It's the time of year I can finally take a deep breath and breath a bit easier. Taxes are done, winter is a recent memory, warmer days and more sunlight. Perfect for me to get started on the summer train shows! Galesburg RR Days is only a few months down the line and getting the Galesburg Modules done in time is my biggest focus. Today, my Brother in N scale Arms drives south to work on the modules that will depict the Galesburg Industrial area of the 1960's. While my three have track age and all but ready for scenery, we need to get his up to speed. The weather was our biggest problem but with good weather here and a weekend of work, we should be up to speed and ready to go in no time. While we plan on spending a large majority of our time working on modules, we will stop in at the Decatur Train Fair at some point. I'm on a mission to find a certain Illinois Terminal book and see if my supplier had luck in getting my two Atlas Undec Alco's. It will be a guy's weekend as Angela and Jared will be out of state for a series of soccer games. I'm sure grilling out or pizza and beer along with train videos will ensue as well. So a busy weekend is planned and hopefully by Sunday night, we'll have trains running in 1960's Galesburg. So how about you? What do you have planned for this weekend? Let us know. We'll come back on Monday the 20th to see how we all did. Until then, have a great weekend, stay safe and... High Greens!
Ski season is over. After 5 ski days and 4 hockey nights in the last 12 days, I'm beat. We should have some nice weather, so I can use the Great Outdoor Paint Booth to spray a few items that have been waiting. First will be a Life-Like tank car that I'm converting to an MOW water car. The horn-hooks and Talgo trucks are gone, and I've filled the bolsters with some sprue scraps so I can drill and tap it for new trucks. I've got to get serious about mounting the IR LEDs and phototransistors for the grade crossing detectors, too. But, it's sure going to feel good to take my bicycle on the road again...
There is a DPM "Gripp's" kit sitting here, waiting for assembly and a bit of modification. Then installation to a T-Trak module.... I just need to make time, sit down and get at it.
I'll be building something to make my modeling activities a little more enjoyable - a light box so I can see decals a little better, especially when they're microscopic white characters on the typical pale blue backing paper. It will be a bit more convenient than shining my flashlight behind it. I found an electronics shop nearby where I can get three foot long LED strips that run on 12 volts at a little more than half an amp. I have a compact 12 volt wall wart that delivers 1 amp, so I'll just build a frame from some wood, put some white translucent acrylic on both sides, and the LED strip goes on the inside the wood frame. It will illuminate on both sides. Of course, I'll also play with my trains!
Continuing a build of a "canteen" water tender for my N Scale Bachmann 2-8-0. Trying to 'bash' something together by chopping up an old Bachmann 4-8-4 Tender bought at a train show, lowering the tank and shortening it too. Not sure if it will turn out, but it's all fun no matter. Been away from modeling for a while and it's so nice to be enjoying the hobby once again.
