The ROCK 3.0: CPC International

A few CPC International cars made it to the layout this evening.  Two of the tanks which you saw earlier, plus one formerly Undecorated Delaware Valley 50' Airslide which now has been converted to CPC International.  I have one more of these to decal up as well as a bunch of tank cars.

Looks like a Peoria Terminal Co. local (over powered) making a delivery of empties to

CPC International in Pekin, Illinois.

The ROCK 3.0: Airbrushing Progress

Well, my adventures in airbrushing have been interesting so far.  I purchased the Badger 200NH airbrush.  It worked well for the two or three times I used it.  After a period of non-use, it wouldn't siphon the paint out of the jar anymore.  I could siphon acetone, but even then it was pulsating.  I found out it is a needle bearing most likely as the cause.  I tried replacing this on my own as I found the parts available online.  Nope, this is not a customer-replaceable part.  It needs to be sent off to Badger for repair.  So, that is what I plan on doing tomorrow.

I failed to mention that after the period on non-use, I noticed that the tip of the needle was bent.  I wasn't sure how that happened as I hadn't dropped it.  After a few days, it dawned on me my daughter in passing said (a while back), "Daddy, your airbrush dropped, but it's ok".  I put it back on the shelf.  I confirmed this again with my daughter.  Well, that explains that.  I must have been in post-Sunday afternoon nap mode when she told me, so I didn't think anything else about it.

Meanwhile, I refer to good friends Larry Keller and Allan Heimsoth for advice on airbrushing in general.  One friend mentioned he had numerous airbrushes.  Some are better than others, but generally one would work when the mood struck to actually paint something.  Considering the Badger 200 is not super expensive, I went this route and purchased a second to keep on hand.  I'm glad I did now otherwise I would still be out of commission.

So, back to painting.  It has been a struggle.  Mainly, because I'm making newbie mistakes.  I painted some tank cars without cleaning them thoroughly first.  That created an issue with paint peeling off for a leprosy effect.  Sadness.

I painted three Atlas Kaolin tanks.  Results - All had the leprosy effect.  Those will need to be stripped and repainted.

I painted four (of five I own) Roundhouse previously stripped (purchased that way off eBay) tank cars.  Paint stuck well to those.  Painted the car yellow and the bottom half black.  My black line is pretty sharp except around the ladder region.  I tried fixing this but made it worse on one car.  Instead, I will try to hide it with some weathering.  I hit all cars with gloss coat last night and decaled up two this morning as CPC International tanks.  The tip to apply a gloss coat beforehand decaling eliminated the issue I had before with the shininess of the label.  Thanks everyone for that tip!

So, here are some photos of the tank cars with one side decaled.  I will decal the other side later today.  I have a few more decal sheets on order.  When I'm done, I will have a total of eight CPC International tank cars (5x MDC/Roundhouse, 3x Atlas Kaolin).

I think they turned out pretty darn nice!

Overall, airbrushing has been a learning process.  I will get better over time.  I'm really pleased with how these turned out after adding decals today.

Decals required for this job:
Microscale 60-727 - Corn Products Freight Cars - 40' Tank Car, 3-Bay ACF Hopper
Microscale 60-796 - Tank Cars - Senica, Amstar, CPC International 1970+

Paint:
Tru-Color Rock Island Yellow TCP-261
Tru-Color Flat Black TCP-805

The ROCK 3.0: Havana, IL Coal Dock

While up in Illinois over Christmas, we drove through Havana, IL.  There were a couple of coal trains lined up in the small yard to be unloaded to barges on the Illinois River.  I snapped a few photos, but have some better ones from a few years back.  This is the former Chicago & Illinois Midland dock.

Cars are pushed up the grade via a mechanical arm.

Former Chicago & Illinois Midland 40' Single Sliding Door Box Car

Illinois & Midland Caboose.

I'm not sure what this machine does, but I assume this might be a coal storage yard if barges are not available.

You can see the rotary dumper dumping a load of coal inside the building.

The ROCK 3.0: What in the World?

What in the world is going on over at the ROCK?  I've noticed some changes over at the ROCK for the past few weeks.

Toledo Peoria & Western GP7s #102 and #103

Future Toledo Peoria & Western #800 and #801

Illinois Terminal SD39 #2301

Illinois Terminal GP7 #1603

Union Pacific B23-7 #137

Future Illinois Terminal SD39 #2305

Future Illinois Terminal GP7 #1605

Illinois Terminal RS1 #752

Chicago & Illinois Midland SD9s #50 and #54

Rock Island U30C #4589

Rock Island SD40-2 #4797

Illinois Central Gulf GP30s #2251 and #2265

Chicago & Illinois Midland Caboose #276

Rock Island Caboose #17206

Future Illinois Terminal Caboose 

Illinois Central Gulf Caboose #ICG 199423

Penn Central Caboose #22874

Collection of various roads cabooses

I'm not sure what is going on, but a lot of power from Peoria appears to be making its way north up on the Rock Island.

The ROCK 3.0: Exploring Illinois

So, the family is on the road exploring Illinois.  Here are some of the sights so far.

Respondek Illini Terminal GP7 #1604 in Litchfield, Illinois

Dynergy Kincaid Power Plant near Pawnee, Illinois.

I believe this was a former Commonwealth Edison Power Plant.  The plant has coal provided by the former Peabody Coal Mine #10 (not sure what it might be called today).  The mine was served by the Chicago & Illinois Midland Railroad back in the day.

They had huge piles of coal built up around the plant.  Two bulldozers were working on the piles of coal.

There is a small five or six track yard here lined with unit coal trains.  Here sits a BNSF SD70ACe.  I would guess this was a DPU unit from the rear of a coal train.

PLM International lease hopper.  There were a bunch of these in the yard on multiple tracks.

BNSF SD70ACe

Old Grain Elevator in Pawnee, Illinois

Old C&IM No Trespassing sign in Pawnee, Illinois

The ROCK 3.0: CPC International Cars Project Update

Last night, I started working on the CPC International cars.  I painted three Atlas Kaolin tanks yellow as well as two Delaware Valley 50' Airslide Covered Hoppers.  I need to go back and touch up the yellow paint on the airslide hoppers and two issues on a tank car.  I will then be able to mask off the top of the tank car to paint the bottom black.

Here are photos of the progress so far.

Atlas Undecorated Kaolin Tank Car

Delaware Valley Undecorated 50' Airslide Covered Hopper

I consulted with Tru-Color and they suggested the Erie Lackawanna Yellow.

I was hoping the paint would cover better on the railings.  I will need to remove those and hit them again with the air brush.

Overall, I think they look pretty good.

Side by side my tank vs. the Atlas 3-Bay Covered Hopper.

I believe it is close.  Allen mentioned it is more green in tint and I can see that now better on the laptop.  Of course, I'm color blind.  So, close enough for me.  I assume I will weather these cars which will hopefully make the paint schemes match better.

Speaking of painting, what do you guys use to hold your models when painting?