skip to main |
skip to sidebar
...came to town last weekend. Looking to move into another market, it was important to attend if for no other reason than to show the organizers that there was a market to cater to. I bought a couple of trinkets...
...an HO scale AHM/Rivarossi 2-8-4 Nickel Plate Road "Berkshire", in excellent condition...and...
...this nice vintage lot containing a 1953 Mantua 0-4-0 Booster, two assembled Mantua flat cars and a 4 wheeled bobber from 1960-62, as well as an Ulrich two bay hopper from 1959. Note that they have the older Mantua hook/loop couplers that were pretty common at around that time, and that the bare zinc metal and brass looks like it hasn't seen air for most of their 50+ years of life.
I'll give more detail reviews of each as time goes on...right now, I'm enjoying a slow day at the house.
May you and yours have a blessed and safe holiday...
---This day is call’d Independence Day
We who by the Grace of God are born here or have
chosen to migrate here must stand a tip-toe to Our Founders.
Whose dreams, sweat, struggles, discussions, arguments, and Blood
are the foundation for this “shining city on a hill.” Men whose names must be honored and remain familiar in our mouths — Washington, Adams,
Jefferson, Franklin, Solomon and others who should along with the
display of fireworks, music, parades, barbeques, bells and flowing cups be freshly
rememb’red. This day shall the good man teach his son or daughter –
they must uphold the promise and protection of this Great Nation, UNDER GOD.---Robert Davi
Transfer cabooses were used primarily in large yards and short moves on trains that needed little more than an office to run out of. Like this one, they were often cobbled together out of the scrap box, albeit a somewhat larger one than we modelers are used to.
The box car models a converted car from the late 60s/early 70s, when railroads were forced to remove the roof walks and all new cars had to be built with lower ladders and brake wheels, something that would have eventually been done when this car was shopped.
These were given to me as an unsolicited "Thank you" from another modeler for parts I had sent him. That the one was built by him and the other sports his weathering work makes them cherished members of my N scale roster.
I now have a complete collection of something...they made it in two roads and I have both...
...sigh...
...a pure fantasy creation that, despite its "excess Height" markings, is the same height as any other similar car in the yard.
In this age of prototypical perfection, there's something comforting when one finds modern roller bearing trucks offered on an ancient wood sheathed reefer...
I kinda dig the kabuki makeup..now just why it's there is another story...
Been awhile since I posted some model scenery...
How can you not appreciate this screamin' blue weeny?
Yup...'nother freebie...
A great looking car with sprung trucks, found this in that box lot from a couple weeks back...it just screams railroading...
Nostalgia can make you get excited over some pretty goofy stuff you may find in a box lot, I haven't seen a 7-11 since I moved away from Maryland...back in the '80s, I used to live off of their 1/2 pound chili and cheese burgers, fresh from the microwave and washed down with a Big Gulp when I was in construction...num num...
What does one do when one's chores are done and you've put out your feelers (i.e. resumes/applications) for the week?
You spend a couple hours turning a box lot of parts...
...into a string of cars...
...nineteen and counting to be precise---and two locomotives. Sweet.
I have four classes of rolling stock I set up in the initial inspection of any new box lot;
RTR = Complete and ready to roll, all bits are there, may need a cleaning at best.
Rolling wounded = Complete with all axles rolling, missing minor bits and/or couplers.
Round tuits = Cannot roll, missing major parts but still salvageable, will sit for awhile 'til I get a 'round tuit.
Buzzard bait = Saved only to strip of all usable parts, then unceremoniously tossed in the trash.
Oh yeah, I can see you're edified. ;-)
...one of the more unique cars available in affordable ready-to-run rolling stock. They can fetch a nice price on Ebay if the right bidders find it, this one is another piece from the aforementioned widow's lot. I kinda like the radioactive glow produced by my camera's flash...
...just in time for the playoffs---and the Steelers are out to boot. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Clause and one of his elves is Willis McGahee.
Picked these Kadee N scale CP and CNR boxcars up at the swap meet I've referred to for next to nothing. The reason they were priced so low was because "Canadian stuff don't do too good down south here, you know?".
I can't imagine letting something like Canadian markings get between me and a good deal...after all, I like Canadians, made good friends with a bunch of 'em in Bible College. They taught me how to use a serviette, call my M&Ms "Smarties" and eat my Mac-n-cheese with ketchup and my fries with mayonnaise. Heck, we even almost speak the same English, eh?
The black CS Models CP hopper and the Kadee 50' CN plug door car were both found at the same meet...ten cent box lot rejects that only needed one truck each. I split a pair of Kadee medium shank roller bearing trucks between the two, making the Rapido coupler equipped hopper a transition car between the Kadee equipped car fleet and my Rapido equipped older motive power.
---But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. (1 Corinthians 1:27-29)
