Progress on the layout has been slow but for me it's not the destination of a completed layout (are they really ever complete?) that is my goal right now. Since I'm still employed full-time, hobby time is minimal. When I do get to the train room, I enjoy the process of almost every aspect of the hobby.
This summer I was able to find a Fine Scale Miniatures kit on eBay. Surveying the contents of the box was like opening a time capsule. Kit #65, "Old Time Car Repair Shop" was first released in February of 1970. The basswood, mostly all pre-cut, is in fine shape for 40+ year old material. The instructions, while somewhat yellowed with age, are very detailed and include scale drawings. This will be a fun and enjoyable kit to build. Look for a post about the build experience with in-process photos when it's complete.
One benefit of procrastination is that I don't paint myself into a corner early on. I've once again reconsidered the design of a small yard. This new iteration requires some minor extensions to the benchwork to support the yard lead. These additions were fairly easy to implement since I had not yet permanently laid any track.
After the extensions were installed, I was able to begin laying out a small yard using Micro Engineering's Ladder Track System which is designed to save space when building yard ladders. I'm still mulling the idea of including a turntable in the yard.
I picked up a very inexpensive Walthers Kit ($13!) at the last Great Scale Model Train Show. It was my first attempt at making plastic look like wood. Using the tried and true alcohol / India ink mixture seem to provide the result I was going for. The finished model is the hero image of the blog.
