June T(scale)eenth

As we celebrate the Juneteenth Holiday here in the USA, I am also celebrating some new modeling developments.  Here's a run-down of what I've been working on at CCE Models over the past few weeks...

K-36:  I received what seems to me to be the "final" body shell for the K-36, which has fine detail but more rugged construction and some other improvements. Note the headlight, number boards, piping and even a whistle.  Drivers are 3D printed, but leading/trailing and tender wheelsets are all T-gauge standard wheelsets.  It's primed, but waiting on the etched detail set to arrive before it can be finished (cosmetically).  The etched detail set includes rods, handrails, ladders, window frames, visors, and some other stuff.  So this will make at very nice display or free-rolling dummy model.  The challenge now becomes "can it be powered".  I think so...eventually.  I will have to keep the pencil sharpened and engineer a drive for it over the next year or so.

Ford F-7000 MOW Truck:  I completed this design in both T and Z scale.  It came out better than expected actually.  It's a kit with cab, dump bed, frame, and crane as the major components.  There are also decals (for Penn Central) that are being printed for this model as well.  It's planned to reside on the Sharonville Engine Facility diorama.

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Trees:  I think that I shall never see, a thing as lovely as a T-scale tree..  Thinking ahead I am realizing I will need numerous trees for various dioramas so I wanted to practice up on how to make a decent-looking T tree.  Some time back I bought a large bag of the cheap model trees that are made in China (simple twisted wire and foam) with the idea I'd use them at some point.  They are about 2-3 cm high and come in a fairly garish bright green, so the first thing I did was paint the foliage using a couple rattle cans of flat green (NATO green and a slighty lighter color) to tone down the foam. Then I used cheap brown acrylic craft paint to coat the trunk again, then used some brown and black pencils to give it a little texture. Then I did two different finishes to the foliage.  First I dusted some white chalks from above to lighten the upper surfaces, then sifted "yellow grass" ground foam turf (Woodland Scenics) to simulate new growth and leaves with the light brightening them.   I'm pretty happy with how it turned out and will be thinking about how to do fir trees and sagebrush for the Rio Grande dioramas/modules.

The Larch

Decalmania!:  I spent a great deal of time this month working on vector graphics for decals.. some of the subjects include CN diesels, VIA diesels and passenger cars, PC diesels and cabooses, PRR and Amtrak GG1's, L&N diesels, TTI u-boats, and GATX tank cars.. 

PRR and Amtrak GG1 set

What's coming... expecting a series of etched frets with details for various models (both new and old) and some lineside details such as this Calvert switch stand in 1:300 scale.

Photo by J. Ehernberger

Until next time,
Jesse