Re: Bill Welch
Michael Gross
Oh, how sad. I had known of Bill's condition for some time, and had prepared these brief remarks for the “virtual memorial” he had hoped to attend while he was still alive. I have revised and included them here...
Thoughts on Bill Welch How can you not love a man who loved Buddy Holly, the rock-and-roller who inspired my sister to name her doll ‘Peggy Sue,’ made this spectacle-wearing teen feel a trifle less nerdy, and penned the achingly beautiful True Love Ways? Like Holly, Bill was taken from us before his time, and I wish he had lived long enough for me to say these things to his face. Eulogies are wasted on the deceased. They are rotten audiences. I was not surprised to learn that Bill was an ordained minister. His homilies on acrylic paint and resin kits made me a believer. So too was his gospel of “Extreme Modeling,” Bill’s dazzling attempts to create, in miniature, each fine, microscopic detail of a prototype. I recognized that this meticulous harvester of plastic rivets was a man whose obsessive-compulsive disorder made my OCD look almost normal. And, quite aside from Bill’s content, was his style, his seductive south o’ the Mason-Dixon Line drawl… as smooth and persuasive as slow-sipping a glass of Southern Comfort. I thank him for his expertise, his inspiration, and his kindness. His love of the hobby has enriched both my modeling and my life and, as Buddy Holly put it, brought “joys to share with those who really care.” While I’m not entirely certain there is an afterlife, I’m pretty certain that, if there is, I’d like to go where Bill goes. Michael Gross Pasadena, CA
|
||
|
||
Re: San Juan Car Co. they are still operational
Eric Hansmann
I don’t know why, but the Grandt Line detail parts are not on that San Juan website, nor is there a link to the detail parts.
There is a separate site and address for San Juan Details. Bookmark this and use it to order former Grandt Line parts.
I was able to order direct and received all parts within a reasonable amount of time.
Eric Hansmann Murfreesboro, TN
From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io> On Behalf Of William Reed
Sent: Tuesday, November 17, 2020 7:20 PM To: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io Subject: Re: [RealSTMFC] San Juan Car Co. they are still operational
San Juan Car Company is operational and they have added several different lines like Grandt and San Juan Decals. They are about to release a new Tank Car in On3. There website is functional.
William aka drgwk37
|
||
|
||
Re: Bill Welch
Oh Dear! Loss on top of loss on top of loss. When we can start having meets again, it may feel as much like a memorial service as a celebration of modeling. And yet, as much as we will miss our friends, their families' sorrow is so much greater. Let us remember them all as well. Chuck Peck
On Wed, Nov 18, 2020 at 12:53 PM Schuyler Larrabee via groups.io <schuyler.larrabee=verizon.net@groups.io> wrote:
|
||
|
||
Re: Bill Welch
Schuyler Larrabee
All I needed to read was the subject line. Aw, Damn.
Of course, I will miss Bill’s posts to the STMFC and Resin list. Always pushing the envelope (and shaving rivets) to get just the right pattern. Who else had noted that brake staffs are sometimes square, and then searched to find small square wire so as to model that? Who else (outside of a Shake’n’Take) takes progress pictures and explains Exxactly how he did that? And I was pleased to see him sign up for the last Shake’n’Take
I’d recently been corresponding with him about architecture, how brick buildings were built, as he was setting about building a building for a layout. It was a pleasure to be sharing something I know a lot about with a master modeler – his questions were all about how to make the windows in the brick wall look right, how to do it the way the masons did. Unfortunately, that building will not be completed, at least not by Bill.
I have to say that one of the high points of my own modeling was at Cocoa, when he looked at a couple of my projects and pronounced them to be “Very nice, Schuyler, very well done.”
2020. Greg Martin. Denny Anspach. And now Bill. This is a very tough year.
Schuyler
From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io> On Behalf Of Eric Hansmann
Sent: Tuesday, November 17, 2020 8:42 PM To: RealSTMFC@groups.io; Resin Freight Car Builders <ResinFreightCarBuilders@groups.io>; Proto Layouts Group <proto-layouts@groups.io> Cc: Plastic Freight Car Buiilders <main@PlasticFreightCarBuiilders.groups.io> Subject: [RealSTMFC] Bill Welch
Sad hobby news has reached my computer. Our favorite extreme modeler and Dodger fan, Bill Welch, passed away Sunday afternoon, November 15th, 2020. This was reported by his niece on his Facebook timeline. Bill's work has touched and inspired so many in our group and at RPM events across the years. A Zoom celebration of Bill's modeling life will be announced shortly.
Eric Hansmann Murfreesboro, TN
|
||
|
||
Re: Bill Welch
Aley, Jeff A
I am sad to hear of Bill’s passing. I only knew him from emails and from seeing him annually at Prototype Rails. Even so, he was always helpful and encouraging. I could always count on him to suggest a few new clinicians every year – he always wanted to help Prototype Rails to improve and grow. In fact, one of his suggestions from a couple of years ago was to get Rob Manley to attend and give his clinic on Pan Pastels. Rob was planning to come to the next Prototype Rails, but alas! he too, has passed away.
