Tim wrote: > I can't believe I missed those! I was very much looking forward > to see what Frank's been working on. I hope someone got pictures. Frank only had the one acid tank car model on display.

Frank's acid tank displayed at Lisle is one of a family. Two different tanks (7K and 8K), three different domes (Monsanto, Hooker and Consolidated) and two different frame lengths. Tom Madden

Those car bodies are scattered all over north Texas along the ex-FW&D main line, fewer now than when we began making twice yearly trips to the Dallas area in 1991. There were eight in the little town

The end for the DT&I gon Shake 'n Take project from a few years back had that configuration, but had only three ribs. I think I still have the patterns for those somewhere in my casting studio, but I

Bruce wrote: "If I read the specs correctly, this gives exactly the same level of detail as Shapeways FUD. Both list the finest detail at 100 microns or 0.1mm. That said, it is still pretty cool that

There were two different 5/6/5 WestRail boxcar doors. WestRail D-1001 "Youngstown Corr. Doors (Scale Height)" were cast in red polyester resin, complete with tack boards and were 9'-9" tall. Richard l

The Owl Mountain web site was hacked a while back and the full contents haven't been put back up yet.Tom Madden

Clark, I think the undec Ribside kits come with decals. At least mine did. Tom Madden

Bill doesn't do sarcasm particularly well, but his point is well taken. I've been covering the expense of my 3D printing and CAD work very nicely by marketing replacement parts for Branchline heavywei

Some notes from the real world… When you get to your late 70s your list of “not in mylifetime” possibilities is considerably longer than it is for you youngsters inyour 60s. That certainly colors my v

Resin kit prices are going to rise for a couple of reasons.There's a new breed of pattern maker coming down the pike. 3D CAD design toolsand 3D printed patterns aren't free, so this new breed will hav

Bill Welch wrote: > Also there is a surprise appearing at Collinsville. Oh Lord, I hope it's not Denny in his Speedo! Otherwise, it's probably the pilot model of a new steam era freight car kit from a

> ZZZ > > Bill Welch No, I'm pretty sure it's HO. Tom Madden

Thanks, Andrew - and to Paul Kohler who replied off list. It's clearly a Westerfield T&P boxcar, kit # 2051. Finding the parts to finish it looks pretty straightforward, now to find some decals. Maybe

I recently won an eBay auction for a resin double sheathed box car, ostensibly Sunshine, but now that it's arrived it looks like a Westerfield. Car is assembled body only, weighted, with trucks & Kade

Mike wrote: " In southeastern Wyoming this same sun is striking and reflecting from a very reddish surface...particularly later in the year when the grasses have died back. Trees? Well, higher up on S

Tim wrote: "woah Tom, I just about fell outta my chair! I went downstairs and got out the digital calipers. height of side -- (top of side to bottom row of rivets) 1.375 Branchline Yardmaster 1.360 IM

Ben wrote: "Different prototype too - the Yardmaster car is the 10 ft IH 1937 AAR steel boxcar; the new Walthers car is a postwar AAR boxcar." Just checked my Yardmasters against the 10'-0" IH IMWX. T

Richard's public obituary, which gives more detail on his non-railroad activities, can be found here: http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20140708/NEWS04/307089998 A full life, well

I first met Richard in the early '90s when he came to our house for dinner. I had bought a number of WestRail kits and castings from him, which led to an extended correspondence (actual mailed letters