Notes on Designing, Building, and Operating Model Railroads
A hobby adventure
Nearly one hundred freight cars are in service on the Wheeling Freight Terminal. Several of these are undecorated cars, or painted cars that have not had decals applied. To use these models in an operating session, they need a unique tag so crews can identify the specific car on the inventory lists.
As we turn the corner to warmer months, several prototype modeler events are on the calendar. Check your schedule and grab a few friends to attend an upcoming prototype modeler event.
Mark up your calendar and choose a few models to display at the event. Consider taking your in-process work with notes on construction steps to share. Finished models are always welcome but the in-process work generates lots of conversations. Don’t miss an upcoming RPM event!
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It’s time for another prototype review for the upcoming Accurail HO scale 36-foot box car models. Four variations of the model are planned. Initial paint and lettering schemes were announced a couple of months ago. Ray Breyer has another summary covering prototype cars for each of the introductory models that will have fishbelly center sills and wood ends. Ray estimates there were more than 40,000 box cars with these features built to similar designs. The initial PDF data sheet is posted on a special blog page, Accurail Prototype Data.
One last data sheet is in the works to cover the remaining prototypes Accurail has announced for their 36-foot box car models. That will be posted this summer as the release date draws near for these new models.
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It is spring here at my El Paso home in the Chihuahuan Desert. Spring in the desert means windy days and wind kicks up the dust in extraordinary amounts. The HVAC was recently serviced with a good scrubbing of the A/C coils and a new filter installed. Dust gets into everything here, even into closed cupboards. The Wheeling Freight Terminal had a coat of dust accumulation from the last couple of years. With an operating session set for this week, it was time to take action.
Dave Parker returns with his techniques to upgrade the MTH HO scale USRA hoppers.
About three years ago, I purchased an MTH ready-to-run USRA twin hopper with the intention of kit-bashing it into a Boston & Maine car. The B&M bought 100 used twins from the C&O in late 1934 but, after squinting at several photos, I decided it was a no-go. The C&O cars were USRA-like, but had noticeable differences in overall structure and in the details. The MTH car came lettered for the Erie, and can be seen in the 1920s plastic freight car summary, but it is a foobie – the Erie never owned any USRA twins.