I bought an HO scale 3D printed model of a Chesapeake & Ohio ventilated box car last year. While prepping for a recent operating session, something seemed off about the model as it sat with other box cars. It took me awhile, but I noticed the tack boards on the car end were missing.
Continue reading Tack boardsCategory Archives: Details
Bending your own grab irons
Ed Rethwisch shared his methods of bending wire to make grab irons. Here he is with some great tips.
I have found over the years that many modeling projects require odd shaped or odd length grab irons. The lead photo shows a portion of an HO scale RTR Intermountain CB&Q covered hopper model that I want to upgrade.
Continue reading Bending your own grab ironsNotes from Bill – 2
Here’s a June 2015 email from Bill Welch. We were discussing blog posts and he sent this along. It wasn’t published because he wanted to finish the tank car.
I will start out with a digression. Apparently, I am becoming a Tool Guy as I seem obsessed with airbrushes. I now own six of them including the Binks Wren I purchased over 50 years ago and the Harbor Freight airbrush I purchased recently with a 20% coupon for $16.49.
Continue reading Notes from Bill – 2Notes from Bill – 1

Our friend and mentor, Bill Welch, passed away in November 2020. He often shared his modeling work on the RCW blog. I was searching through my email recently and realized I had many of Bill’s messages discussing incomplete projects and ideas. Let’s kick off 2022 with an email and photo from Bill.
Continue reading Notes from Bill – 1

