A Local Cement Dealer Goes High Tech

Greetings from the rattle snake infested fringe of the Sonoran Desert region of southern Arizona. A sparsely populated area to be sure, yet we have a tight knit community which shares many similar values. Those that don't fit in do not seem to stay around too long, funny how that seems to work; ya just gotta love the desert. Folks out here are practical, they don't throw something away because it has a few years on it, they keep it up, fixing as they go along, which gives this area a lot of interesting cars and trucks to look at, stuff long since crushed and made into razor blades by city folks still are in use out here. So it was a little suspicious to the locals when one of the cement dealers on the outskirts of Siete Madres showed up with a set pneumatic dump trailers a little while back, sometimes new things have to be gotten used to I guess. To the dealers credit, the new trailers were not really new, just new to this area. 

Seems the manager of the local no tell motel is also a big trucking fan, as most of the photographs coming out of this region seem to be taken behind his establishment; we're sure this is just a coincidence. All the rooms have very good air conditioning and trust me that is a very big draw when a working person needs to catch up on their sack time.

The trailer models are from Shapeways and they needed a lot of sanding. They were bought several years ago and have languished in a box due to work required to get them somewhat presentable, between some filler and a lot of sanding they have come this far, so they are finally being shared here.

Thanks for visiting and reading this far. Please leave a comment, good or bad, or just say howdy if the mood strikes.

John Huey

Arizona Southern RR

April 1st Report

I guess this is what house arrest must feel like, well except I can leave to go to the market and such. I don't go all that often though as we live in earthquake country and routinely have a few extra cans around the house along with other supplies. 

This situation has given me the impetus to start building some more models, model trucks to be more precise. The latest "rig" is a cut down White Freightliner. It began life as an Athearn model that was found on FeeBay and then it was heavily modified after it arrived here in pieces. I only wish I could have just started from scratch with it as a few things were not done as well as they might have been and the photos were strategically missing the bad news. Then again, I like a challenge and now I know that I'll need to address the problem areas in the near future. Still though, its not too bad, just not as good as it could have been, you be the judge.

For a bigger image, just click on the photos...

....and another view...

...and one final photograph.

This has parts on it from Alloy Forms, A-Line, Athearn, and Plano. It was a fun repair job, but the photos tell me what else I have to do. This truck is the lone WFL in a sea of Peterbilt cab overs owned by Thunderbird, the only other odd duck is a lone Kenworth W900.

Well, that's all for now, thanks for dropping by. Leave a note or drop us a line if the mood strikes you.

Enjoy Your Trains,

John Huey

What happened to January and February?

It's been a little bit busy here these past few months. A good friend has been ill and I've been helping him with his business to keep things afloat. Things are looking up now and the crisis is past, all that remains is the healing, which seems to be going well.

Most of the hobby projects are scattered to the winds right now, mostly in boxes awaiting their eventual call to action. It seems that my interest has turned to truck models lately and those have been a fun break from boxcars and such. 

Whilst digging for some parts I came across a relic from my days as a transition era through 1965 SP modeler.  It's a PIE rig powered by an International R-190 tractor made by Classic Metal Works. The rig features a bunch of add on parts from makers like Alloy Forms and such, plus some paint and a decal or two. I'll post a few images to show some earlier work. I really like trucks of all era's, they are a weakness of mine to be sure. Pretty sure I need a display case just for them now.

A little thing like a license plate helps out more than one might think.

A Mini Metals 32' trailer and International tractor.

A little nostalgia never hurt anybody that I know of, and seeing this rig reminded me of some good times now in the rear view mirror.

I felt the need to check in here just to say we're still alive and well, and needed a subject to fill in for the lack of useful information these posts are famous for; it's all just fun and games really.

Thanks for reading this far, drop us a line if the mood strikes and let us know whats going on with you. 

Enjoy Your Trains,

John Huey

The End of 2019 is Upon Us!

Well 2019 is almost over and it's damn cold outside, the ding-dang wind is howling and somebody shared their blasted head-cold with yours truly. Thanks for that kindness!

Only reason I'm even writing this is that the USPS person brought a box from New York City for the Arizona Southern to fondle. In it were 2 InterMountain peaked roof high cube boxcars, one SP and one SSW. They were ordered many months ago and slated for year end delivery, so at least the manufacturing sectors deliveries are mostly back on track it seems after the big snafu of months past.

Click on image for larger version.

Click on image for larger version.

The only other new freight car to come our way came from a friend's private collection, something he was thinning out and I figured it would be a good fit on the AZSO. This one is an Athearn Genesis car.

None of the 3 new cars have been to our shops yet, I can see some tweaks are in order.

Thanks for reading this far, have a safe and happy 2020! 

Enjoy Your Trains!

John Huey