Hi John, Let me start be saying that I started sailing and operating power boats in high school, and subsequently spent sixteen years in the Navy and then the Coast Guard. I was quite proficient in ma

Yes, John, except it would called “line,” and it’s probably manila line. What sea-going folks call “rope” is actually steel cable. Pax, Ralph Brown Portland, Maine PRRT&HS No. 3966 NMRA No. L2532 rbro

Garth, et al., Could motor surf boats, which in my day were 25 or 26 feet or so. The USCG motor lifeboats used in my time, 1960s and ‘70s, were 44 footers (and a pair of 52 footers that were used in t

Hi Keith, Very nice photo. I’m pretty sure that’s the first time I’ve seen a wood sheathed boxcar with end doors, or any boxcar with end doors as early as 1914. Thanks, Ralph Brown Portland, Maine PRR

Hi Bill, I use an alpha-numeric (by manufacturer and manufacturer’s item/part number) inventory list, with columns for descriptive info, status and/or notes (planed project id, needs paint, lettering,

Hi Chuck, When asked about the weight of these boilers, I was trying to figure out whether a flat car could handle more than one in a load. Based on your comments, it looks like two or three power boi

Hi Tom, Any idea about what one of those puppies weighed and/or during what time period they were manufactured? Thanks, Ralph Brown Portland, Maine PRRT&HS No. 3966 NMRA No. L2532 --------------------

Hi Gary, Looks like a drop-bottom gon to me. Pax, Ralph Brown Portland, Maine PRRT&HS No. 3966 NMRA No. L2532 -----------------------------------------From: "gary laakso" To: "stmfc" Cc: Sent: Wednesd

Hi Bob, An interesting car and an interesting railway. Looks like the photo was taken with a few years of 1901. Anyone have any thoughts as the location and the structure behind the car? Pax, Ralph Br

Hi Todd, They look looks 40mm Bofors single mounts, although they appear to be sans their sights. Pax, Ralph Brown Portland, Maine PRRT&HS No. 3966 NMRA No. L2532 -------------------------------------

Hi Ken, According to the inscription at the bottom of the photo - yes. Pax, Ralph Brown Portland, Maine PRRT&HS No. 3966 NMRA No. L2532 -----------------------------------------From: "Kenneth Montero"

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