I needed some square stock for the FGEX Reefer Mini-Kit and had lost my gifted square stock I received from Bill Welch. So i decided to try and make my own from some brass rod.
I began by taping some Green Frog Making Tape sticky side up on a flat plate and placing some .030 brass rod on it. I filed one side flat removing around .007 . Next I rotated the rod 180 degrees and placed the rod with the flat side don on the tape and files about another .007 from the second side. I next rotated the rod 90 degrees and placed some stryene strips next to the filed flat sides and filed the 3rd side flat. Rotate one last time and file the 4th side.
I ended up with some .015 square brass stock. Next time I will try not to loose the stock Bill gave me
See attached pdf from my clinic on how I did this if you want to give it a try.

Gene's suggestion of a draw plate is a good one as well


George Toman

Bill that is a very nice looking build. This will be a great help with my Mini-Kit
Love the attention to detail
Question! Do you have a photo of the underframe? Model or prototype or both
Thanks
George Toman

Consider purchasing a “draw plate” from a jewelry supply. You can make your own square stock. 

Gene Deimling

Brad:

All:
Thanks for the information.
Mike

There is quite a bit of info in Hinman’s book on MDT. 

Armand,

ERDX was one of the reporting marks owned by Merchants Despatch Transportation Corp.  My January 1952 ORER lists ERDX 9900-9999 as the only series.  They were 42' long RB's (bunkerless reefers = insulated boxcars) with 5' sliding (plug) doors.

Todd Sullivan

. . .this link will take you to photos on an unpainted Sunshine kit of the same car: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1VobZE8Ywfi0a74ME97BaSVwzIlnk7Br1

Note the flange along the bottom of the sill

Bill Welch

Southern open top cars were Black.

Bill Welch

The wire is steel

I think it says the wire is Nichrome!  [Genuine Sandvik Nichrome 80 !!]

-- 
Jon Miller
For me time stopped in 1941
Digitrax  Chief/Zephyr systems, JMRI User
SPROG User
NMRA Life member #2623
Member SFRH&MS

Gentlemen,

I just acquired an O scale Southern six door drop bottom steel gondola from PSC.   Might anyone have any info on these cars ie build date correct paint color [red or black] etc.    The box states they were built by Enterprise Railway Equipment....

With thanks in advance,
Brad Andonian

If you need shorter pieces, the leads on LED's are square. Like the type once sold at Radio Shack.

Aaron Gjermundson 

I don't remember what options there were when I ordered my 100-foot reel of .4mm x .4mm that is .019" x .019" from Kidney Puncher. The wire is steel and comes off the reel pretty straight and it is easy to get it completely straight. I often show up at RPM's with my reel and cutters and give lengths away to friends.

Bill Welch

Which reminds me, I recall someone found a source for square brake wheel shaft material. Search of the archives has lots of results, but none specifically relevant. Anyone know of a practical source? This is one detail I'd like to start adding were applicable.
Thx,
RJ Dial
Burlingame, CA

This advertisement from Intermountain's Trainfest flyer got me to thinking just
how far freight car modeling has come in the 30 or so (plus or minus) years since
the "resin revolution" ran headfirst into the "prototype modeling" revolution.
Can you even imagine a flyer like this even from a brass importer or craftsman
kit maker back in the dark ages before the 1980's, much less from a mass production
plastic freight car vendor?

These are the best of times. So far. :-)

Tim O'Connor



--
*Tim O'Connor*
*Sterling, Massachusetts*

Texas & Northern

--
*Tim O'Connor*
*Sterling, Massachusetts*