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freelance modelers, what are you modeling?

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  • Member since
    September 2011
  • From: chicago, Illinois
  • 683 posts
Posted by Mr. LMD on Monday, April 21, 2014 5:52 PM

Cool and realistic! Do you have a certain livery or paint scheme for your railroad?

Mr. LMD, Owner, founder

The Central Chicago & Illinois Railroad

  • Member since
    April 2014
  • 67 posts
Posted by WVWoodman on Sunday, April 20, 2014 12:10 PM

My Western West Virginia is based in the WV mountains in the 1950's.  It is a fictional RR that was built in the 1890's as an extension of the Pickens branch of the B&O.  That extension was planned but never built becasue of the Financial Panic of 1893.  The plan was to get to the back fork of the Elk River and then follow it downstream to Charleston WV.  The WWV serves a coal mine near Helvetia along with an oil facility and has a large yard and exchange with the B&O in Pickens.  The WWV also has an connection to the West Virginia Northern(Kingwood to Tunnelton) after it built south to get to mines in Barbour and Randolph Counties.  The WWV roster includeds a pair of 2-8-0's, a 2-6-2, a 4-6-2, an 0-6-0 oil burner and a 2-6-6-2 purchased from the N&W.  The B&O is running a 2-8-8-2, a 4-6-2, and a 2-8-0 along with a loaner 2-8-0 from the WM.  WVN's #9 a 2-8-0 is also on the layout working the tipple area. 

 

  • Member since
    September 2011
  • From: chicago, Illinois
  • 683 posts
Posted by Mr. LMD on Sunday, April 20, 2014 9:31 AM

I feel the same way or look at real world railroad idea or building and try to draw a copy on a piece of paper to create later.

Mr. LMD, Owner, founder

The Central Chicago & Illinois Railroad

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,483 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Saturday, April 19, 2014 7:13 PM

Well, thank you!  The fine work by others on these forums has been a real inspiration to me.  When I look at the great photos of great modeling I see here, it raises the bar.  It make me a better modeler because I see what others have done, and I push myself to reach the same level.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

  • Member since
    September 2011
  • From: chicago, Illinois
  • 683 posts
Posted by Mr. LMD on Saturday, April 19, 2014 4:29 PM

I'm sure our fellow modelers cannot wait to see the progress and completion of your fine work of art.

Mr. LMD, Owner, founder

The Central Chicago & Illinois Railroad

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,483 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Saturday, April 19, 2014 4:21 PM

Yes.  Most of the tannery resides on a liftoff section.  Since I'm still working behind it, I've been keeping some of the smaller details to a mimimum until I'm done back there.  I've got a few more trucks under the layout, and some more figures, boxes, skids and other stuff to add some life to the scene.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

  • Member since
    September 2011
  • From: chicago, Illinois
  • 683 posts
Posted by Mr. LMD on Saturday, April 19, 2014 4:16 PM

MisterBeasley

Are you going to add some trucks for details or any other type of detail? 

Mr. LMD, Owner, founder

The Central Chicago & Illinois Railroad

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,483 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Saturday, April 19, 2014 4:08 PM

Well, time has come and gone.  The Tannery has slowly taken shape, and it's almost complete now.  Winter, for me, is ski season so I don't make a lot of progress once the snow files.

The center courtyard of the tannery is made up of multiple Hydrocal castings.  It looks brighter in photos than in real life.  It's tinted with gray stuff from Woodland Scenics, which tones down the stark raving white of pure Hydrocal.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

  • Member since
    January 2014
  • 28 posts
Posted by ManOWar on Saturday, April 19, 2014 3:55 PM
Working on my third free-lance layout now.  Found a 72” round church table in the trash a few weeks ago and it inspired me to dive back into this madness.  If you recall Bill Barron’s article in June 1966 MR, he proposed a round layout inside a coffee table.  Well, I am going to ditch the coffee table, but I love the round “pizza pan” layout concept.  It is a clever twist on the conventional oval layout idea.  Just ordered some tie strips and turnout kits from Central Valley (this should be interesting) and spent the last couple of days drawing paint schemes on my computer.  Since Steve Flanigan beat me to the punch with his Georgia Southern in 2001, I opted for the Central of Virginia circa 1952.   
 
I love freelance model railroading because it allows people like myself who are OCB and dyslexic to do pretty much what ever we want without getting bogged down in mindless details and distracted down some aimless rabbit path. 
 
Thanks for the form,
 
John
  • Member since
    September 2011
  • From: chicago, Illinois
  • 683 posts
Posted by Mr. LMD on Saturday, April 19, 2014 2:47 PM

AWESOME!!! cant wait till to see the pics :D

 

Mr. LMD, Owner, founder

The Central Chicago & Illinois Railroad

  • Member since
    April 2005
  • 484 posts
Posted by caboose63 on Saturday, April 19, 2014 2:34 PM

LMD, The Leelanau County has 3 GP15-1's, 3 RSC-2's, 1 RS-2, 2 H10-11's, 1 each  of 0-8-0, 4-6-0, and 2-10-0. Michigan Northern has 2 GP15-1's, 1 RSC-2, 1 44 tonner, 1 CF-7, and 1 SW8. Colors of Leelanau County engines and cabooses wil be testors red with black lettering. Michigan Northern engines will be testors green with white lettering.

