It has taken awhile to break my OCD adherence to exactness, but I fully embrace that concept now to the point of making it a point to paint batches of cars just a little off from each other, as I did

I did not know this history behind all those great Signature Press books that adorn my shelves. Thanks again to whole group for all the hard work you guys did.

Yep, it is a Builders Photo with apparently mangled end grabs. Go figure.

I think the fat lady has finally sung. Based upon compelling arguments, I'm going to suspend belief that the photograph is a Builders photo and going to go with the design concept that it is a FLAT pi

Factoring in all of the input, I've figured it out. Thanks everyone. The end grabs need to have 4" legs and not the standard 2" grabs in order to clear the panels and yet still provide the 2" ARA mand

I'm pretty sure this is the Mt Vernon Builders photo. Brand new car. This could have been simply done with conventional grabs in 3 locations and 4 offset leg ones like that bottom grab. I'm an enginee

In 1923 Mt Vernon built 100 automobile boxcars for the Western Pacific. I've never seen a grab iron support like this before on any car. Evidence indicate the setup lasted into the 1940's at least. Ha

Ha! It seems that paint color is a politics level type discussion based upon the offline responses I got. Thanks to everyone who did contact me, plus the online responses here. I really found the one

Shoot me now. Another color controversy. I was about to paint 3 more SP BX-13/-14 Sunshine kits, when my Rapido SS USRA cars showed up (left in photo). And what is this? poop brown? Following a long r

I don't have any MILW drawings or diagrams, but as an engineer, I would have stuck all the AB brake components on the same side, as drilling holes through center sills or routing piping below the cent

I will chime in that mine arrive tomorrow according to USPS. Will be interesting to see how this group weathers them. Tony's Train Exchange has them in stock (https://tonystrains.com/manufacturers/rap

Wow, that is so much better looking than the shiny version from the package. You've got that weathering thing dialed in. Going to use this as an inspiration to take mine out and weather, the chipping

He's doing well. He and I still correspond on all things Western Pacific and Sacramento Northern. Garth truly is a fountain of knowledge, but as Ken noted, his interests moved in a different direction

(I also posted this over on the Railway Bull Shippers Group) Way back when, the practice used to be that bee colonies were established (starting with the queen) in the South where it was warm in the S

Yeah, been watching this carefully as I have over 120 cars/engines with Sergents. Long story short is that Frank changed interest directions awhile back and has been wanting out of the hobby business,

Is that color change at the transition from the applied "galvanized" paint to the body color coming from the pan pastel?

That is a brave color scheme to tackle, and then to have it come out so well. Hats off!

That is one interesting looking car. From the A end tiny lumber door to the B end Miner hand brake and everything in between. NP lived in its own world.

As I mentioned, the nicely made Otto Frei bits at $0.60 each are my standard now. If you only want to use the best of everything, USA made precision ground bits from Gesswein at $3 each are also avail

You name the brand or supplier of tiny twist drill bits, I've bought them. I've also thrown out a lot over the years, too. These from Otto Frei Jewelers are my everyday bits of choice nowadays. High q