This was just sent to our local papers.

National Model Railroad Month

When growing up in the 50s, railroads were a part of life. Trains were everywhere. In those days it was hard not to become interested in the hobby of modeling them. Things are different today. The local hobby shop has done a disappearing act over the past 20 years as people now buy on line, and our kids seem to be more interested in devices than trains.

But there is still good reasons for modeling. This is the time to show the public what a great hobby we have. For some people, this is setting up trains around the Christmas tree and hooking up engines, boxcars, and cabooses. And for others with a basement, den or room, indulging in model train “play” is serious business all year round. It is such a huge pastime, that November has been designated National Model Railroad Month.

We’re not talking about plastic toys here, but true-to-scale models with lights, whistles, steam, and detailed scenery. There are several model Railroads in and around Anderson, and the Indianapolis and Muncie area is full of them. They come in all sizes from very modest sized layouts to large expansive ones that have taken years to build. The Scenery can be astounding. It’s all possible with model railroading, and it doesn’t have to be an expensive hobby.

The Anderson Public Library has a train display open to the public at certain hours, and the Paramount Theater has a display open to the public during it's tree festival, and there are train shows available in November and December.

The Madison County Historical Society has a permanent train display featuring several gauges and scales. In addition there is a great 1946 Circus Layout on display. There are photos and memorabilia available for viewing, and all of these things are available during the month of December on Monday, Wednesday and Friday with the first three Saturdays as well.

What? You say you aren't interested. Perhaps that's because you haven't been introduced to model railroading. Why not come out and take in some of these activities and bring the kids and grand kids as well!

Roger Hensley

I recently started on a 36' truss-rod Gondola from Scotia Scale models



I got the kit second-hand and the previous owner had started it to the point of building the frame and floor. I took it from there, adding the sides, then staining it with a mix of brown and gray.I want to get the main structure built, then color it before continuing with the details.







The next step was to add the queenposts when I discouvered they were missing, probably the reason for it's second-hand status. I did a quick check through my parts drawers and found a set of MDC queenposts but they were molded with the pedestal beams and I needed them spaced differently. I cut the posts off the plastic beams and transferred them to the kit's wood beams, using brass wire as mounting pins.





After the glue dried, I trimmed the brass wire up and glued the beams into place.

Howdy everyone.
I was recently given a box full of Roco right and left handed HO switches. They have a rubber like flexible roadbed and what I believe to be built in switch motors that seem to be wired into the track (DCC ready?). Has anyone ever used these and if so, does anyone have any info on how to wire these up and or any diagrams on the motor unit? Thanks everyone, David Notarius, out in the wastelands of the Cambridgeshire Fens, UK ex New Hope PA

logo jpeg by franck combe, sur Flickr


After finished my Sidi Fontana layout at oo9 scale, I start a new one. San Sergio Leone : an ON30 Mexican authentic western spaghetti line. I like the spaghetti western films and and I want to recreate this spirit in a layout. I was influenced by a layout called "performance western" by my friend raul Valls, by also an english layout called "the layout with no name" and a the Estrella & Sonara grande railroad of Verne Niner. I choice the on30 scale because the Bachmann products are very affordable and I have already two baldwins 4-6-0 with dcc sound. All the rolling stocks will be Bachmann that I buy at trainworld.com at an incredible price.

I locate the layout in mexican because there is too much layouts located in the USA and I prefer also the adobe houses. The layout in itself mesures 80 inches by 25 inches plus 2 transfert tables on each end plus an hidden track.

The buildings will be a mixed between true mexican houses, the chuch of San Diego, a jail, a lee van cleef bank and false building for western film. A mine also will be located on right.

The figures are mainly mexican (modified from pegasus hobbies) with monks and also true figures at scale of Lee Van Cleef and Clint Eastwood.

The backdrop is a photo of desert of Ian Parker printed on a PVC tarpaulin.

The story is located in a small, poor and peaceful mexican town near the USA border when the bad cow-boys attack the town.

This is the drawing of the layout :

dessin reseau png by franck combe, sur Flickr

YJMA-02 is being kept busy shifting grain cars for the ongoing soybean harvest.

Bruce

Attached Files

Thumbnail(s)
   

WPMA-19 makes a pick up at the ACME Co.

Bruce

Attached Files

Thumbnail(s)