The HO scale model work of Anders Malmberg...

Photograph from website...

A new member to my "Vendor Endorsements for which I receive no compensation"...

Monahan Steam Models and a picture of their outstanding "Heron" Horizontal Steam Plant...


...company photo...

...and I'm supposed to put this under a hatch on my boat? Not...

Friday Night Christmas Lights...

Ugly Christmas Lights.com

Zac's Tractors 25,000th visitor contest...

...who doesn't have room for a 1:64 scale John Deere 9630T. I'm in...

Switching at the Bronx Terminal...

...outstanding work...



You can follow it here...

Digitrax DZ125 digital decoder...

25 years ago, Model Railroader magazine put out a landmarks series of articles on building the CTC 16e command control system, one of the earliest systems that didn't require hiding all the electronics in a permanently couple dummy diesel or large steam tender in HO scale to operate. Alas, DCC was still all but impossible for small HO steam, N scale decoders were 10 years away and DCC for Z scale was a laughable pipe dream.

Because the motor is in the tender of this PFM/United HOn3 C&S Mogul, DCC was limited to all but the most creative and knowledgeable electronics people, requiring the boards to be carefully split apart, fitted where they could and wired back together. Now you can fit them behind the tool box lid, and with more functions than ever imagined 25 years ago.

Moving to another level...

...so I'll be passing on some of my model work to those who would have a better home for it.

This is an HO scale light tower I built, of the kind used to guide ships into harbor since the 60s. It is kitbashed and features a working flasher. Just join the Model Train Forum and be a part of our "Random Acts of Kindness/Pass It Forward Auction" thread to get a shot at it...

The Munsters Koach...

...in paper. My 7 year old wants me to help him put together his first paper model. This should be a hoot...


---Designer's photo

More can be found here...

Don't forget to make a donation if you can.

French forum, Mare Island Shipyard in 1/700 scale...

...outstanding.


...Model Builder's photo

The NScale.org custom car...

...is almost here...many thanks Serg, for making it possible...

Paperbackswap.com...

...I'm tellin' ya, you gotta try this out.

Just arrived in my mail box today...

Wednesday's Word, A.W. Pink...

...from his "Studies in the Scriptures, August 1944"

“The wisdom of God appears in ordaining such contemptible and, in appearance, opposite means, to accomplish such glorious effects. The way is as wonderful as the work. That Christ dying on the cross, a reputed malefactor, should be made our everlasting righteousness; that descending to the grave, He should bring up a lost world to life and immortality, is so incredible to our narrow understandings that He saves us and astonishes us at once. In nothing is it more visible that the thoughts of God are far above our thoughts and His ways above our ways as heaven is above the earth (Isa 55:8). It is a secret in physic to compound the most noble remedies of things destructive to nature, and thereby, make one death victorious over another: but that eternal life should spring from death, glory from ignominy, blessedness from a curse, is so repugnant to human sense that to render the belief of it easy, it was foretold by many prophets, that when it came to pass, it might be looked on as the effect of God’s eternal counsels” (W. Bates, The Harmony of the Divine Attributes, 1680).

WARNING: A.W. Pink is not for the passive pew warmer.

"Color Treasury of Model Trains"...

...by Crescent Books. One of my favorite sources for books like this is Paperback Swap, an online book exchange. I've gotten some fantastic books from here, including this one, one of the first books I read on the subject of model trains back in 1974.



That little beast in the lower left hand corner and found on page 23 is the snoot of a unique looking 0-4-0 direct drive steamer made by a company called Altini. I would love to see a video of it in action as it's highly unlikely I'll ever find one...sigh...





---All photographs by Carlo Bevilacqua.

Sheriff Jim's Boston Bottoms...

...in N scale.



You'll find more of his work over here at 2 Guyz...

Fine Scale Miniatures HO-HOn3 Branchline Water Tower, $4.95...

...back in May 1967. Gotcha...



George Sellios is one of my favorite modelers, his Franklin and South Manchester Railroad has dazzled me for years. One can find the Gospel plainly spelled out in some of the signs on his beautifully crafted and weathered buildings.

Penn Line pre-Christmas ad, Oct. 1961

This website is a very good source on Penn Line's history.

Unsolicited product endorsement...

After years of thumbing my nose at ready built buildings and trees, I have to say I was rather impressed with this product from Rapido. I've run my own t-pole wires and still have a tick in my eye from the experience. At 35 greenies though, I doubt any will be showing up on my layout---not a complaint mind you, I just don't fork over that kind of coin for my hobby easily.



The website can be found here.

Rivarossi Memories...

...is my newest addition to my modeling links, found by Nelson over at the Tyco forum. Originally only in Italian, thanks to the hard work of Angelo S. Giusti and Dario Romani, we Rivarossi fans on this side of the pond can enjoy the story and other models of Alessandro Rossi, the founder of Rivarossi.

Time to march out my big three again, click on the picture for its story...


Norfolk and Western 2-8-8-2 Y6b "Mallet"


Southern Pacific 4-8-8-2 Cab-Forward


Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 "Big Boy"

Paper steam engine...

Recently I came upon an intriguing hobby, paper card modeling. I've been amazed at what is available out there. I even know of one individual putting together a Union Pacific "Big Boy" kit.

If you want to give it a try, here is a free download of a steam engine that, if properly built, will mimic all the functions of an operating one.






Me? No thanks, I've got plenty to do.

Keychains for Jerry...

I don't know about you, but I've got a bunch of keychains, especially railroad ones, choking my modeling space. Here's a guy I just found that'll put them to good use. Maybe my readers can help him out as well.

Blessings, grace and peace, Br'er Shaygetz.