John Barry wrote: Well said, John, and I agree. But remember, it may be that you will ask and they will say no. It's their right, and if they take that position, your project is over. In most cases, w

The car in this photo is definitely all silver. The black ends came on a later car group. Tony Thompson Editor, Signature Press, Berkeley, CA 2906 Forest Ave., Berkeley, CA 94705 www.signaturepress.co

Bruce F. Smith wrote: The stock car across the road seems to have OSL (Oregon Short Line) initials. There are indeed two PFE reefers in the background, along with four ART cars. Since D&RGW was in the

Yeah, but Bill was looking for LESS expensive. Doubt anyone charges more per unit than Walthers. Tony Thompson Editor, Signature Press, Berkeley, CA 2906 Forest Ave., Berkeley, CA 94705 www.signaturep

David Allen wrote The Class S-40-1 through -3 are indeed covered and pictured in my Volume 1. But it is not true that they are "readily kitbashed" from the two kits mentioned, because they had pressed

Jim Betz wrote: This can appear true, but remember that the Kadee #5 has an exaggerated vertical dimension, which is why it is forgiving over excessive vertical curves. And the amount of coupler swing

Marty McGuirk wrote: I have used Dumont (Swiss) #3 and #5 tweezers for many years (often specified for electron microscopy, something I did in a previous life) and they are great. Not cheap, though. T

Doug Harding wrote: The fine sprue cutters that PBL offered remain available in Europe, and at one point I made an effort through a European contact to see about getting them imported. The purchase wo

Garth Groff wrote: Glad to have you back with us, Garth. Many happy returns, as the saying goes. Tony Thompson Editor, Signature Press, Berkeley, CA 2906 Forest Ave., Berkeley, CA 94705 www.signaturep

Scott Kremer wrote: Scott, I wrote an article in the on-line magazine Model Railroad Hobbyist, March 2014 issue, about bulk oil dealers. If it is of interest, you can download it for free from their w

Al Brown wrote: Despite the severe criticism of Mr. Hendrickson, I too have tried to improve these cars, mostly from the days when we had few alternatives. It always intrigued me that the Walthers mod

Richard Hendrickson wrote: Well, to mix metaphors, you can help choose the lipstick, or you can curse the darkness. Tony Thompson Editor, Signature Press, Berkeley, CA 2906 Forest Ave., Berkeley, CA 9

Garth Groff wrote: Yes, it may well be entirely new tooling. Certainly the underframe is new. But making an EXACT copy of the dreadfully oversize and malproportioned manway cover seems like an awfully

Richard Hendrickson wrote: This would, of course, be athe April Fool version <g>. Tony Thompson Editor, Signature Press, Berkeley, CA 2906 Forest Ave., Berkeley, CA 94705 www.signaturepress.com (510)

Paul, I don't know the source of the legend about cooling, but as a metallurgist I can tell you it is without foundation. The ribs both strengthen and stiffen the plate of the wheel. Tony Thompson Edi

Jerry Albin wrote: All true, Jerry. Gravity could only get the product out the bottom of the car, and then of course it would have to be pumped into storage tanks. But that isn't what I was talking ab

Yep. Try this:https://docs.google.com/file/d/0Bz_ctrHrDz4wcjJWcENpaDJYbUU/edit?pli=1 Tony Thompson tony@...

Richard Hendrickson wrote This aspect of Athearn's business is not easy to delve into. They have a parts list on line, but as that very list concedes (in small print, roughly in these words), if you d

Bob Heninger wrote: Exactly my experience, and not only with trucks. The Athearn web site is apparently only intended to market the most popular parts, so do not assume with ANY Athearn part that it i

Ed Mines wrote: Although the web page doesn't seem to be updated very often, it does show most of the decals as already reprinted and available for sale. For anyone who doesn't know, these are truly o