Coming Soon....

We've been busy as usual and have failed to keep up with our blog...apologies. Here's a quick run down of what's in the the works....The layout has taken a back burner at the moment as we work on new projects. Coming up next is the Carrolton Hotel, based on a prototype (pic of railing detail above) as well as a new DVD, which we are in the midst of finishing up. We've also begun work on our Limited Run kit release for the fall...it's in the sketching stage...within a couple of weeks, CAD drawings will be started....we've also been acquiring some new equipment, after the lathe a milling machine came next. Using a lathe on its own is like eating with a knife and no fork - the milling machine is a must. Anyhow, we've been playing around with those machines coming up with new patterns for detail parts. We've also been working on the KitCast podcast, check out the newest episode, episode 3 where we chat with friend and modeler Larry Baker. Lastly we've begun the summer's big project; converting our garage into a new workshop - our current below grade location just doesn't have the fresh air and daylight we'd like - hopefully by summer's end it will be complete...which means more room in the basement for trains...

A Hobby Within A Hobby

There's always something new to be fascinated or obsessed with in this hobby. Lately I've discovered working steam engine kits. I've come to know them through a friend, Leo Terrien of Crow River Products. Leo is a master machinist and his steam engines are truly works of art; to me they're as serious a craft as any other. The precision involved is hard to fathom; four inch diameter cylinders bored to thousandths of an inch.

I also come across these engines at the nearby Mystic Seaport. Each seem to have their own personality and once they get under way; they're mesmerizing to watch.

Recently Leo fired up one his finished engine models, powered by an air compressor, and I was finally hooked. Very quickly a new lathe found its way into my shop. I'm starting off slow; there's a big learning curve. I picked the smallest engine kit out there. As small as it is, it's quite a challenge when you throw yourself into something new - but very satisfying. The flywheel above is the first part I tackled. It comes as a very rough casting, complete with ugly flashing and burrs. It's edges have now been faced and it's waiting for hole drilled in its center.

A benefit to having the lathe is being able to create masters for additional detail castings in our kits. As I said there's a big learning curve, so I don't expect much to happen very soon, but eventually I think we'll be able to increase the variety of details in our kits.

Above is the fly wheel from the engine kit, as well as a test for a vent detail casting.