by mike | Jul 26, 2023 | General News
Effective immediately OST Publications will permanently close for business. The ongoing compromises to my eyesight make working difficult and it’s time to face that reality. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your support, kindness and encouragement...
by mike | Jun 27, 2023 | OST Believes
As railfans, we document the times we live in. As much as I would like this image to feature a PRR M1, or a lumbering I1 hippo pulling a long westbound freight out of Glen Yards, these Norfolk Southern behemoths have charms of their own to offer. This image was shot...
by mike | May 1, 2023 | Storytelling, The Missing Conversation, The Modeling Conversation, The P48 Experience |
One of the true joys of using Proto48 standards is the ability to have scale width flange ways at switch points, frogs, guard rails and grade crossings or street trackage. It may seem like a small thing but these finer tolerances create a tremendous level or realism...
by mike | Apr 2, 2023 | Modeling Techniques, The Modeling Conversation |
When I was a kid, I could go out the back door of our house and be in open country within a matter of minutes. I’d walk up Water Street to the paint factory where I cut across the siding to the old main line which, at that time, was nothing more than a dirt access...
by mike | Mar 27, 2023 | Uncategorized |
“This gets at a question I asked you a few years back about techniques to translate what we see into model form. I don’t immediately think of breaking things down into contrast, texture, light and color. These are valuable concepts to understand. I see a good...
by mike | Mar 6, 2023 | Modeling Techniques, The Art of The Craft, The Modeling Conversation |
Scatterbrained would be a generous term for my working methods. I’ve seldom been one to design on paper, preferring instead to play around with a bunch of materials until something clicks. I try things, believing I’ve found a solution only to realize...
by mike | Feb 22, 2023 | The Art of The Craft, The Modeling Conversation, The P48 Experience |
The inspiration for this new work is a single track industrial branch serving one or two remaining customers. Richmond has the remnant of the former GR&I that serves a wire and cable plant (photo below), while Youtube overflows with other examples. Just search...
by mike | Feb 13, 2023 | Storytelling, The Art of The Craft, The Modeling Conversation, The P48 Experience |
My approach to modeling has evolved from simply replicating a specific time and place to using the work as a medium of expression in the same way an artist uses pen&ink or watercolor. For the design of the current project, I’ve drawn inspiration from a...
by mike | Feb 5, 2023 | OST Believes, The Art of The Craft, The Modeling Conversation, The P48 Experience
Before my eyesight issues began I was content to pursue working with brass and not that interested in building another layout. That changed when I could no longer scratchbuild as I miss working with my hands and making things. Chris Mears and I have a lot of email...