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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

I love how the eagle illustration looks squished. I adore the American flag just kind of existing in a quasi-state of reality, never fully materialized. It looks the same way dogshit feels on a 100 degree day when you step in it. You reallly thought you made it past this but no. It's there. waiting.

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

I love how the placement of "40 years of growth" and "200 years of American Railroads" gives the impression that they failed to count up to 250 correctly. I love how the eagle looks like a popup ad in the middle of the original map. The red stroke text combined with an emboss is hog-crankin' great.

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

I think good artists need to spend a little time defending shitty art just to grease the thinking wheels. Don't do it too often, but do it enough to recognize why something sucks, and to better discover what makes something good too. You learn more from failure than success, design or not.

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

May the buyers of this have their entire 40+ year collection sold by their clueless grandchildren to some autistic trans catgirl for a single Pokémon booster box. #modeltrains

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 12/04/2026

And now some garden #modelrailroad news. I have taken over as designer of my local garden #trains club newsletter. I am going to start writing up a monthly column that tracks new #3dprint releases and further tips for 3D printing garden-scale trains. You can find more info of our org here bagrs.org

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

It's been a while since I've posted #modeltrain stuff so here's some beautiful weathering by Stinger Arthaus. I love this level of weather precisely because it's so painfully easy to overdo it and thus requires such tremendous skill to balance a "realistic" application instead of just too much.

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

Good news as I often model a 1941 era Sacramento Northern in G scale. That includes modifying a lot of existing 3D model designs into SN motive power and rolling stock. Hall Scott Interurbans, B1 cabs, GE steeples, even several caboose models. Lot of failed prints, lot of trial and error. It's fun.

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

Yep! and it makes so many pieces a lot easier to print. I'm already modifying the core step components to be capable of fitting detail parts like rotating fans and a model of the diesel motor itself.

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

well yea, that colorway looks objectively better. It's just that I like schemes that look weird. I don't know why. My entire art background gets chucked out the window for weird green hues and bad color pairings.

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

Fine #train foamers, you win. I don't even MODEL transition era, but this GP9 #3dprint model is trivial to convert to a GP7 and I am obsessed with how ugly the green/orange colors of the WP are for Sacramento Northern. So you win, diesel #modelrailroad nerds. My 1941 layout is cooked,chat.

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

Using some of my failed #3Dprint build to test vinyl lettering that I drew and cut using a Siser Juliet. It's a little rough to apply it but that's why I'm practicing on my junk projects. #modeltrains

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

I don't like how My 9 Games clearly reveals my age:

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

It looks real but it's "only" a #modelrailroad! Once again the Bishoptown Subdivision garden railroad shows that outdoor 1:29 scale #trains look stellar in natural sunlight. Expert weathering and attention to details go far for realism.

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

Best part of 3D printing trains? You sometimes get updates to the models! #modelrailroad modeler Simon Wright updated his truck design for his recent D&RGW combine, while Chris Murray is working on a 6-wheel Buckeye that he'll be releasing soon on Thingiverse! These are both fantastic models!

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

Seeing a completed SP SD9 #3dprint made by our garden railroad club president is so encouraging. There aren't many 1:29 scale releases these days + with a #modeltrain market that focuses on the most expensive models, printing becomes a necessity for budget builds. www.thingiverse.com/thing:7287868

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 14/02/2026

I love when I see examples of 3D printed #modelrailroad structures especially when they were originally at a different scale. This locomotive shed started as an HO scale model, and comfortably scaled up to 1:29 G scale!

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

Yea I got enchanted by the 40th and Shafter yard. I really looking at local history by visiting various former locations. I just gotta build this yard. It's so wild that the Bay Area had effective Interurban transit in 1940. People often don't know how long electric lines existed out here.

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

While Bachmann released a new catalog today, you wouldn't notice much "Large scale #trains" other than $230 hoppers. Meanwhile in a year you'd see a dozen or so high quality models from just 2 makers, 512 Designs and RandyMower. #3DPrinting makes obscure #modeltrains scales thrive.

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

Fan of old timey western #trains ? Well modeler "swright3" has uploaded a gorgeous 1:20.3 Fn3 Combine that would look great next to your LGB D&RGW wood coaches. Yet another lovely example of #3Dprinting making #modeltrains more accessible. cults3d.com/en/3d-model/...

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

The newest #modeltrains releases in G Scale aren't from major manufacturers, but 3D printed designs. Not 1 but 2 different SD9 models have been released online for free, by 512 Designs and BAGRS president Roger Nicholson. Further proof that 3D printing is the future of garden #trains scales.

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 16/01/2026

It's Friday. That means you can start thinking about running #trains tonight. Just think about a weekend where you just watch this #modeltrain roll back and forth across a tiny garden bridge.

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 16/01/2026

New #modeltrain day. As my usual M.O. I got a worn out #train and need to print new siderods, new trailing truck, new trailing wheels and redo the entire main shell to look like the Southern Pacific A6 Atlantics.

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

Gotta love some convincing ground cover for your garden railway. The combo of low growing plants and consistent trackside elements like service line poles goes a long way. #modeltrains

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

My toxic #modeltrain trait is finding 3D printed #trains and pairing them with a Southern Pacific equivalent that still operated in 1941. Printable Railroads released a 1:22.5 scale 4-4-0 Jupiter that would require only *some* mods to become a Class E-23 of which only 3 remained on the roster.

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

The best part of #trains and #modeltrains is when the real trains look like models and the models look like real trains.

