Broadoak

A few more pictures of the two F units on a recent visit. I think they are a very elegant looking machine to my eye. Peter M

John I too remember the first Athearn BB model I bought was the SW7 switcher in SP livery for about £20. I still have it, but it is now wears I&W livery and runs as well as ever. I know they have their faults with over scale hoods and details you had to add yourself but I don't care, they look fine at normal viewing distances. They were good value I thought compared to British outline products at the time. I went into Victors in London to ask for some Athearn brushes and they all fell about. I was used to the Triang XO4 motors you see and they seemed to get through brushes fairly quickly. A couple of pictures to give the addicted an SP fix. A couple of SP locos, an SD7 and anSD45 waiting for their next assignment in the west yard at Benson. Peter M

I had a wander round down the farm this morning and took a couple of pictures of the new shunter's crew. There are two of them the driver and his young son. I can't run the loco with the doors fully open as there is not enough clearance with the bride supporting wall. I can run with them slightly open though giving the onlooker a glimpse, it is the sort of thing children like to look at when at shows. Peter M

The original Duncan's Mine looked pretty good but this is much better. Regards Peter M

Hi John, thank you for your kind comments. I too started modelling the American scene twenty odd years ago and like you was attracted to the SP which I'm still fond of. I have not really covered my SP SW1500 switchers yet so will post some more pictures of them assuming there is interest. I have also got a soft spot for the CRI&P and have a few of their locos as well. I cheat by claiming working off horsepower hours, that way I can run most anything that takes my fancy. It is one of the benefits of modelling the dark side. Kind regards Peter M

I also thought it about time the driver, an ex commando had a change of shirt. He has worn the other red one for at least five years so I have re-painted the shirt a sort of off white. Peter M

I have been asked on another forum to take a few close ups of the wooden bodied Simplex, these only serve to show up its faults really. So I used the opportunity to clean the track and wheels of the locos and stock and generally test the layout ready for its next outing in April. Peter M

That is all coming along very nicely indeed. I like it a lot. Peter M

Dan I like the plan, plenty of operating potential there. You have a good selection of motive power and rolling stock to get you started. It's not too big, so much more finishable if you know what I mean. I shall follow this project with interest. Peter M

Here we have a few pictures of an SP Baldwin S12 #2143 she has extra lights at the front and rear to allow 24 hour a day working in the yard at San Francisco. In reality the Baldwin's were traded in against more modern power. On my model I have assumed that the SP kept this loco for interchange and light work in south west Arkansas. The model has been modified with lots of added details, it has also been re-motored with a Mashima can. I like her because she looks a little different to all my EMD end cab switchers. Peter M

Thank you sir, It is all rather old now and certainly not state of the art by modern standards and mostly twenty odd years old. I tried when planning the layout originally to make the operation as realistic as possible with loads that could be found in that area. There are a few cars I bought just because I liked them, the same as I did with my locos. Peter M

Thanks Rob, I wanted the roof to look the sort of thing you could make in a farm workshop. Overall I'm quite pleased with how it has turned out given I have made it up as I went along. I must say the Concor chassis runs beautifully, smooth, slow and quiet. Regards Peter M

A few pictures as promised Dan of an SP SD7 shuffling a Pennsy gon loaded with limestone used by local farmers to improve their soil structure. Peter M

Peter M

Having done a brake test the two F units head out of town to the SP interchange. Peter M

I will do you some in due course Dan, it's only an old Athearn blue box job. Peter M

A few pictures of a recent operating session featuring a pair of SP F7's. I know they are not overly popular with everyone but I must admit I have a soft spot for them. We see them arriving light engine from the SP interchange to pick up a load of pulp wood bulkhead flat cars. The models are the old Athearn blue box examples with added details, #6352 in fact is a dummy. The powered one has a huge weight inside the body so runs very well indeed, it is well over twenty years old and still performs as well as it ever did. Peter M

Thanks Mike, I'm in the middle of taking a new selection, hopefully for everyone to enjoy. I think the secret with weathering is to do a little at a time, rather like it happens in real life. You can always add a touch more but it's difficult to undo your work. Regards Peter M

Grunty Fen have now planked the roof. I tried a two sheets of plasticard coming to point on the roof but it didn't look quite right somehow. So I put a slight radius at the point and planked it which I think looks better. I have glued a sheet of toilet tissue with PVA to the planks and given it a couple of coats of grey primer. I want it to represent some sort of fabric covering. The planking still shows through which I think looks better than a pristine roof. This shows the primed roof covering which will be trimmed to fit then painted a dirty black colour. Then a general touching up around the edges of the roof. Peter M

I too have only just found this little jem. I really like it very much indeed. Peter M

A bit more progress with the final paint scheme and some work stained weathering. I am tempted to leave it at this stage as I think it is all too easy to overdo it. It is after all a device that is supposed to be in daily use. I have yet to fit the roof and this will be covered with a fabric effect. As is the roof to the store at the back of the cab with an access door on the near side where the fuel filler is situated. Then a few bits of rope and chain and a re-railing jack, KD's at each end to finish it off. I will then take a few more pictures on the layout to test it out before the next show in a month. Peter M

Thanks Dan, here's another small loco. The 60 tonner TVRR #53 was given to me on my 53rd birthday by my old friend Bill Gates. He did the conversion from two 44 ton bodies that he cut and shut and added some more details. This gives the little loco a backwoods look which I find rather appealing. She spends most of her time nowadays doing MOW work at weekends. Peter M

By way of a change I have taken a few pictures of a couple of my smallest switchers going about their jobs in the yard at Benson. The yellow switcher TVRR# 43, another 70 tonner is an ex Bethlehem Steel loco and is used mainly at a local feed mill where she spends her day switching loads in and empties out. She is seen here working in the yard at Benson following a major service. Peter M

I have just been gently rubbing down the primer coat and checking for blemishes. I have found a few bits here and there, the most obvious being a sink mark on top of the air cleaner cover on the bonnet top. I used a little Swedish putty, which is Polyfiller mixed to a paste using paint rather than water. In this case I used a cellulose primer as the liquid. It dries to a hard finish that can be filed or sanded needing only a light coat of primer when you are happy with the finish. It works well with any type of liquid paint base rather than the customary water. Peter M

Thanks Dan you have cheered me no end. Regards Peter M