Happy New Years 2018

Happy New Year Billboards

Merry Christmas 2017

Christmas billboards 

John Miller's BOF Part 1

From time to time I build structures for good friends. While working in Cincinnati, I meet John Miller. I have gotten to know John pretty good and I wanted to help with the layout. He wanted a BOF and we got on the subject while I was there one day and I took measurements and we began to talk about what he wanted. The challenge to this structure was I got the measurements while in Cincinnati but it would be built while I was home in Kentucky right at 180 miles away. I had a certain area to work with.

BOF's are massive and some of the tallest structures in a steel mill. This was what John wanted to capture with this model. The area I had to work with 14 1/2 wide and 46" inches long. and 24 inches tall including the downcomers

I started out with foam board I picked up from Dollar Tree. Most structures I build that are large I start with foam board. It is easy to work with and it gives the basic idea how a structure will look.

I was able to take the mockup BOF to John's and test fit and I was surprised it fit great and an operating session was also held days after the building was set up for test fitting.

Since the mockup fit the area I took a couple more measurements for trackage and the building made a return trip back home with me once again.

After getting back home with the building I cut out the last few sections and added a roof and the raised section where the furnaces will be. This will be where the downcomers are located.  

 Next was siding.

Then the details 

Layout 10-30-17

Going through Black Mountian yard this morning before going to the doctors and found a couple L&N locomotives and a leased UP SD40-2. KV&O leased power from the UP, BN, and Santa Fe.

Layout 10-09-17

Not posted much in a while and not did much work on the layout. I do want to post a few new pictures from around the layout. Enjoy.

System Maps Part 1

For the past week, I have been working on system maps for my line the KV&O and another map for connecting lines. This was an interesting task because I had to look at maps from other lines to get the basic routes right. I learned a few things also.

I had to piece a few maps together from american-rails.com to get a map big enough for what I wanted to do. I had to erase all lines from those map pieces and start with a blank map. The program I used to make the maps was paint.net

System map for the KV&O

System map with connecting lines. 

Control Panels Part 1

After following Tom Patterson's blog on his layout and seeing the control panels that he has been building after Gerry Alber's panels it got me thinking.

I have added a lot of trackage to the layout and at the point the I don't have enough Atlas Selectors to finish adding power to the tracks. I could buy more selectors but I will still have to build new panels. I like the look of Tom's panels and after a few emails and finding out what program was used to make the panels, I started working on my own. The program used was PowerPoint. These are the panels that will be used in the yard. I purchased a pack of 50 mini toggle switches from China and once I get the other panels building will start. I will be making a few track changes in the next little bit so the panels will not be built until the changes have been made.

Take Care, Stay Safe, Happy Modeling, and God Bless

Locomotives & caboose ready for service

KV&O shop forces have been busy. Ready for service is 4 locomotives and a caboose. U5B Switcher #6000, DD9C-2 Transfer locomotives #6100, RS3M #6200, U25B #3480 and caboose #90052. Reason for the red KV&O locomotives are these are home built locomotives.

KV&O Shirt

Wife surprised me with a KV&O shirt.

Railfanning March 13 2017

Heard there was a derailment around Black Mountain on the KV&O so I know they would be getting the big hook out. Anyone who knows the KV&O knows that they keep the hook stored inside and it hardly ever seen unless something like this happens. Thought it would be a good time to see it out and about. Was surprised when I got to the yard and seen it sitting in the yard waiting for an engine to be brought around and coupled on. Fuel and a water tender on one end and a crane tender on the other.

Additional Shots From March 4th Visit

Additional shot from Brad McClelland and his boys take on the Gerry Alber's Virginian Deepwater District Layout taken on March 4th, 2017.  

Railfanning March 6 2017

Railfanning around Black Mountain Yards and seen they brought the dynamometer car in. I'm guessing it is the test the transfer locomotive that is being built at the shops. After I got permission I got a few pictures

Center Cab Locomotive Part 4

Getting closer to being completed still a few more details to be added, then decaled and weathered.