Amherst Big E Show West Springfield, Mass

Hi folks. Well it was an exciting last week. I finally attended my first Amherst Big e Springfield Show http://www.railroadhobbyshow.com/index.php   Several of my model railroad friends have been going for the past several years and have always said that I should go. Well since I retired at the end of last summer, I didn't have any excuses left and all I can say is that I was totally blown away by the size and volumes of merchandise as well as all the superbly done display layouts. Its one of those things that you have to see with your own eyes to believe. I managed to attend a great sign making clinic put on by Bar Mills - always a treat to hear how professional model makers do things to get such realistic results.
I had a shopping list made before I left ( mostly DCC items such as decoders , LED's, wires, etc. However I also spent a bit on other items that caught my eye. The attendance this year was ~21000 so I am sure that this is a huge sales event for the vendors that partake - I guess that is why there is a waiting list for vendors to get into the show. We also were on hand to assist the NBR&N (US Division) setting up their modular layout. It has been approx. 10 years since the last time I have seen it and have to say, it is still as impressive today as it was back then. We also ran into several other model railroaders from the Maritimes and shared a couple of meals and laughs with those folks. We drove down and back ( approx. 13 hours each way) and the weather was totally cooperative- which is the exception rather than the norm this time of year)!. I must say that I plan on attending again. Here are  a couple of photos that I took at the show. Till next time.

On30 Work Car

Hi Folks: I have started working on an On30 work/tool car kit that was picked up for me by a friend of mine when he was at the Big E show in West Springfield , Mass show a couple of years back. The kit is made by Banta Model Works https://www.bantamodelworks.com/T-2136.html . It looks to be  a relatively simple kit that simply fits on to a standard sized Bachmann On30 flatcar. As well I am going to use this build as an opportunity to try out my collection of Pan Pastels instead of using paint to color the shed. In preparation for that , I re-watched a Video that I obtained from Stoney Creek Designs several years ago on the in's and out's of using Pan Pastels. There sure sounds like alot of pros to using Pan Pastels. So far I have stained the floor ( India ink and alcohol) and built the main structure of the attached shed. I used Pan Pastels -Neutral Grey for the walls of the shed after I first applied a coat of Testors Black enamel wash (from their CreateFx line) to all parts of the shed ( with the exception of the laser cut floor).

On another note, I will be attending this years Big E Show in West Springfield, Mass. http://www.railroadhobbyshow.com/
Many members of my group have attended several times in past years, but that will be my first and I am really looking forward to it! It is one of the biggest annual MR shows in the US!!Expect a full report on this blog when I return. On that note, time to finalize my shopping list. Till next time...

Banta Tool Car

Shed Walls Colored with Pan Pastels