Author Archives: timf

GN Engine No. 141

Posted on July 17, 2019 by timf

I went to a swap meet in May and one of the few things I bought was a new in box Stewart Hobbies model of GN Engine No. 141.

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More track work, and wiring!

Posted on July 16, 2019 by timf

The last update showed turnouts that had been completed and painted. Last week I installed six of them and some more straight sections of track. I’m pretty much done with laying track until I can get the bridges sorted out … Continue reading →

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July 10, 2019 Update

Posted on July 11, 2019 by timf

There hasn’t been much progress recently, mainly because we took two weeks off and rode the train across Canada. There will be posts and photos about that later on my other blog. But some progress has been made in the … Continue reading →

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Building Earls Oil

Posted on June 11, 2019 by timf

Another copy over from my other blog. This is the first laser kit I built. I’ve started building some laser cut buildings for my model railroad. I figured that I could get a head start buy assembling some buildings in … Continue reading →

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Blucher Glue Works

Posted on June 11, 2019 by timf

This is a re-post from my personal blog. I posted it there before I had a name and blog for my layout. For my second laser kit I decided to go with something a bit larger. I bought a copy … Continue reading →

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Progress Report – 3 June 2019

Posted on June 4, 2019 by timf

Since the last update I have done the following: Installed the 3/8″ plywood. Painted the backdrop sky blue. Installed the 1-1/2″ pink foam. Determined what the basic track plan should be. Laid out the track plan on the foam, placing … Continue reading →

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Benchwork!

Posted on May 27, 2019 by timf

Exciting! Yesterday I finished building the benchwork and installed it! I built the benchwork out of 3/4″ sheathing plywood. It’s all hidden so it doesn’t need to be pretty. I ripped 3″ and 2″ strips and used L-girder construction – … Continue reading →

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Hand Building A Turnout

Posted on May 19, 2019 by timf

My current track plan has about 12 turnouts (switches) in it. The quality code 83 Shinohara (no longer manufactured) and Walthers (coming soon) turnouts cost about $25-$30 each, even on eBay. That’s a lot of cheddar for turnouts. (About $300 … Continue reading →

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Ready to start construction of the benchwork!

Posted on May 19, 2019 by timf

Yesterday afternoon I borrowed my friend Gus and his pickup truck and ran to Home Depot to buy the sheet goods required to build the benchwork. Sitting in my garage waiting for it to stop raining is: 1 sheet 3/4″ … Continue reading →

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Welcome!

Posted on May 17, 2019 by timf

The Blackwing and Western is a model railroad based on a fictional branch of the Great Northern Railway. The town of Blackwing is located in Eastern Montana and has several small industries serviced by the Great Northern. The time period … Continue reading →

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