Champlain Valley Custom Models

05/28/2026

Hello from NERPM! I'll be here tonight, tomorrow, and Saturday with models on display. Please feel free to come say hi!

05/12/2026

Yet another Bowser D&H RS-3m is done and ready to head out for service! This one is already spoken for, but if you have one of these that needs to be dirtied up, send me a message. These models have been wonderful to work with and yield a really satisfying result. Bowser did a great job with these. I'm continually impressed by their ability to pump out accurate RS-3 models run after run.

05/04/2026

"There's no stopping us!"

Some great looking Norfolk & Western models recently came through my shop for weathering work; a Rapido GE C30-7 and a pair of Tangent PS 4750 hoppers. The C30-7 also received a more accurate horn. These were weathered based on prototype photos. While the hoppers are relatively light, the C30-7 had some interesting elements, such as the rusted radiator fairings. All weathering was done with acrylic paints, powders, and pan pastels, sealed under a coat of Tamiya TS-80.

04/14/2026

Lightning stripes! Perfect for a stormy day - and these are FOR SALE!

Two more Bowser RS3ms, both with factory ESU LokSound DCC/Sound. These are #501 and #505. I have weathered these for their late 1970s appearance with the usual rust and grime under the frame, around the walkway, and battery boxes, plus some logo fading where needed.

$400 each plus shipping. Send me a message if you want 'em!

04/01/2026

Well folks... The last two sold so quickly and I was able to get more, so here we go! There will be a #501 and a #505 available with prototypical weathering soon. The pricing will be the same - $400 plus shipping each if bought through the page here. If you would like to purchase one of these, please send me a message!

03/25/2026

From the backlog of recently completed work (and oh boy is there a lot of it to show off), this is an Athearn HO RTR EMD SW1500, which was renumbered, detailed, and weathered. Details added include speed recorder cables, moving the antenna to the correct location, hood lift rings, truck inspection lights, and cab mirrors.

03/23/2026

FOR SALE!

508 is SOLD!

Morrison-Knudsen's chop-nose monstrosities were an icon of northeastern railroading throughout the late 1970s and 1980s. Prolonging the useable life of D&H's RS3s, with some outlasting the D&H, everyone needs at least one of these models. So, here's your chance to pick up some that are already weathered based on prototype photos! These are ESU LokSound equipped, programmed to their roadnumbers, and ready to make sweet burble noises on your layout.

Bowser MFG CO INC did an outstanding job with these models. I may have more available if the interest is there. Alternatively, if you purchased one that you'd like weathered, send me a message!

02/06/2026

Howdy folks, a reminder that I have a variety of items for sale on my eBay page, and will be continuing to periodically add new items every week. Stuff sells fast, so watch this space!

Follow champlainvalleycustommodels on eBay. Buying, Selling, Collecting on eBay has never been more exciting!

02/04/2026

One crispy GP30, coming right up!

This is a Broadway Limited new run EMD GP30. The only changes I made was to replace the couplers and boxes with Kadee scale head couplers. I've said it before but these new BLI EMD models are really nice. I'll have to pick up one for myself one of these days.

Weathering for this was based on prototype photos. Its funny, pretty much every EMD out west has the same pattern of heat related weathering in the middle of the hood above the block and below the dynamic grids. Definitely fun to reproduce, which I did using acrylic paints and weathering powders.

01/14/2026

611 is coming along nicely! Headlights, number boards, and truck lights done! Next, ditch lights, speaker, horn, and sunshades.

01/08/2026

Amfleets! Something a bit different than just weathering. Both of these got DCC upgrades with controllable interior lighting and lit red markers on both ends. I also installed some passenger figures as well to give them a bit of life.