bouch
New Member
Hi folks,
Quick note of intro... My name is Mike Boucher, and I've lived in Massachusetts, USA, my entire life. So how did I wind up here?
Back in the late 70's-early 80's, my father ran a small home business selling castings for 3/4" and 1" live steamers (he was a professional machinist at the time) Around 84-85, someone gave him about 10 years worth of "Model Engineer" magazines from the 1950's-early 60's. I started reading them, as I was learning how to do machine work in hopes of building my own live steam engine. (I was in high school at the time)
In 1958-59, Martin Evans serialized a 3.5" gauge version of the LMS Stanier 2-6-4 tanks, he called it "Jubilee", since 58' was an anniversary year for the magazine. (which confused me horribly when I first heard of the LMS "Jubilee" class 4-6-0's!)
I was fascinated by the engine. Something about the lines/proportions of the engine was really appealing. The wheel arrangement was so unique, to me, I had never heard of a 2-6-4 in the U.S., and "mainline" tanks are a rarity as well. And my interest in British steam began...
So, as you can guess, my primary interest is in the LMS. Although I do admit I also like Gresley pacifics and GWR 4-6-0's...
As for model railroads, I model in both N scale and O scale (both 2 rail "standard gauge" and On3)
More than a few years ago, I was looking for a new challenge in building model railroad stuff, I was bored with either "take it out of the box and put it on the layout" or plastic kits. Neither presented a challenge. So I ordered a 7mm scale etched brass kit for the closest engine I could find to the Stanier tank, a DJH "Fairburn" tank. I opened the box and said, "holy crap, what have I done?!?!. After a few conversations on the web, and joining the Gauge O Guild, I ordered a few other etched brass kits for rolling stock. I've now built a few pieces of rolling stock, (connoisseur Loriot and D&S horse box, as well as many Slaters and Parkside Dundas plastic kits) and I'm about to attempt my first engine. And I'm wavering on which kit it will be.
My choices right now are:
- Detail a Lima 4F, using a bunch of detail parts I've acquired over the years, using JM kit to rebuild the chassis
- A Connoisseur "Jinty"
- A David Andrews "City of Truro"
- the DJH Fairburn tank
- and still in transit, a David Andrews Stanier 2-6-4 tank (back to my "first love".
Been threatening to work in the 4F, but part of me really wants to dive in on the Stanier tank (but it has outside valve gear!), and the Jinty seems like a good starting point...
As for layout, never really built one. Right now I have a 2x4 Ntrak module that needs scenery repairs as its gotten pretty beat up over the years. I'm also working on a 18' x 2 1/2' set of modules for an On3 switching layout.
My O scale club has an 18'x40' sectional layout that I run stuff on.
And I do have a 3.5 gauge live steamer (a Boston and Maine 4-6-2) and am active in my local club, but I still haven't built "Jubilee" (although I do have some of the castings!) I have built several stationary engines, and I've acquired a rather large model traction engine
If you want to see pics of some of the models I've built recently, I have pics up on flickr: mdbouch I have some videos up on youtube: Mike Boucher Search for "MMRS" for my O scale club's layout, or "Sorven Town" for the layout the US Gauge O Guild NorthEast (USGONE) for the under-construction layout one of our members is building, and "Waushakum" for live steam stuff.
Quick note of intro... My name is Mike Boucher, and I've lived in Massachusetts, USA, my entire life. So how did I wind up here?
Back in the late 70's-early 80's, my father ran a small home business selling castings for 3/4" and 1" live steamers (he was a professional machinist at the time) Around 84-85, someone gave him about 10 years worth of "Model Engineer" magazines from the 1950's-early 60's. I started reading them, as I was learning how to do machine work in hopes of building my own live steam engine. (I was in high school at the time)
In 1958-59, Martin Evans serialized a 3.5" gauge version of the LMS Stanier 2-6-4 tanks, he called it "Jubilee", since 58' was an anniversary year for the magazine. (which confused me horribly when I first heard of the LMS "Jubilee" class 4-6-0's!)
I was fascinated by the engine. Something about the lines/proportions of the engine was really appealing. The wheel arrangement was so unique, to me, I had never heard of a 2-6-4 in the U.S., and "mainline" tanks are a rarity as well. And my interest in British steam began...
So, as you can guess, my primary interest is in the LMS. Although I do admit I also like Gresley pacifics and GWR 4-6-0's...
As for model railroads, I model in both N scale and O scale (both 2 rail "standard gauge" and On3)
More than a few years ago, I was looking for a new challenge in building model railroad stuff, I was bored with either "take it out of the box and put it on the layout" or plastic kits. Neither presented a challenge. So I ordered a 7mm scale etched brass kit for the closest engine I could find to the Stanier tank, a DJH "Fairburn" tank. I opened the box and said, "holy crap, what have I done?!?!. After a few conversations on the web, and joining the Gauge O Guild, I ordered a few other etched brass kits for rolling stock. I've now built a few pieces of rolling stock, (connoisseur Loriot and D&S horse box, as well as many Slaters and Parkside Dundas plastic kits) and I'm about to attempt my first engine. And I'm wavering on which kit it will be.
My choices right now are:
- Detail a Lima 4F, using a bunch of detail parts I've acquired over the years, using JM kit to rebuild the chassis
- A Connoisseur "Jinty"
- A David Andrews "City of Truro"
- the DJH Fairburn tank
- and still in transit, a David Andrews Stanier 2-6-4 tank (back to my "first love".
Been threatening to work in the 4F, but part of me really wants to dive in on the Stanier tank (but it has outside valve gear!), and the Jinty seems like a good starting point...
As for layout, never really built one. Right now I have a 2x4 Ntrak module that needs scenery repairs as its gotten pretty beat up over the years. I'm also working on a 18' x 2 1/2' set of modules for an On3 switching layout.
My O scale club has an 18'x40' sectional layout that I run stuff on.
And I do have a 3.5 gauge live steamer (a Boston and Maine 4-6-2) and am active in my local club, but I still haven't built "Jubilee" (although I do have some of the castings!) I have built several stationary engines, and I've acquired a rather large model traction engine
If you want to see pics of some of the models I've built recently, I have pics up on flickr: mdbouch I have some videos up on youtube: Mike Boucher Search for "MMRS" for my O scale club's layout, or "Sorven Town" for the layout the US Gauge O Guild NorthEast (USGONE) for the under-construction layout one of our members is building, and "Waushakum" for live steam stuff.
.
