Friends, it is just six weeks until "The Bash at The Beach" begins. For those on the list who participated in the 2010 Shake/Take project (DT&I 40' drop end gondola), it is also just six weeks for you

I built this kit many years ago, and thoroughly enjoyed doing so. It is a still a personal favorite; and as a model it has garnered unsolicited praise by some pretty tough critics, particularly as rel

This is an interesting thread. Personally, I would no sooner pick up someone else's model without permission than I would fly to the moon. Even when permission would be or is forthcoming, I still rare

Wow! IMHO, this thought flies in the face of both common sense for those interested in the most critical modeling, and common experience when taking a look at the respected kit suppliers that have bec

Dennis writes- Dennis, I believe that you must mean gefilte fish, not lox (salmon). Such fish (gefilte) usually has to be Kosher where a Rabbi makes an attestation at the time the fish is killed and p

Listers comment- and Yes. I too still rely upon my Model H given to me as a Christmas present c. 1954. I have yet to be struck by any need, or an "I want", to change. It is a still-available classic b

Tony writes- Tony, I always knew that you had good taste. Fisher's VANISHING MARKERS is also a great favorite of mine, and I have read and re-read this stellar book a number of times over the years fo

Tim O'C writes- The IM axles measured a pretty reliable 1.012" for a long time. They changed factories about two years ago and the axles now measure 1.007", a considerable difference. No note of this

See Message #93398, It may help you. Denny Denny S. Anspach, MD Sacramento

Does anyone know of a ready source for these trucks in HO? Denny Denny S. Anspach, MD Sacramento

My last order from Champ arrived today, promptly, and with minimal shipping costs (no "handling" fees, or 1/4 oz. items shipped in large Priority Mail boxes). I just checked the Champ Decals web site,

Red Ball produced an HO model of a Carbon Black covered hopper c. 1941 ff. From this slim piece of evidence, I would presume the prototypes arose in the '30s sometime. Denny Denny S. Anspach, MD Sacra

Scratch the wheelset jig, any wheelset jig. Hold wheel set between left thumb and 2nd/3rd fingers, pick up good brush with right hand, dip it in paint, and apply paint to wheel faces, backsides, and a

As noted briefly previously, assembly of this very interesting-prototype car kit from RAIL SHOP, INC ( http://www.railshop.net/product_info.php?products_id=70) has been one of my several absorbing sum

Sheet lead is still a common commodity available from most plumbing supply houses. I recently purchased some after the final exhaustion of my "lifetime" supply of type slugs and medical sheeting, all

Like the advancing thin edge of the wedge, it has come to my attention that several of our very favorite tools are no longer available, namely the very fine Utica Swiss-made PBL sprue cutters, both va

Armand writes- With taking anything away from this good Kadee discussion, I will comment that the Accurail Accumate Proto couplers can make excellent (excellent!) working locomotive pilot couplers, lo

Friends, I have taken up Rail Shops, Inc. new HO kit for this exotic looking (to me) and interesting freight car. The kit is a mixture of very clean well detailed "flat" molded styrene parts, but with

Andy Carlson has it just right in advising the use of a standard long-set epoxy to use as a filler choice; and to aalso avoid the 5 minute type, except in extremis [my term!]. An easier epoxy to use i

JP Barger inquires as to just how freight car ladder widths should actually be measured- Well, the actual side ladder width that I need as measured by the width of the rungs/steps between stiles is 20