Prototype Rails 2023

 

This past weekend, January 5th through 7th, I attended my first Prototype Rails, aka "Cocoa Beach," in three years. We all know it's been a topsy turvy world since where we were at the start of 2020. It was great to see many familiar faces and meet some new people for the first time in person. Unfortunately, since that time, we have lost several of the regulars at the event and their absences were noted and respectfully honored among us. 

I will also note that in the days after the event we learned of the passing of Mike Brock, its founder, just days before this year's event. Mike was a large personality, both literally and figuratively. He loved many things, including highjinx at the expense of guests at his UP layout and the cookies served at the meet. On a more serious note, we owe Mike a great debt whether many realize it or not. His two most obvious contributions to the hobby are the Steam Era Freight Cars (STMFC) list, which he helped create way back in the 90s, through its migration to Yahoo! Groups and then to groups.io as well as the founding of Prototype Rails. Both of these are enduring and the amount of information that has been passed through the iterations of the STMFC is staggering. Two other noteworthy "segues" from Prototype Rails that many may be unaware of are the Shake-n-Take concept that has been picked up in various iterations by other meets (Sunshine pioneered the "gift" parts set, but Shake-n-Take introduced the concept of a group build with all the necessary parts being furnished to attendees) and the partnership with the NMRA to help co-sponsor the events and share/defray some of the more expensive, but necessary costs, including insuring such a meet. Being extremely humble, Mike was a giant in his impact on what we in our model railroad community take for granted, but his contributions deserve great recognition. I hope that he is now spending his time making sure every train has at least one NP box car and trying to find that N&W hopper coming over Sherman Hill! A tip of the cap to you, Mike!

As usual, there were many fine models on display and I tried to capture a sample via the medium of photography. Enjoy the fine work!

Steve Hile presented a detailed clinic on Swift's reefer fleet, including tips to model them and showcased many of those efforts in the display room, including this kitbash

I somehow neglected to document who created this finely weathered CSX covered hopper 

This neat Erie bulkhead flat car kitbash is the work of Ben Bartlett

Dick Harley had several models of "modern" PFE refrigerator cars on display in various states of completion

Rich Remiarz brought several GN box cars from Minnesota to highlight some of the subtle differences across their large fleet

Roger Hinman showed his progress on the 2022 Shake-n-Take project, including some of his deviations from the "out of the box" kitbash. Roger has done a lot of freelancing in his model

Tony Sissons showed off not only his fine models, but his great, tiered display for showcasing his work!

Ryan Mendell of National Scale Car had several of his own offerings plus some from his peers, including this Yarmouth Semet Solvay tank car

Bob De Stefano shared this Conrail (ex-NH) PS-1 with an exceptional weathering job

Carl Marchand brought this highly detailed SCL switcher that started as a Bowset VO-1000 before his detailing, painting, and weathering efforts

Fenton Wells showed off the results of his micro virtual group build that he did with Clark Propst (who did not make this year's event although he was missed at the Tiki Lounge...) using an Accurail body and Westerfield roof among other details

Terry Kolenc brought several UP cars including this S-40-21 to represent a car rebuilt at Cheyenne in 1970

Al Brown continues his kitbashing parade (he presented a clinic on the subject, too!) W&LE 27439 is a mashup of Shapeways ends, Tichy underframe and details, Kadee trucks, scratchbuilt sides and roof, and Archer rivets!

Preston Stinger displayed this gon with a very neat load

Pardon the distortion in the photo... I had to wedge my phone between two rows of cars to get the shot! Eric Thur continued his work on interesting loads, including this JWD U-channel load

There was passenger equipment in the display room, too, including this A&WP 10-1-2 Pullman, Lake Belanona. Another one where I failed to capture the modeler's name!

Lastly, Bruce Smith had many fine models in the room, including a number of his beloved Pennsy. He replaced a few boards on this nice model of a GRA composite gondola.

That's all for now!

PFE Clinic File from Prototype Rails 2023

Here is a link to my PFE clinic file from Prototype Rails 2023 in Cocoa Beach this past weekend, "The Early 1950s PFE Fleet: Prototypes and Modeling Details You Might Have Overlooked." If you saw my presentation at Hindsight on basically the same topic, this clinic was greatly expanded as the format was for one hour presentation.

Prototype Rails 2020

Bruce Smith displayed many cars with military loads, including this CNW AAR flat car with Roco tanks

Prototype Rails 2020 was hosted at the Hilton Oceanfront in Cocoa Beach, Florida January 9-11. Mike Brock and his able crew put together another excellent event with nationally recognized clinicians, a great vendor and model room, cookies twice per day, and perfect weather. Unfortunately, while the clinic list was impressive, I failed to attend the few that I most wanted to see. However, it was another fantastic weekend. This event easily retains its position as the most relaxing on the RPM calendar. I managed to record several photos of modelers' efforts in the display room. Here is a sample of what was out on the tables.

This is an in-progress Cannon parts set to model a Seaboard Air Line (later SCL) phosphate box car displayed by Ken O'Brien

Randy Hammill of Prototype Junction had an in-progress New Haven DL-109 on view

This exquisitely weathered model was displayed by Thoroughbred Railroad Models

Bill Raymond scratchbuilt this model of a B&O Chicago Terminal Railroad transfer caboose, one of six such prototypes converted from secondhand M-43 class cars absorbed from the BR&P

Event host Mike Brock showed off this heavily weathered ART reefer, presumably from an Amarillo Railroad Museum/Intermountain car

Dr. Denny Anspach cobbled together parts from NKP Car, Bethlehem, CalScale, Hi-Tech, Central Valley, and American Limited to model CB&Q Diner-Parlor 307

Steve Orth modeled Union Pacific diner 3696 using two Walthers cars, a roof spliced from Walthers and Branchline parts, plus a scratchbuilt underframe detailed with Walthers. Branchline, and scratchbuilt parts

Eric Thur displayed several flat cars with heavy loads, including this PRR flat by F&C with a 3D printed load from Multiscale Digital (eBay seller id: multiscale_digital_llc)

Steve Hile brought this impressive model of the coal chute at Bureau Junction, Illinois on the Rock Island all the way from Chicago (hopefully he brought it by car and not via airline!)

