I built and upgraded a Bowser Chicago Great Western (CGW) covered hopper kit. I built the Bowser covered hopper car in CGW class LO, numbered 70057. The Bowser covered hopper kit including lettering i

I built and upgraded a Bowser Rock Island (RI) covered hopper kit. I built the Bowser covered hopper car in RI class LO, numbered 491. The Bowser covered hopper kit is an excellent match for its RI pr

Today when looking up Route Card Board in 1946 and 1957 Car Builders’ Cyclopedia It refers one to Placard Board. When looking at Placard Boards you find (A.A.R. Recommended Practice) Manual, C-42. Doe

Bill I have attached a photo showing the various ones I use when needed. All are turned by hand to produce a countersunk hole and if sharp an easy task. Lester Breuer Plymouth, MN

I built and upgraded Northwoods Models, Soo Parts Minneapolis & St. Louis (M&STL) general service gondola one piece body resin 3D printed kit 22080 I numbered 30357. One unique feature is the inset on

I built and upgraded Southern Car & Foundry Tank car resin kit 2005. It is a different design 8,000 gallon tank car as it has a 6 course radial tank with different safety valve location that I lettere

Eric looks as if it does have a few thousand miles on it. Nice weathering job and writeup on your blog. Lester Breuer

As Tony stated the right size for tank car handrails is .019” diameter wire. It was available from Detail Associates and and can still be found at times on Amazon or EBay. Another source would be pian

Jeff there is a commercial solution - vortex paint mixer. A good one will cost around a hundred dollars. Since I already have a paint shaker (photo) I have not been willing to make the investment in t

Dean I purchase mine at the local hobby shop which does do mail order. They stock both Vallejo Model Air and Model Color. I also buy Vallejo at Hobby Lobby; however, limited colors available and not a

Jeff asked what method I use to mix Vallejo paints in their bottle? Jeff I mix the Vallejo paint in their bottle by first shaking the bottle as any paint. And, then removing the top of the dropper bot

Charlie another fine looking SS box car. As, for “snake bites” as we all experience at times, one has to keep muttering, “Model Railroading is FUN, Model Railroading is FUN” or maybe “Freight Car Buil

I have been asked to explain my process to airbrush freight cars and other models. I have done my best to provide an answer in my new blog post, “Airbrushing Water-Base Paint and Tools”. I address cho

Jim you thought in the blog photos the ends of the car were a tad shiny . Yes they are due to lighting used to take the photos. And, you asked, “ have you ever tried using a dry brush technique to add

I built and upgraded a Great Northern (GN) stock car kit. I built the Accurail GN stock single deck stock car in GN class SM that I numbered 55756. The Accurail kit is a excellent match for GN prototy

I am working on a Southern Car & Foundry 6 radial course tank car with decals for a GATX tank car. In looking for a photo I could only fine two photos in Hile’s UTLX tank car book. From my hunt I beli

I built and upgraded an Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe (ATSF) (Santa Fe) InterMountain stock car kit. I built the Santa Fe stock car as a single deck stock car in Santa Fe class Sk-T that I numbered 60

Robert there are washers made for the situation you have described. I have attached a photo; however, I do not know the manufacturer. Lester Breuer

I built and upgraded Milwaukee Road (MILW) single-sheathed (SS) box cars 716862 and 717024 with information and photo help from others. I upgraded these cars with the usual detail parts such as wire g

If you have knowledge of InterMountain (IM) Santa Fe stock car kits 42999 or 42998, I would appreciate sharing information. The former with K brake system and latter AB brake system. The kits are unus