My sympathies to his family and loved ones. They and Bill will be in my prayers.
-Jeff
From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io>
On Behalf Of Guy Wilber via groups.io
Sent: Tuesday, November 17, 2020 5:51 PM To: main@realstmfc.groups.io Subject: Re: [RealSTMFC] Bill Welch
Rest In Peace, Bill.
We were friends beginning in a time when letters and phone calls were still in vogue. Enjoy your last ride out of the station and say hello to the others awaiting your arrival on the other side.
With Respect, Guy Wilber Reno, Nevada
|
||
|
||
Re: ProtoWest Scale Models
Kenneth Montero
Bob,
Thank you.
Ken Montero
|
||
|
||
Re: ProtoWest Scale Models
Kenneth Montero
Brian,
Thank you.
Ken Montero
|
||
|
||
Re: ProtoWest Scale Models
Kenneth Montero
Tim,
Thank you, especially for the Intermountain information.
Ken Montero
|
||
|
||
Re: Photos: Bangor & Aroostook Flat Car 71710 With Army Tanks (Undated)
Don,
With respect to M3 Lees and National Guard units, a qualified yes, but only in the context of early to mid 1942, and activated Guard units. Post war, the surplus of M4 Shermans meant that the M3s were scrapped. We did not send them to any foreign countries
post-war. During the war, following the establishment of training facilities and the supply depot systems circa late 1942, the remaining domestic M3 tanks were assigned to training facilities, not units. Any rail movement of these tanks after about mid 1942
would be to training centers, both domestic and overseas, to Allies through lend-lease, to remanufacturing facilities for conversion to M31 and M33, and post war, to scrap yards and a few to museums.
Regards,
Bruce Smith
Auburn, AL
From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io> on behalf of Donald B. Valentine via groups.io <riverman_vt@...>
Sent: Monday, November 16, 2020 5:25 PM To: main@realstmfc.groups.io <main@realstmfc.groups.io> Subject: Re: [RealSTMFC] Photos: Bangor & Aroostook Flat Car 71710 With Army Tanks (Undated) The photo of the NC&StL flat car with two lee tanks is helpful Bruce. Note that it too has a cable along the side between the inner piece of the stirrup steps on each end. Thus I believe you are correct about both this and the two BAR car
photos are
of test loads with the purpose of the cable, as I suggested, being to help note the amo9unt of depression in the decks of the
cars, perhaps to see how much it might have change between points "A" and "B".
Were any of the Lee tanks used to equip National Guard units?
My best, Don Valentine
|
||
|
||
Re: ProtoWest Scale Models
Kenneth Montero
Bob,
Thank you.
Ken Montero
|
||
|
||
GN 1948 Box Cars
golden1014
Hi Gents,
Looking for help please with GN box cars. I have this Intermountain model that is a 10-foot IH, post-1948 (diagonal r/b), 12-panel car. Ends are 3-4 Improved Dreadnaught. Series on the model is 18xxx. I have a few pics from a GN book to guide construction. On the ends of this model there appear to be hols for a long horizontal grab iron. Does anyone have a photo of the end of one of these cars so I can get the modle right? Thanks, and God Bless, John Golden
|
||
|
||
Re: Bill Welch
WILLIAM PARDIE
As Eric Hangman noted it has been a crappy year for modelers. I really morn the loss of Bill and others. And it goes on. I am normally a very posituve person and greet each day with enthusiasm. This year is proving to be very negative. I have attended the Naperville meet for the last fifteen years. One of the best parts for me is sitting in the lobby and interacting with all the quality modelers and I personalities. Between the pandemic and exodus of quality modelers I am beginning to worry that I may never again enjoy that experience. How depressing: Bill Pardie Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
-------- Original message -------- From: Eric Hansmann <eric@...> Date: 11/18/20 3:59 AM (GMT-10:00) To: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io Subject: Re: [RealSTMFC] Bill Welch Bill did coin the Resinators term. He hosted a couple of gatherings at recent RPM Chicagoland meets that were focused on sharing tips and techniques. Jeff Sankus helped Bill pull those together. Jeff passed away this past January after his battle with cancer.
It’s been a crappy year for prototype modelers.
Eric Hansmann Murfreesboro, TN
From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io> On Behalf Of Clark Propst
Was it Bill that coined the term “Resinators”? Xxrteme modeling for sure. He was always rooting for freight car clinics at RPM meets. Another great one gone… Clark Propst
Sent from Mail for Windows 10
|
||
|
||
Re: Rob Manley
Rich C
I echoed my sentiments about the loss of Rob on the Illinois Central group. I was fortunate to meet and talk with him at many train shows both here in Wisconsin and Illinois. It was always a pleasure. He too along with Bill Welch have left a great legacy for all of us to remember and to follow. My prayers go out to Rob's family Rich Christie
On Wednesday, November 18, 2020, 10:56:18 AM CST, Steve and Barb Hile <shile@...> wrote:
So sorry to hear of another passing. Rob was a great modeler and eloquent spokesman for Pan Pastel weathering.