Ross Dando/Twin Star Cars showed off this exquisite O scale rebuilt Rock Island flat car, including stunning deck

Jim Zwerneman scratchbuilt the major components of this Fort Worth & Denver box car and married it to an Atlas roof. The decals are from Bruce Blalock and the trucks are Proto48 standard

Ryan Mendel of Nation Scale Car brought an in-progress B&O M-26D/E using Speedwitch Duryea under frame parts

Brian Carlson used a Sunshine Naperville "gift" kit of the FM-11/FM-11A class flat car plus a Sunshine min-kit for a pair of Caterpillar crawlers

This F37 class flat car is an F&C resin kit as built and detailed by Bruce Smith

Al Brown scratchbuilt this impressive Seaboard Air Line AF class 50' auto car using styrene

Blair Davies shortened an Athearn 70' baggage car to 60 feet and added scratchbuilt sides to replicate an Erie baggage car

Scratchbuilding Clinic File

As promised, here is a link to my presentation file from the scratchbuilding clinic presented at Prototype Rails this past weekend.

One note: I had described the challenges of photographing some things without the benefit of extra hands. I think I have come up with a solution that I will use to allow me to post several videos that should illustrate many of the techniques described during the clinic. Please check back here over the coming weeks to see those videos.

Later this week, I will post some of my photos from the model display area.

A new load - Allis-Chalmers BZO-HV Oil Circuit Breaker

At Prototype Rails last weekend, I took photos of several things that I found interesting (or thought others might too.) One car and load that caught the attention of me and Bob Heninger was Eric Thur's PRR F30A flat car with a nice Allis-Chalmers BZO-HV oil circuit breaker, shown above. I am always on the lookout for interesting loads. The notes accompanying Eric's model indicated that he had purchased it on ebay. A quick search using my iPhone (while I was standing in front of Eric's model) revealed the seller, whose id is multiscale_digital_llc. There are many interesting items in numerous scales (not just HO) that can be used for layout detailing or flat car loads.

Unfortunately, the item was out of stock. However, on my flight back to New York, I contacted the seller and received a prompt reply that more would be available within a few days. As promised, I received a message a couple days later and placed an order. The order comes with what you see above (meaning double what is on Eric's flat car model.)

Joliet, Illinois, June 29, 1958, Bruce K. Meyer photo

I have a prototype photo in my collection of a very similar unit, included here for reference. Eric used the same photo as reference for his modeling. I will post my efforts here in future. I do plan to make a few modifications that I will share (note that Eric did, as well). Regardless, I highly recommend that you explore these offerings at ebay as they fill a great need for loads and details.

Above is a diagram I have included as reference that I found via google on the site ElectricPartManuals.com.

Wordy Wednesday - Photos from Prototype Rails 2019

After missing last year's Prototype Rails due to the vicissitudes of Mother Nature, I was really anxious to make it down to Cocoa Beach this year. Everything went off smoothly (including my first ever flights on JetBlue and their extra legroom was appreciated by this tall guy). The event did not disappoint, as always. Mike Brock and his crew kept things running smoothly, Marty Megregian maintained order in the display room, and Jeff Aley compiled a top notch lineup of clinics.

If a picture is worth 1,000 words, here are approximately 23,000...

There were many fine tank car models on display. Tony Thompson brought this Sunshine General American Type 30

Butch Eyler has become synonymous with amazing weathering jobs using guache paints.

This CN cylindrical covered hopper was also Butch's handiwork

Eric Thur displayed this colorful Frisco USRA rebuild from a Sunshine kit

He also modeled this interesting load of Allis-Chalmers circuit breakers... more on those in an upcoming post

Bill Darnaby of the Maumee Route fame has also become famous for his display of tank cars. This Union Starch model is from a Sunshine kit

Resin Car Works produced this Consolidated Chemical acid tank car as modeled by Bill

This UTLX Type X is also from Bill

Bill also brought another Resin Car Works acid car, this one decorated for Hooker

Not to be outdone, Steve Hile presented a clinic about Warren tank cars, as well as several models

Here is a closeup of one of the in progress models

David Vaughn models in O scale and displayed this impressive Nickel Plate (ex-Wheeling & Lake Erie) gon

This Comet Models wood craftsman kit from the 1939-1941 era is an oldie, but a goodie from Dr. Denny Anspach

Mont Switzer brought models of freight equipment from his beloved Monon, including this 1947-built precursor to the PS-1

Al Brown always beings several interesting models. This is his take on the tried and true Tichy flat car, lettered for NC&StL

He also showed a Tangent acid car decaled for GATX using decals from Dan Kohlberg

Roger Hinman built last year's Shake 'n' Take kitbash for an Erie auto car

Chuck Davis presented a master class in Lehigh Valley box and auto cars and displayed many fine replicas

Bruce Smith always brings several trains worth of models. This X26 is from Westerfield

Bruce also modeled this spectacular landing craft loaded on an ACL flat car (Tichy)

Fenton Wells displayed another Shake 'n' Take car. This WP rebuild is from a few years ago.

As usual, Bill Welch brought several in progress models, including this CNJ ARA box car with many scratchbuilt details

Bill also brought several Emergency box cars, including this Chicago and North Western beauty