Gents, this is all very useful and well timed for my use. I always like a light grey, dead flat primer to be able to really see the surface and make sure it's clean, putty is smoothly sanded, etc. I h

High quality castings for aircraft engines are usually "investment cast" which is pretty much lost wax by another name. A variety of materials can be used - wax, plastic, stereo lithography or other 3

Nice thing about those trucks is the styrene sideframe. Easily modified. (Delrin bearings, styrene sideframe)

Based on Sunshine's instructions for their 6100 series, I believe both schemes are 1952+. REX 6275 looks like it may be in the scheme introduced in 1952.

Is .0145" close enough ? ;) Eileen's emporium has all sorts of stuff, e g. 0.37 mm brass wire. Yes, ordering internationally is probably not ideal, but ... https://eileensemporium.com/index.php?option

Didn't someone on Shapeways make those? A suggestion - if you solder .012 wire into .015 cored tees, the solder will tend to center the wires. Then you could proceed to bend, trim, etc? Steve

Thank you! That explains what happened to some parts I ordered - I didn't understand the surface striations I got. Not big but visible. Now I do. Well... May need to try again. Steve

Nelson, if I understand, no, Shapeways cannot / will not. All Shapeways is doing is providing the service of printing items designed by others, via a portal. Whoever made the blade CAD could scale it,

The NMRA Library has Archive of most major hobby publications, and will provide copies - to non-members as well, if I recall correctly. I used that service, admittedly years ago. Steve

Isn't this set suitable? https://www.blackcatdecals.com/product/wab48507-wabash-single-sheath-auto-car/ Admittedly, out of stock...

I thought the DA ones were round corners? (W post)

I would hesitate to overdo it. I guess I would attempt building one up using styrene, cut into individual boards. My own attempts at that would inherently have a bit of wiggle and warpage. Add a bit o

Thanks Gents, that's exactly what I was wondering. Nelson, as a fellow music fan, I sympathize!

Since LCL is being discussed in another thread, I thought I'd ask a related question - can anyone summarize REA ops, or suggest some books or resources? I have heard it described as "UPS by rail", but

Decals are available for this scheme: http://www.greatdecals.com/Switzer.htm#301n

A long time ago I found a stock of spade drills - watchmakers drills, if i recall correctly - on eBay. Hundreds, in little tins of like 12 each. They certainly are sharp, came in a variety of sizes (.

Yes, I did mean the Soo cars. Dennis Storzek found one that was not, but most apparently were, as well as the 10-0 IH 1937 cars the Soo bought, which also had the flat, lap seam roof as built. (at lea

I should have also said "thank you"!

The Soo cars were a solid 5 inches wider (IW) than the 1932 standard. Does the Atlas body capture that, or are they 8-9 like the standard would call for? Granted, that's a minor compromise. Many of th

Tim, Protocraft does have a buy war bonds set as well. https://www.protocraft.com/category.cfm?ItemID=417&Categoryid=20&This_Sub_Sub_Category=CEI That's an interesting photo. I note Yarmouth's kit of