I wanted to get a Walthers undec Troop Sleeper but couldn't find one, so I wound up with a blue B&O version, #932-4169. I want to paint it for the C&EI, in their blue with orange striping. The questio

Thanks John, and all for your suggestions. I have a Paasche air-eraser and have used aluminum-oxide & baking soda for paint removal and etching resin and brass. I was first wondering if through you-al

Basically asking, how often were solid-bearings repacked and the date repainted on the car-side, data-markings? Thanks, Paul Hillman

Thanks Guy, (and all), That pretty well answers the question. I was guessing that it was between 6 and 12 months. This info answers the question for our entire STMFC time period. Paul Hillman

This is slightly off-topic, except for the mention of the name, "Mike Brock". Just received my HO Rapido C&EI 6-4-6 Sleeper, the "Pitch Pine", passenger car, and it's a beautiful model.I had it on ord

I just posted 5 photos to the photo album; Haskell & Barker Wood Side-Dump Gondola These show my continuing progress on this famous car. It has been a lot of work getting to this point. I had to make

Thanks for the kind words. These cars were built starting around 1906 for the C&WI (I think). At one time they had 600 gondolas on their roster. I don't know when they were finally retired, maybe in t

Couldn't a coupler be developed that had a miniature, internal micro-magnet (or something), that could be opened using a handheld light-emitter wand (or something) ? It could operate like a prototype

Yes, I've known about Sergent. They are about as close to the idea yet. Thanks, Paul Hillman

Has anyone communicated with Wabash Custom Decals lately? I have sent them some emails over the last few months and have gotten no response. I got a response from my first email to them about 3 or 4 m

Thanks Doug, I got an email from Mark just today. As happens sometimes, he had been quite busy and my inquiry was answered in due order. Paul Hillman

I saw a photo posted to this group by csxt5555 of a diesel horn and I don't see a message about it. Was this 3D copy made, what scale & who made it? I need some small detail parts made and maybe this

I thought that I'd achieved a reasonable paint and lettering fading-effect, by lightly, and completely, over-spraying a finished, decaled car with it's main color, of water-based acrylic paint, let it

I saw the recent discussions here about the new Yahoo formats, but hadn't tried to post anything in the new system. Then I tried to post some photos to 2 different groups and I can't do it. I also cou

Thanks Jeff, but I tried all of that. The "Purple" buttons seem quite logical in their suggested functions but they don't fully work. The "New Topic" window doesn't provide any space to type a message

Jeff, I found a Yahoo phone # but it said "Too busy to answer your call" and hung up. For me, this is quite a nice Yahoo-mess that they've gotten me/ (us) into to. Paul Hillman

I have an official dwg. of a C&EI caboose-type built in 1913 and rebuilt in 1940. The drawing-notes state: "Roof - Mule Hide" Was that "real" Mule Hide or some term for some other type of material? Pa

Thanks Tony & Alex, I actually was worried about back in the "old days" all those real Mules being turned into roofs. One never knows. I checked into their site and "Mule Hide" just might work out for

I can't find any HO 5'-0" leaf-spring, archbar trucks. Kadee has them in 5'-6". Anyone make them? Thanks, Paul Hillman

Jack, I've seen the Tahoe trucks but no leaf-springs. Years ago I remember someone making thin, bronze, leaf-springs to replace regular springs. Are those still made? Paul Hillman