As someone who has been a lurker on this continuing subject thread over the many years (and pretty sanguine in doing so-), I will say that corporately we have moved a very long way to understanding an

No one really knows what the Milwaukee used for its boxcar paint pre- WWII, except that it was not quite as red was later recorded after the war. I do not know whether John Greedy, IMHO the ranking ex

I have yet to see any of these cars personally, although I did inspect an unpainted test shot at Cocoa Beach in January. That said, the cars have become a conversation item in the Milwaukee modeling c

Be kind. This is a one man outfit in what euphemistically has to be the most "cottage" of cottage industries. That someone produced, and I subsequently received this truly beautiful kit at all, I cons

Like Richard, I brush paint all my wheel sets, a very rapid, clean, and accurate process. I used to spray, but it was so inefficient that I gave it up years ago. The masking mounts still hang on the w

The recent comment that implies that accuracy in coupling with the reduced gathering range of the semi-scale couplers requires minimizing axle side play has a great deal of substance, both in theory a

I am an enthusiast for the use and installation of working scale or semi-scale couplers, and they have been my standard now for some years. Always keeping in mind that someone else may well always kno

Lots of good advice. Building resin car kits is one of the more pleasant aspects of model railroading. Some additional hints that I have found helpful: 1) The sharpest of sharp blades. I have become a

My IM wheelsets average out to be about 1.012", which nominally I presume to be the usual "1.015"- which is how I use them. Denny

I have placed into files a very interesting and warming letter from Rick Steele, a UP engineer from Cheyenne who is the current owner of LaBelle models, the long time venerable maker of very fine wood

Mike bloviates- Say it isn't so! On extended contemplation, however, I may recall perhaps one....or was it two? (Present company excepted, of course). Denny

Excuse the tardy reply. Tom Madden's memoire on this subject is extremely interesting, not to mention very informative on this once very controversial subject. I never met Paul Mallery, but I always h

Not for lack of interest am I so tardy on reporting my observations as an attendee at the recent Cocoa Beach Prototype Rails meet just a few weeks ago. As expected from this seventh or eighth annual e

Richard writes- Richard has that just right. By total serendipity (and to my utter surprise) I was introduced to Lloyd in Wichita some years ago. A totally pleasant and informative conversation at som

New Accurail gons: Pretty fine model, and as usual with new Accurail products, it represents some ingenious engineering, and extremely fine sharp detailing . I just assembled an undecorated one (black

Might I urge all of you who have taken part in Greg Martin's popular and very instructive freight car building clinic in Cocoa Beach both last year (EKSX Kahn's meat reefer), AND the year before (KCS

Andy Carlson writes- Andy is correct that epoxy filler can be an excellent substitute for other hobby fillers. However, the epoxy is commonly harder and more resistant to sanding, often significantly

A very good person of accomplished skills has stepped forward and is willing to attempt a bracket pattern suitable for casting. Etching can be great, but will it stand up to the gaff? More as I know i

I have been aware of repeated rumors, etc. that P-B-L's Star Brand paints are from the same source as those used by Accupaint. Does anyone know whether or not this is so? Has anyone used Star paints a

Recognizing that it might well be age and skills-level related, I found that drilling out the resin ladder styles to be one of the most irritating and unrewarding tasks in all my years of kit building