Michael

Haven't been doing the train thing too much lately, but we had a rare sighting of double 4000s at the club this last meet! Mine is the one further from the camera.

#modeltrains #bigboy 🚂

Some pieces on the bench at the moment: an Athearn SD70M undergoing modernization and a Hornby Railroad A4 being renamed and renumbered.

That's a real locomotive, the specific one that I'm intending to model with the athearn sd45t-2.

OK, I'm looking hard at that picture and that's a real locomotive, not a model train?

Ordered a Topps Now card for Andor since I collect SW stuff and cards are fun, managed to get a short print run hit from a single card order which I don't think happens too often!

#topps #cardcollecting #andor

Changing a prototype! The loco I'm doing is an ex-SP/ex-UP lease unit and had the lighting package removed, but none of the SP or UP athearn models fit the bill when it came to the overall details and nose. Ended up going with a Canadian Natl model, and athearn sells the noses separately.

Not a lot going on at the moment. Between family trips and lack of creativity its been hard to get something on the bench. That being said, this Athearn PRLX SD45T-2 project has overcome a major hurdle with the replacement nose. Primer next!

#modeltrains 🚂

Finished up #Andor and #RogueOne and I decided to start setting up my #starwars stuff on the shelves. First is this #HotToys Jyn Erso (K2 and Cassian are on the way!)

Yesterday's catches.

#trains #railfanning #unionpacific

My friend who had me do that Fubuki #Hololive graffiti brought me back some special souvenirs from Tokyo Station as payment. Look at that Cover pin badge, it has a little train on it!

Kiara with the stationmaster rizz 🙌

#takanashikiara

My first commissioned piece of graffiti, a friend wanted this cute cat character. I think it turned out pretty well.

#modeltrains #hololive
#白上フブキ #shirakamifubuki

New car, we decided to get it before...everything kicks off. Absolutely love it.

Toyota #prius

Thank you! Ingot to try a bunch of weathering techniques I've never done before, it was a lot of fun.

Nearly there! I have a few final finishing details coming in, handrails to install.

#modeltrains #modelrailroading 🚂

As I wrap the Athearn PRLX SD75M project, I'm beginning the next. This is an Athearn RTR SD45T-2, being stripped of paint and details to become another PRLX lease unit, 2832 (This is my excuse for a tunnel motor).

#modeltrains 🚂

Fade and rust

#modeltrains ##modelrailroading 🚂

I see Chicago Heights Transfer Terminal hi-cubes pretty frequently, and they usually have this interesting fading/peeling pattern (except for the doors which always look new for some reason). This started as an Athearn GACX car before being patched and re-decaled.

#modeltrains #modelrailroading 🚂

Slowly, progress being made on Progress Rail 221. The 8 will be blended more when it gets the weathering treatment.

#modeltrains #modelrailroading 🚂

I caught this WP hopper a few weeks ago and did a search for a similar one on ebay. Turns out Athearn did this same numbered car (12075) in a 2008 RTR run. Still a WIP but I have shots of the other side too to get to.

#modeltrains #modelrailroading 🚂

UP 1979 leading with 6700 and 9000 about to leave the yard.

#modeltrains #modelrailroading 🚂

A couple of 9s in the yard this morning.

#modeltrains ##modelrailroading 🚂

Picked up this Proto2k GP38-2 a few years ago, a Conrail unit. It's currently being transformed into a beat up GMTX lease unit, still glossy from the decal applications. Next up is ditch lights and hacking away at the internal weight for a speaker, and then weathering.

#modeltrains #🚂

This started as a Walthers 68' Chicago Heights Transfer Terminal gondola but has since been sagged and re-numbered for SMIX (I am aware of Athearn offering sagged gons now, but I kind of like doing it myself).

Next up is some graffiti and weathering.

#modeltrains ##modelrailroading 🚂

I think I'm going to call this Athearn ex-GWS gondola done for now. I tried a lot of new (to me) weathering techniques, and it looks like you might get tetanus if you were to hop inside so I call that a win.

#modeltrains 🚂

Doing some running after an intensive speed matching session. Momentum and braking are off at the moment, have to program that back in.

I miss having hardwood floors but we'll have to do with the poor trackage through the Carpet Subdivision for now.

#modeltrains 🚂

A basic Walthers Mainline(I think...) hopper. One side with a big tag, the other side some light tags. Happy with how this one turned out, but some of the detail bits on the bottom (whatever those rod/poles are in the three bays underneath) will break if you look at them wrong.

#modeltrains 🚂

Bending handrails (& coupler levers) is my least favorite part of this hobby but they are mostly complete on this blue box SD40-2, I just need to do the rear set. Next is replacing the fans, and then paint.

#modeltrains 🚂

Looks great with the details in place! Mine is currently in the process of losing the road name and number for its PRLX conversion. It'll probably get a Loksound Direct at some point as well, but that'll be after the exterior stuff is finished.

I recently purchased a VERY early Athearn Genesis SD75M, like new for a steal. It's neat seeing how the Genesis line started, like a high spec blue box kit. This will become a patched PRLX lease unit, eventually.

#modeltrains 🚂

I draw the outline of the shark in pencil, paint it white to give it a base like a white canvas, then draw the details in pencil, then paint around that with the various colors, then use fine pens for the eyes and mouth detail. I use the cheapest flat acrylic craft paint and fine tip brushes 🎨