#HOScale

Doggard 🚂🐺

@mr-doggard.bsky.social

1 hour ago

Three HO scale models of Northern Pacific locomotives; one Rivarossi U25C numbered 2529, and two Athearn SD45's numbered 3619 and 3622.

An array of Northern Pacific cars and locomotives; from left to right, two Walthers cabooses, a U25C, and three SD45's.

Just showed up in the mail: two Athearn RTR SD45's! NP had 30 of these so they will be a welcome addition to the future layout. Next big purchase is probably gonna be a three pack of U25C's from Korea Brass to test against my Rivarossi model. #hoscale

Christian Ray

@jcjray.bsky.social

1 day ago

HO scale Caswell gondola, inverted, with a layer of mahogany primer.

This gondola is topologically complex with the dump mechanism, brake gear, etc. After one layer of Mr. Mahogany Surfacer 1000, a few spots were missed. #HOScale #ModelRailroad #ModelRailroading #ModelRailway #CaswellBuild

Jim Barrett

@jimbarrettrail.bsky.social

1 day ago

The short hood is built and fitted to my GP9. It was a real challenge getting the angles sorted and it's not 100%, but I'm reasonably happy. I've also fitted a speaker mount in the cab - not sure whether I'll keep it. #hoscale #modelrailway #modeltrains #kitbash #187scale #bsmrguk

Christian Ray

@jcjray.bsky.social

1 day ago

Side view, unpainted resin HO scale model of a Caswell gondola.

Angle view, unpainted resin HO scale model of a Caswell gondola.

Assembly complete. The corner steps are etched metal things that require folding and break apart all too easily. But I persevered. Next, bathing and priming. #HOScale #ModelRailroad #ModelRailroading #ModelRailway #CaswellBuild

Rockyrailroad

@rockyrailroad578.bsky.social

2 days ago

Finally got Sparky the steeplecab mounted on a proper 8-wheel chassis, with the help of some Meccano and a very thin sheet of cardstock

Need to make it more rigid and add a massive weight box to the middle, but, it works without making the loco excessively big!

#modelrailroad #modeltrain #hoscale

Jim Barrett

@jimbarrettrail.bsky.social

2 days ago

Over to my brother's layout this evening. It's a bit of a longer run than mine. We mostly ran oo gauge, including my class 90 and West Coast Mk3 stock, but I also managed to set up and run my stack train for the first time. #hoscale #modelrailway #modeltrains #187scale #bsmrguk #modelrailroad

Christian Ray

@jcjray.bsky.social

2 days ago

New Models post about a Union Pacific PS-0 box car build from a Funero & Camerlengo kit. models.jcjray.com/2026/03/12/p... #HOScale #ModelRailroad #ModelRailway #ModelRailroading

Jim Barrett

@jimbarrettrail.bsky.social

2 days ago

Yesterday and today I've cracked on with the short hood scratchbuild on my GP9. I'm off to run some trains on my brother's layout this evening, but hopefully I can get the hood finished tomorrow. #hoscale #modelrailway #modeltrains #kitbash #187scale #bsmrguk

Christian Ray

@jcjray.bsky.social

3 days ago

HO scale Caswell gondola model having seams between parts filled with Tamiya Putty, Basic Type.

B end view of an HO scale Caswell gondola showing the brake detail.

Almost finished on top. Just a few more details and it will be assembled. That brakewheel is a tiny and very thin wafer of resin - it took a lot of time to clean it up. #HOScale #ModelRailroad #ModelRailroading #ModelRailway #CaswellBuild

Rockyrailroad

@rockyrailroad578.bsky.social

3 days ago

Three trains out on the layout today

J.G. Brill streetcar
New York Central R3 electric
Nickel Plate Berkshire

I think it's funny that, of the three of them, the single truck Brill car makes the most noise

#modeltrains #modelrailroad #hoscale #trainlayout

Jim Barrett

@jimbarrettrail.bsky.social

3 days ago

After an incredibly stressful few days at work the value of a hobby is immeasurable. So good to just run a few trains and get away from everything (except the return of my stalling point). #hoscale #modelrailway #modeltrains #187scale #bsmrguk #modelrailroad

Christian Ray

@jcjray.bsky.social

4 days ago

Inverted HO scale Caswell gondola with the brake apparatus installed.

