Deciding on a new layout adventure

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Clark Propst returns to the blog with his tale on starting a new layout. Here’s Clark’s story.

Tony Koester wrote: “If you’re primarily a scenery and structures person, then maybe something like this — essentially a diorama with some movement — might be just the ticket.”

It took me decades to discover I am what Tony wrote, but add in freight car guy, too. I’m a modeler first and an operator second. Being practical, I can’t see buying and building models, and not using them. You don’t have to be really good at something to enjoy it. You just need satisfactory results. Striving to do better next time is the key. My next time came when we sold our home and my prototype layout took a one way trip to the landfill.

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Sunshine Models PFE R-40-18 Reefer

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Lester Breuer is back with another completed freight car model. Here’s his latest.

After sharing my Sunshine Models CB&Q box car build on this blog (for which Frank Hodina did the masters), I thought I would build a refrigerator car. From my inventory of kits, I chose this Sunshine Models Pacific Fruit Express R-40-18 refrigerator. Frank also created the masters for this kit.

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Resin Car Works Illinois Central Enterprise offset hopper

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George Toman is back with his second resin kit build, the recently released Resin Car Works Illinois Central twin offset hopper. Here’s George with his story

I started with a Resin Car Works Illinois Central 33-foot hopper, which has some beautiful detail cast into a one piece body. Being one to never leave anything alone, I made a few modifications to the standard kit.

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