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

Hey O Scale folks out there, is there a common piece of rolling stock, locomotive or other aspect of your scale that is historically expensive and not budget friendly as new? Seems like this Atlas offering is a rare win for rolling stock compared to Lionel #modeltrains #trains #modelrailroading

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

When garden railroads go for realism, they go hardddd. Chehalis Western Garden Railroad dropped this construction site image and I'm still enamored with all the weathering and detail. #modeltrains #trains #modelrailroading

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 25/12/2025

Me and 3 rail don't get along since I keep getting humbled by this 1990 K-line. New transformer arrived, but even with new track it just kept sputtering. Guess it's time to take apart I think...just as I hear a pop and the magic smoke come out. And...then it starts running? wtf #modeltrains

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 23/12/2025

There's no reason to have modern battleships and it's peak brainrot to make one but thank fuck it's a news item which means I can finally dump off this incredibly niche battleship meme that I made two years ago for exactly three people to laugh at. *drops on desk and walks away whistling *

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 22/12/2025

If you ever wanted to know the state of G scale "popularity" in the #modeltrains world, consider that I've now seen this barely-half-second shot of a modded Piko locomotive in an Ulta ad about a dozen times on various groups/forums. #modelrailroading

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 22/12/2025

If you ever need to know what I'm like, just imagine the Wolverine-in-bed-looking-at-photo meme but it's just me looking at the Iowa Traction Baldwin Westinghouse steeple cab out there still doing its thing. #trains

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 17/12/2025

For added context, I got this from a friend whose father passed away and she was too heartbroken to get rid of it so she sent it to me and I run it as an homage. I don't run o-scale though, the transformer it came with was DOA. Do O-scale folk just all have very expensive AC transformers?

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 17/12/2025

Hey #modeltrain nerds. I'm being dumb. I'm failing at running this early 1990's K-line because I am using the wrong transformer. I don't run O-scale so I don't understand, do DC motors run off inverted AC power? Do I need a $250 Lionel AC transformer to make this work without it running sketch?

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

oh yeah! I love wagon tops. I first heard about them because of the 1:29 3D print that randymower made a couple years back. It's amazing and I printed one for my 1941 layout since I spotted a few in archival footage of the SP yards around San Francisco. cults3d.com/en/3d-model/...

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

Props to the #modeltrain comments who helpfully explained why Lionel won't make the train from Wicked. The logistics, tooling, niche appeal etc make it a wildly impractical monstrosity. However my 1 final point, which is above scrutiny, is that Lionel won't do it because they are cowards. Thank you.

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

Hey #train nerds can I get a viking roof appreciation post going? Post your favorite rolling stock roof designs! (this niche post brought to you by Bluesky: the platform for weirdos with hyperfixations with niche audiences in the triple digits.)

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 30/11/2025

It's all down to the cost of new injection molds. They will gladly produce the same trains from 30 year old molds but would never risk a unique build unless they believe they can juice that design for decades. That's why Lionel makes $$ from a movie that is 20 years old that few people talk about.

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 30/11/2025

It's just odd especially since Universal has been rather aggressive with handing out licensing rights to... just about anyone.

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 30/11/2025

"but the Wicked #train is impractical" Yea but they made a full size mockup plus Jeff Goldblum has a smaller wind-up version too. FFS you make stupid cash grab #modeltrains all the time and there's fucking Wicked branded green Mac N Cheese what are you doing Lionel how do you suck at licenses?!

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 30/11/2025

Look we had over a year for Lionel to make a #modeltrain of that batshit Wicked locomotive and yet NOTHING. This cringey-ass #train company is too good for Wicked but can drag out the corpse of The Polar Express with uncanny Tom Hanks for two decades past that films cultural relevancy? Get real.

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

Yet another stunning #3dprint G scale locomotive designed and printed by the talented Michal Brož. With garden scale #modeltrains being prohibitively expensive and limited in stock, printing trains at this scale opens the doors for entry-level DIY hobbyists that simply hadn't existed before.

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

All non-CDL trucks should be forced to be limited to a maximum height nose that matches sedans so people will stop buying trucks as pavement princesses and 90k vanity symbols. Exemptions for business "work trucks" are issued as limited permits like hunting permits and regulated by local counties.

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 13/11/2025

I truly hope that every single #modelrailroad and #train enthusiast under the age of 35 ends this specific type of gatekeeping foamer forever. I can't think ANYTHING that holds this hobby back more than some cantankerous busybody who tanks a blossoming interest in the hobby with dipshit nonsense.

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

This is what is possible with #3Dprinting #modeltrains : Michal Brož 3D modeled and printed this G scale type 749 and powered it with PIKO 36105 motor blocks. It's such a strong example of just how far printing has come and the level of bespoke detail is possible even with FDM.

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

Look I think more #modelrailroad layouts and #modeltrains themselves should include little animals. Pets! Squirrels! A judgemental bird! Cryptids! PUT. CUTE. ANIMALS. IN. YOUR. LAYOUTS.

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

I wish G scale #modeltrains in the US were as prototypical as German modelers. Just this level of detail is often absent despite having the most room to detail with such a large train. It's clear that if I ever switch to O scale I'm 100% doing Proto48.

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 10/11/2025

I so fw HO scale models taken outside for gorgeous photography. Chris Leverett over at Model Railroading Structures & Scenery fb page posted this absolutely gorgeous building. Like LOOK at that wear. It's so easy to overdo building grime but this is just perfection. #modelrailroad #modeltrains

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 10/11/2025

Hey fellow #train nerds. It's Monday. I don't have anything super interesting to say other than this is a cute photo of a railroad I don't model. Love Burlington's Everywhere West lettering. That is all.

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 09/11/2025

What I love about Chehalis Western garden #modelrailroad is how prototypical track action is even though the ground cover isn't trying to be to scale. It still works so well because of the simplicity of the ballast and large stones while the foreground tree debris looks like a dense thicket.

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