Covered Bridge

 

The diorama will hold a very short train.

Another view of my covered bridge diorama. The idea was so I could take this scene to train shows, narrow gauge events and local NMRA events. I made the scene so I can remove and use the bridge in other scenes at times too or on my layout...George Dutka  

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.

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.

Wordless Wednesday No. 166

 

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.

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.

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

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 

Wordless Wednesday No. 165

 

O Scale resin shed

My new small O scale kit. This was all in the package. I did get a second roof option from Christopher. 

I picked up this O scale resin shed at the Breslau, Ontario train show yesterday. It appears that Christopher Creighton of Schomburg Models is back making kits under Custom Polycast...more on this kit shortly...George Dutka

On30" - Pulpwood Cars

Bachmann On30" pulpwood cars are seen on the W&Q module.

I took this view back in 2015 of my then new pulpwood cars that got a bit of weathering. My engine is heading off the turntable to marshal it's train. This module that I built connects with one Peter Mumby constructed at the same time. Mine will be coming apart shortly to make way for an L shaped layout in the same location I have the module setup in. I hope to get a good start on this layout over the winter. I have way to many structures and equipment to try and squeeze it all into a second module so a bit of a layout with more room is the way to go...George

Covered Bridge Diorama

I am using 1/35 scale bricks as HO stones for the base of the bridge.

Hi all! It has been sometime since I last posted here. I am currently beginning to build a diorama for my covered bridge. I decided to add HOn30" trackage and equipment to the scene...so will see how that all works out. I currently painted a 12" by 18" piece of Gatorfoam and am applying a stone bridge footing...more to come...George Dutka

The first row of stone is glued down and the river, road and track locations are kind of in place too. That can all change as the project gets going.

Covered Bridge - Completed

I think the bridge looks better with a coat of paint and weathering than just the plastic tone it originally wore.

A few shots of the completed Walthers covered bridge. Now to build a display board to place the bridge on for now till I find a place it will work on the layout...George Dutka

Covered Bridge - Part Two

The walls are brush painted Anita's rust which looks more like a red. I added a coating of India ink and Alcohol next followed by two layers of reddish tone PanPastels.

Some more of the Walthers covered bridge I was working on last. All the painting and weathering has been done...now to assemble the model once again...George Dutka

The roadway was done with AK dirt and asphalt dust.

The roof had some shingles highlighted with a gray acrylic dollar store paint. I applied some India ink and alcohol followed by more PanPastels.

A micro brush worked well to apply a bit of white PanPastels. I applied it lightly so it looks worn off.

All the parts are painted and weathered now to assmble the model.

Covered Bridge

The bridge as it looked arriving home. It is colored plastic which could look better painted and weathered.

I have not been doing any Maine modeling lately but have started a project that is New England and to keep posts active here on this blog...here it is.

Although I don't recall seeing a covered bridge along any of the Maine Two Footers I have one to show you that I am working on. A modeling friend gave me his Walthers covered bridge this spring. I had commented on it while viewing his layout a year ago. I had done some work for him in the past at no cost so at the Ancaster train show he arrived with it as a gift. I don't know if  the Walthers covered bridges come built or you have to assemble the model. I did have to pull it apart to paint and weather it. Luckily it was not glued to well and came apart without issues. More on the model shortly...George Dutka

I began by pulling off the roof.

All the parts are pulled apart making it simple to paint and weather the model. I used Kaki Camo coat to prime the parts that are to be coated as wood or shingles.

Summer Update!

I am still around, sorry about no post lately but I have not been doing any modeling lately or scanning of prints. Hope to get back into the groove shortly. I have a lot to take care of with my wife passing a few months ago. Have a great summer and I do have some good modeling ideas...just have to get at them...George Dutka

B&SR - 1895

The details found on the back of this B&W print read, B&SR engine #2 and cars 1 and 10. 1895, Lawrence Walker.

