Rust & Modules

Well it's Thanksgiving morning, and about 3 weeks since the Craftsman Structure Show. We're still trying to catch up from that great weekend in Mansfield, MA. We're almost caught up and once we are we'll post our latest kit Lightmann's Army & Navy. If you were at the show you've already seen it; if not keep a look out during the next few weeks on our site.

In order to keep from going crazy from days of laser cutting and packing kits, and it being Thanksgiving I took some time to try out some of the weathering effects Scott Mason and Mike Rose demonstrated on Scott's Weathering Freight Car DVD's. While this is a plug for my friends DVD's, please trust me in that these are some DVD's you should have in your library, it should be required reading as they say. And I've rewatched them several times to fully absorb the techniques. For one thing the idea of using oil paints to create some of the most realistic rust and weatheirng effects, really takes modeling to another level. Simultaneously I have been rereading the Lance Mindhiem article in the Great Model Railroads 2008 issue on his Miami based, modern day shelf layout.

I'm pretty much set in my era of modeling the 1950's, but I was so taken by this layout and its hyper realism, I'm embarking on building a small module set in 2007. I've always been quitely envious of all the great locos and rolling stock for CSX, BNSF and even Amtrak. But at the same time, modern layouts always seem sparse, lacking the character that an earlier period of modeling, usually accompanied by detailed craftsman kits has. But Lance's layout has since changed my mind. Almost immediately after reading the article I did two things; order some modern freight cars and Athearn's new CSX MP15AC and then convince Scott Mason to collaborate on a modern day switching module. We're getting Jimmy Deignan involved too.
It's ironic that the three of us all model in the past, yet we're curious, drawn and intrigued by trying out something new and completely the opposite of our usual tastes.
And the idea behinnd the modules was, for one thing, build something we could actually finish and then operate, so scenery and structures will be sparse. Each module is only 12" wide by 79" long. The bench work is just a bifold, hollow core door topped with an inch of foam, similar to Lance's layout.

Back to Scott's DVD's...so last night I finally took a break and popped in the DVD's and the end result is the pictures above...my first attempts at using oils. I think they could be improved, like anything else...practice, practice...but it was very encouraging and I had great time doing it. Soon I'll have some track down on the module, and post pics then.

Have Great Holiday.