Memorial Day baseball!

Memorial Day little baseball underway at Mudgett Field. Note the dugout enclosures donated by the railroad.

People painting on a picnic table

Camping season has arrived! Over the winter I like to save up little portable projects to take to the picnic table at the campground. This weekend was painting little people. They come pretty cheap from China via eBay ($1.29 per 100, free shipping). The catch is you get to do the painting. Once set up assembly line style, it goes pretty fast. There are 500 people being prepped for the layout. My goal is to have the layout “fully populated” by the September 8 Maine Model Railroad Tour.

A new combine arrives

Here is a Tyco old-time combine modernized for service on my mixed train. First I popped off the clerestory roof and was surprised to find the body had a full roof already. Then the silhouettes and truss rods were removed. The roof was painted aluminum and a couple ventilators added. Weighted up to spec, glazed windows, added a view block inside. Grab bars highlighted with a silver Sharpie pen. Now it’s ready for service in a Cape Ann mixed, picking up fishermen and hikers from those remote flag stops! 

Combine on the tail end of a local mixed train.

Remote flag stop at Cascade serves fishermen and hikers.

Before. Pic from eBay seller mikecdog.

Pop off the clerestory roof to reveal a full domed roof.