Michael
@michaeljames56.bsky.social
It's the beach episode.
Guitar plugged into a Boss RV3, scale model trains, and Vtuber brain rot.
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 🚂
#modeltrains #bigboy 🚂
August 3, 2025 at 3:43 PM
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 🚂
#modeltrains #bigboy 🚂
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
Some pieces on the bench at the moment: an Athearn SD70M undergoing modernization and a Hornby Railroad A4 being renamed and renumbered.
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
#topps #cardcollecting #andor
June 18, 2025 at 6:25 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
#topps #cardcollecting #andor
Changing a prototype! The loco I'm doing is an ex-SP/ex-UP lease unit and had the lighting package removed, but none of the SP or UP athearn models fit the bill when it came to the overall details and nose. Ended up going with a Canadian Natl model, and athearn sells the noses separately.
June 18, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Changing a prototype! The loco I'm doing is an ex-SP/ex-UP lease unit and had the lighting package removed, but none of the SP or UP athearn models fit the bill when it came to the overall details and nose. Ended up going with a Canadian Natl model, and athearn sells the noses separately.
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 🚂
#modeltrains 🚂
June 13, 2025 at 8:17 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 🚂
#modeltrains 🚂
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
Kiara with the stationmaster rizz 🙌
#takanashikiara
May 23, 2025 at 1:57 AM
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
Kiara with the stationmaster rizz 🙌
#takanashikiara
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
#modeltrains #hololive
#白上フブキ #shirakamifubuki
May 5, 2025 at 2:52 PM
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
#modeltrains #hololive
#白上フブキ #shirakamifubuki
May 2, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Nearly there! I have a few final finishing details coming in, handrails to install.
#modeltrains #modelrailroading 🚂
#modeltrains #modelrailroading 🚂
May 1, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Nearly there! I have a few final finishing details coming in, handrails to install.
#modeltrains #modelrailroading 🚂
#modeltrains #modelrailroading 🚂
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 🚂
#modeltrains 🚂
April 25, 2025 at 2:41 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 🚂
#modeltrains 🚂
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 🚂
#modeltrains #modelrailroading 🚂
March 30, 2025 at 3:36 AM
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 🚂
#modeltrains #modelrailroading 🚂
Slowly, progress being made on Progress Rail 221. The 8 will be blended more when it gets the weathering treatment.
#modeltrains #modelrailroading 🚂
#modeltrains #modelrailroading 🚂
March 25, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Slowly, progress being made on Progress Rail 221. The 8 will be blended more when it gets the weathering treatment.
#modeltrains #modelrailroading 🚂
#modeltrains #modelrailroading 🚂
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 🚂
#modeltrains #modelrailroading 🚂
March 22, 2025 at 3:57 PM
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 🚂
#modeltrains #modelrailroading 🚂
March 18, 2025 at 3:43 PM
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 #🚂
#modeltrains #🚂
March 7, 2025 at 5:39 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 #🚂
#modeltrains #🚂
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 🚂
Next up is some graffiti and weathering.
#modeltrains ##modelrailroading 🚂
March 3, 2025 at 4:40 AM
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 🚂
Next up is some graffiti and weathering.
#modeltrains ##modelrailroading 🚂
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 🚂
#modeltrains 🚂
February 25, 2025 at 2:50 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 🚂
#modeltrains 🚂
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 🚂
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
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 🚂
I miss having hardwood floors but we'll have to do with the poor trackage through the Carpet Subdivision for now.
#modeltrains 🚂
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 🚂
#modeltrains 🚂
February 19, 2025 at 4:01 AM
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 🚂
#modeltrains 🚂
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 🚂
#modeltrains 🚂
February 18, 2025 at 12:46 PM
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 🚂
#modeltrains 🚂
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 🚂
#modeltrains 🚂
February 15, 2025 at 4:13 AM
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 🚂
#modeltrains 🚂