The underside detail is almost complete. Note the 3D-printed T pipejoiner in the trainline, a part from precisionresinworks.com and chain links from ppw-aline.com/products/292.... #HOScale #ModelRailroad #ModelRailroading #ModelRailway #CaswellBuild

Steve Sloan Trains

@stevesloantrains.bsky.social

4 days ago

As a local waits to depart and an F-M switcher worked the "Mission Bay Yard," a turbine powered through freight crossed over from number three track to the eastbound main heading out of town. On Saturday, March 7, 2026, the California Central Model Railroad Club (CCMRC) had a scheduled operating session in the historic Agnew depot in Santa Clara, CA.

Trains working the "Mission Bay Yard," at California Central Model Railroad Club, the model railroad in the Agnew Depot in Santa Clara, CA, on Saturday, March 7, 2026.

(Please see alt field for more detail)

#trains #railroads #railroading #modelrailroading #HOscale #ccmrc #santaclara #santaclaraca

Loudmouth

@loudmouth1934.bsky.social

4 days ago

Well... it appears a long over due old friend has finally arrived in prim and proper spirit.

Barring everything goes well as I haven't run it in a year or so, I finished putting the decals on my now Trinidad Denver & Western 600 'Big Tex'
#ModelTrains #ModelRailroading #HOScale #HoTrains #TDW

Christian Ray

@jcjray.bsky.social

5 days ago

Top-down view of an HO scale Caswell gondola with end sill installed in the right location, bearing corner gussets, and equipped with the couplers.

Inverted HO scale Caswell gondola with trainline and brake detail being installed.

Adding the corner gussets and end sill - this time, in the right place. After that, the trainline and brake gear. #HOScale #ModelRailroad #ModelRailroading #ModelRailway #CaswellBuild

Christian Ray

@jcjray.bsky.social

5 days ago

HO scale Caswell gondola, inverted, with dump mechanism rod and bearings installed.

HO scale Prototype couplers being installed into graphite-painted resin coupler boxes.

Threading the bearings on both sides finished, I am preparing the coupler pockets with graphite. These are Prototype Couplers, a little more prototypical than Kadee (at the cost of being harder to operate). #HOScale #ModelRailroad #ModelRailroading #ModelRailway #CaswellBuild

Christian Ray

@jcjray.bsky.social

5 days ago

Inverted HO scale Caswell gondola next to a rod and several dump mechanism bearings that will be installed.

Inverted HO scale Caswell gondola with the dump mechanism rod threaded through the first two bearings.

Inverted HO scale Caswell gondola, partially threaded with dump mechanism bearings on one side.

The underside of this project will take the most time. Here, we install the dump mechanism very gradually. It requires sanding out 16 ring-shaped bearings per side and threading them through a rod. Tedious but not difficult. #HOScale #ModelRailroad #ModelRailroading #ModelRailway #CaswellBuild

Steve Sloan Trains

@stevesloantrains.bsky.social

5 days ago

On Saturday, March 7, 2026, the California Central Model Railroad Club (CCMRC) had a scheduled operating session in the historic Agnew depot in Santa Clara, CA. ATSF 1862 led an "Eastbound Peddler" shown here crossing "Mouse Creek." The real ATSF 1862 was an EMD SD45 built in 1966, builder's number 32538. It was renumbered to 5562, later rebuilt to 5316.

On Mar. 7, 2026, at a model RR club operating session in the historic Agnew depot in Santa Clara, CA. ATSF 1862 led an "Eastbound Peddler" here crossing "Mouse Creek."

(Please see alt field for more detail)

#trains #railroads #railroading #modelrailroading #HOscale #ccmrc #santaclara #santaclaraca

Christian Ray

@jcjray.bsky.social

5 days ago

Top-down view of an HO scale Caswell gondola with the lip on the B end mostly peeled off, hanging by a thread.

Top-down view of an HO scale Caswell gondola with the B end lip being glued in place with cyanoacrylate (CA, or superglue).

B end-on view of an HO scale Caswell gondola with the lip at the top repaired.

As @jamesdmcdonald.bsky.social suggested, this mistake has proven to be fixable. After gradually reattaching with thin CA, laying it flat upside down on a piece of glass straightened it out. #HOScale #ModelRailroad #ModelRailroading #ModelRailway #CaswellBuild

Christian Ray

@jcjray.bsky.social

5 days ago

HO scale Caswell gondola with the ledge on the end warped and disconnected from the main casting.

The B end was being difficult, so I ended up dumping a slight excess of Un-Cure. This had the effect of eating away at the casting. Is this model, as the kids say, cooked? #HOScale #ModelRailroad #ModelRailroading #ModelRailway #CaswellBuild

Christian Ray

@jcjray.bsky.social

5 days ago

Inverted HO scale Caswell gondola with a bottle of Bob Smith Industries cyanoacrylate remover, Un-Cure.

