The Blue & Red Cushions Construction Co. - 2023

As the summer draws to a close, it's time to look back on those lazy, hazy, crazy days of the past two months and just what the heck I accomplished model railway-wise. The Blue & Red Cushions Construction Co. was my main focus - an outdoor option - to do some modelling up and away from the layout room. With outdoor layouts last attempted in 2021 (this link includes links to previous outdoor layouts) I moved some individual modelling projects outdoors in 2018, 2022 and now 2023.

Train show finds from the March, 2023 Napanee Train Sale (above) included my main rolling stock project (top photo). Though my haul included many structure sections, I didn't have the space nor inspiration to use them this summer. Back to those hoppers. First, removing the underframe, trucks and couplers to replace them with X2F's while on the blue cushions of the front patio:

A box of X2F's at the ready:

Then some weathering with water-based craft paints after reassembly:

The Conveyor with Industrial Accessories box (below) was a little above my price-point. But once I opened the box, I decided the whole thing was worth assembling and painting. Originally produced in Europe by Piko, mine is by Model Power. I really wanted it for the coal elevator for my Anglin's Coal Yard - lots of other goodies like tools, tanks and garbage cans. A fun couple of afternoons of gluing, painting and grunging-up by the Red & Blue Cushions Construction Co. !

Since the conveyor was two identically-tooled sprues, I ended up with a few spare parts! I'm not sure if I'll keep the bottom unloading hopper, but it's there for now. The wheels turn.

All the tools, barrels, carts, garbage cans and pallets painted while in the red-cushion sunroom!

The warm, late-afternoon sun beams benevolently upon my modelling efforts (below). At top centre there are three sprue parts I severed and painted for a scrap load:

I liked one of the two sprues of figures in my finds, so painted them up. These are most likely two of eight sprues in an original Plasticville box of 48 figures. I haven't yet decided how to approach those rather large, though very stable-looking bases:

Once the fall weather arrives, and the front porch doesn't beckon in daytime nor the sunroom in the evening, it'll be back to nightly operating sessions in the basement layout room!

Running extra...

Ever wanted to take a commuter train from Montreal's Central Station to CN's Taschereau yard? Now you can in this ride-along tail-end commuter train video of a short-lived detour! Check out 'That Van' at the 7:15 mark and the transload at 7:37ish.

Another Napanee event is upcoming - the Greater Napanee Valley Train Show September 16 and 17. Just west of Napanee, CN's Belleville yard power is now BNSF 2926-CN 4798. Most eclectic yard power ever. Fellow Kingston railfan and ARK member Paul Hunter caught the pair being wyed on September 4th. Thanks, Paul!