Sources for Mantua Steam Locomotives
Mantua locomotives are among my favorites. These locos were first produced in the 1940’s and 50’s and are tough and reliable. Here are a couple resources for locos and parts. Loco kits –...
View Article3D printing for model railroading?
Shapeways looks really interesting. According to Technology Review you upload a 3-D design to the website, and 10 days and $50-$100 later, you receive a polymer version of your design. I can see this...
View ArticleGeeks of 3D website
Geeks3d is “All 3D Tech News, All The Time”, and they just covered the Shapeways announcement.
View Article3-D Printed Netherlands Train Station in N-Scale
Jeroen used Shapeways.com to print a three dimensional model of a train station. He has photos and a description of the pieces he received and how he is putting it together. I am totally jazzed by the...
View ArticleUsing Skype to control a model train
Small wireless spy cameras are widely available, and there are even a few available specifically for HO-scale trains. This got me to thinking about letting my cousin in Germany run a train on my train...
View ArticleIsland Mountain Bridge on the Redwoods and Pacific Railroad
A passenger local crosses the Island Mountain Bridge on the Redwoods and Pacific Railroad. The bridge is kitbashed from two Vollmer 2546 Kastenbrücke kits. The passenger cars are by Roundhouse and...
View ArticleMcArthur-Burney Falls on the Redwoods and Pacific Railroad
My latest project on my model railroad is this waterfall. I’ve patterned it after McArthur-Burney falls in Northern California. It’s still a work in progress, but I’m liking how it is turning out.
View ArticleYes, I am modeling the Embarcadero Freeway
The Embarcadero Freeway was truly a depressing structure and made the Embarcadero near the ferry building seem dark and foreboding. And although the 1989 earthquake was a terrible experience, one of...
View ArticleInfluences for the Redwoods and Pacific Railroad
I grew up as a toy train guy. My father started his first layout when I was three years old and growing up with trains meant that it was in my blood by the time of my first memories. His early layouts...
View ArticleArmy Hospital Trains at Crissy Field
I go fishing at Crissy Field at least once a week and I often think about some of the fascinating history of the field. During WWII the Army had built a long 4 track yard to stage hospital trains. You...
View ArticleKitbashing
It is one of my favorite modeling techniques. Basically, I get a kit and throw out the instructions. The kit parts become raw materials to make something new and different, or to make a model of...
View ArticleKitbashed Seafood Wholesale
I enjoy taking HO building kits and repurposing them. Here is one that I built for my seaside district. It’s a seafood wholesale building sitting on a pier over the water. I got the idea for this...
View ArticleKitbashed Beet Gondola
A long time ago I won a Details Associates beet car at a PCR door raffle and it was only last year that I decided to put it together. It’s a wonderful kit, but it did take me several evenings to put it...
View ArticleMy favorite spot on the Redwoods and Pacific RR
When I planned the Redwoods and Pacific, I purposely built in many bridges. My favorite so far is this deck truss bridge. The bridge sits at the far end of a floor to ceiling canyon, so it isn’t one...
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