If you get round to a British section I'll supply the overhead entertainment :03:

Thanks Oberon.

That is indeed a GP38, High Nose type. It's one of my flea market locos i'm in the process of converting over to Maine Central colors. It's been stripped of it's Santa Fe factory coat. What looks like weathering is just over spray from a coat of paint I put on the inside to keep the lights from shining through.

The green one next to it is a GP7, and yep that is indeed a Berkshire 2-8-4 on the turntable. Just behind it is a maroon F3A and F3B consist with a parts F3 next to it in ATSF colors. Next to that is a GP-38 another flea market loco that is being worked on. The black one next to that is a recent acquisition that is lot like a U-30c but there are some small differences, then another green GP7 which is a matching set with the other one. Just behind that you can make out a couple roadwheels of an old 4-4-0 wood burning steamer. At far right in black with the red stripes is a GE 44 ton switcher.

Not pictured I also have a 4-8-2 Mountain steamer which is the workhorse of the layout.

Now that's pretty damn cool!:up::salute: So, how much does your set up cost? And how much time does Mrs August allow you to be an "engineer?":haha:

If you're good this year and post a lot, maybe McBeeoclaus will get you this:
http://www.wonderbrains.com/images/p...-whistle_1.jpg

August, I love the steam engines. Post a picture of the mountain steamer. I have a Booth Kelly logger. Purchased 20 years ago. I run it at Christmas.

http://www.google.com/search?q=booth...mXCUEzw8_XeMM:

Here ya go: 4-8-2 Mountain

http://home.comcast.net/~rdsterling/...20Dscf3687.jpg

She is nice. Is your collection American Flyer scale? I can not tell if you are running HO scale.

:rock:
I used to be an avid model railroader but the starter set I got sucked and it was basically a christmas present that I wanted to expand on but never really did. I had a N&W J Class 4-8-4, and a bunch of Diesel types but I yearned to have more Steam, leading up to an insane desire for either a Challenger or Big Boy. I moved on to Rail Sims on my PC and frankly, its a lot cheaper.

It's a great hobby! the layout looks great August! :up:

p.s. was that a yellow AMC Pacer or a Pinto in your street shot? :O:

Yep on both. A company called Model Power makes a bunch of 1960 and 70's vintage ho scale cars and the prices are generally reasonable too.

http://www.hobbylinc.com/model-power...lroad_vehicles

AVG: HO scale. I wanted to go N scale but you never see that stuff in flea markets so it'd have meant going all new.

HO scale. Got it. The Booth Kelly 2-6-6-2 is HO. Made by Mantua. I have a few N Scale but HO was more prominent and still is I would imagine. I like the intricate workings of the steam engines. I did have my far share of the diesels.

I'm quickly getting the impression this hobby can be as expensive as collecting diecast if not even more so :)

That's the thing with any hobby, it can become expensive!

Looking great, August. :yeah:

Do keep us updated on progress.

Back when I worked at the hobby distributors I spent a fair share of time behind the retail desk. One of my funniest memories is when a wife or mother would be buying a gift, and would ask for something in "Ho scale". I enjoyed explaining about O scale, and that H-O was "Half O", O, or 0 scale being 1/43 and HO being 1/87.

Get a job in the industry that makes your hobby. Then you can get stuff for free. I lost several thousand dollars worth of models in a fire, but I can't complain too much since most of them were freebies from the shop. Most of my books also came from working for years at a book distribution warehouse. :sunny:

That said, I still spend around 10% of my income on books and models.

Surely a half scale of 1/43 would be 1/86. :hmmm:


:O:

You would think so, but both scales were imprecise at first and even now vary with different standards for European and American modelmakers. Don't even get me started on HOn3
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_scale
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HO_scale

Also, were you aware that some dedicated enthusiasts lay their own track, using tiny wooden ties and scale spikes holding down the individual rails?

:yep::yep::yep::yep:

20 years ago I paid $200.00 for this Booth Kelly Logger. 2-6-6-2. She has not lost value nor has she grown in value.

http://loggingmallets.railfan.net/mo.../bklogger2.jpg