Rebuilding the Sea Port display

I've posted a lot of photos of the Sea Port Model Works trade show display. I built it in 2008 and it's time to incorporate several changes. Like everything else it's become "familiar" and needs a facelift.

I'd like all the structures on the display to be scratchbuilt and reflect my early years working on the waterfront north of Boston. I had a lobster business and because of it I got to visit some of the most iconic waterfront settings imaginable. As a kid I kept a sketchbook of some of these settings and was able to refer to my images for many years of model building. The sketchbook is long gone but the sketches remain locked into the right side of my brain. As I rebuild this display I'll post photos.

St Barth's

So here we are, our 20th year on St. Barth's. This is one of the three beaches we like. It's Governor (pronounced Goo-VEN-orr), a beach on the south side of the island. If the wind is from the south we go to another beach on the north side.

We like it here. No tourist BS!

More EXPO model contest photos

More examples of great model building on display at the EXPO.

EXPO crew and helpers

Here's the crew of the model railroad EXPO. The guys with the red shirts are the "owners" and the others are volunteers. The fellow standing next to me (I'm in the light blue shirt with a big gut) is Chicago radio personality Bill Michaels who, along with Bob Mitchell (loud necktie,) were the hosts of the model contest and banquet. Two very funny guys!

Little Engines

Here's a scene from my old HOn30 C & DR Ry. I love the size comparison between the narrow gauge engine and a rather small HO standard gauge engine. The little engine was a 0-4-0 converted to a Forney by adding a passenger truck under the tender. I still have the engine almost 50 years later and it still runs, but not very well compared to today's MiniTrainS.

Another cherry pie

I've been doing a lot of painting lately. Mostly with acrylics. I love still life painting and food. So here's another cherry pie. The first one I painted was on a clock face. This is a different pie. Nine inches by 12", acrylic.

Another diorama from the EXPO contest

Here's another diorama submitted to the EXPO model contest. These are judged by popular vote (unlike other contests). This is only part of this exquisite boat yard. The run-down boat on the cradle of the marine railway looks like something Popeye would own.

Really nice modeling!

2015 Model Railroad EXPO

This year's Model Railroad EXPO was a wonderful event. Almost 400 of the World's best modelers came to the Hilton in Scranton, PA. The hotel is next to Steamtown. 

The models and dioramas on display were the best that I've seen in a long time. The contest room had almost 80 models and it was hard to vote for the best ones. 

Here's an HO model of Rockport, Massachusett's Motif #1 that I shot in the contest room. I don't know the builder because voting was popular choice secret ballot.

Next year's show will be north of Boston, a few miles from George Sellio's Franklin and South Manchester.