American Repaint

I finally got the locomotive lettered.  As stated in a prior post I decided to letter the locomotive for the Chicago, Milwaukee and St Paul.  A friend had a copy of the Railroad Historical Preservation Bulletin 136 published in 1977.  It has the complete roster of the Milwaukee Road including all locomotives acquired with predecessor lines.  Engine 209 was purchased by the Milwaukee and St Paul in 1877 from the Schenectady Locomotive Works.  It was retired in 1917.  There was a picture of the engine in the bulletin.  The domes and proportions of the engine looked very similar to the model.  Since it was active in the 1890's it seemed a great choice.  Next I need to add some coal and a little light weathering on the running gear and it is done.   

Added some more info to the Labelle Car build, painting and lettering. 

Freight Car Progress

Here is a photo of the Soo and D&M boxcars.  I have added additional information on my DSS&A build page. 

Painted and Lettered the Soo Line car

Spent the morning painting and lettering the Soo car.  The afternoon was spent at the NAPM layout working on the background buildings.  I glued down the street and alley material as well as some ground cover.  The ground plane is mostly hidden from view so a lot of detail work was not needed.  

Labelle Build

I have finished four Labelle boxcars.  I think I now have a good idea of how they go together and will do a build page on the construction of the next one.  It is a 34 foot car lettered for the Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic. 

Here is a progress photo of the turntable.  The pit walls are attached.  The next step will be adding cinders to the pit floor and addition of the bridge rails.  From past experience I have found that attaching the bridge rails is best done when the turntable lead tracks are in place.  It is imperative that the rails on both ends of the bridge align with the lead!

Additional Labelle Cars

I purchased some silicon seal and have continued on building the turntable.  While waiting to purchase the silicon I started working on two more Labelle models.

The car on the left is the Soo Line 34 foot car.  The one on the right is the Detroit and Mackinac 34 foot car.  Since these are coming along so well I have started another two. 

LaBelle Boxcar Kit

I received some LaBelle boxcar kits last Wednesday and assembled one.  It went together well.  The decals have a very thin film so you need to be very light handed when working with them.  A Little weathering and some couplers and it will be ready to run.

Update on Turntable

Here is a progress photo on the turntable project.  There is still a way to go but I am sure I am past the half way point.