Many days have passed since the last report from the K&BH, but I assure you that work has been progressing. This report will concentrate on a scenery project (with photos) but I will end with a couple of modeling photos, as well. I hope you will find something of interest in this new material.

Scenery work on Curve 3 involves the space between the tracks and the backdrop. Here you see the shape of the foam blocks that will form the embankment and provide a place for trees, bushes, and grass that will fade into the backdrop. The angle down behind the embankment is an attempt to fool the eye (according to Bill Leider), to eventually blend the foreground into the background.

Curve 3 begins to take shape.

The foam has been shaped and contoured using a Surfoam tool. In addition, a strip of foam has been placed and painted at the backdrop to provide the upward curve to blend in to the painted backdrop. I could not use spackle here (as you have seen in earlier photos of KYJ) because of the potential need to "plant" trees or bushes at the back edge.

The foam has been painted and is now ready for the papier-maché covering as suggested by Paul Dolkos in his recent Kalmbach book on scenery. The variety in the contour is more apparent in this photo. With this step completed, I will proceed to ballast the curve before finishing this portion of the scenery. The delay also provides more time to screw up my courage prior to tackling this important scenery work. I do not have great artistic skills.

Curve 3 enters Kearney Junction (KYJ), completing the description of the strategy used to create a rural scene as the tracks depart this busy industrial site.

Unpainted right now, this is the new ethanol transloading facility in Kearney (EAR). Adapting two of the Walthers plastic pellet transfer kits — plus their oil transfer platform — I am attempting to represent a modern industry that is growing rapidly throughout rural areas. Thanks to Dean Kring, a high school classmate of mine, it will be signed with the KAAPA (Kearney Area Ag Producers Alliance) company logo for the actual plant in nearby Axtell. This facility allows new tank car equipment on the layout for empties in and loads out, a valuable aspect for any operating layout.

Let's conclude this report with a photo of K&BH #329 working the elevator at KYJ. This Atlas C30-7 was contributed to the K&BH by long-time friend Matt Jacobs who has now moved over to N for his personal layout. The K&BH has, on occasion, purchased valuable used equipment from the UP and any other source in its attempt to hold costs down. The UP heritage of this diesel shows clearly enough with the K&BH letters placed over the attempt to erase the UP lettering (with PineSol).

There is a story in the number assigned to the locomotive. All of my K&BH locos have numbers that have some meaning to me personally — the birth year of family members, an old home address, my phone number at New Trier High School, etc. — well, you get the picture. When I explained this to Matt quite some time ago, he said he would like to use that approach for his equipment as well. When I saw the 329 on this unit, I had to ask him what it represented: It is his birthday! You don't think I'll ever forget to wish him a happy birthday on the correct day, do you?

That does it for now and I thank you for coming along. Current projects include that great new Walthers brick station, operating signals representing CTC operation through Kearney (thanks again to George Schomer), weathering tons of freight cars, and ballast for Curve 3 — there is no end in sight for projects down in the basement. Don't forget: you can wear the logo proudly when you purchase official K&BH gear. Just visit the K&BH Store by following the "store" links found in the top and bottom navigation throughout this site. Thanks for your interest in the K&BH.