  • Member since
    September 2011
  • From: chicago, Illinois
  • 683 posts
Posted by Mr. LMD on Saturday, April 19, 2014 2:13 PM

Mr. Caboose63, what type of locomotives do you use?

Mr. LMD, Owner, founder

The Central Chicago & Illinois Railroad

  • Member since
    April 2005
  • 484 posts
Posted by caboose63 on Saturday, April 19, 2014 2:04 PM

My HO scale Leelanau County Railway is based on several long torn up Manistee & Northeastern, Empire & Southeastern, Pere Marquette, and Ann Arbor branch lines in Benzie, Leelanau, and Grand Traverse Counties in Northwestern Michigan. Interchange is with Michigan Northern Railroad at Hatchs and Interlochen, near Traverse City.

Traffice is grain, animal feed, fertilizer, propane, lumber, scrap metals, beverages, produce, farm implements, fiberglass pellets, boats, cement and aggregates.

  • Member since
    September 2011
  • From: chicago, Illinois
  • 683 posts
Posted by Mr. LMD on Saturday, April 19, 2014 1:54 PM

Cannot wait.

Mr. LMD, Owner, founder

The Central Chicago & Illinois Railroad

  • Member since
    January 2011
  • From: NS(ex PRR) Mon Line.
  • 1,395 posts
Posted by Jimmy_Braum on Saturday, April 19, 2014 1:45 PM

The same Blue as the observation business car posted above.  I will link photos tomorrow.

(My Model Railroad, My Rules) 

These are the opinions of an under 35 , from the east end of, and modeling, the same section of the Wheeling and Lake Erie railway.  As well as a freelanced road (Austinville and Dynamite City railroad).  

  • Member since
    September 2011
  • From: chicago, Illinois
  • 683 posts
Posted by Mr. LMD on Saturday, April 19, 2014 1:23 PM

What livery is it in?

Mr. LMD, Owner, founder

The Central Chicago & Illinois Railroad

  • Member since
    January 2011
  • From: NS(ex PRR) Mon Line.
  • 1,395 posts
Posted by Jimmy_Braum on Saturday, April 19, 2014 12:32 PM

I got a coach and caboose done.

(My Model Railroad, My Rules) 

These are the opinions of an under 35 , from the east end of, and modeling, the same section of the Wheeling and Lake Erie railway.  As well as a freelanced road (Austinville and Dynamite City railroad).  

  • Member since
    September 2011
  • From: chicago, Illinois
  • 683 posts
Posted by Mr. LMD on Saturday, April 19, 2014 11:11 AM

Any update modelers?

Mr. LMD, Owner, founder

The Central Chicago & Illinois Railroad

  • Member since
    September 2011
  • From: chicago, Illinois
  • 683 posts
Posted by Mr. LMD on Wednesday, February 5, 2014 12:35 PM
@ rdgk1se3019 AWESOME!!!

Mr. LMD, Owner, founder

The Central Chicago & Illinois Railroad

  • Member since
    July 2007
  • From: Pottstown PA
  • 1,039 posts
Posted by rdgk1se3019 on Wednesday, February 5, 2014 12:20 PM

Mr. LMD

 

 
rdgk1se3019

The Birdsboro & Reading Railroad has recently released it`s 60' doodlebug for service.

 

 

 

 

any modifications

 

Yeah big time........original drive removed and replaced with two NWSL Stanton drive power trucks.....new bolsters to accommodate new trucks......plastic "glass" removed......Tsunami TSU-750 GE-Cummins sound decoder installed........added 6 ounces of weight.......Micro Scale Kristal Klear for all windows.......added detail parts to rear end to make a double ended doodlebug.........MV lenses with foil backing removed to accommodate 2 SMD LED`s....1 red and 1 white..... and various detail parts added.

Dennis Blank Jr.

CEO,COO,CFO,CMO,Bossman,Slavedriver,Engineer,Trackforeman,Grunt. Birdsboro & Reading Railroad

  • Member since
    September 2011
  • From: chicago, Illinois
  • 683 posts
Posted by Mr. LMD on Wednesday, February 5, 2014 12:05 PM

rdgk1se3019

The Birdsboro & Reading Railroad has recently released it`s 60' doodlebug for service.

 

 

any modifications

Mr. LMD, Owner, founder

The Central Chicago & Illinois Railroad

  • Member since
    July 2007
  • From: Pottstown PA
  • 1,039 posts
Posted by rdgk1se3019 on Wednesday, February 5, 2014 11:57 AM

The Birdsboro & Reading Railroad has recently released it`s 60' doodlebug for service.

