From start to....

I spent some time in the "Train Shed" this weekend, mostly just moving stuff around and getting a feel for my plan. So far I feel that what I have in mind is going to work well for my long term goals at this location. As always I plan to document my progress as much, or as little as there will be. I hope that the new space allows me to be more creative and more productive then I have been in the past couple of years.

So here is my first photo of the actual "Train Shed" as you can see, there is some work that needs to be done, mainly the "fancy" pink trim, flower pots, shutters, roof issues and landscaping. The plan is to repaint the main house this summer and match the shed to the house.

In the past, the future was kind of uncertain, the current situation looks like we will have a good amount of time at this location. So I think that this project may see more progress then any of my previous layouts. I hope this will be a Start to Finish story, but only time will tell.

For more on this project please click HERE

"Train Shed"

I have been meaning to try my hand at Sketch-up so I thought it would be a good idea to try to put some of my ideas of what I want to try to do with the "Train Shed". Although basic in its plan it will serve well for what I am wanting to do.

For more information on my plans you can check out the new page HERE

Update on Bend Stockyad Spur

With the purchase of the new home came a few changes. First with moving not everything makes the move. My extension for the stockyard spur was warped and damaged, so I decided that I will scrap it and start fresh. I was also not really happy with how heavy and awkward it was becoming.

Also at our new home my layout and workspace will be residing in a shed in the garden. The exterior of the building in 15' x 8'. It currently has no power, so I will need to run power, wire, create some of the basic creature comforts. I figure once I have finished the walls and added the necessary stuff I will have a 14'6" x 7'6"  working space. This will give me enough space to build a Free-mo testing layout. I plan on having a removable section that I can test out Free-mo modules.

So bringing this back to the purpose of the this post. With the shed only being 7 feet wide I decided to modify my plan to fit the space. I have changed it to 10' long main set  with a 5' extension. This will allow me the ability to setup the modules in my new work space and not only work on them, but test them.

So here is the new plan:

First orders of business; Idaho Free-mo

With my move to Lewiston Idaho I found that there is no active Free-mo group in Idaho, or even in the area. So after a few weeks of getting settled I have gone ahead and created a Idaho Free-mo Yahoo Group, Facebook page and Webpage. If you are interested in Free-mo in Idaho, Eastern Washington or Montana drop me a line! Click here for more information Idaho Free-mo

Good thing I built modules...

I have not posted on the blog in quite awhile and for good reason. I have finally got to move from the Midwest back to the Pacific Northwest. I am going to be tied up for awhile longer as I transition from my old job into my new job. Also I am working to get a new home to house my modules.

I have also been able to make it back to Bend Oregon which I have not been to since 2007. So with my quick detour on one of my trips I was able to snap a few pictures of the Stockyard lead. The area has changed a lot since 1968, but there are still remnants of how things use to be.

Start of the Stockyard spur

I have had the benchwork started for the Bend Stockyard spur for awhile but have not done much with it. I had the opportunity to add the backdrop and line up some of the track for project. I have some issues I still need to work out on the backdrop, but I at least have a start. Once the backdrop is cleaned up a little I will start on painting the distant parts and start on roughing in scenery.

Tiny People

Finally fixed the people on the inside of my Ludgren Equipment Company. I am pretty happy with the way they turned out as most of the time HO scale figures look goofy. All of this figures have been customized by either modifying their clothing and/or body position. I then hand painted them all and over sprayed them with Dullcote.

Update to my Plan

Just doing a little work on the page today.

I updated the Bend Oregon Free-mo merging it and my Stockyard spur, being as it pretty much one and the same. You can see the update HERE  along with the new plan as seen below:

This has allowed me to open up a new page and show the new project I have been working on.
You can see my  new project HERE

An Oregon Trunk Production...

I created a short video of a short train on my North Junction Free-mo module. This is the first time I have created a video, I still have some work to do, but it is better than nothing.

Ludgren Interior Done...almost!

I have finished up the interior details of my Ludgren Equipment Company machine shop. Next will be to do some weathering, get some figures modified for the scene and then I can move onto the lights.

Some more details

I am continuing to add details to my Ludgren Equipment Company machine shop. I only have a few items left to add to the interior and then I can work on the lighting. My goal is to have it completed by the end of May.

For more photos of my progress click HERE

Some junk just sitting around...

I have been working on some details around the outside the Ludgren Equipment machine shop. Here is a broke down tractor and some scrap that is rusting away. There may be some more use for these old pieces  of equipment, or maybe if  scrap prices go up they may ended up being cut up. For now the rust gathers and the weeds grow.

I actually did something

I have not posted in awhile, between work and life model railroading has not been a priority. I have finally got back to working on Ludgren Equipment. I have done a little weathering on the outside of the structure, which is a work in progress. I also started working on the interior of the machine shop area which will be visible as the large rollup door will be open.