Year: 2021

BNSF Locos for new layout.

Kelvin Barnes Uncategorized ,

These are the four Loco’s that I have had for many years and my new purchase. They are photographed on my photo plank as opposed to the layout and they will all be weathered or re-weathered as necessary, they will also receive a little detailing.

1/ Athearn SW1000 no. 3637 – Full BNSF Livery

Walthers GP70 No. 3820 – Full BNSF Livery

Walthers GP70 No. 1600 – Full BNSF livery

The three loco’s above will be the main movers on the new layout because of their smaller size. The two Locos below will appear on the layout, but due to their size being much larger, they will be rarer visitors.

Athearn Dash 9-44CW No. 681 – War Bonnet livery ex Santa Fe now BNSF Lettering.

KATO – SD 70 Mac -No. 9615 BN Executive Livery

All Locos will have their front and rear air pipes etc. added, as below.

BNSF Buildings Stage one weathered.

Kelvin Barnes Uncategorized ,

Hoped to finish the buildings today, but it has been raining heavily and the garage is to damp to complete the job – below are a few photos after being washed and wiped as a base coating. I still need to do some dry brushing and a little air brushing when we have a dry day.

Anyway I think you can see how they have started to blend with the rest of the layout and backboard.

Update 3/2/21 BNSF Layout

Kelvin Barnes Uncategorized ,

A lot of work completed, sky painted, background painted, fences added and pipeline bridge made, painted and put in place. All these things I hope come together and form the basis of a semi desert scene.

There is still lots of work to do, especially detailing and weathering the buildings, which I think will be next.

Another six wagons for BNSF Layout

Kelvin Barnes Uncategorized ,

These are wagons I purchased over twenty years ago, they used to run on the Bensen Layout I made in the early 2000’s. These wagons in contrast to the six I weathered the other day are light to medium and some have a faded look that I am playing around with.

When mixed with the first six I posted, which were quite heavily weathered I hope that I will have a good overall ‘working look’. I may well buy two more wagons and give them a very light weathering, virtually new or repainted, after all that mirrors an average train content.

By the way, Bensen is still viewable on this site – just search the name.

Six Wagons for BNSF Layout.

Kelvin Barnes Uncategorized ,

Here are six American HO wagons I purchased about four years ago. And now the BNSF layout is on its way, I thought it a good time to weather them. They were all done by wash/wipe and dry brushing, with very little air brushing.

These will join my previous six wagons and three locos on the new layout, they are already weathered.

More Concrete on BNSF Layout

Kelvin Barnes Uncategorized ,

This is not a full update, but I have spent all day adding the rest of the concreted area and detailing what was laid already. Below are the results, beginning to look a lot better after some of the expansion joints added and a touch of weathering.

Still to be ballasted and desert edges sanded.

Sorry photos not great quality.

Update 28/01/01 HO BNSF

Kelvin Barnes Uncategorized ,

Just a quick update on the still unnamed Layout. Been quite busy laying areas of concrete inside and outside the main ‘Transfer Shed’ and still lots more concrete to lay. The layout will contain a lot of concrete and sand to portray a semi desert scene in Arizona. I have started to put the first coats of weathering on the ramp and other concreted areas.

All concrete will have expansion joints scribed in for realism.

I have cut the two other background buildings down to 75% relief, this has also given me two 25% relief buildings that may fit in. This gives me better space to fit in more cameo scenes between the rails and the buildings.

I have tested all spaces for potential vehicle movements and vehicle storage areas.

I have fitted the American style Hayes Bumpers to the three tracks that are outside the main shed.

HO BNSF Layout – track laid.

Kelvin Barnes Uncategorized

I have been very busy over the last few days working on the ‘track plan’ and the position of the buildings. Well, I ended up with two points, both in the fiddle yard and manually operated and five sidings, great for a shunting puzzle.

The layout will now hold over twenty wagons, although I only have twelve. I will use both my BNSF Locos, so may add an isolating section to store one Loco. I have two other Loco’s, a SF and a BN, but both are a lot larger, but never say never.

I have also added to the length of the sector plate by 6″. It now measures over 2 foot.

Only slight problem is the two smaller units – I may take the razor saw to them and make them 3/4 relief. This will allow a little more activity in the space between the track and the units.

Work starts on HO BNSF Layout.

Kelvin Barnes Uncategorized

The Baseboard is finished, the basic buildings are done and all other bits are available. Now its time to have a ‘play’ with the track layout and positioning of buildings etc. I think this is going to turn out as a one point layout, I was considering two points, but one seems OK. The one point will be in the fiddle yard and will be manual operation. This is another sector plate, shunting plank really, but with two Loco’s and twelve wagons it could become quite busy.

The track plan and options will continue to be explored. I will post any changes as I discover them.

No Name yet, but as the location is Arizona at a semi desert area, in the mid 1990’s, it will need to be something appropriate.