HOn3 and Brass Steam

by Jim and Charlie Pfister

    I have been interested in and modeling railroads since I was 5 (1951). My grandfather worked for the Milwaukee Rd so I spent a lot of time around railroad stuff. I rode the Hiawatha when it was steam powered.

    I had Lionel and American Flyer as a kid (every present my grandfather got me was a train). I got serious in 1961 when I got a PFM C&NW H-1 by Tenshodo. Once I figured out how to disassemble it and paint it, I was a modeler. Painting brass steam is still one of my favorite aspects of the hobby.

    The house scene all ready to run stuff that I did to show a friend that everything doesn't have to be an involved project. Grass mat and road are Woodland Scenics products. SP RPO is a modified Labelle kit and SP #18 is Westside brass.

    One photo is a recently poured river on my HOn3 layout. This is my 1st river scene ever! For the scene, we used Woodland Scenics products almost exclusively.

    Scenery Base: Light Weight Hydrocal, Plaster Cloth, Foam Boards, Turf, Tan Fine Ballast, Scenic Cement and Hob-e-Tac™

    River:Ballast for the bed, Talus, Realistic Water, Water Effects and Earth Colors Liquid Pigments - we blended the riverbed colors with India Ink / alcohol. Be careful with the ink.