This Bachmann 0-4-0 Porter saddle tank locomotive looks just like the little mining locomotives that operated on narrow gauge mining roads all over the world.  It has numerous added details, including a new steel cab.  You see, old #1 hit a steer on the tracks and rolled down an embankment several years back, destroying the wood cab and the headlight.  The culprit steer's skull now adorns the headlight bracket.

This little 0-4-2 looks like it is ready for the scrap heap.  It has similar details added, including a Grandt Line cab detail kit, Precision Scale smokestack, and Sonora Scale Models drawhead and drawbar on the front pilot.  For a better look at these locomotives, see the 2008 issue of On30 Annual magazine.

Other projects recently completed:

Here's a water tank car I made from an HO car made by IHC. This is the most important car in the train, as some of the mines high up in the mountains depend on the railroad for their water supply during the dry summer months.

I opened up the filler hole and fashioned a dome from 1/4" styrene tubing. The platform is made from scraps of balsa and coffee stir sticks. The lid is fashioned from four pieces of stripwood glued together, then cut into a circle.



This is a Boulder Valley Models shorty caboose. The roof is made from coffee stir sticks, and the smokejack is a short length of plastic coffee stir stick.  Can you tell I like coffee?



I covered the wood strips with a thick application of acrylic paint, then applied strips of tissue to the wet paint. I tried to simulate the effect of red roofing paper that has had tar applied to it, with some tearing and a quick repair to one corner of the roof.



I used a drill bit to make slight dimples in the wood to simulate knotholes. I don't know if I like the effect, I haven't decided yet...



Here is a Backwoods Miniatures flat car I built with a little scene on it.  It looks like the puppy is very interested in what its owner has in that can!

Here is another Backwoods Miniatures kit, this one is a gondola loaded with coal for the mine boilers.  It was fun creating the weathered wood texture.  The crews keep the cars in good working condition, but they don't see much paint!

 Here is a view looking down at some of the BM kits I have built up for my little mine supply trains...I like the textures of the weathered wood, rusty metal and coal.  One of the great advantages of larger scale modeling is the ability to depict textures that are lost in smaller models.

Pulling this worn train is an equally worn Davenport gas-mechanical switcher.  Note the broken window, back up light, bent cab wall and added grab iron details.

This locomotive has definitely seen better days!  The engineer is an Arttista figure I modified by adding a black wide-brimmed hat - standard attire for men in this era and location - and a black beard and mustache.  It's fun to modify the look of things to add character and interest.  These changes only required simple tools, a bit of wire, paint, and a glob of white glue and a a scrap of Post-It note for the hat!

It seems there are countless techniques to make plastic resin parts look like weathered wood...I used washes of acrylic paint and drybrushing to create these effects.

Here is a Boulder Valley Models flat car I made into a short gondola, using styrene rails and coffee stir sticks.  It is loaded with machine parts for the mine.

I have started working on a maintenance-of-way train using items I already have on hand.  The fellows in the car shop came up with this innovative rail car to haul the relatively long rail around the E&SG's sharp curves.

The car is based on a pair of Boulder Valley Models short flats that I made into disconnects, similar to the cars that were used in the logging industry.  The 'bunks' that hold the rail are made from scrap rail bent and soldered to shape.  The bunks pivot on bearings in the center of each car, made from washers.  A 'rooster' made from another scrap section of rail keeps the cars connected, and a real rail load finishes the model.

Here is a Backwoods Miniatures short flat car I made into a makeshift tool car.  It has custom side panels and added details from numerous sources.

The fun in building this car was figuring out how to fit everything in the small space available!

Here is a Boulder Valley Models 14' flat car with Chivers trucks being used as a power car.  It has a 200-gallon Berkshire Valley fuel tank feeding a Life-Like diesel engine that turns a Crow River generator.  Note the fuel line running from the tank to the fuel pump on the side of the engine.  Some details remain, including the electrical box next to the generator and some electrical cords stored on the car.

Watch for more to come soon!

On30 MODELS

Click here to go to a clinic on creating rusty, crusty metal finishes.

Click here to go to a clinic on weathering a rusty steel boxcar.

Click here to go to a clinic on operating with real link & pin couplers.

This site is under construction, so watch your step!

 Questions?  Comments?  Complaints?  Get off your donkey and e-mail me at vgniner@cox.net

All contents Copyright 2007 Verne Niner.  Best viewed at 1280x1024 resolution.        

HOME     CONCEPT     VIRTUAL TOUR     HISTORY     FREE GIFT     TRADING POST     LINKS     SITE MAP

E&SG, Estrella, sonora grande, estrella sonora grande, estrella & sonora grande, model railroads, on30, on30 model railroads, arizona divide, across the arizona divide, verne niner, verne g niner, verne, niner, coronado, coronado railroad, a&nm, o scale, 1/48 scale, on2.5, on21/2, arroyo verde, arroyo verde western, arroyo verde & wester