Wednesday, 4 December 2024

Covered Bridge Diorama

The covered bridge is made so it can be taken out of the scene and used somewhere else if required.
Here are a few views of my Walthers covered bridge diorama...George Dutka

A mix of scuptamold and plaster cloth is used to make the scenery base. Cardstock and scrap Gatorfoam is also included.

A layer of dirt, ground foam and sand is the scenery base for ground and road.

Weeds and scenery is done with these products.

I put two coats of marine grade varnish onto the river which did not seem to flow and set well. I think it was too old...it was from another project probably 6-7 years ago. So I gave it two coats of Mod Podge gloss which did the trick.
The diorama turned out well. I added a HOn30" piece of trackage which is hand laid.

Overall view of the bridge and riverbed.

Friday, 29 November 2024

It getting cold out!

My new winter mug with a On30" engine I weathered a few years back.
I recently began using my new winter coffee mug that I found in Giant Tiger. I also picked up a stock of winter blend Tim Horton's coffee, so I am all set to work downstairs at the workbench without any excuses...George Dutka

Now that I can get serious about modeling once again I picked up a few new brushes for detail work a few weeks back. I will let you know how well they work shortly. Many of my older fine tipped brushes are ready for the trash.


Friday, 15 November 2024

Chatham Railroad Meet

Pat Rivard's O scale standard gauge layout is set at 54" which is very impressive to view. Pat has his back to us and that is Nick from ITLA laser cut model structures next to him.
On November 2, 2024 our division of the NMRA had a meet-up in Chatham, Ont. One of the layouts we visited was Pat Rivard's wonderful O scale layout. It is not narrow gauge but what I found interesting was the height of the layout. At 54" it was very impressive to view especially with the large size O scale equipment. I am planning to build another larger modular layout in On30" and that height is something to consider.

Also one of our members and current superintendent Wayne Wessner brought along some O scale displays for our lunch time display at the hall. He models O scale narrow gauge and has done a wonderful job scratch-building a boxcar tool shed. His details are very nice also. 

O scale details on display at our lunch meeting. Wayne Wessner models O scale narrow gauge and has done a wonderful job building a boxcar storage shed from scratch.


Thursday, 7 November 2024

O Scale Shed

The kit comes with the smaller metal roof. Christopher gave me an extra roof he had that is tarpaper like the red one in photo. I had to cut mine down. The resin cuts like butter.
I have just began working on building this O scale shed. I took some photos of the model on display at the Breslau train show back in September for inspiration. I thought I would show you the model on display first while I work away on mine...George Dutka

A close up view of the display shed.


Sunday, 3 November 2024

WOD-NMRA Chatham Ontario Layout Tour

A SR&RL caboose seems lost in the mix of western roads HOn3 models. Maybe that is why it is at the end of the caboose track.
Yesterday I attended our local NMRA division tour. Ed Haydon one of the layouts that was open models HOn3. He also is a MMR. I found included on the layout a HOn30" SR&RL caboose at the end of the caboose track. When I questioned Ed about it he said his Florida narrow gauge group sale (he used to winter in Florida) had it. He purchased it, built the model as per instructions but added HOn3 trucks under it...George Dutka

Thursday, 17 October 2024

Covered Bridge Diorama Finished!

The completed scene using a Woodland Scenic covered bridge model.
I finished my covered bridge diorama a couple of weeks ago. Here is a view of how it looks. I added a crossing with HOn30" trackage to the scene. More on how I built the diorama shortly...George Dutka