Tim, Thanks, those are great photos and they show exactly what I was trying to describe! There's one other photo I know about that is in one of the small softcover Anthracite railroad books. It

This poll reminds me of practically the same poll taken some time ago, asking us which early Santa Fe mechanical we wanted. I think I voted for the "weird" cars - the

I have been talking to various manufacturers for years to try to get anyone to build a first generation mechanical reefer. I model GN/WFEX but I will take anything. The Rr-56 seems to me to be the

It's an EMD SC or SW (not sure which, only difference is the frame), and that's how they were built (over 100 were built) -- Tim O'Connor Sterling, Massachusetts

Anyone Want A First Generation SFRD Mechanical Reefer? I am good friends with a person working for a major model manufacturer. His area of expertise is product development. For years he and I have

High quality castings for aircraft engines are usually "investment cast" which is pretty much lost wax by another name. A variety of materials can be used - wax, plastic, stereo lithography or other

One thought... While AB control valve portions are going to be about the same size... noting that some current portions (there are three parts to a AB control valve, the pipe bracket, the service

Wax was used when the masters were being "spin" cast in rubber molds. For higher production numbers the masters are injection molded from styrene. Precision scale Co. plastic parts are the same;

Thanks Drew for the clarification. I'd love to see this done. It seems to be an almost forgotten art at least for HO models. -- Tim O'Connor Sterling, Massachusetts

Excellent Bill, thanks for sharing Fenton -- Fenton Wells 250 Frye Rd Pinehurst NC 28374 910-420-8106 srrfan1401@...

Not much to that - the vents are as delivered as are thestack locations. Early SC switcher, if I recall correctly. Winton powered.

GREAT photos for weathering, Tim. Thanks. Schuyler

Ralph, I believe that lost “was” is, except for unique individual items made by artists casing in silver or gold, no longer used for mass production of parts like model railroad brake gear. That

Say Tim, What in the world do the MOP do to that EMD switcher that moved the exhaust stacks off to the left side and radically changed the roof vents ahead f them as well? Talk abut the Rock Island's

Hi Tim, My understanding is that the sacrificial material used to make the molds for casting is, as the name of the process implies, wax, which melts and is absorbed by the mold when it is first

Tim, I believe you’re correct about this process. I’ll have to look at the information on Lester’s blog and measure a few things. Schuyler

Lester, I read your review of brake equipment sizes and the following one on the SF boxcar and was impressed by both. I should read your blog more often. JimH

FYI, I saw three or four of the original run at Chuck’s Depot in Marion, IL, last fall on the return trip from RPM Chicagoland. I do not recall the price, road numbers, or company names. I suspect

CB&Q 110193 Truss Rod boxcar is a Westerfield kit. My modeling date is Oct. 1955 and by then these were probably all gone but I occasionally cheat and so the car has a re-weigh date in 1952. The

Regarding the Swift "War Bonds" reefers, the photo of SRLX 6307 on page 172 of Ted's Steam Era Freight Cars Reference Manual Vol 3, the upper band shows dark (black?) lettering on a lighter