Check out Rob Sarna's Alco S3 unit

Rob Sarna submitted this Alco S3 unit to the WMRC’s March monthly model display. It started out as a Life-Like Proto 2000 Alco S3 unit. The model originally came painted as Canadian Pacific #6515 in the Tuscan and Gray Scheme.

The cab and long hood were stripped of paint using 99% isopropyl alcohol. The four lift rings on the long hood were scratch built from brass wire to replace the missing ones. Both the cab and long hood were primed and painted with Tamiya paints (primer and yellow colours). Decals are Microscale black stencil lettering. Tamiya and Vallejo clear sealed the decals. 

The handrails, grab irons, and other details were painted using black and yellow Tamiya paints. The walkway paint was kept as is to give the completed model a simple, but visible, industrial look.The model’s open framed motor had to be rebuilt before the Soundtraxx Tsunami2 1100 decoder and a single ESU “sugar cube” speaker were installed. To fit the new electronics and LED headlights the top frame cap had to be left off and a speaker shelf fabricated out of sheet styrene and attached to the frame using one of the frame plate screws.

Murray Brown's "Auto With You" auto transport car showcased at WMRC's February 2026 meeting

Murray Brown brought in this unique model of a CN “Auto With You” car to the WMRC’s monthly model display at February’s meeting. The prototype was introduced by CN in the 70’s, along with Daynighter coaches and Red, White and Blue fares as an attempt by government owned CN Rail to grow passenger traffic and recoup some of the cost of the service by generating additional revenue.

The service allowed a passenger's car to travel with them on the Super Continental, trains between Toronto and Edmonton.  Reservations were required for passengers and their cars. Passengers delivered their cars four hours prior to departure, with the cars made available soon after arrival in Toronto, Winnipeg, Edmonton, or Vancouver.  

There were six autos per car. Enclosed auto transporters were painted in CN's passenger colours and were positioned on the rear of the Super Continental.  Ramp facilities in Winnipeg were in the east yard at the southwest corner of the Provencher Bridge. The cars were too high to pass through Union Station. 

The first year’s services in 1972 were peak summer only, three times per week. In 1973, the service was boosted to daily service.  In 1974 it became a year-round service. The cars were fitted with BARCO steam lines. The service ended in 1976 due to lack of patronage.

Murray fitted his model with Walthers Proto trucks, Kadee scale head couplers, Utah Pacific marker lights, Custom Finishing Models BARCO steam heat hoses, Cal Scale UC passenger air brake fitting, Hi-Tech Details air and signal line hoses, He hand fabricated the uncoupling rods, self designed and 3D printed the coupler fit bar brackets and ink jet printed end of car decals. 

Trucks were weathered with Tamiya X-21 Flat Base, Vallejo IDF Sand Grey. Vallejo Special FX Rust and Orange Rust were applied to the coupler knuckles and  the wheelsets. Tamiya Panel Line Accent Color was used to heighten certain details.  AK Terrains concrete acrylic was used to simulate tracks 1 through 6 at Winnipeg’s Union Station.

 

Neil Carleton brings two models to the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club's September monthly model display

WMRC member Neil Carleton brought two excellent models that he has been working on to the WMRC's first monthly model display of the season. He took an undecorated Rapido FP9 B-unit and installed a Loksound sound decoder. He primed it with Tamiya primer and spray painted it with Rapido and other brands of paint. Decals are from Black Cat. The finished model was sprayed with Testors Dullcoat. 

His second model was of a 1945 Chevy truck box. He used a CC Laser cut wooden truck kit to turn a Classic Metal Works highway tractor into a delivery truck. The model still needs to be primed and painted. It will be lettered for the Allan Transfer Company of MacGregor, Manitoba, using signs made with his computer.
 

 

Neil Carelton displays Athearn Hustler at Winnipeg Model Railroad Club's January meeting

WMRC member Neil Carleton brought this Athearn Hustler that he has been working on to the club's January monthly model display. He is using it to test the colors and making before repainting a larger, more expensive model.

He stripped the paint off by using a watered down lye solution. Then he painted it with Tamiya primer and masked and airbrushed it with Rapido acrylic Proto paint in classic CPR colors. He decorated it with Black Cat decals and sprayed it with Testors dull coat. Windows and headlight lenses were made with clear acetate and Testors clear part cement and window maker.  He finished the model by weathering it with pan pastels.