Cyril Durrenberger wrote: There was never a smelter at Bauxite, only an ore beneficiation plant to prepare ore for shipment to alumina plants. Anthony Thompson Dept. of Materials Science &

Cyril Durrenberger wrote: Originally aluminum metal was produced at Point Comfort with cheap natural gas providing the power. As the price of gas increased, the change to Rockdale was made.

"What was imported was bauxite, the mineral from which aluminum is refined, and to a lesser extent, alumina, which is aluminum oxide refined from bauxite and the next step to aluminum metal. All you

Gatwood, Elden wrote: I'm not aware of any. Both calcium carbide and "burnt lime" are VERY hygroscopic and vigorously absorb and react with water to form a new (and usually undesirable)

Tony; Thank you very much for the detailed response! aluminum refining plants, such as Alcoa's plants at Alcoa, Tennessee, Point Comfort, Texas, Massena, New York, or Vancouver, Washington

Every time I bought an injection molded car instead of a resin car I've been disappointed. The detail on the resin car is much crisper and of course more accurate. I don't mind paying more but I do

Chris, I like it when a manufacturer plans a weight into the design of a flatcar kit but I don't get concerned if it's not. Light weight flatcars are the ones that get loads with the weight concealed

I too am surprised at the steadily increasing cost of model railroad supplies. Last Saturday afternoon I went into Trainland in Lynbrook. Their shelves very fully stocked with $20+ RTR freight cars

Tim, it's been more than 5 years but I don't remember any serious difficulties. The hardest bit I do remember is getting the overlay placed just exactly right the 1st time because I was using contact

Aah, but I forgot to mention the best part. You get to build it yourself. Jim Hayes Portland Oregon

Elden Gatwood wrote: What was imported was bauxite, the mineral from which aluminum is refined, and to a lesser extent, alumina, which is aluminum oxide refined from bauxite and the next step

Hi Richard, I was one of several that attempted to provide feedback to IM on the New Haven NE-5 caboose two years prior to production based on the pilot with no result. While there are published

wrote: side I wonder if Terry Wegman could cut an injection molded overlay with the parts being sold on a subscription basis (modelers order and pay for the parts before the work is done). I'm

The InterMountain bulkhead flat car will be the B&O version. Some enterprising B&O guy sent them the drawings and photos they needed. After watching obscure ATSF and Missouri Pacific versions of

Filling the box with parts using American labor is nearly as expensive as assembly in China. That is why kits and RTR are not that far apart for the same model. And the pretty box is $2 of the final

I'm very aware of what's happening w/ currecy exchange rates as well as wage increases in Chinese made products. I have no doubt that everything you said about end price escalation will come to

Gatwood, Elden wrote: Do you mean the PRR did not used galvanized roofing until World War II?? It is evident from Railway Age that many roads were using galvanized steel back in the days of

Probably not, Andy. When the Santa Fe's Ft-V class were rebuilt as pulpwood cars, they got an entirely new steel deck that sloped inward towards the center, as well as end bulkheads. Modeling

Walt Like you, I am building for a future layout. As such I can pretty much set my own pace at building what I need. Heck man, I am an engineer for NS and really don't have a lot of time at home in

Maybe for some, but I would rather assemble a well-made kit than open a box and put a model on the track. Of course, I don't have any track to put it on, so that could have something to do with my