I'm with Clark, I had an early version of the Xacto unit, nice and slow. Now I use the smaller cordless Dremel, like Pierre. Again nice, slow, controllable and easy to handle. Doug Harding www.iowacen

Another source of cheap disposable tiny cups for mixing paint, plastic disposable communion cups. They are clear plastic so test if you use solvent paints. Being disposable, just toss them after use.

I have a Paasche H-1 single action, a Badger Anthem 155 and an Iwata Revolution, both double action. I don't use the Paasche anymore. I find the Iwata to be very nicely balanced and easy to use. The B

Marty, I have used an Iwata Airbrush for about eight years, I have only used Acrylic paints, Model Flex almost exclusively. And I shoot straight from the bottle unless a custom mix is needed. I also l

Looking at the seller's other listings, many appear to be Athearn cars, some with Bev-Bel paint schemes. Look at the door claws on the boxcars. He even uses prototype photos in his "ads". There is a l

Rob I had some BB's rust in ModelFlex paint. They must have been a cooper coated steel. I was very surprised, ruined a few bottles of paint. I can only speculate that somehow the ammonia in ModelFlex

I have heard the Mason City IA plants supplied much of the cement used in the Twin Cities. It appears most cement production in Minn occurred in the Duluth area, using limestone imported from Michigan

Schuyler, it is my understanding that once unloaded, the cars would be cleaned. Livestock was not normally loaded back into the same car. Unless you were only unloading one car, or made sure you empti

Gene I too have read your book. And Joe a copy of Mileposts on the Prairie should be in your inbox by now. It is now available online via Google Books. Doug Harding www.iowacentralrr.org

Livestock did indeed move across the country, and were required to be fed and rested every 28 hours (unless waived to 36 hrs which then extended the rest period to 8hrs from 5hrs). Most livestock goin

In the past month there has been discussion about livestock shipments via rail. Today I had an opportunity to visit via telephone with a 90 year old fellow from Belle Plaine, Iowa who spent his entire

Tony thanks for the tip re livestock bills and cleaning of cars. My notes were simply what I heard on the phone. Unfortunately the timing of the call was such that I had just left a meeting that went

Tony it may indeed be Marfa, again I was on a cell phone, and not being from Texas, did not recognize the name of the town. My notes have been forwarded to the fellow, he may correct my error. He was

Tom, let me speculate: the CGW saw potential loads if they could provide cars. Their stockcars dated from the teens or 20's and were worn out or rotting away. The CGW had surplus single sheathed wood

Interesting, Tim shows he does not know his railroad geography. To get to Fort Madison IA from Minnesota by rail is not easy, nor direct. Fort Madison was served by the ATSF and the CB&Q. The ATSF lin

Clark, my understanding is that meat reefers with swinging meat were weighed after being loaded and iced. This was because the carcasses varied so much. The weight of the car was known, as was the amo

Here is the scoop: General American 37' Meat Reefer in HO. Doing the version built between 1937 and 1940 (not 1941 as reported by Bruce) with wood sides, ends and roof, steel underframe and tabbed sid

Jack I was just sharing info I had received from Bill Schneider. He later stated at Cocoa Beach that the cars were indeed built into 1941. As I am in Florida I am not able to dig out #14 and verify th

Aaron, I have just uploaded photos of the new reefer, to Bill's new folder. They will be here once approved: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/STMFC/photos/album/1158312335/pic/list Thanks to Bill, I was

Aaron, I have just uploaded photos of the new reefer, to Bill's new folder. They will be here once approved: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/STMFC/photos/album/1158312335/pic/list Thanks to Bill, I was