The 2012 Midwest Narrow Gauge Show will be happening next week. Started as the Ohio 2-Foot Show, this event has a great tradition in Maine 2-Foot modeling. This year’s event will not include the Sn2 Free-mo layout by the Sn2 crew, but many other narrow gauge layouts will be there. Including the HOn30 Great Lakes modular layout.
PLW will be there showing and selling new products. Many of which are Sn2…
For more information see: http://www.maine2footquarterly.com/midwest.htm
Frank Knight of the Sn2 Crew will be displaying his Sn2 Free-mo modules at the 2012 Maine Narrow Gauge Show. Stop in to chat Sn2…
5th
MAINE
NARROW GAUGE SHOW
Saturday, March 31, 2012
9:OO TO 3:00
GRAY/NEW GLOUCESTER HIGH
SCHOOL
OFF MAINE ROUTE 26 AT 10 LIBBY HILL RD. GRAY,ME.
CLINICS
LIST OF CLINICS AND TIMES TO BE ANNOUNCED
MODULES
HOn – Sn – On – Gn are welcome
MODEL CONTEST
LOCOS –ROLLING STOCK – STRUCTURES – DIORAMA
SQUARE-FOOT CHALLENGE
4-INCH SQUARE CHALLENGE
PEOPLES CHOICE OVERALL
DEALERS
SEE VENDOR LIST
FOOD
BY THE GRAY/NEW GLOUCESTER ATHLETIC BOOSTERS
FOR MORE INFORMATION
email
bobwil@gwi.net
or call
Bob Willard at 207-795-6476
For updated information see the MNG Show web page: http://www.mngm.org./page5.php
PLW’s website is now live:
http://www.lightirondigest.com/plw.htm
Products currently listed and announced:
Check the website for the latest information.
Portland Locomotive Works (PLW) was a kit manufacturing company back in the 1990’s. It produced several structures in O, S, and HO. Eventually the proprietor (Darryl Sleszynski) sold out to Banta Models.
Now in 2012, Darryl is joining forces with Gary Kohler and others to bring PLW back to life. They have a list of On2, Sn2, and HOn30 projects in queue. Here is the “Preliminary Announcement” to the Sn2 (and other) yahoogroup.
Because of the up-coming Springfield show next weekend, we’re making an informal
announcement somewhat prematurely so we can display samples of a number of
upcoming projects that are close to being ready for sale. I will be drafting a
more detailed announcement in the next few days, but for now I’ll just say that
Portland Locomotive Works is coming out of hibernation in a totally different
incarnation. Even the corporate details have yet to be finalized, but PLW will
be closely allied with M2FQ Publications and LitCo. and will have a number of
people involved in addition to Gary Kohler and
myself. Our intent is to utilize the considerable collective expertise the
group possesses in a number of areas to produce innovative products in the
publishing and model manufacturing arenas. To that end, we have made
significant investments in software and equipment, including a state-of-the-art
laser. While we’ve only been in shake-down mode learning about the laser for a
month or so, many projects have progressed to the point that we will havetest
results ready to display at Springfield. That list includes but may not be
limited to the following:
SR&RL grade crossing finial, and possibly the entire grade crossing sign in
7/8n2, 1/2″n2, O scale, S scale, and HO scale.
Carrabasset covered station in S scale
Monson combine in O scale
F&M flatcar in O scale
White Birch Tank in O scale
Strong toothpick clearinghouse in HO scale
Laser-cut, pre-weathered shingles
Test cuts of brick-work, preliminary to starting the buildings in the Phillips
complex
We still have another week, so there’s no telling what else might turn up.
Everything will be displayed at the M2FQ Publications table on Saturday, January
28th at the Springfield/Amherst show. The table will be manned by Gary Kohler
and Steve Skodzinsky, and I’ll be wondering around the show with my 11 year old
son Dominic. Please take a few minutes with any of us for more details. I
promise we’ll talk your ears off; wild enthusiasm is rampant. As soon as we can
assemble a brief bio of everyone involved and iron out a few details, I will
post a more detailed announcement. We look forward to the opportunity to earn
your support by offering the best products in the industry.
Note: we are making every effort to notify all other two-foot manufacturers of
this announcement in advance, but in case we miss anyone, please be assured we
have every intention of communicating with everyone to avoid duplication of
projects that may be under development.
Darryl Sleszynski
Portland Locomotive Works
Recently, Harry Downey has converted from HOn30 to Sn2. He has not yet started building a layout. He has started working no building models. Two of his first are a Banta SR&RL Strong Depot and a Mount Blue 556 Caboose.
