Weathering

If you would like to learn how to weather your rolling stock, locomotives, or anything else for that matter, I recommend signing up to 'The Rust Bucket' forum, part of the Weathering shop site.
There's some quality work to be found there. What's more users there are very helpful and will give constructive criticism. Also a plus is that people are not allowed to give criticism unless they have show cased some of their own work first, to prove that they're not all mouth / no action so to speak. I feel that's a very good policy to have.

http://tws-rustbucket.com/index.cgi  to go to the forum and sign up, or  http://theweatheringshop.com/bucket.html, to have a sneak peak of what it's about,   worth a visit at least.

CP Rail GP38-2 4404

I just bought a new locomotive in the sale at Bromsgrove models.  An Atlas GP38-2. I thought it might be a good base for a kitbash, turning it in to another road name etc. I just couldn't leave it for the money, so it was a bit of an impulse buy.... I'm sure you recognise that.
However, I am quite taken with it's appearance, and a friend of mine has pointed out that this particular loco has been photographed and video'ed often, and indeed it shows up on the familiar photo sites etc, so there are plenty of references there. So I think I might leave it in this colour and roadname, and see if it can be superdetailed without too many big changes that I might as well turn it into a loco more useful for my usual modeling interests. As a CP rail engine I can use it at the club just fine, and if I make my module a bit more generic, I can even use it on that. one day we're in the 1980's SP, the following in modern day CP rail territories.

Conrad turnout motor

I've installed the first of 5 turnout motors under my module, to drive my turnouts.

I had a look around to see which motor I wanted to use, and decided to give these a try. They are supplied by Conrad Electronics, a German electronics retailer similar to Maplin in the UK. They also have a UK webshop, and you can order these motors in packs of 3 for very cheap. Clicking here will take you directly to the corresponding page. These are motorised drives, so not coil driven like a SEEP. However they are not slowmotion drives, these switch within 0.5 seconds, but switch off at the end of the throw so you don't get any 'sound effects' such as hum etc.

They also do not have an extra switch to control the polarity of the frog, however the actuating lever is protruding at both sides of the housing, allowing for left or right hand side mounting. The unused side could easily be used to actuate a micro switch installed next to the drive, for that purpose, and that's what I am planning to do in due course.

I don't know much about the reliability of these, so time will tell, but for the money I thought it was worth a try.
To see one in action, see the below video. It is driven here by a programmable DCC accessory decoder, which has the advantage of setting the power to the motor, slowing it down a bit. I intend to do the same.

New release Atlas Trainman GenSet in HO

Atlas has just announced a new release run of their GenSet locomotives. This is a newly retooled model, which represents a second phase Genset with a taller longer 'long hood', which means the cab is further forward and the short hood is indeed shorter. The long hood has provisions for dynamic brakes , hence it is taller.

The new model comes in a number of road names, and also has retooled and finer handrails. (this was a common criticism of the previous release, for which replacement handrails of a finer quality are available to order now). It is again released in their Trainman Plus range.

Pictures of the undecorated model are here, courtesy of Atlas. More info can be found at their website:  http://www.atlastrainman.com/HOLoco/tmhogenset1.htm

The new model is an ideal candidate to make into a correct model of the genset locos as used by the California Northern RR, which I model, however that road name is currently not released. It was under the previous release, but that had the incorrect lower hood. So for me , here's hoping this model will be released in CFNR paint schemes. 

We've got power

I've finished all the track wiring today, and have power to all track , so it had to be tested by running a loco. It is always a great sense of achievement when the first run is made, it's a milestone you've reached in a sense.

Next will be to install turnout drives and their wiring, that is the task I'm trying to complete this week.

Bromsgrove Models Sale

Bromsgrove Models is a UK modeling supplier of whom I've bought a couple of products in the past. The service has always been quick, and the prices were generally very good.
Due to deteriorating health, and not being able to sell the business on, they are winding the business down, and therefore there are some great discounts to be had.
They have a range of products available, that might be interesting for the north american modeler. Go pay them a visit, you can still pay by card till the end of this month.
Find their address in the useful links sections on the right.

Nearly finished the woodwork

Almost there: nearly done with the woodwork.
I've added height adjustment to the legs, re-enforced the head ends, made leg pockets so that the legs slot into the boards, and added a shelf to one of them underneath to fit the DCC system.
Some final alignment work to do and then I can permanently fix the track and wire it all up. Then come the fun parts, running trains and making the scenery.