The car ferry SS Grand Haven was formerly owned by the Grand Trunk Milwaukee Car Ferry Company, a subsidiary of the Grand Trunk Railway, operated on Lake Michigan from 1905 to 1946 when it was sold to

Also interesting to note is the passenger riding along in the car. That would make a nice "scenery feature" in a model.. Dave Lawler Avon Lake, OH

The ship’s name board shows the letters “FIDE?”. If someone has an old Lloyds Register they might be able to identify it. Dave Lawler Sent from Mail for Windows 10

How about LYE-ma, Ohio, home of the famous locomotive works, and LEE-ma, Peru. Dave Lawler

Sent from Mail for Windows 10 Wow! That’s real devotion. Nice model Brian. Dave Lawler

Those are rather interesting trucks on that tank car. Anyone know the manufacturer? Dave Lawler Sent from Mail for Windows 10

Thank you Dennis, that certainly adds a new twist to being “prototypically correct”. Dave Lawler Sent from Mail for Windows 10

Jack Burgess, Thank you for the detailed photo of the KC retainer valve. The ones in the Cal-Scale KC & AB sets are so small that I can not make out the detail.even with a magnifier. This brings me to

Thank you Brian. Just what I needed and the price is right. Sent from Mail for Windows 10

Good day all, Does anyone make a HO scale retainer valve casting for one that was in common usage for our (steam era) period? I found a bulk pack on Shapeways and I wonder if they are correct and appr

Thank you Peter, you've laid my fears to rest. Dave Lawler

Thank you Mark. I have some Floquil Boxcar red and Reefer White in my old paint stash, more than enough to paint a HO caboose. I guess I'm good to go. Dave Lawler

Todd, Thank you for the link to the NYC Historical Society file. In there they describe the color as a "reserved boxcar red". I think that Mark Rossiter's suggestion for Floquil Boxcar red wit a touch

Thank you Rich. I forgot that I had noticed that color in their list but I was not sure, it appeared too red. I have always wondered if those NYC cars are really red or sort of a brown. I’m no a rivet

Good day all, I'm preparing to paint an older brass HO model of a New York Central 19000 series caboose. My modeling period is 1944. I use Accupaint/TruColor almost exclusively and they have several f

Good day all, I have several very old packs of Champ Decals that were: “Mfd. By Champion Model Co. Cleveland 2, Ohio” Here’s where it was founded. Best regards, David Lawler Sent from Mail for Windows

I really like those cars. They have lots of “personality”. Great looking model. Dave Lawler Sent from Mail for Windows 10

Thank you to everyone who aimed me in the right direction for Standard Car Co. I've been in contact with Don Valentine and sent an order for some half door conversion kits this morning. Fenton that is

Ben/Doug, Thank you for the info. I've looked around on line to try to find New England Rail Serv. but no luck so far. I hope Don Valentine reads these messages. Thanks again, Dave Lawler

Good day all, I recently read a James Six blog on weathering where he showed an example of a door and a half conversion on an Accurail SS box car. The company he mentioned that made the add-on half do