch built using off the shelf styrene.

 It gets test fit on the layout... most of the windows will be glass block and that will be coming from a supplier in Wisconsin.

That's all for now, thanks for looking!

Tiller Corp.

The new sand loading facility in North Branch appears ready to start loading railcars. The tallest structure on the property is around 7 stories tall. It will take an amazing volume of sand to keep things moving here. I look forward to the action starting. The first cars should have arrived by the time this post airs, wo be loaded out for Oasis Well Service a North Dakota company.

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.