Freelance 2016-1

[faraway]

@Steve, I have got some similar material as it is used for super trees some time ago. My clumsy fingers break the fine material into many parts long before the plant sees the layout. Anyhow super trees are so beautiful.

I got three packs of Faller Undergrowth #181255 to increase the diversity of the green. They are sorted by color for placement. The packs contain a mix of 60 plants of the three colors. Planting up to 180 plants will keep me busy some time.

IMG_4819 by faraway52, on Flickr

Some examples how they blend into the existing green.
IMG_4821 by faraway52, on Flickr
IMG_4822 by faraway52, on Flickr
IMG_4823 by faraway52, on Flickr

[bdw9535]

Reinhard,

Looking good, the scenery does makes a difference and pulls everything together.

Bruce

[faraway]

A brand new Trainman GP38-2 in boxcar paint scheme.

IMG_4827 by faraway52, on Flickr

[faraway]

I have since several years FCEN 47 and 49. I wanted to have one or two more but could not find any in the web. One was on US ebay last week at a scary price plus shipping and local tax. No way!
IMG_4828 by faraway52, on Flickr

But I got two black FMID long time ago too. I did never really like them and the black FMID did not match a contemporary layout very well as they retired quite early.
IMG_4830 by faraway52, on Flickr

It was time to go to the paint shop and convert the black FMID 63 into the red FMID 65. Athearn had mercy with me and used close to no cement mounting the hand rails. The only thing I miss is the unique "operation live saver" decals at the center of the frame. It is not included in the highball decals intended for the FCEN GP7/9. Need to do some weathering, add the "F" at the front and add the "hats" on the two stacks.
The CF7 run smooth with Kato motors and ZIMO DCC decoders.The bulbs are replaced by LEDs.
IMG_4829 by faraway52, on Flickr

Text updated, FMID 65 is not my "invention" it is painted after the prototype.

[lajry]

Reinhard
If you don't like the paint schemes on the Florida CF7s make up your own. Given you talents w/ locos yours will be WAY BETTER looking. Besides it is your MR!

[Twist]

Hi,

nice looking engine. Great job. I also like your new vegetation.

Regards,Chris

[faraway]

The old brick loading platform is gone, a fence is set (might be extended), the road and the industry property are separated and the track with the bulkhead belongs to the blue industry.
IMG_4837 by faraway52, on Flickr

[faraway]

The shrubs and trees are removed from the industry yard with an extended gravel area
IMG_4840 by faraway52, on Flickr

and added to the next green cluster.
IMG_4839 by faraway52, on Flickr

[torikoos]

very nice, you seem to have decent 'green fingers'.

Cheers, Koos

[faraway]

I had an eye on Atlas G&W MP15DC for years. Got a used one from German eBay last week. It was in good condition with sound (gold series). I swapped the drive with a none sound drive to get the perfect ZIMO DCC decoder matching the smooth Atlas drive and added some weathering. While not 100% prototypical (the engine never made it south to Florida) is a generic G&W engine a nice match for a freelance layout.
IMG_4843 by faraway52, on Flickr

[lajry]

Reinhard
Who says your MR can't "borrow" that MP15DC! It happens all the time on the real RRs. Santa Fe borrowed all kinds of B&O and C&O GPs back in late 1970s.

[faraway]

The car load changed from cable drums to lumber after I learned that bulkhead flatcars are used for lumber and they can be loaded from one side. That permits to get lumber on the layout and avoiding the beautiful center beam cars that are too long for my layout and require the extra space for loading from both sides.

IMG_4845 by faraway52, on Flickr
IMG_4844 by faraway52, on Flickr

[lajry]

Must be the center beam bulkheads that need to be unloaded from opposite sides alternatively. If those are unloaded on one side only they WILL tip over! They also have large markings that show how that happens on both the real & model ones.

[faraway]

I have been at the pickup counter of MB Klein to get another Florida engine this morning. It got a Tsunami DCC sound decoder too.

IMG_4846 by faraway52, on Flickr

ps. MB Klein calls it's german pickup counter "customs office". Might be a cost saving joined venture with Angela's administration

[faraway]

The bulk head cars are great but they are extreme bright orange painted. That may be prototypical but they looked like objects from another galaxy on my layout. A layer of brown/black wash and a light gray dry wash and they blend nice into my layout.
IMG_4847 by faraway52, on Flickr