jerm.ca

For reasons I’d prefer not to discuss in blogland, I’m trying very hard to keep myself busy and distracted these days. This is doing wonders for my various hobbies. This weekend past, for example, I finally got the base painting of the rest of the 16mm passenger stock completed and I’m quite pleased with the outcome. Oh, sure, there’s need of a touch up here and there… and there… and there… and there, but overall I think quite highly of it.

The idea was not to replicate the British Railways red and cream livery of the fifties, though I did draw inspiration from it. One car – the first behind the locomotive – is a noticeable shade lighter, to me at least. It’s probably because that was painted almost a year ago, hence a variation in the paint mixture. I plan to rectify that and the many touch ups this weekend to come.

Oh, yeah, need to figure out what to do about the roofs, too.

Almost a month ago I mentioned that I could have trains running within thirty days if the snow cleared. Well the snow did clear and last Tuesday after work, I got out the crash scissors and cleared the dead vegetation from the line and sent the Boxcab around with the first run of the year. The Boxcab (name and number pending) performed admirably despite nearly dead batteries. It certainly is a noisy little beast, but I’m pretty sure ‘Cricket’ was, as well, but it got quieter after being run in over the summer.

I’ve decided I’m not a big fan of the cab steps. I’ll probably replace them with stirrups tomorrow. Also, I still need to find something for the exhaust and paint needs a bit of touch up. Other than that and the aforementioned name and number, I feel pretty comfortable saying it’s done at this point.

The time is soon upon me! Spring is nigh, and in regards to that bold statement, I offer to you the following evidence:

1. The temperature has been above freezing for several weeks on end.
2. When out to procure a hot beverage at lunch, I did so, having a blast, bombing around in my 3 with the windows down and the roof open.
3. Even though 60cm+ of snow fell on the railway since the last post, 95% of the track is now passable.
4. Because I say so, gods damnit!

And just in time for the imminent opening of the running season (I’m thinking this weekend if not sooner), the Boxcab is now officially in a state of near-completion and will take to the rails soon. There’s still a few small things to do (lettering, minor roof details, paint touch up, not too sure about the steps), but it’s ready enough to enter service. I won’t take up much more of this post with words, so I’ll fill in the awkward silence with pictures.

Now, to settle on a name…