2024 Plans and Goals

 Happy New Year from the Cascade Sub! 

Here is what I have planned and hope to accomplish in 2024:

1. Weathering Commisions

In 2023 I started accepted weathering projects for clients in earnest. I have a fairly stacked queue for the beginning part of 2024 with multiple locomotives and freight cars slated for weathering. This year, I hope to continue the momentum and grow my customer base. If you are in need of weathering, please feel free to reach out!

2. Finish In-Progress Projects

While it is very tempting to jump ahead to the new projects I'd like to start working on in 2024, as I have mentioned before, I have many projects in need of finishing. In the coming months I'd like to wrap these up. 

Without a doubt the biggest project will be completing the six GPWX woodchip gons that are in various stages of completion. Most have stalled in the late phases of weathering, namely at handpainting graffiti, a tedious and time-consuming project. Some of the cars in this batch also need significant detailing work. 2024 is the year!

3. Organize and Enhance the Studio 

I started 2024 with upgrading the lighting on my workbench (see lead photo). This one improvement got the ball rolling to improve my studio/workshop for future modeling endeavors. Next, I plan to construct two large cabinets that can store both my modeling supplies and projects in a more organized and tidy way. These cabinets will also serve as the supports for a small switching layout I have planned which is likely a late 2024 or early 2025 project.

My studio and workbench enhancement efforts will also entail continuing to stock my workbench with quality tools and supplies (tweezers, new knife blades, adhesives, paints, etc.) Here, the goal is not to simply have a really nice workbench for the sake of it, but to create an enviornment in which I can grow as a modeler and have to tools and supplies I need to execute various projects.

4. Bridgetown RPM

In October 2024, I hope to attend the Bridgetown RPM in Portland, OR and showcase some completed protoype models.  Come October, I hope to have a few Union Pacific locomotives and Cascade Sub/Oregon rolling stock completed and ready for display!

5. Blog Content

In recent years it has become exceedingly clear that this blog is the best and most enjoyable way for me to share my efforts in the hobby. To be sure, such enjoyment is entirely detached from how many of you actually read what I write. For all I know, I could be writing entirely to myself. Fair enough.

Expect consistent posting here in 2024 as I dive into what feels like a new chapter in my modeling career. I am working to improve my storytelling and writing. In addition to the expected updates from the workbench and descriptions of current projects, I also have a few musings on recent developments on the prototypical Cascade Sub and some reflections  on the first Cascade Sub layout in the works. 

Stay tuned, all or at least some of this to come in 2024.