Completed Banta Sn2 SR&RL Strong Depot. (As of this writing, the kit is no longer available from Banta)
The interior of the in progress Mount Blue Caboose.
The body of the Sn2 Mount Blue 556 Caboose.
Closeup of the caboose. It has the look of multiple layers of paint.
Reporting on all things Sn2….
Sn2 Crew
The Sn2 Crew attended the 2011 National Narrow Gauge Convention in Hickory, NC.
Don Rigling of Cincinnati, OH operates Bigelow yard
The Sn2 Free-mo layout was setup by Lee Rainey, Frank Knight, Gary Carmichael, and David Keith. This was the first showing of Gary’s Randolph, ME module, the prototype was on the Kennebec Central Railroad. Lee, Frank, and Dave brought the same modules as they had in St. Louis for the 2010 NNGC.
Looking into the "U". Frank Knight's loop modules for the end points of the mainline. Head Tide church on the far loop is new.
This was the first time the layout had been setup in this configuration. The layout was “U” shape main line going loop to loop and short branch to Bigelow. The main line operation was under computer control setup by Frank Knight. David Keith switched trains on the branch in Bigelow.
Sn2 Crew setup for 2011 NNGC in Hickory, NC. Click on image for full size...
Like usual, I failed to get as many photos as I’d have liked. I even failed to take video which worked so well in Portland in 2007. The photos I did take were overall photos, not specific to any one scene. They are shared here to give you an idea of the layout.
Looking at the closed end of the loop. Gary's coal dock at Randoph is just visible at right. The serpentine nature of the layout is apparent here.
Thanks to our family and friends who whelped us setup and teardown the layout. It’s great to have such support…
Lee Rainey chats with a spectator at his free-lanced Head Tide. Many stopped to look at the gardens. Lee has been foresting his curved modules near to view. Viewers were able to walk into the branch area, but were required to say outside the "U" where Lee is standing.
Mount Blue
Mount Blue had test cuts of the SR&RL 104 series box cars in Sn2. Ken hopes to have them available in November. Ken also indicated he could do the SR&RL caboose decals in Sn2. In the future we can expect more cars from HOn30 and On2 product lines to be converted to Sn2.
Newsflash – The Mount Blue web site already lists SR&RL Caboose and Boxcar lettering http://www.mountbluemodelco.com/
Railhead Publications
Jim Eakin was there with his Sn2 Diesel conversions. These can be fitted on HO switcher mechanisms.
Train and Trooper
T&T was absent from the convention even though just a few years ago they imported HOn3 ET&WNC locomotives. It would seem T&T is no longer a significant player in narrow gauge model railroading.
Train Troll
Train Troll has On2 crossing signs that might be usable for Sn2. http://www.traintroll.com/wwfcrossingsignkit.html
The Sn2 Crew members are preparing to assemble a 20×45′ layout for the 2011 National Narrow Gauge convention in Hickory, North Carolina. Here are the features of the setup:
Proposed Sn2 Crew setup for 2011 NNGC in Hickory, NC. Click on image for full size...
We hope to see you in Hickory….
Sn2 Crew.
Mount Blue Co. Sn2 WW&F #303 from company website.
The web site of Mount Blue Co. now indicates WW&F boxcars #303 and #309 can be ordered. This is wonderful news…
Mount Blue Co. Sn2 WW&F #309 from company website.
When asked if these cars were unique on the WW&F roster, some stated so. However, Frank Knight contributed the following information: According to the doc I have there were 3 waycars (302-304) and 14 boxcars (305-312,314-319) in the series. 309 is unique in that the side ladders were removed and replace with grab irons. A couple of the other cars had the sides raised with horizontal boards. I take this to mean, the models are specific to the two numbers they represent, but modelers should be able use the kits to make representations of other WW&F cars in their series.
Scroll down on the products page to order directly from Mount Blue Model Co.
http://www.mountbluemodelco.com/products.htm
The page above indicates Mount Blue is likely to bring out more Sn2 models. Purchases of the above models are likely to encourage Mount Blue to continue producing more Sn2.
The Modelers Guild e-magazine has an article about scratch building a SR&RL inspired Sn2 Boxcar. The image above was taken from that article. Checkout the article by following the link.
A few editorial comments from David Keith:
David Keith of the Sn2 Crew has built several Sn2 Free-mo modules. The modules are modeled following locations on the SR&RL. A description of his modules is available in this youtube video. Dave also has a dedicated website call http://www.sn2modeler.wordpress.com
Sn2 Trains 