Category Archives: Techniques

Building Yarmouth Model Works Etched Brass Ladders

Nelson Moyer sent along assembly tips for etched metal ladders that offer another step in freight car detailing. Here’s Nelson with more.

Yarmouth Model Works has introduced a line of etched freight car detailing products that includes freight car ladders and ladder rungs. Stiles are etched to accept 0.012-inch brass wire rungs, or you may choose to use the etched rungs available separately. If Tichy 0.0125-inch grab irons are used, the holes must be drilled out with a #80 bit before removing the stiles from the fret. The stiles are phosphor bronze, which is harder than brass, and while it is more durable, it is harder to bend. Scribing the fold line with a #11 blade makes the stile easier to bend.

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Improving Brake Details

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Bill Welch returns with an Xxtreme Modeler update. Here’s his latest!

The Xxtreme Modeler (a.k.a. “The Reluctant Weatherer”) has gone off the deep end as he attempts to build 1/48 models (O Scale) in 1/87 (HO). For him this means trying to improve the “fineness” of his models by reducing the cross section of the parts he uses to detail his models.

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Resin Car Works boiler load

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RCW boiler load built by Frank Hodina.

Blog manager Eric Hansmann steps in to share his latest build.

I picked up a Resin Car Works HO scale boiler load recently and decided it would look great on a Tichy Train Group flat car in service on my Wheeling Freight Terminal. The boiler castings follow a prototype Kewanee stationary heating boiler design that was produced for a few decades.

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