Another view of a George Melvin collection photo I have. The scene is a neat modeling option...George Dutka  

WW&F - Big Dreams and Little Wheels

 

WW&F stories

Have you seen this book before ? It is a collection of stories about the WW&F. Kevin Smith sent me this photo of the book that he has enjoyed reading. I may get a chance to read it later this year if we meet up...George Dutka

Mattress Boxes

A mattress box from a Canadian company located in Acton, Ontario. This model is in HO scale.

If you are thinking of shipping bed frames maybe a few boxes of new mattresses should be included. Aberdeen Car Shops a Canadian company offers printed sheets of mattress boxes in HO scale. They do not have O scale to go with the frames I have shown you but a bit of work on a color printer can size a couple of these up. Or better yet come up with your own design.  Use sturdy paper to model the boxes...George Dutka

Bed Frames - Grandt Line # 3560

A package of head and foot boards that might make a nice load.

I recently picked up a package of O scale bed frames which I thought might make a nice load being unloaded at the freight house or loading ramp. Lots of options to think about...maybe I could load them in a truck...George Dutka

Stone Shed

Appears some talk is happening at the tail end of the local passenger train. 

I found this old slide from 1984 that I took of my HOn30" scene which included a Hopper Line kit. More on this structure is on my WRD blog. It is a wood and cast plaster kit. The end walls are stone, front and rear wall wood strips that need to be assembled into a wall and door. It came with Campbell metal roofing which I etched and painted a rust color. I was just using india ink and alcohol at that time which would be seen on the stones. The rest would be washes of Floquil paints and stains. Back then I had a few different shades of Floquil stains which I really liked using....George Dutka 

Maine Two Footer - Photos

Some of my Maine narrow gauge photos I purchased a number of years ago at an Ontario Narrow Gauge Show.

I don't recall why I took this photo that I recently found while sorting through some of my photo files. I thought I would share it with you today...George Dutka

Peter Mumby's On30" Module

How time fly's by. I took this photo in 2015 of Peter Mumby's On30" engines on his yard module.

I am not sure if I showed you this photo before but Peter and I were fooling around with his On30" module which attaches to mine a few years back taking photos of his equipment. I was using my pocket Canon digital camera set on the rails while Peter held up a cloud background. I kind of like how this one turned out...George Dutka

Bob Boudreau RIP - SR&RL Plow

A kit bashed plow by Bob Boudreau

I learned from Clare Gilbert (Sylvan Scale Models) today that we lost the great modeler Bob Boudreau yesterday. Although I never had the chance to meet him, I followed his work through the years. A very talented modeler. As a tribute to him on my narrow gauge blog I thought I would share one of his nice group of photos of a plow he kit bashed...George Dutka

I believe Bob mentioned using a On30 flat car in the kit-bash project in his post. 

Narrow Gauge - Coach Roofing

David Woodhead did a wonderful job emulating a canvas roof on his combine.

I was setup next to David Woodhead at the 2023 Ontario Narrow Gauge Show in Hamilton, Ont. David had a fine display including a narrow gauge coach that caught my eye. I asked him what sort of texture he had applied to the roof to emulate canvas. It was tissue paper carefully applied and held on by the paint he applied...George Dutka     

David Woodhead's display at the 2023 Ontario Narrow Gauge Show.

WW&F No. 4

WW&F #4 is seen inside the roundhouse during 1935. The engine has some if its hardware stripped already. 

I was doing a bit of scanning the other day and included a few narrow gauge views into the mix. This is again one of the George Melvin collection I purchased some years ago...George Dutka   

Coal Facilities Base

I built this diorama back in 2016. I hand laid the short piece of trackage adding some limestone ballast and Sylvan coal spillage. There is a Woodland Scenic workman added and some extra details around the base. I may go back over the structure with some additional washes and PanPastels which I did not have at the time I built the model.

A close up look at my On30" module base that I built to house a coal storage structure. The model is a cast hydrocal structure. I built it on a homasote base. It will eventually go on a small On30" layout...George Dutka

SR&RL No. 18

SR&RL #18 at Strong, 1935.

Another view from the George Melvin collection scanned this month...George Dutka 

Wordless Wednesday No. 164