Building a Bridge for the Layout.Completed
The valley that I am spanning is about 40 inches across. I constructed the bridge using pieces from Kato and Atlas. Specifically, I am using two of the Kato single track Truss bridge kits and three of the Atlas plate girder kits. I scratch built the bridge piers to look like concrete supports. There are four supports with the tallest being 133 scale feet high (actual size = 10 inches) to reach the lowest part of my valley. I modified the Kato truss bridges by removing the supplied track and grinding down the notches left. I filled each end with modeling putty and sanded smooth. The Atlas plate girders were modified by filling the holes on the bottom with pieces of styrene and I made wooden walkways along each side of the track. I then painted the bridges a uniform gray color and weathered them with a bit of rust colored paint. I built the supports with sheet styrene, filled the gaps with modeling putty, and sanded them smooth. This made all of the seams disappear. I painted the supports a concrete color and weathered them. Once all the parts were complete, I glued the whole bridge assembly together with epoxy. The completed bridge was planted in the layout and track was connected.

Completed Bridge Model (Click for larger view)

Building a Grain Elevator from Scratch.Completed
I needed a small grain elevator for a siding. I researched prototypes and decided on a more modern structure with concrete silos and a large headhouse (houses the elevator). My model has 6 silos. I started construction by building the silos. I used 1 1/2 inch PVC pipe cut to the correct length. Each piece of pipe was sanded top and bottom to make all of the silos the exact same height. I then glued them to each other with PVC cement and then glued the unit to a base of .060 styrene. I built the headhouse out of .040 and .020 styrene sheet. I used .020 on the walls that had windows to make them easier to cut out. For windows, I printed computer drawn windows onto transparency sheets and cut out each window. The structure was painted before the windows were attached. I then scratch built the details of the grain elevator (dust collectors, piping, vents, loading spouts, etc.).


Completed Grain Elevator (Click for larger view)

Painting and decaling 2 Dash 8-40C's.In Process
These are being painted for the Norfolk Southern. I am using Shellscale Decals for these including decals for the number boards. Sunrise Enterprises snow plows were added along with Micro-Trains coupler conversions. Currently, I have added the plows and the stock details. The engines are now ready for the paint shop.

Painting and decaling a Kato C44-9W.In Process
This is being painted for the Norfolk Southern. I am using Shellscale Decals for these including decals for the number boards. The engine is ready for the paint shop.

Assembling a Fine N Scale 5-unit Articulated Well Car Kit.In Process
These are ready for the paint shop.

More projects will be added to this page soon.