Speedwitch Media C&NW PS-1

 

Sort of the last of 2025, or the first of 2026.
Another one of Ted's more recent offerings.
A really neat car. I confess an affinity for 40' Autocars. Much like the BX-34, Ted has included a large amount of photoetch details.
There's a clear path that Ted is on with his newer kits, and I for one, am fully onboard. I welcome the challenge of newer techniques and finer details.
But next will be a couple of NSC mini-kits that I've ignored for a few years now

Happy New Year 

Speedwitch Media Bx-34

 It's been 4 months now since I decided to cease my business operations with Yarmouth Model Works and YMW_Modelu. And I have to say it was a very good decision for me.
Gone are the stresses associated with running a small business in vastly uncertain times. Now every morning starts with, "What do I want to do today?", vs "What do I have to do today?"

I've been able to get more done on the layout, as well as some modeling projects for the pure joy of building great models.
One of them is this beauty from Speedwitch Media

ATSF Bx-34

 https://speedwitchmedia.com/product/p126-atsf-bx-34-duryea-cushion-underframe-modified-aar-box-car/

 This Mini-kit as to be one of the most detailed offerings I've ever seen.
A Fully accurate Duryea underframe, almost 70 parts go into the underframe alone.
Etched ladders with detailed rungs and mounting brackets, etc

The model was a challenge, but well worth the effort. The instructions are well written and guide you through the trickier processes. A normal resin kit I could get ready for paint with 8-10 hours of work, I've built almost 2000 over the years. This model took a good 40 hours. 

I am already started on my next Speedwitch project, the C&NW PS-1. It too has some challenges, but that where the fun is.
I'm very much looking forward to seeing what Ted releases next. I have some inside knowledge on upcoming projects and there is some really cool stuff looming.

 And in other news;
After more than 40 years of struggle, I'm finally getting relief from a chronic pain issue I have as a result of an accident when I was in college. I had a fall of about 20' and damaged my feet, and until very recently no treatment offered any relief including opioids.
I recently learned about a wholly different approach to addressing chronic pain,
Spinal Cord Stimulation
https://www.pain.com/en/chronic-pain-solutions/spinal-cord-stimulation.html
Basically a device is implanted near the spine which sends electrical impulses that interrupt the pain signal to the brain.
I had a 3 week trial period and have been approved for a full implant, surgery likely in January. Which will allow me to spend more time on my feet thus getting more accomplished on the layout.
So excited!
Happy Holidays everyone

So where did those etched parts wind up?

 It can now be told.
Ted Culotta has taken over the line of etched parts
Currently he listing many items on EBay.

See his blog post for more details

 https://prototopics.blogspot.com/2025/09/yarmouth-model-works-etchings.html

Good luck Ted 

So we had a bit of an ops session

 A bit over a week ago, my buddy Trevor was visiting from out west, and as a result an ops session was had
He writes about it better than I can

 Fresno to Friant (Sept 2025) – The Model Railway Show

 

Las Palmas station

 It's remarkable what can happen when one is not distracted by the daily requirements of running a business.

In advance of an operating session this Saturday past, I felt motivated to finally get the station in Las Palmas built.

A rather simple structure after, 20' x 25'. 2 windows in the gable ends and 2 freight doors. What could be simpler?
Out came the styrene and within a couple of hours the model was assembled and ready for paint. Which is where the trial began
Tru-Color offers the 3 SP structure colours. But I have a major loathing for that brand of paint. It can be a battle to get it airbrush properly and forget about ever hand brushing it for touchups, etc.
So a search was started for acrylic alternatives.
AK Interactive Gen 3 has become my go to paint line for acrylic paints. Easy to use, brushes nicely, air brushes like a dream and the colour range is spectacular.
I visited Sunward Hobbies on Friday with paint samples in hand and found these 3 colours.

To my eye, these 3 colours are near perfect match for the SP colours. And I'm well aware that colour perception is hugely subjective. But I'm sticking with these.
The end result was a sweet little structure

Next up is to replace that standin structure in the back ground
 

Trees

 I mentioned in my last post that I have a preferred process for making trees.
So here goes

I start with these lovely armatures from Model Builders Supply, sadly out of business right now but I've been chatting with the fellow who bought up the inventory.

 I clip off most of the branches

 And grab some of that lovely Super Tree material, AKA Seafoam, and cutoff smaller branch sized pieces and use ACC(Superglue) to secure to the trunk

Working my around the perimeter, bottom to top

 

Precision is not desired. The beauty of using the Seafoam this way is that there is a natural randomness that comes from using a natural material.
Once I'm happy it's off to the paint booth. The entire tree gets a quick coat of a medium grey

 

I have  Noch leaves in a variety of colours on hand
For these trees I started with a layer of Olive Green
The tree is sprayed with unscented hairspray, the cheaper the better, and while it's still wet the leaf material is sprinkled on. sometimes 2 rounds are required to the coverage desired

 

Once that's had a few minutes to dry, another coat of hairspray is applied and then a lighter colour of leaves is sprinkled on to the tree

 Poke some holes in the scenery base and plant away

The same process can be used on Woodland Scenics armatures, I find a very different looking tree results

 

There you have it
15-20 minutes a tree
I think they look great, and far more controllable than Polyfibre and groundfoam, in my opinion

Back to the fun stuff

 Now that I've made the big decision to cease my commercial operations, it's time to focus on my layout again.
For the last couple of months I've been focusing on scenery.
I finally got the orange groves and vineyards all in place

 A few hundred grape vine plants from JTT!
I seem to have cleaned out North America of this product.

The other thing was that I was looking at photos of the area I'm modeling and I came to realize that there were far more trees and shrubs than I had first realized.
So it was tree planting time!
A local hobby shop started stocking Martin Welberg products, including some nice ready made trees, so I dropped a few bucks, along with making some more trees using my favorite method. Something I'll blog about later.

It's coming along, I'm very pleased with the results
Trevor is coming to visit in September, have to clean the layout and make sure it's all running. Those cars aren't gonna switch themselves.