James, it is great to see that you got the second steamer completed. Hopefully, I will be able to make another trip sometime next year.
Obvously the modern era is the easiest to model, then the first generation diesels due to the massive amount of models available and lower cost, but steam, along with all the structures on the railroads at that time and smaller cars is by far my favorite. Modern era to me is frankly, boring. No depots, towers, water tanks, roundhouses and no real "presence" in rural towns. Used to be a station agent or somebody who put a face to the railroad. However, opinions are like a certain anatomical item, everyone has one. Whatever you do that makes you happy is all right.
I think I've asked you before but not sure I remember the answer. How did you come to select 1943 as your era "date" to model? A peak traffic year due to WW2 demands, with all the big steam running and only a few "dismals", and Newburg at its apex? Ken
I have a spot engine (19) and the other one being built (40). 1943 will allow me to have them along with the 4500s and few if not no diesels. Lots of WWII traffic, roundhouse, wood depots (I did cheat and didn't build the Texaco version of the Newburg depot. I don't know for sure when they remodeled it, but they ruined it for all but architects and fans of wierd depots), limited CTC, semaphores etc etc.
How are you building your spot engines? I built three by highly modifing three bowser 2-10-2's. Richard
Back when Overland was importing the 4400s, I managed to acquire two of the superstructures (boiler/cab) and a couple of 2-10-2 mechanisms from I don't remember where. Scratchbuilt cylinders, tenders, ets. In other words, I did what the Frisco did backwards, converted 4400s into spot engines.