Industrial Locomotive aka "The Critter"

Very nice build and interesting subject

I like the detailing and weathering. Very nice model

Carl

That's really nice scratch building!!  I especially like the paint work. Can it be powered?

Thanks  to all for the kind words...

 Yes, it's powered by the power block from an old g guage engine (third photo). I run the "critter" on my garden railway in the backyard in warm weather. When it snows it  runs on a small switching layout in my basement...

Love it!  I do an occasional railroad subject myself. I wish more scale modelers would be open to it.  They shy away from RR stuff- part of another hobby.  I personally do not worry about powering it- I have no layout to run stuff on.  But I do like to build scale models of interesting subjects no matter WHAT the genre of the subject is.  Locomotives particularly are very impressive beasts, even small yard machines like this.  Thanks for posting, Thunder1.

Thanks Don

I've followed your posts over the years and you do build some eclectic models, all nice examples of fine workmanship.

The  variety of prototypical subject matter keeps me interested in building so the hobby  never gets "old".  Looking at the scratchbuilds in this forum can be an inspiration to try a new area or different approach to a favorite subject.

Railroad subjects offer a wealth of subjects, even if you don't run trains as a hobby. In fact my interest in model trains stemmed from building items for my Dad's HO layout. There are the train cars to scratchbuild or kitbash  but there are buildings, vehicles, bridges, figures even infrastructure(railroad signal towers for example) can be modeled in a number of different scales as "stand alone" models.    

I'd love to build a 100 ton "hook" (railroad crane) in 1:32 scale, the steam powered type. Here in Rhode Island there was one stationed near my home and the New Haven RR used it as part of a wreck train that responed to train de- railments. This is an example of a stand alone display model.

The other thing to railroad subjects is the "weathering", if you like to depict a model in it's working state trains are great to test and develop  your weathering skills.

There are so many model subjects I can't believe folks post entries that they "can't find anything to build" and are at a loss to start a new project. I'm no scratch build expert but attempting a build in a new area is always fun and to me that's what the hobby is all about.

Thanks for posting, Thunder.  It's a fine looking model.

thunder1

The other thing to railroad subjects is the "weathering", if you like to depict a model in it's working state trains are great to test and develop  your weathering skills.

I first learned about weathering from my brief excursion into model railroading.  I believe the model RR folks invented the idea, well before anyone in the static scale community.  I suggest folks who want to see really great weathering pick up a copy (or peruse it in the library) any issue of Model Railroader.

Don

As you were pointing out, weathering RR stuff can be a learning experience and a lot of fun. This is a 1950's plastic kit (dummy locomotive, no electric motor) in HO scale. This is an example of a "stand alone" model, or could be placed on a train layout as a locomotive awaiting the scrap yard cutting torch.

It was airbrushed with Floquil paints and a real hoot to experiment with, using some RR photos as a guide.  Now I'm ready for a WWII tank or a 57 Chevy to experiment on!

Indeed I find armor folks have now picked up on weathering quite well.  A lot of car folks do try a beater or a junk yard specimen now and then, though weathering on car models is still pretty rare.

Excellent weathering on that locomotive!