Hi Denny, like Scalecoat I, which I’ve getting either from Walthers or directly from Minutemen. Pax, Ralph Brown Portland, Maine PRRT&HS No. 3966 NMRA No. L2532 rbrown51[at]maine[dot]rr[dot]com

Hi Bill, Per Bruce Smith: “Scalecoat, 1930s - 4 parts Scalecoat Illinois Central Orange to 1 part Oxide Red.” For comparison, he provided this too: “Scalecoat 1940s - 1 to 2 parts Scalecoat Illinois C

Hi Eric, Can’t help wondering whether “B&W” has more do with the cargo’s destination than with the manufacturer, especially with “Auckland,” presumably New Zealand. Just a thought. Pax, Ralph Brown Po

Hi Garth, Some, perhaps most, automobiles were shipped as “kits” circa 1905. Nice shot of the truck. Too bad we can’t see more of the boxcars. Pax, Ralph Brown Portland, Maine PRRT&HS No. 3966 NMRA No

Hi Jon, I suspect the stack is on a tug or some other small vessel, most probably a tug as it appears to be very close aboard. Note that all the standing and running rigging on both sides of the schoo

Hi Brian, In sailor’s parlance, that would be a “schooner” rather than a “ship.” Interesting just the same. But, I digress . . . Pax, Ralph Brown Portland, Maine PRRT&HS No. 3966 NMRA No. L2532 rbrown

Hi Martin, True. The gent who owned my LHS was also a model builder and had one in his shop/workshop. It was very nice indeed and I’ve looking for one since NCE ceased selling them. So good hunting, a

Hi Roger, et al., I tried “k4 pacific” without success, but “k4 pacific decals” did the trick. The website’s at: https://k4decals.com/. Pax, Ralph Brown Portland, Maine PRRT&HS No. 3966 NMRA No. L2532

Hi Brian, Thanks, and I missed them on the previous run too. Ralph Brown Portland, Maine PRRT&HS No. 3966 NMRA No. L2532 rbrown51[at]maine[dot]rr[dot]com

Hi Ken, I too generally prefer kits and I was going to order a couple, but the they apparently don’t include K brake parts and AB brakes are too late for me. Now, I see the kits are already sold out!

Hi Steve, Tom and Mel, It’s definitely an interesting car. I dug out my copy of White’s The American Railroad Freight Car, and checked the drawings and related text. That center truck was able to slid

Hi Ray, You didn’t mention your scale, but if it’s HO, 0.0172 is just under 1.5 HO scale inches. The closest wire sizes I’ve found are 0.016” and 0.018”, although 0.015” and 0.020” are easier to find.

Hi Don, That “flat top” would be the USS Intrepid (CV-11), the battleship USS Massachusetts (BB-59) is in Fall River, MA, and the USS Albacore (AGSS-569) is in Portsmouth, NH. I’m sure there are other

Hi Dennis, Live and learn, I guess. Admittedly, what know of the process was learned a few decades ago, so I stand corrected. It would be interesting, to me anyway, to know what types of plastic are u

Hi Tim, My understanding is that the sacrificial material used to make the molds for casting is, as the name of the process implies, wax, which melts and is absorbed by the mold when it is first heate

Hi Bob, What kind of alcohol? I presume the electrics folks use whichever it is for cleaning contact, etc., correct? Ralph Brown Portland, Maine PRRT&HS No. 3966 NMRA No. L2532 rbrown51[at]maine[dot]r

Hi Ben, Despite the many times as I've ordered things from Westerfield, I didn't know that. Thanks for bringing them to my attention. I'll definitely include some in my next order. Pax, Ralph Brown Po

Hi Tim, I'd like to see Simonton operating gear as well, but I do have more than a few hoppers that could stand improved Wine door locks. Pax, Ralph Brown Portland, Maine PRRT&HS No. 3966 NMRA No. L25

Hi Tim, Wow! Just plain "clear" doesn't begin to describe those photos, and with both sides, both ends and the roof as well. The cars are well beyond my era, but thanks anyway for sharing those gems.

Hi Hudson, An interesting array. It’s too bad they don’t have dates for each of of them. That would be a big help to the GN uninitiated, like me. Pax, Ralph Brown Portland, Maine PRRT&HS No. 3966 NMRA