Kansas City - NMRA 2018 Contest Photos

Didn't really take much in the way of photos during the op sessions at KC, but did hit up the contest room.

Wow.

I'm such a sucker for modern steam...

Somebody totally scratch built a N scale steam loco. When I say totally scratch built, I mean he soldered the driver spokes to the driver hub!

Check out the gallery on richmond-terminal.org.

NMRA Contest Models - Steel Truss Bridge

Continuing our bridge theme, this model is fairly compact, but the mass of the prototype comes through this very nice HO model.

4 tracks; this was another well researched model from a prototype.

NMRA Contest Model - Lift Bridge

Continuing with the series to discuss the contest models at the past NMRA convention, I'd like to highlight one of the large bridge models that was, I believe, an award winner.

This is a large lift bridge, that was modeled very faithfully from the prototype, including prototype drawings and photos that the modeler personally shot with the assistance of the railroad that owns the bridge.

Modeled in HO scale, the entire structure was over 5 feet long.

We will start with an overview shot and move around the model from there.

A stunning amount of detail in one of the towers.

More pictures are available in the NMRA 2014 gallery on the main site.

Quick Shot - NMRA Contest - BN Caboose

Even though I model the post-caboose era, I admit to a certain level of affection for the things. Maybe it is because they are the iconic representation of freight traffic - from steam to diesel, cabooses were the end of the train.

Maybe it is because of the colorful names that got attached to them: caboose, van, crummy, hack, cab, cabin and bunches of other monikers.

No matter what, I still feature a few on my layout as shoving platforms in my era, and enjoy seeing great model of them.

The following is a few shots of a nice BN caboose, that was entered into the model contest at the Cleveland convention this past July. (2014)

As you can see from the foreground of this photo, the NMRA Magazine folks have asked the modeler to contribute an article on how he or she made such an excellent model.

Note all the handrails and other wire work on this model. Note the bars across the end windows; probably there to reduce breakage.

Quick Shot - NMRA Contest - Gondola with load and weathering

Another contest model with a couple of snaps, just to whet your appetite for what will be coming down the road over the next few weeks.

This was an Athearn gondola that has had a custom load put into it and some fairly heavy weathering has been done, as fits a gondola in scrap service.

Quick Shot - NMRA Contest - Iron Carrier Lake Boat

I took a couple of shots of this neat diorama, but this was the only decent picture so far.

Two Hulett unloaders from Walther's kits, track, office, and a large pile of taconite to unload.

Only issue was it way too clean to be a real dock area - those are always trashed and rundown. Be that as it may, an impressive effort and well received in Cleveland.

More Contest Models from Cleveland's NMRA Convention - Rotary Coal Dumper

Another scratch-built structure of some note was this rotary coal dumper building. HO scale, made to be integrated to a layout, and operating as well.

Overhead shot to capture a good portion of the model.

Very nice detail here; lots of safety railing, lights and model figures.

One of the things that struck me about this model is how well the insulation for this metal framed building was done. It matched what I have seen in the 1:1 prototype to a T.

This was another model that the NMRA magazine folks wanted to feature in the magazine, so I hope we will get to see more of this model in the future.

NMRA National Contest Models - Big Steam

I figured that I would take the opportunity to highlight a few models from the past NMRA national convention that I found intriguing. I'm hoping to turn this into a short series, so watch this space for updates.

The first model, if you could call an undertaking like this a mere model, is a 7.5" gauge, 1.6" scale model of a Milwaukee Road 2-8-2 steam locomotive.

The pictures are not able to do this massive model the justice is richly deserves. In talking with the builder, Karl Kobel, this has been a 8 year quest that is is still not finished with; and he estimates at least another 2 years of work needs to be completed.

 

The amount of hand finishing and what I would call polishing touches are almost beyond comprehension. At the edge of the tender walls, he welded on stainless tubing to give the tender the correct and snag free treatment that an operating model cries out for.

If I had to sum up this model in a single word, breathtaking would be my word. I am hopeful that we will be able to see this model featured is great detail in a future NMRA magazine article (I hope many articles), as the magazine's editor requested to work with the builder to feature this in the magazine.