St. Louis RPM 2017

Jim Cantor with his NKP O Scale Portable Layout

John Russell, who models the Rock Island St. Louis Line in O Scale.

O Scale SLSF Decapods number 1621, which was also a former Eagle Picher Engine operated at Picher, Oklahoma at the Central Mill (Actual Engine is at Museum of Transportation in St. Louis.)

This is an O scale Model of a CB&Q Double Deck Mathers Stock Car.

St. Louis RPM Show 2016

"During the 2016 RPM show in St. Louis I had many visitors to my table who wanted to talk about scratchbuilding and kitbashing models.  This is something I have done for many years and I love to share some of my projects and ideas with my fellow model builders.  Of course the great thing about this show is the chance to learn ideas from other modelers, whether in HO, N, or Proto 48. 

One of the many modelers who stopped by and talked with me was Michael Gross, who many of us remember from the TV hit show "Family Ties".  Michael is a very nice person with a genuine love for building model trains.  We had the chance to talk about some of the ideas and materials I used for my models and how they can be incorporated into Michael's HO modeling projects.  He has a passion for building and modeling very much like many of those who attend the St. Louis RPM Show.

For those who have followed my blog postings and have not had the chance to attend the St. Louis RPM Show, may I encourage you to come this year.  It will be held in June and you can Google information about it by entering "St. Louis RPM Show".  It is a great event with lots of models and vendors that are happy to show you their products as well as their knowledge of model building. 

Until next time Happy Railroading.  Bill"

Hello 2017!

Greetings to my fellow bloggers of O Scale, to ring in the New Year here is a new car I was working on last year.

This Rock Island outside braced boxcar was scratch-built from some Northeastern Lumber materials as well as detail parts from Selley Custom Finishes, Keil-line, Scale City Design, and Plastruct.  The brake details are from brass wire from Special Shapes and the couplers are Monarch couplers.  This car was made from a old Herron Rail video I had showing this boxcar in a local freight train operating in Kansas.  It is a model of one of the Bettendorf boxcars commonly found on several Midwest railroads - Milwaukee Road, Green Bay & Western, and the Minneapolis & St. Louis to name a few.  The paint is ScaleCoat and the decals are Champion Decals with some Microscale decals for additional lettering.  Hope you like this one and have a Happy New Year.