Michael
michaeljames56.bsky.social
Michael
@michaeljames56.bsky.social
It's the beach episode.

Guitar plugged into a Boss RV3, scale model trains, and Vtuber brain rot.
Haven't been doing the train thing too much lately, but we had a rare sighting of double 4000s at the club this last meet! Mine is the one further from the camera.

#modeltrains #bigboy 🚂
August 3, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Some pieces on the bench at the moment: an Athearn SD70M undergoing modernization and a Hornby Railroad A4 being renamed and renumbered.
July 6, 2025 at 1:32 AM
Reposted by Michael
OK, I'm looking hard at that picture and that's a real locomotive, not a model train?
June 18, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Ordered a Topps Now card for Andor since I collect SW stuff and cards are fun, managed to get a short print run hit from a single card order which I don't think happens too often!

#topps #cardcollecting #andor
June 18, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Not a lot going on at the moment. Between family trips and lack of creativity its been hard to get something on the bench. That being said, this Athearn PRLX SD45T-2 project has overcome a major hurdle with the replacement nose. Primer next!

#modeltrains 🚂
June 13, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Finished up #Andor and #RogueOne and I decided to start setting up my #starwars stuff on the shelves. First is this #HotToys Jyn Erso (K2 and Cassian are on the way!)
May 29, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Yesterday's catches.

#trains #railfanning #unionpacific
May 26, 2025 at 2:49 PM
My friend who had me do that Fubuki #Hololive graffiti brought me back some special souvenirs from Tokyo Station as payment. Look at that Cover pin badge, it has a little train on it!

Kiara with the stationmaster rizz 🙌

#takanashikiara
May 23, 2025 at 1:57 AM
My first commissioned piece of graffiti, a friend wanted this cute cat character. I think it turned out pretty well.

#modeltrains #hololive
#白上フブキ #shirakamifubuki
May 5, 2025 at 2:52 PM
New car, we decided to get it before...everything kicks off. Absolutely love it.

Toyota #prius
May 2, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Nearly there! I have a few final finishing details coming in, handrails to install.

#modeltrains #modelrailroading 🚂
May 1, 2025 at 3:11 PM
As I wrap the Athearn PRLX SD75M project, I'm beginning the next. This is an Athearn RTR SD45T-2, being stripped of paint and details to become another PRLX lease unit, 2832 (This is my excuse for a tunnel motor).

#modeltrains 🚂
April 25, 2025 at 2:41 PM
March 31, 2025 at 5:49 PM
I see Chicago Heights Transfer Terminal hi-cubes pretty frequently, and they usually have this interesting fading/peeling pattern (except for the doors which always look new for some reason). This started as an Athearn GACX car before being patched and re-decaled.

#modeltrains #modelrailroading 🚂
March 30, 2025 at 3:36 AM
Slowly, progress being made on Progress Rail 221. The 8 will be blended more when it gets the weathering treatment.

#modeltrains #modelrailroading 🚂
March 25, 2025 at 1:07 AM
I caught this WP hopper a few weeks ago and did a search for a similar one on ebay. Turns out Athearn did this same numbered car (12075) in a 2008 RTR run. Still a WIP but I have shots of the other side too to get to.

#modeltrains #modelrailroading 🚂
March 22, 2025 at 3:57 PM
UP 1979 leading with 6700 and 9000 about to leave the yard.

#modeltrains #modelrailroading 🚂
March 18, 2025 at 3:43 PM
A couple of 9s in the yard this morning.

#modeltrains ##modelrailroading 🚂
March 14, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Picked up this Proto2k GP38-2 a few years ago, a Conrail unit. It's currently being transformed into a beat up GMTX lease unit, still glossy from the decal applications. Next up is ditch lights and hacking away at the internal weight for a speaker, and then weathering.

#modeltrains #🚂
March 7, 2025 at 5:39 PM
This started as a Walthers 68' Chicago Heights Transfer Terminal gondola but has since been sagged and re-numbered for SMIX (I am aware of Athearn offering sagged gons now, but I kind of like doing it myself).

Next up is some graffiti and weathering.

#modeltrains ##modelrailroading 🚂
March 3, 2025 at 4:40 AM
I think I'm going to call this Athearn ex-GWS gondola done for now. I tried a lot of new (to me) weathering techniques, and it looks like you might get tetanus if you were to hop inside so I call that a win.

#modeltrains 🚂
February 25, 2025 at 2:50 AM
Doing some running after an intensive speed matching session. Momentum and braking are off at the moment, have to program that back in.

I miss having hardwood floors but we'll have to do with the poor trackage through the Carpet Subdivision for now.

#modeltrains 🚂
February 22, 2025 at 9:37 PM
A basic Walthers Mainline(I think...) hopper. One side with a big tag, the other side some light tags. Happy with how this one turned out, but some of the detail bits on the bottom (whatever those rod/poles are in the three bays underneath) will break if you look at them wrong.

#modeltrains 🚂
February 19, 2025 at 4:01 AM
Bending handrails (& coupler levers) is my least favorite part of this hobby but they are mostly complete on this blue box SD40-2, I just need to do the rear set. Next is replacing the fans, and then paint.

#modeltrains 🚂
February 18, 2025 at 12:46 PM
I recently purchased a VERY early Athearn Genesis SD75M, like new for a steal. It's neat seeing how the Genesis line started, like a high spec blue box kit. This will become a patched PRLX lease unit, eventually.

#modeltrains 🚂
February 15, 2025 at 4:13 AM