SP 52' Gondolas

Close enough for government work...

I may touch up the SP logo since it got reduced a bit, but I am much happier with these revisions of my original repaints. Now I need to retouch the 50' box car, and one of the 100t open hoppers.

SP Cement Hoppers

MaineLines just released his long awaited 70 ton cement hopper. Not only is this model superbly detailed, it comes in the SP livery. This saves me the time of trying to repaint them (though I will need to do Cotton Belt). You can download this model at RWA.

There was an industry on my route which used these hoppers, its a cement silo (storage most likely) in Union City, and its a small branch off the mainline. I already had plans on reviving that industry as its one of those land marks that I remember back to my childhood.

Here is a picture of a short haul running down to Santa Clara with a couple of these in the middle.

More flat cars

Finished the SSW and SP flat cars tonight.

Golden State

MadMike has sent me the first beta of his Golden State series to QA. Aside from the few packaging issues I found they look sharp.

If you are wondering what the Golden State was, here are two links about its history:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_State_(train)
http://espee.railfan.net/spe-07.html

SSW 40' Hi-Cube

Done and Done...

Another repaint complete for the RWA donationware package. Here we have a 40' PS box car rebuilt into a modern Hi-Cube. There were only 14 built (series 36000~36013) and from what I am reading from the web they were in high demand (so why didn't they make more???)

What's on the workbench?

• Doing some light QA work for BLLW on their up coming Bay Window caboose. Just from proof-reading the Installation/Repaint Guide I can tell this will be a great model. (and Yes, I will repaint it for the SP... unless MadMike gets to it first)
• Playing with Britkit's updated MP15DC. The changes make this kit really shine now. Positionable number boards, SP lights... MadMike will have a field day with this kit. If you own the original and would like the update, you need to send Dick Cowen (Britkits) an email with your order information so he can quickly verify your purchase and send you the new download link.
• Almost done with a modern Cotton Belt 40' Hi-Cube repaint from the RWA donation ware package. Just need to finish up some lettering and weather it.
• Gave the CC some love. Planting trees mostly, but with the size of this route that is a career in itself. I discovered that there don't appear to be any Eucalyptus trees available
• I may have found someone to help with some of the buildings I need on the CC. Jpetersjr over at RWA has kindly accepted my request to model Niles Tower, and possibly Centerville Station (SP Type 23). I have in return offered to do some repaints for him. 

SSW 52' Gondolas

Just finished... yea, yea, I added more to my list.

These (and a few more) will be available as an add on for the RWA site donation pack.

Now to finish the SP wagons...

CC Progress (2011-05-15)

I haven't reported any progress on the CC in a month now. The route is still moving along at a very slow pace due to concentrating my efforts at repainting, and some light QA work for the fine community over at RWA. I can say that Newark Junction has all its signals up and some scenery has made it on to the field. I also added more to Oakland Terminal Yard, but not enough to say its functional.

I still need to pull up the tracks (again) in San Jose, just past Santa Clara. I found a better approach to laying the track, and it will help make it look more prototypical.

As for the repaints... I am finding that I have a bit of "repainter's block" (aka perfectionism). When I started the task of making the RWA repaints I thought to do "the best job I could" and just knock them out. Now that I have learned more about the types of cars I am repainting, and where in history they fit in, I am finding I could do them more justice... but should I? I think the answer will be to find a happy medium.

And just to end with a picture... Mad Mike has done it again (download at RWA):

pic by buzz456@RWA (used with permission)

Starting on the 40's

Just started on the 40' boxes.

Sneak peek at the paper service box...

50 - 10 = 40

And thus the PS 40' was born...

Wait a sec, its the other way around, anywho, GreatNortherner over at Gold Age of Railroading just came out with a PS 40' box. The template is practically the same as the 50'. Now before anyone starts thinking, 'Hey, why not just duplicate your 50' reskin to the 40'..." you need to consider that SP did not have any 40' HYDRA-CUSHION boxes.

The good news is that I can reuse I number of my layers from the 50' project to the 40', which I have already started to do, but that's not everything. There are a couple late 1950's boxes I will make as well, and they will need new lettering, branding, and color. The Overnight used silver, and standard used a darker brown.

So far I am looking at 6 new and 6 weathered skins, which turns into a couple weeks of work.

If you are interested in this free PS box, and repaint template,  they are currently up on the RWA site. When they are available on the Gold Age of Railroading, I'll post a link to there.

50' PS1 Box Car - Southern Pacific Repaints (Released)

Its a great feeling to finish a project which was an accumulation of many 'firsts'.

+ First time shrinking a layer
+ First time rasterizing text and slanting it (HYDRA-CUSHION)
+ First time hunting for the right texture (thanks to Mike on getting me to do this, it was worth it).
+ First set of files uploaded to RWA (or any RW site)
+ First contribution back to a great community

And my repaint list grows:
- Take the PS1 repaints I just did and alter them to Cotton Belt (shouldn't take long)
- Take what I learned with the PS1 and touch up the RWA wagons I have been working on

If you want to download my work, please visit the RWA site, and look for the 'File Library' link and then 'May 2011'. You can also use the search box and look for PapaXpress.

And what would be a post without a pic?

50' PS1 Box Car - Southern Pacific Repaints

I finally have the repaints the way I like. There will be four variation included in this release:

• - Hydra-cushion CP new and weathered (SP1n and SP1w)
• - Hydra-cushion DF new and weathered (SP2n and SP2w)

I have MadMike doing some QA work on them to make sure that they run nice and I haven't missed anything, and I have an email out to GreatNortherner to make sure I have his blessing (should be clear since this is from his freeware model).

After a short break from repainting, I plan on making a Cotton Belt variant.

 I'll post some pictures when they are up on the RWA site.