HO scale Caswell gondola with an erroneously placed end sill removed, showing collateral damage.

Then I realized my mistake. I resorted to Un-Cure (bsi-inc.com/hobby/un_cur...) to remove the end sill. Removal incurred collateral damage I will need to fix... #HOScale #ModelRailroad #ModelRailroading #ModelRailway #CaswellBuild

Christian Ray

@jcjray.bsky.social

5 days ago

Inverted HO scale Caswell gondola with underframe installed next to a bottle of CA glue and a spray bottle of Instaset.

Next was to use thin CA with Instaset (bsi-inc.com/hobby/insta_...) to fine-tune the locations of the cross-bearers. Basically, hold the rib in place, drop a tiny bit of CA, make sure the rib is positioned, then spray Instaset. #HOScale #ModelRailroad #ModelRailroading #ModelRailway #CaswellBuild

Christian Ray

@jcjray.bsky.social

5 days ago

Inverted HO scale Caswell gondola with crossbearers test-fitted.

Inverted HO scale Caswell gondola with crossbearers moved in order off the underframe.

Inverted HO scale Caswell gondola next to the assembled underframe: center sill and cross-bearers.

Inverted HO scale Caswell gondola with underframe fitted into place.

The underframe is complex, with the dumping mechanism visible. It came together mostly smoothly, though some of the individual cross-bearers were not as straight as I wanted. #HOScale #ModelRailroad #ModelRailroading #ModelRailway #CaswellBuild

Christian Ray

@jcjray.bsky.social

5 days ago

HO scale Caswell gondola, inverted, with sill supports in place.

HO scale Caswell gondola, inverted, with end sills erroneously installed in the wrong location.

I was overly concerned about the twisted casting; my actual big mistake was installing the end sills with CA (superglue) instead of the end cross bearers, which are what is supposed to be there. This will come back to haunt me! #HOScale #ModelRailroad #ModelRailroading #ModelRailway #CaswellBuild

Christian Ray

@jcjray.bsky.social

5 days ago

HO scale gondola from above with a flat metal plate installed in the center of the hold.

HO scale gondola resin casting with the false floor installed on top of the metal plate.

I had hoped that the floor weight would straighten out the casting - and it did, but not completely. #HOScale #ModelRailroad #ModelRailroading #ModelRailway #CaswellBuild

Christian Ray

@jcjray.bsky.social

5 days ago

HO scale gondola resin casting, without details installed, next to a pin vise holding a #79 drill bit

HO scale gondola casting with grabirons installed demonstrating the degree of twist in the casting.

First, to drill out the grabirons. I was a little concerned about the degree of twist in the primary casting. #HOScale #ModelRailroad #ModelRailroading #ModelRailway #CaswellBuild

Christian Ray

@jcjray.bsky.social

5 days ago

Photo of a page from the Westerfield history of Caswell gondolas, "Caswell Variations", included as part of the kit. To the right is a prototype photo from the B end. On the left is a tally of the many Caswell gondola variants and how long they lasted, ranging from 1930 to 1970.

Caswell gondolas and derivatives were also used widely for coal service, sugar beets, woodchips, stone - basically anything not needing weather protection. They had a long life and made it to maintenance-of-way service as well. #HOScale #ModelRailroad #ModelRailroading #ModelRailway #CaswellBuild

Christian Ray

@jcjray.bsky.social

5 days ago

The #SantaFe served many mines in New Mexico, Arizona, and California where these gondolas would be useful. wheelsmuseum.org?page_id=945 mojavedesert.net/railroads/sa... #HOScale #ModelRailroad #ModelRailroading #ModelRailway #CaswellBuild

Christian Ray

@jcjray.bsky.social

5 days ago

https://old.atsfrr.org/resources/Sandifer/Howard/Consist/Consists.htm Photo of a short consist on the Howard Branch of the ATSF in Kansas. Behind steam locomotive 1015 is mixed freight, consisting of a Frisco USRA composite gondola, ATSF Caswell gondola, and taller Caswell with wine door mechanism.

These gondolas ended up a lot of random places (atsf.railfan.net/oddities/gon...). From the 2nd photo here, note how high the Caswell rides compared to another gondola design: old.atsfrr.org/resources/Sa... #HOScale #ModelRailroad #ModelRailroading #ModelRailway #CaswellBuild

Christian Ray

@jcjray.bsky.social

5 days ago

Also groups.io/g/ModelRailr..., sfrhms.org/wp-content/u... #HOScale #ModelRailroad #ModelRailroading #ModelRailway #CaswellBuild