FEC-N-Trak at Cocoa Beach RPM

[AlkemScaleModels]

I just got back from the Cocoa beach RPM. Other than the weather being cold and rainy, it was an A Plus. The FEC N Trak club had a nice set of oNeTRAK modules with the FEC Florida theme. When I first proposed oNeTRAK this was the type of idea I had in mind. The FEC N Trak guys really did a nice job. Unfortunately, they were rarely around and I never got to meet any of them.  Here are some hand held iPhone shots I posted to Facebook



http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs144.snc3/17134_106571876024934_100000163660153_182179_5150579_n.jpg[/img]

[GaryHinshaw]

This is a very nice set of modules produced by a well-organized group.  At least one of their members is a 'wireite: jsoflo.  I suspect he can provide more info, and maybe more photos.

I love the auto-loading facility module.

[sundowner]

I know some of those places and those guys did a great job modeling them.

[Erik W]

They definitely have that sun blasted Florida look down.  The FEC is a neat railroad.  It's on my top 10 list of "Other railroads to model besides the D&RGW".

Erik

[Ed Kapuscinski]

That is really awesome, I've always wished I lived closer (or could get there frequently) and could participate.

[Dave V]

I had the pleasure of meeting Gregg Mahlkov (the late 3rdrail) at one of those Cocoa Beach RPM meets while I was stationed at Patrick AFB.  I don't remember which year.  I DO remember us SPFs completely dominated the scene though!

I couldn't get over how nice Gregg's little kitbashed steam engines looked.  He had a pair of F1s and an H3 kitbashed from the MDC old-timers.  He'd fashioned Belpaire fireboxes for them.  Almost enough to make you want to do turn-of-the-last-century modeling.

Sorry to go OT.  We still miss 3rdrail.

[AlkemScaleModels]

They definitely have that sun blasted Florida look down.  The FEC is a neat railroad.  It's on my top 10 list of "Other railroads to model besides the D&RGW".

Erik

Lance Mindheim gave a clinic at the Meet on modeling scenery with a slight Florida bias. He really has nailed the look. With the scenery materials available now, doing Florida scenery accurately is much easier.

I missed the Darnaby scenery clinic but I heard it too was also very good.  Overall, the clinics were very good. I enjoyed all of the ones I attended.

[Philip H]

They definitely have that sun blasted Florida look down.  The FEC is a neat railroad.  It's on my top 10 list of "Other railroads to model besides the D&RGW".

Erik

Lance Mindheim gave a clinic at the Meet on modeling scenery with a slight Florida bias. He really has nailed the look. With the scenery materials available now, doing Florida scenery accurately is much easier.

I missed the Darnaby scenery clinic but I heard it too was also very good.  Overall, the clinics were very good. I enjoyed all of the ones I attended.

Glad to hear it.  Of course no meeting report would be complete without a full photo spread . . . . But the teasers you showed were grand!

[AlkemScaleModels]

They definitely have that sun blasted Florida look down.  The FEC is a neat railroad.  It's on my top 10 list of "Other railroads to model besides the D&RGW".

Erik

Lance Mindheim gave a clinic at the Meet on modeling scenery with a slight Florida bias. He really has nailed the look. With the scenery materials available now, doing Florida scenery accurately is much easier.

I missed the Darnaby scenery clinic but I heard it too was also very good.  Overall, the clinics were very good. I enjoyed all of the ones I attended.

Glad to hear it.  Of course no meeting report would be complete without a full photo spread . . . . But the teasers you showed were grand!

I posted some other pics on my facebook page. I did not bring my DSLR, so all my shots were hand held iPhone photos. I saw plenty of folks with nice cameras, so hopefully someone will post a detailed photo essay. Dave Hussey usually posts a good selection. I saw him taking photos.

[jsoflo]

Great Stuff!! Indeed, I am a member of FEC-n-trac, in fact the final photo that you have to click on was a set of modules I built two years ago- the Medley Cemex facility (which is the extreme southern/western/ end of the FEC) that I believe the new president of the group, Tom, has possession of right now.

It was a tough 2009, with job pressures for many members, some cost cutting, some re-shuffling of leadership and I believe that the new president, Tom, dropped off the modules and set up but could not stay for the whole conference, which is probably why nobody was around.

The modules in the photos are Tom L.'s autorack facility, which is about 3 years old and fantastic, always a crowd pleaser. The next photo is Bob's "City Point" group of modules, and the blue loader looking aparatus is actually a car shaker Bob scratch built based on proto-photos. City point is the northern terminus of the unit rock trains from Medley (the Cemex module I built and mentioned above). There is a run around where the rock train is turned off the mainline, which is what is in the 3rd photo. Clicking on the last link to photo takes you to the Cemex Medley facility, which is directly west of Florida's turnpike (and can be seen from the turnpike) in Miami-Dade county. The Turnpike overpass is modeled at the far end of the module, which gradually opens into the large rockpit loading area, with overhead loaders.

I suspect that this year's convention (in the fall) in Ft. Pierce will be very good. The modeling continues to get even better, you can check out past president Gregg S.'s new work upgrading an orange grove module here on the December 14 entry, the 2nd photo is the module:

 http://www.blmamodels.com/cgi-bin/webstore/shop.cgi?c=blog.htm&t=main.htm&ud=AQIDAQ8LBQIDBxQUEBEcHA4GBgEEBAwECQkTEQAA


and here is a link to a new module Gregg did with a new backdrop:


http://picasaweb.google.com/CPJsoflo/FloridaEastCoastOneTrakLayout#5388747273348239522

here is a shot of the Roseland trestle:

http://picasaweb.google.com/CPJsoflo/FloridaEastCoastOneTrakLayout#5388741007702648450

Here is Ft. Lauderdale intermodal yard (one of mine and due for some improvements this year):

http://picasaweb.google.com/CPJsoflo/FloridaEastCoastOneTrakLayout#5270921826853941282

and finally, here is a link to another shot of that Titusville auto rack facility, with one of my stack trains rolling through the back on the main:

http://picasaweb.google.com/CPJsoflo/FloridaEastCoastOneTrakLayout#5388742263884151074

I will add that I pass OVER the subject area of Lance's CSX Miami division all the time on the communter train, he has absolutely nailed it, its perfect, there's a CP Rail hi-cube boxcar at Trujillo's today

my best,
Jan

[sundowner]

I pass by the Medley Cemex plant today, looks almost like the module but with about a hundred FEC red Ortner hoppers.

[CSXTer]

and here is a link to a new module Gregg did with a new backdrop:


http://picasaweb.google.com/CPJsoflo/FloridaEastCoastOneTrakLayout#5388747273348239522

Finally Pine trees that look like real pine trees in the South. Pines in the South do not look like Christmas trees. Do you have any idea how those were made?  Looks very good.

[Philip H]

and here is a link to a new module Gregg did with a new backdrop:


http://picasaweb.google.com/CPJsoflo/FloridaEastCoastOneTrakLayout#5388747273348239522

Finally Pine trees that look like real pine trees in the South. Pines in the South do not look like Christmas trees. Do you have any idea how those were made?  Looks very good.

I have to agree - great trees.  And I too would love a method -  my Louisiana switching layout will need more then a few of those.

[Erik W]

Those trees are awesome.  They capture the look of the Long Needle Pines that are prevalent in Florida.  It looks to me like they are Scenic Express Super Trees with the lower branches cut off and some static flocking applied to what's left.

Erik

[jsoflo]

I know the trees were super trees but I'll see if I can get details for you. I know he used a texturized spray paint on the trunks as well.