Railflyer Prototype Models traction motor in action

I reported previously about Railflyer Prototype Models and there attempts to get a scale traction motor assembly to market. Pretty much all components are now ready for production, with only the heatsinks being a couple of days behind. As soon as these are in, they can be assembled and mounted on the trucks to demonstrate a real working truck with traction motors. However, the video here was posted to demonstrate that it does work, a miniature electric motor driving one axle. I am very curious to see how these work once they are mounted to a truck, under a nice heavy loco frame. :-)

Weathering, an art within a hobby

One thing I've always liked to do is to weather models so they look more realistic. There is an enormous variety on materials and techniques available to accomplish this.  One website that is totally dedicated to this part of the hobby is www.modeltrainsweathered.com (also see 'useful links' on the right).
But weathering is more than just clever paint techniques, it also involves scars and dents simulating the hard life equipment has on the railroads. A very good example can be seen in the photo of this gondola, made by 'Model Trains Weathered' member Butch. The realism is further enhanced by taking the picture outside, under natural daylight.  If weathering is your thing, you owe it to yourself to at least check out that site.

2012 Walthers Reference book

The 2012 Walthers reference books are now available to pre-order on the Walthers website, and your affiliated hobby shops. The books currently have an ETA of August 28th 2011, the HO costs just shy of $16,- at the time of this blog. These things usually go quick as they're very popular.

Snowfighter loco

A project that I want to do in the future, once I've finished a couple that I'm still working on at the moment, is to build a Southern Pacific snow fighting loco. These were originally SD9's, but were later replaced by some GP38-2 locos, these locos are still in service today, but are now painted in Union Pacific colours, as the SP merged with the UP in the  '90's. They are stationed at Roseville CA. Here's a youtube video of a build, using an Athearn RTR GP38-2, and was painted in the SP colours.

Another look at the Exeter show layout

Earlier, I posted a video from an engineers perspective. Now there is one in birds eye view of the same layout, giving you a good overview of the set up. Hope you like it.

Switching layout

Inspired by (the books of) Lance Mindheim (see links on the right), UK model railroader 'Mal' set out to build his own version of a US switching layout called 'Palmetto Spur'.
Here is a video clip of his work, which shows again that bigger, doesn't mean it's better when it comes to a realistic looking layout.  Please let him know you liked it by posting a comment or two at his vid (or here).

Narrow Gauge railroading

I personally don't know much about it (yet), but I know a lot of people like it. I also must say that I have a weak spot for the DRGW K27 type locomotives, one of the prettiest narrow gauge steam locomotives I've seen.
Recently, Blackstone models produced a limited run of an excellent model of one, and are now working on a C-19 locomotive. There will be a re-run of the K27 this summer, in limited numbers and Sound+DCC only.

The Blackstone website has now been added to the useful link section on the right, and the link is here too.