Just an update on Shapeways: received a refund of my shipping costs on my last order from Shapeways after letting them know the surface finish on a part wasn’t good (though tolerable) Then I received

Dave – Shapeways doesn’t (or hasn’t) allow(ed) control of part orientation. In Tom’s clinics on this topic, he has given plenty of advice about part orientation, and about how to design around this Sh

On the other hand . . . at least I received a follow up e-mail from Shapeways on my latest venture asking me to complete a survey. When I scored them a very kind hearted 4/10, they asked why and asked

Hi Fenton: for the CPR 296xxx to 299xxx series – I think you are wanting composite (steel frame in CPR parlance) automobile boxcars, so the Sylvan kit won’t help you. Jonathan McConathy wrote a pair o

I’m enjoying the book too. On my wish list: other photos showing ends of the various car series shown in the book, and modelling tips. Rob Kirkham

It has been a tough few months for the hobby. I too am sad to see RMC go. It was in those pages that I first discovered Stafford Swain (later to appear in great Canadian freight car articles in MM and

As I am doing some 3d drafting and making parts for modelling, a few comments. - if there was a suitable way that one could design, for example, a reefer door hinge 3d file, make it available for a re

thanks for the tip Bill

Modelling question this time: I can see the intermountain modified AAR model 40899 looks approximately correct with: - correct number of end ribs (not sure how good the configuration on the Intermount

Ah – I’d missed the height. Thanks Tim and others for the quick info on this. Rob Kirkham

Hoping this is easy enough to peg down. I’m looking at a photo dated 1949 showing CNW 72628, a 1937 AAR boxcar in Vancouver with the Route of the “400” slogan. I model 1946, so the question is whether

interesting video. On my screen there is a visible jostling of most cars as they reach a point approx. 1/8 of the width of the video from the right side. Not sure what causes that wobble, but it does

This is very helpful. While there are no specific cars identified, I think if I am reading Guy's notes correctly, some questions and observations can be made: - did the Sharon coupler have sufficient

Thanks for the observation regarding the burro cranes Steve. Yes, I’m thinking if there is any place for odd ball couplers it is probably on MOW / work equipment (or the very old stray). Canadian line

I was surfing the Sargent Couplers web page and noticed something new to me: the Sharon Coupler. <http://www.sergentengineering.com/> The history and information provided on the web page is interestin

I’m curious to know how the authors of those earlier articles we all reference got to not only be interested at a level way beyond the hobby, but collected enough material to become authors. Their acc

I find the emergence of interest in prototype freight cars in the model railroading hobby interesting. I came to the topic much later than many here, but can retrace the developing interest through ce

I have half a dozen or so sheets for the CPR in the late 1920s – all small prairie towns. The clean back sides were used (as scrap paper) for a carbon copy of a lengthy report and so in no obvious ord

Tony, I take it this also explains the existence of cast iron wheels without ribs – i.e. ribs weren’t necessary? Rob Kirkham

Thanks Richard, Of note, the model comes with a black roof; the photo you so graciously provided shows the ends black but, if I am not mistaken, the roof in the same colour as the sides. Very helpful