I jinxed myself... Just after I sent the message below, I started reaming the trucks for the 2nd car and SNAP - the truck sideframe snapped in half! %$#@# So, in spite of Brian's comments about what a

Of course! I should have known Chad would have done these. Regards, Bruce Smith Auburn, AL

Folks, In the movie "Troop Train", StLB&M flat car 8376 is featured as part of a pre- or early WWII movement of troops with their equipment. A quick check of the 1943 ORER show that there are 50 cars

Brian, Before... just got home and reamed them out. Wow! Lots of crud in those bearings! Now the 1.015" axles fit fine. Thanks for the suggestion. Regards, Bruce Smith Auburn, AL

Brian, I agree. However, I measured those axles at 0.985” or so…really short. I think my standard replacement wheels are 1.015” or so. Does IM make short axle wheel sets? Reeboxx used to, but I they h

Folks, Workbench Wednesday time! The workbench is a little crowded with Non-PRR cars right now! There are 5 Rapido cars, three GATC reefers and two NP boxcars, as well as the two Broadway Limited Impo

Tim, Turpentine, or the odorless alternative, Turpenol, are effective on all artist's oil paints, regardless of brand. It is not an appropriate solvent for other types of paint. Regards, Bruce Smith A

Ray, Among others, the AC&F Type 7 (1907 design) and very early Type 11 (1911) cars were built as high walkway cars. Regards, Bruce Smith Auburn, AL

Ray, When you say "early", what years do you mean? And "the usual models"... what does that mean? There are excellent models out there of many pre-WWII tank cars that need no, or next to no embellishm

Note that this is the 4th generation, AC&F 1955 car. In addition to the price, concern that it has never been printed, and somewhat rough, attached details, it is not appropriate for those of us model

Ed, To quote the instructions "Taper tank ends, using a dime store pencil sharpener. Use care to taper all equally." Sadly the modeler took it a bit too far! That's just one of the challenging aspects

Folks, I'm finally finishing my RailShops Carbon Black covered hopper. I'm planning on lettering it for United Carbon Company (UCBX) for a pre-WWII built car using Mount Vernon Shops decals. Those dec

Add spilled lading on the center section of the tank where the dome is and it sounds pretty complete. I would skip most rust, although a little at the tank bands where they move on the tank during exp

Brent, Creosote treated wood is usually brown to very dark brown, with darker, often black, stains. For an example of fresh utility poles, see: https://www.alamy.com/creosote-treated-wood-that-will-be

Bill, Wood pipes were clearly sold through WWII (I have the advertisements!) and those were not specified as replacement only. I'm sure that they were used wherever appropriate, for example for potabl

Now, before we rag on BLI too much, I have to point out that the sound equipped K7a came out (and BLI gave me on as a thank-you for working on the project with them) when my child and the 3 other chil

Definitely NOT close to any PRR car Regards, Bruce Smith Auburn, AL

Folks, If you want to be completely sure, wrap your steam era freight car models in archival use acid free paper. Regards, Bruce SMith Auburn, AL

Folks, Following on the Delano weathering thread and several other discussions of weathering, and in an attempt to cross-pollinate with some of the extraordinary work done by military modelers, I have

Yes. the X36 was one of a kind, built in September 1936. Regards, Bruce Smith Auburn AL