A Tiny Bit of Progress

Trying to correct the sins of the past, finding homes for all the stuff that got piled on the layout over the years is a daunting task, yet it's a lot closer to finished now than a few weeks ago. In the meantime there is a saying about all work and no play that has to count for something right? Enter a couple of projects that have been sitting on shelves for many years, they have seen the light of day once more.

First attempt at a removable solid ore load,
I guess everything has its learning curve.

Finally got a load made for one of the older AZSO ore cars, it's mostly Arizona Rock and Mineral Copper Range RipRap with a little coarse ballast glued to a .040 fitted styrene base with some styrofoam under the rock to help give it some extra shape. Nice color is it not? I like it. Note: these bottom dump cars are all used between the mine and concentrator/smelter on the Copper Mountain branchline; between El Cobre and White Rock, see map at bottom of this blog.

Then a good friend who lives a long way north of me has provided some decals he acquired down in Old Mexico. I was lost as to what to do with one set, so I made up a car for it. Nothing online seemed to show a prototype, but the lettering was so cool it just screamed to be used. Enter a whoops ordered Accurail red 40' boxcar kit, a data only model and those decals found a home. Should I paint the grabs and ladders silver, white, (platano o blanco) or just leave them alone?

Here is an outside shot of NdeM 61180, this shows the cars
true color as seen under normal lighting.

Here we see freshly outshopped NdeM 61180, a 40' combo door boxcar with the aforementioned decals displayed; Arizona Southern S-1 #69 doing the honors switching behind the old cardboard warehouse wall. The flash makes it look a lot brighter than it actually does under regular layout lighting, but you get the idea. Please excuse the poor focus on the near end of the car, I was in a hurry and did not get that taken care of like I should have.

Thanks to JonC and TonyP for their contributions to the Arizona Southern's legacy. You guys are alright. Love ya brothers!

That is all for now, write if in the mood strikes you, or at least leave a comment. Enjoy Your Trains!