 

Dennis Blank Jr.

CEO,COO,CFO,CMO,Bossman,Slavedriver,Engineer,Trackforeman,Grunt. Birdsboro & Reading Railroad

  • Member since
    September 2011
  • From: chicago, Illinois
  • 683 posts
Posted by Mr. LMD on Wednesday, February 5, 2014 11:38 AM
I cannot wait to see the progress. I have to repaint 99% of my locomotives that will need numbering and lettering.

Mr. LMD, Owner, founder

The Central Chicago & Illinois Railroad

  • Member since
    January 2011
  • From: NS(ex PRR) Mon Line.
  • 1,395 posts
Posted by Jimmy_Braum on Wednesday, February 5, 2014 11:28 AM

Yes I am doing more to the car.  It started life as a B&O observation and the other as a coach.  I am planning to put the railroad name above the windows (Austinville and Dynamite city), the name of the Observation/president car "Austinville" possibly yellow trim the bottom, put a full interior into it, and probably superdetail it.  Yes I do have a logo for the railroad.  It is an A above a V with D and C on either side in brilliant Gold color lettering.

(My Model Railroad, My Rules) 

These are the opinions of an under 35 , from the east end of, and modeling, the same section of the Wheeling and Lake Erie railway.  As well as a freelanced road (Austinville and Dynamite City railroad).  

  • Member since
    September 2011
  • From: chicago, Illinois
  • 683 posts
Posted by Mr. LMD on Wednesday, February 5, 2014 10:10 AM
Let's keep the chatter going guys. No harm, no foul, just the smell of smoke and the sound of brakes.

Mr. LMD, Owner, founder

The Central Chicago & Illinois Railroad

  • Member since
    September 2011
  • From: chicago, Illinois
  • 683 posts
Posted by Mr. LMD on Wednesday, February 5, 2014 10:09 AM
Mr. Braum, are you going to decorate or add any special designs to the car(s) by any chance or just keep the plain blue design?

Mr. LMD, Owner, founder

The Central Chicago & Illinois Railroad

  • Member since
    January 2011
  • From: NS(ex PRR) Mon Line.
  • 1,395 posts
Posted by Jimmy_Braum on Friday, January 31, 2014 2:30 PM

The Austinville and Dynamite city picked up a secondhand observation car to become the Railroad president's car.

 The Colors changed, and I still need to letter, detail it (inside and out)

(My Model Railroad, My Rules) 

These are the opinions of an under 35 , from the east end of, and modeling, the same section of the Wheeling and Lake Erie railway.  As well as a freelanced road (Austinville and Dynamite City railroad).  

  • Member since
    September 2011
  • From: chicago, Illinois
  • 683 posts
Posted by Mr. LMD on Friday, January 31, 2014 2:26 PM

caboose63

Mr. LMD, right now am just collecting some athearn heavyweight coach kits for both my leelanau county rwy and cadillac & lake city RR. All in planning stages. CLK would be the original 21 miles of michigan track and cadillac-thompsonville-kaleva. my layout when built will be leelanau county : Lake Leelanau, Cedar, Hatchs, Solon, Lake Ann, Honor, Thompsonville and short branch to Interlochen. route of the lines can be found in SPV's Great Lakes East volume rail atlas book

 

No harm no foul, I collect a lot of locomotives that I know I will not have them all on my layout at once.

Mr. LMD, Owner, founder

The Central Chicago & Illinois Railroad

  • Member since
    September 2011
  • From: chicago, Illinois
  • 683 posts
Posted by Mr. LMD on Friday, January 31, 2014 2:25 PM

Southgate

Good looking stuff, Mr Beasley. I like the low angle shot.

LMD, another thing I don't really enjoy much is the track planning process. But there is so little of that left, it's just a matter of how I arrange sidings to fit whatever customers I come up with. That's still open. I was going to do a sawmill, but that's so stereotype of the area, I'll probably pass on it now. It would fit in like just another sawmill in Coos Bay.  I could imagine a sizable paper shipping warehouse though. A lot simpler too.

 

i love the designing process and I leave certain areas in my plans open because I know from my past history I draw it one way and it comes out another away at times. It takes time and patience and to make it easier look up free google preview of model railroad books and magazines if you do not have any in your collection to give you ideas.

Mr. LMD, Owner, founder

The Central Chicago & Illinois Railroad

  • Member since
    September 2011
  • From: chicago, Illinois
  • 683 posts
Posted by Mr. LMD on Friday, January 31, 2014 2:23 PM

Atlanta Dave

Really nice work.  As a beginner I am often torn between being inspired and yet thinking "I can never get there".

 

Ages ago I managed a small boxcar fleet dedicated to hide service.  One load of hides and the cars were dedicated to that service until scrapped.

 

I was like that before then I choose to freelance lol.

Mr. LMD, Owner, founder

The Central Chicago & Illinois Railroad

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