AlfaZagato

Epoxy the sleepers, and call it clean.

No, the green on the Beetle is two coats of Boyd Lime Pearl over a mostly stripped coat of One Coat Emerald green, both from Testors out of spray-cans. The Mini Lego was an unplanned $50 I didn't need to spend, but I couldn't pass it up.

Sorry I've been quiet. Just haven't taken time to write here. Firstly, I finished the two cars I've been dragging out. The Volkswagen; Paint did not come out perfect, but still. This has been sitting half-built in my backlog for over a decade now. Lack-luster paint was less important than finishing the build. Next, the Alpine-Renault; Paint is markedly better, but the decals tweaked on me. I've had bad luck repeatedly with Tamiya waterslides. I'll still use them, though. I don't really want to spend more money on these kits. Number three here is kind of a bonus; The car in the back is a Tamiya Mini Cooper I built a number of years ago. I saw how the Lego one was marked, and I just had to grab it. I'll let you all guess. You might remember I entered a Gundam build contest, to build a Leo. Well, this; ...won me second place! Not the picture, mind you. This Leo looks better in person. I lost to this; I'm OK with that. He started with the same kit I did. Where I only cribbed weapons and a gimmick piece from other kits, he kitbashed his Leo with one of the trashy Tallgeese kits from the 90's. I don't know if you in England had access to those kits, but don't feel like you missed out on much. The winner did one hell of a job making Vesuvio from blight. Kudos to him. The contest was last Sunday, but I finished the two cars and the Lego two weeks ago at least. I haven't really done much else since. Rain and a return of the chill shut down the paint shop. We'll see how things go.

Will you be laying track through the shed?

You may be able to work brick paper in fairly easily, even at this stage.

Modelling that travelling gantry would be worth the trouble in of itself.

Are these Fourdees wagons unique to them, or are they more limited releases via Peco, as with the coaches?

I am so very happy. Hatton's has the Heljan-Olivia's Trains 27001 Ariadne listed as a bargain, just under 100 GBP. Once I was through processing, I had it bought and shipped for $110. Great deal! I do need to figure out which coaches are appropriate for a Brunswick green 77, though. Any opinions? I was thinking maroon was the livery to grab? I also ordered a second-hand Lynton & Barnstaple 4-wheel open. Just adding to a small collection of narrow gauge. Might have more to post about that soon. Finally, for tonight, I also picked a used Graham-Farish Class 08. Honestly, the color didn't matter to me, as I plan to use the chassis as a donor for a kit at some point. Thankfully, it all runs. No concerns then.

Getting close to done with these two cars. Both projects are about at the same point. Glass is in, tail-lights and turn signals picked out appropriately, detail parts are being added. I did have to buy some new Clearfix, though. My old jar gelled over. Fresh bottle is much easier to work with. I'll be happy to have these two done. Both have been floating about my stash for over a decade.

I guess your projects went a little flat, but then you hopped to it!

Now we'll need to discuss what Riddles would create for a triplex.

Would you stretch the boiler for loss of smokebox? I don't know if you could move that smokebox too far forward without adversely affecting ride.

I missed Tugs, just before my time. I do remember Theodore Tugboat, though. Cool show, but Thomas was more interesting.

I'm happy to have received the newsletter, finally. Good to see he has diversified his distribution.

And plastic, no less! Thank you. I should look sometimes, before I let my fingers free.

Forgive me if I'm asking a question already answered, but where did you source the OO9 open coaches?

First off, let me get this out of my system; F*** G****** TAMIYA F****** DECALS! ABSOLUTE WRETCHED B*******! TEN SECONDS MY A**! G****** F****** WOULD NOT LET GO CLEANLY AFTER 60! Anyways, I was doing more work on the Tamiya Alpine-Renault on my bench. Weather is still a bit cool & damp for airbrushing Tamiya acrylics. Once the weather improves, I need to spray the drivetrain. Most of the rest of it is done. There is a bit more to do. Most of what I need to do yet mounts to the body. I don't want to attach too much before I go flexing the body to fit the guts. To explain the self-censored blue streak, see below; Not a single decal off of the sheet came out cleanly. I manage to lose one of the gauges outright. I almost always have problems with Tamiya decals, though. Absolute nuisance, still. Thankfully, the Beetle from Tamiya I'm also working on has none at all, only metal transfers. The metal transfers are positively cool.

I imagine it would look better painted. Definitely looks better than the old whitemetal kit.

What did driver's do with those rotary wipers that some Western's had?

Seemingly not a lot done this week. Monday and Tuesday, I spent most of my work time on a 28mm centaur for the Dungeons & Dragons game I play in. My character uses a 'greataxe,' but the model was molded with a spear. The work was simple. I had planned on pinning the axe-head and handle, but I had no suitable materials for such fine details. Also, this model was intended for a 2" round base, but the character is to be on a 1" round base for rules reasons. The overhang is apparent. The weather was decent Wednesday, so I took to the rattle-cans. Another coat of green for the Beetle, primer for the centaur, an Infinity straggler, and parts of a Alpine-Renault A110 that I've had for a while, and satin black for the balance of the Alpine. Thursday, I started adding some detail painting to the Alpine, mostly picking out what little needed chrome. Some blue for the interior, too, but this particular blue is a Model Master paint. I'm sure some of you know how slow that is to dry.

I'd imagine a streamlined Castle or King might have a front akin to the AEC railcars. The second design was done in-house if I remember correctly. Admittedly, I think such things are hard to judge.

Last set.

More photos.

More.

Both clubs I am part of, the British Train Society, and the European Train Enthusiasts club, Chicago Chapter, showed at the annual All-American Railroad Show in LaGrange, IL today. I only took a few pictures.