The most detailed and most easily-handled HO retainer valves are those sold by PSC. They have a mounting lug, and are easily drilled through for the piping. Mont Switzer put me on to these some years

This crude and crudely-built model may well have been the work of a child just getting into the hobby, and in some ways, it reminds me of my own first attempt at building an HO freight car (which did

Tom Madden observes- Tony Thompson weighs in- Schuyler Larabee pours in on- Heh, heh......heh! However,..um-m... I cannot speak for Richard. Denny Denny S. Anspach MD Sacramento

I am continuing to draw on my dwindling cache of Accupaint, and yesterday ran into a vexing problem related (I think) to the use of lacquer thinner as thinner for spraying. I have not experienced this

OK, Dennis. I got it. But.... still a matter of confusing nomenclature (at least to me): wouldn't this be a short-swing coupler "head" rather than just the knuckle alone? (:-) Denny Denny S. Anspach M

Dennis Storzek writes- Dennis, this is a new one to me. Just what made up a "short swing knuckle"? Denny Denny S. Anspach MD Sacramento

The stated goal of this list is that "Emphasis is to be placed on the study of the prototype with a goal of producing models of them with as great a degree of accuracy as possible". To the extent poss

What is the scale relationship, i.e. distance, between the striker plates of coupled car, and/or what is the correct scale relationship, i.e. projected distance, between the face of the coupler box st

The operational coupling reliability level attained with the smaller couplers is determined by how accurately the couplers can be, and are centered/aligned at the moment when the couplers meet. The sm

I have not been following this thread too closely, but I do know that the CSRM Library has a whole research file (publicly available) developed for the museum's FGE #35832 repainting in 1980. I know t

My children have lived for some years quite near Wytheville, are quite accustomed to the weather, and they tell me this morning (smiling while doing so) that the relentless continuing snowfall today o

Although lubing does not generally hinder rollability, my experience and recordable data is that lubing axle ends with "whatever" lubricant is rarely of any measurable benefit in improving rollability

There are so many variables to contend with according to your post that it is impossible to render any single bit of advice as to how to proceed. Probably the most productive place to start is determi

As we speak, and like so many others on this list, I have been busy packing my Speedo, sun screen, shades, muscle shirts, and sandals, ready to hit the sun-dappled beach at Cocoa Beach tomorrow. Wow!

Very recently, PSC filled my phone order for tank car stanchions in a matter of days (they had them packaged and in stock). My more usual experience over the year is that one has to wait some weeks wh

One of the more bizarre instances of a car with arch bar trucks being interchanged long after 1940 is Nevada Northern RR coal-fired steam wrecking crane "A" (1908) which in 1966 was borrowed by the We

Does any one know whether or not a wide selection of Tahoe Trucks might be on sale at Cocoa? Denny Denny S. Anspach MD Sacramento

H-mmm. Have you ever noticed how like the thin edge of the wedge Mike's layout roster mysteriously grows with ever finer cars after each Meet? Denny Denny S. Anspach MD Sacramento

Oh, yes. However, I have a children and grandchildren with whom I barter hospitality for such homely tasks. Well, today, I am chef, cook, and bottle washer with my capable son-in-law as assistant- a C

Friends, would you kindly refer me to a ready source for learning standard tank car lettering conventions? I have studied many tank photos, some of them very nice high resolution, and either my eyes o