new design train model

Thursday, 16 January 2014

Ron Einarson's January model display entry

The Winnipeg Model Railroad Club's monthly model display is held at every meeting by the No. 1 Northern Division of the NMRA. To qualify for the monthly prize, you must show that you've done some assembly or weathering. Each entry must include a short write-up describing the work that has been finished to date.

This month, Ron Einarson submitted a very unique model, which he freelanced out of several pieces from his modeller's "junk box", and describes how he created it.

Cast Boiler Remnant

By Ron Einarson

I came across this cast boiler one day when I was rummaging through an old box of bits a pieces I have where all the remnants and left over parts go or if someone gives me a box of their old goodies. I never throw anything out�just ask my wife!

This casting was perfect for an area I have on the south extension of my layout. The extension is 6� x 6' and bolts on the right side of my layout. It is a rural area with an L&N maintenance shed, grade crossing and a field with grazing cattle plus a wooded area with a still.

I applied a coat of Accuflex Dark Rust paint (note: Accuflex paint is no longer commercially available) as a base to the boiler as well as the short retaining wall that holds it up. Once it dried (read that as several months ago) I took out my daughter Louise�s old water colour set and applied a half dozen coats of various browns, reds, oranges and yellow combinations to give it a well weathered look just like it had been dumped in the woods and deteriorated over several years or more. I streaked on the paint using both a cut off brush as well as a very flexible long bristled brush. This gave it a very well worn rusted appearance. Once I was satisfied with the appearance I gave it a dusting of dry pastel and chalk dust.

The next step was to locate a suitable chimney as the parts box did not have one. It was probably in parts box #239 and I have only search through 1 to 76 so far! But I did find a suitable replacement. It wasn't a big flared unit like the old time steamers but a plastic pipe that would fit and resemble a unit that had replaced the original. I painted it up as I had done on the boiler, glued in on and it looked like the perfect match. A little more dusting of dry pastel and chalk dust and it was ready to find a spot.

As the boiler sat on my drying shelf I kept thinking I should add more detail to it (read that as I could use some more parts from the remnant boxes). I came across a box of old plaster casts I had made from some moulds the WMRC President Larry Leavens had loaned me. They were for a "Dungeons & Dragons" type of game where you could make your own castles. I had made some copies of the walls and have used parts and pieces over the years. Now I thought would be a good time to build a brick attachment to the boiler, sort of a mechanical room. I picked out four pieces and glued them in a square and painted them a dark brick red. Once it dried put on a white chalk dust for the mortar. Next I added a Grandt Line door, roof vents, pole with light, and several plastic rod pipes running out of the shed - to where I don�t know, but it seemed like a good idea and looked great when it was done. A few castings thrown around outside added more to the scene.

The last step involved adding some scenery. I glued the boiler and shed to a small first aid splinter I had in the garage and gave it a coat on brown paint. Then I sprinkled on various types of ground foam and bits of foliage. The next day I applied a wash of diluted glue over the scenery to really affix it to the diorama. A few extra junk pieces were also added to give a clutter look to the scene.

Now I just have to add it to the module when I bring it in from the garage in the spring. Right now it is buried in the back of a pile of stuff and it is too cold to move everything, especially when the main garage door would have to be wide open. Later in the spring will see this project finish up.

Monday, 13 January 2014

Godfrey South's presentation at our January meeting was a hit!

Godfrey South, one of our newest but most active members, delivered a remarkable presentation at the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club's meeting, which was held On January 10, 2013 at Westworth United Church.

Godfrey showed how he and a group of dedicated rail fans resurrected a two foot narrow gauge industrial rail line in his native Britain. The group rebuilt a beautiful steam engine from what was literally a pile of rusty scrap metal. Godfrey, who is a blacksmith by trade, was heavily involved in re-tooling many missing parts.

The presentation not only included many images documenting the rebuilding of the engine from start to finish, but also included a video of the engine all fired up and rolling down the track!

The second presentation was by WMRC Secretary Cliff Davidson, titled "Cliff's Western Canadian Adventures", which documented his trip to Calgary last year. Cliff, who knows rural Saskatchewan like the back of his hand, took us way off the Trans Canada Highway and into a rarely seen land where grain elevators still exist.

There are quite a few of these prairie giants around. Some are abandoned, but many still serving their communities. Some are standing next to former rail lines that were torn up long ago. Cliff took several images of trains passing them by that were hauling nothing but oil tankers, a sure sign of the times.

Below are several images from Godfrey's excellent presentation. Good work, Godfrey!

This is what they started with. Can you imagine building a locomotive from this?

Progress was slow but steady. It's really coming together now!

It's almost finished! All it needs now is a good paint job.

Success! A beautiful restoration job, and well worth the effort!

Saturday, 11 January 2014

WinNtrak's N gauge modular layout at Kildonan Place this weekend

Our good friends at WinNtrak will be displaying their spectacular modular layout at Kildonan Place Shopping Centre. 1555 Regent Avenue West in scenic Transcona on Saturday, January 11 and Sunday, January 12. They'll be there from 9:30AM to 6:00 PM on Saturday and from 11:00AM to 6:00PM on Sunday. If you're a fan of N scale and have only seen their layout at the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club's annual open houses, the Great Canadian Train Show or at the Manitoba Mega Train Show, here's your chance to see them again, and perhaps do some shopping as well. it's a win-win situation!

Wednesday, 8 January 2014

The Winnipeg Model Railroad Club is now on Facebook!

It's official - the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club has joined the 21st century! Not only do we have this nifty blog site, but we're now also on Facebook for all the world to see! If you wish to "like" us on FB (And why not? Everybody likes the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club!) please go to this link:

https://www.facebook.com/WinnipegModelRailroadClub

December meeting's model display

Ron Einarson, the modeller's modeller, displayed an L&N coal unloading trestle.

Ron also displayed some steel drums which he hand-painted in prototype colours. Is he going

to put them on his layout, or is he going to start a miniature Caribbean steel drum band?

Ron displayed a Walthers logging truck, which was a resin kit that he assembled mostly at

Gooch's open house in November.

Gino Kost displayed a 50' Canstock car. This type of car was designed specifically to
haul aluminum or steel coils for the manufacturing of canned food products.

Virginia Braun displayed this well detailed hen house, complete with chickens!

Saturday, 4 January 2014

The Winnipeg Model Railroad Club's annual Klinic Karnival: Part four

There were so many excellent clinics at December's Klinic Karnival that four posts had to be made on this site just to get everything in! This is the fourth and final post featuring all the things the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club does best: Educate, inform, share and have lots of fun doing it!

Richard Mikolayenko shows Tommy Kucera what Z scale modelling is all about.
Good thing Tommy is wearing his glasses!

Michael Leader, the undisputed master of the John Allen Timesaver Module,
demonstrates how to shunt those freight cars in record time to his sister Rebecca.

Past WMRC President and Photo Contest Chair Suzanne Lemon held a clinic on how to
create aged wood and peeling paint.

Thursday, 2 January 2014

The Winnipeg Model Railroad Club's annual Klinic Karnival: Part Three

There were clinics galore at December's Klinic Karnival! The even was well attended, despite it being held so close to the Christmas season, and during one of the coldest decembers on record! There was plenty of expert advice from some of Winnipeg's finest model railroaders on all sorts of subjects!

Merlin Loewen and Gerry Stempnick watch Dennis Rietze holding a clinic on DCC decoders.

Godfrey South listens to Doug Kathler as he conducts a clinic on custom switch stands.

Roger Kiendl at Ian Plett's freight car maintenance clinic.