Waterville & Washington Railroad

 Today is the last day of 2020 and am will be happy to see it go. Much progress has been made as a family, but it's been overcast by COVID and all of the associated issues. I'm in the progress of having the bridge piers of the Big Blue River bridge 3D printed. If it works out, I'm going to have the cement grain elevators of Blue Rapids and Waterville printed.    I've been busy assisting with future model production at a number of model manufacturers plus I've been purchasing slides and have started to receive photos and other slides to scan for archive purposes. I enjoy that portion of the hobby, but I need to get back to finish the modeling projects I started. Oh, we put a down payment on a pool and hot tub so that'll consume some of my time, but I think as a family we'll enjoy it.  Here's to a better next year and hopefully more modeling. Happy New Year!

My time is nearly complete here in Poland. Unfortunately the detail parts I ordered for my UP GATC Box car model were shipped to my home address and progress stopped on the model. I plan to pick it up when I get back next month. Lots of events and turmoil in my life, but it'll work out in the end. I look forward to getting back to my family and continuing my projects. Nate

I've finally gotten back into doing a little modeling. I'm working on a Cannon & CO kit for the Union Pacific GATC 50'1" box car. It's been going together well. Finished the underframe for the most part - not 100% accurate, but it looks pretty close. Used a Moloco underbody and various parts plus some scratchbuilt parts. It's been interesting as I packaged this model plus the tools/etc that I thought I would need while I'm over in Poland. Looks like I'm short a couple pieces of styrene for the plug door so I placed an order with a company in Germany and we'll see how long it takes for the parts to arrive. Shipping from the States takes up to four weeks. Ugh. I placed the air reservoir in the wrong location on the underframe. Wasn't satisfied after viewing and studying the relatively few prototype photos that I could find and went back and changed it to be located in the center of the car like the prototype. One thing is for cert...

It's been another year and no updates for my modeling blog. I've been busy, but not posting. I need to start posting more. Plan is to start building several Cannon & CO freight car kits while I'm deployed next year. I've been busy, but not modeling specific and not posting what I have been doing. I worked with Rapido for the Mopac FPA-2, FA-2, and FB-2 locomotives. I worked with Cannon & CO on their two phosphate box car kits - which was a fun project. I worked with Athearn on the Genesis Mopac GP7 models that were recently announced. I learned several interesting things about the Mopac lettering changes that occurred on the GP7/9/18 locomotives during the 60s and early 70s which I wouldn't have known if I didn't study the great collection of items in the Missouri Pacific Historical Society collection. I plan to work with Rapido on their upcoming SW1200 model and their B-boat series of locomotives. I purchased Brian Banna's outstanding model of Mop...

Where has the time gone? I've spent 4 months out of country this year and only did a little modeling this past weekend. Next year won't be much better, but one of my resolves is to make time to model even if it's 15 minutes a week. Something is better than nothing. My work continues on the Pratt Truss bridge since I've received the bridge eye bars. To next year. May it be better.

Visited Lance Mindh eim house and viewed his outstanding layouts this past Sunday. Very inspirational. 

Caught a CSX coal train at Silver S pring, MD, on 11 December 2016.