Not sure why all the criticism of these cars. The bodies are largely quite well done. I have said for years, "just throw away all the detail sprues and replace with quality parts," and would still say

Dave Snyder wrote: Not sure where your information comes from, Dave, but I think you are confusing pressed DVDs with burned ones. The former have quite long lives, unlike the dangers of burned ones wh

Dave Snyder wrote: The MR set of DVDs appears to be pressed, not burned, so your statement that they will not last is probably incorrect. You are quite right that burned CDs or DVDs can degrade, and I

Dave Evans wrote: Dave, I agree with everything you said -- up until that last sentence. The Gutenberg Bible, printed about 1450, is still impressively readable, with lovely white paper. Of course, so

I have posted to my blog a description of the need for a representation of tank car placard holders on the placards we place on models. If you're interested, here is a link: http://modelingthesp.blogs

Tim O'Connor wrote: Good reminder, though I once wrestled with this part and was not, as the Brits say, "best pleased." An all-in-one decal would be so much better. Tony Thompson Editor, Signature Pre

Andy Miller wrote: Andy Sperandeo correctly described the meaning of the diamond, but it is important to realize that its placemen was optional with the car owner, not mandatory. Thus many cars which

Gatwood, Elden wrote: Quite a list, Elden! But I sure agree with you about the tank cars. Tony Thompson Editor, Signature Press, Berkeley, CA 2906 Forest Ave., Berkeley, CA 94705 www.signaturepress.co

Andy Miller wrote: The lines were not mandatory and not all roads used them. Various roads discontinued their use at different times. The data I have indicates that in 1952, the AAR withdrew the recom

Andy Sperandeo wrote: This does not seem to have been rare. SP discontinued using periods in the reporting marks "S.P." in 1931, but some of the 1937 AAR box cars delivered in 1937 came from the build

Benjamin Hom wrote: Good list. The first one is most important, as all these aspects are VERY visible. I might add that the brake step can be widened with a piece of 2 x 4 styrene to look better. I wo

Alex Schneider wrote: The brake gear problem is that it is reversed. A minimal correction is to cut off the brake parts and simply glue them in the same spot, but on the other side of the center sill.

Ron Merrick wrote: Ron, I would say the IM cars are a HUGE improvement over the older designs with their cast-on grab iron rows. Kato was a great improvement over the old E&B Valley kit when it came o

I've collected a few thoughts and photos of this year's Naperville (actually Lisle) meeting, and posted same in my blog. If you're interested, you can view it at this link: http://modelingthesp.blogsp

I believe Soho did a brass two-dome tank car also, with elbow safety valves. Tony Thompson Editor, Signature Press, Berkeley, CA 2906 Forest Ave., Berkeley, CA 94705 www.signaturepress.com (510) 540-6

Tim O'Connor wrote: Owl Mountain Models. And yes, they are beautiful. Tony Thompson Editor, Signature Press, Berkeley, CA 2906 Forest Ave., Berkeley, CA 94705 www.signaturepress.com (510) 540-6538; fa

Ben in Denver wrote: The problem with lead is the oxide, which coats the surface. It's the oxide which, if ingested, your system can process and take on board. You want to wash that off your hands as

One more time: there is effectively NO lead vapor. You can look it up. But you're right that lead should never go into food pots. Tony Thompson Editor, Signature Press, Berkeley, CA 2906 Forest Ave.,

Jon Miller wrote: Apparently Yahoo now only lists your groups for which you read the list on the web. It's annoying to try and edit group memberships now. Tony Thompson Editor, Signature Press, Berkel

Ed Mines wrote: Unlikely, for two reasons. First, an awful lot of R-30-13s had been rebuilt into something else by the end of World War II (and the remainder was continuing to be rebuilding fodder). S