I wrote to Brian that I am sure there were cars with BCR ends and black ends. Model to a photo. So now he has a photo to justify his modeling work. Schuyler

Yes, the Des Plaines cars came with black ends. I looked at mine (unbuilt) to see. I believe that they were modeling the as-delivered paint. Mike’s comments about your modeling era ring true, but I th

Having just gone through (and mostly deleted) all my email from last Thursday on, I was about to research this question for Brian, but Al has saved me the trouble. I can confirm that he’s correct abou

I note that the load in the gon pretty closely resembles the plastic load that, I think, Athearn offers. Same sort of undulating surface. Schuyler

Technique noted, thanks. Schuyler

I have not, Fenton. I was really hoping to avoid having to dunk the car in anything, since I’ve generally had success with alcohol or some other solvent using Q-tips. But evidently that’s not going to

RTR. I s’pose I could disassemble the kit to try to get it off. I may end up buying a couple of kits to get this done. Schuyler

I should have asked this years ago. I have a couple of these which are lettered CONOCO. I would very much like to remove the lettering, but I’d also like not to lose the silver paint on the tank, beca

Hi Fenton. There is a process called “de-acidification.” As many of you know, the “Official Guide” book were printed on flimsy paper which was also acid-rich, and as a consequence become extremely fra

I agree with Bob. That’s a job for professionals, or at least, professional advice. I presume, Fenton, that the photo depicts a steam era freight car, at least? Schuyler

I have tried to buy the envelopes. The clerk refused to take any money – “Naw, they’re free, man, jus’ take ‘em!” Schuyler

E&P did two flats (at least) that are good for ERIE. I have a "General Steel Industries 58' Depressed Center Car" that's not painted, and I also have another E&P car that IS painted . . . somewhere. M

George, having built up an underframe as you have, I am very impressed with the quality of your work, particularly photos -39 and -42, You did all the rivets, decaled, I presume, which I kind of punte

Could you explain what the SAM “safety link & pin” coupler is/was? Schuyler

Is there a V1 available? Schuyler

Mark, Your steamy shower method has professional endorsement. The Smithsonian has been doing the same thing for years with old drawings. The man responsible for this had a memorable name, which (of co

Gary, here’s another look at the ERIE car, and in this view you can see both ends of the car, plus the other side of the near end. It’s pretty clear that the steps ARE bent inwards from the usual plan

Gary. I think that sill step on the ERIE car IS bent inwards . . . look at the step on the other side . . . but I also think that it’s been bent lengthwise, too, so you’re getting a sort of double wha

According to my April 1950 ORER, 16 of these cars remained in service. They’re noted as having wood floors, but no word on whether the sides were sill wood or had been upgraded to steel. Schuyler

I built this model when it came out. I was 11. I was very annoyed, though, because my dad and I went to the hobby shop to get the specified paint color (Pullman Green?) and apparently for a short time