Steve Hile
From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io [mailto:main@RealSTMFC.groups.io] On Behalf Of Douglas Harding
I learned Rob Manley, master of Pan Pastel’s, died on Monday. I understand he had a heart attack. Here is his obituary.
Doug Harding
|
||
|
||
Re: Bill Welch
Donald B. Valentine <riverman_vt@...>
I have enjoyed Bill Welch's work ever since joining the STMFC and especially enjoyed learning from him and sharing what little info I had on "watermelon cars" as we always called ventilated boxcars in Northern New England due to that being their most commonly seen cargo here. Owing to schedule conflicts with work I've never been able to make a Cocoa meet but was super pleased to meet Bill when he came north for the New England Prototype Modelers Meet in 2019. I enjoyed his clinic, and took many notes, and was pleased to find him in attendance at my clinic which he seemed to enjoy as I had his. A modeler par excellence and a gentleman of the highest quality. Hope we all get to enjoy Bill and his modeling when we meet again in our next lives. Another tragic loss for us all. RIP Bill, Don Valentine
|
||
|
||
Re: Bill Welch
Mark
|
||
|
||
Re: San Juan Car Co. they are still operational
William Reed
San Juan Car Company is operational and they have added several different lines like Grandt and San Juan Decals. They are about to release a new Tank Car in On3. There website is functional.
William
aka drgwk37
From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io> on behalf of WILLIAM PARDIE <PARDIEW001@...>
Sent: Tuesday, November 17, 2020 7:26 PM To: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io> Subject: [RealSTMFC] San Juan Car Co. they are still operational There was some discussion about a week ago as to the status of the San Juan Car Co. I just received a Grandt Line part from them. I guess that they are still operational I did order the part on E Bay.
Bill Pardie
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
|
||
|
||
Re: Photos: Bangor & Aroostook Flat Car 71710 With Army Tanks (Undated)
Donald B. Valentine <riverman_vt@...>
The photo of the NC&StL flat car with two lee tanks is helpful Bruce. Note that it too has a cable along the side between the inner piece of the stirrup steps on each end. Thus I believe you are correct about both this and the two BAR car photos are of test loads with the purpose of the cable, as I suggested, being to help note the amo9unt of depression in the decks of the cars, perhaps to see how much it might have change between points "A" and "B". Were any of the Lee tanks used to equip National Guard units? My best, Don Valentine
|
||
|
||
Re: Suggestions? - Livestock Cars & Operations Books
Donald B. Valentine <riverman_vt@...>
John Riddell wrote: "Here is an ad for THE FOWLER CAR printed in the 1916 issue of Car Builder’s Dictionary and Cyclopedia" and included a photocopy of the ad. That's all well and good but that doesn't mean that any cars using the patent which was for slots in the framing rather than holes for the bolts that held the sheathing. This assumed, and we all k ow what happens when somone assumes, that the siding would shrink and thus have to have the bolts backed off a bit so the sheathing could be pushed back tightly together again and the bolts then tightened back up. Were this needed the slots would have allowed this to be done without removing the bots entirely and having to drill new holes in the framing for them in their new position having been moved a bit when the boards for the sheathing were tightend up. It was found that the lumber used was dry enough, as it would seem someone shooud have figured out beforehand, that the sheathing did nt open up as feared which would have made the cars unsuitable for carrying grain as they were built for. BUT everything I've found on thse cars in both the US & Canada has ndicated that not more than 10,000 such cars had been constructed and put into service before it was realized that the expected shrinkage of the sheathing doid not occur, making the expensive to manufacture slotted framing unnecessary. With constuction of such cars having been begun in 1909, IIRC, it is doubtful that any cars using the Fowler Patent were still being constructed by 1916 so all we really have is an advertisement seeking business. I have climbed on and around a number of these cars from both the CPR, its subsidiary Quebec Central (a cattle car in this instance) and both CNR and Grand Trunk cars of the Dominion Car type hoping to find an existing prototype that was constructed using the Fowler Patent but hae yet to find a surviving example. If someone knows of one I'd like to learn of it. Cordially, Don Valentine
|
||
|
||
Re: Photos: Bangor & Aroostook Flat Car 71710 With Army Tanks (Undated)
Donald B. Valentine <riverman_vt@...>
Am I all wet or is there a cable running beneath the deck of this BAR flat from mounts just beyond the outer side of the last stake pocket on each side, perhaps to indicate how depressed the deck is from the weight of the tank? I noticed this in the second photo but went back and noted that it appears in the first photo as well but is not as obvious until it is enlarged. Can't imagine what this is for other than to keep an eye on how much the deck is depressed. Cordially, Don Valentine
|
||
|
||
Re: Rob Manley
So sorry to hear of another passing. Rob was a great modeler and eloquent spokesman for Pan Pastel weathering.
Steve Hile
From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io [mailto:main@RealSTMFC.groups.io] On Behalf Of Douglas Harding
Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2020 9:20 AM To: STMFC <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io> Subject: [RealSTMFC] Rob Manley
I learned Rob Manley, master of Pan Pastel’s, died on Monday. I understand he had a heart attack. Here is his obituary.
Doug Harding
|
||
|