The Extreme Modeler

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We received this image recently from Bill Welch. His airbrush acquisitions have been documented here on a couple of posts. It seems he is now advocating for new Constitutional amendment.

“A well regulated Modeling Community, being necessary to the Sanity of a free State, the right of the people to keep and use Airbrushes, shall not be infringed.”

Here’s another look at his new multi airbrush holster. Something simple, repurposed from an Army surplus store. Just kidding, it’s actually a new manufacture piece from China. Notice the uneven spacing of ammo pouches. Our Army would have never accepted these, hah!

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Bill is armed and dangerous now with multiple airbrushes ready to use. Hopefully, in defending the rights of people to peaceably assemble……….models.

We think the acrylic paint fumes are getting to Bill.

Detail Tips

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We have another guest post this week. Eric Hansmann illustrates a couple of techniques to ease installing details onto freight car models.

As prototype model railroaders, we often push our efforts to include many prototype detail elements on our freight cars. In reviewing the image above, there are several common elements that are typical of many kits. Let’s take a look at one of the smaller components and how to ease the installation process. Click on any image here to review a larger size.

Continue reading Detail Tips

SLSF Single Sheathed boxcar Sunshine Model kit 65.3

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Charlie Duckworth shares a classic resin freight car kit build.

History

The SLSF 145550-144749 series were at one time the third largest block of boxcars on the road, with 1200 installed. Originally built as automobile boxcars in 1923, they had 7-foot wide door openings with a Samson radial roof. The ends had 7/8 outward facing, Murphy corrugated steel stampings. By the 1930’s, the 7-foot doors were too small for automobile loading and the cars were placed in general service. The railroad listed 1,024 of these cars in the 1940 ORER as general service box cars (XM). There are no listings in this number series by the 1956 ORER.

Continue reading SLSF Single Sheathed boxcar Sunshine Model kit 65.3

RPM Events

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As we have entered October, we should remind readers of upcoming Railroad Prototype Modeler (RPM) events. The Naperville RPM conference is a couple weeks away on October 22 to October 24 in Lisle, IL. Check the website for more details on the presentation schedule, hotel, and other details.

This is the 22nd annual event in metro-Chicago, making it the longest running RPM meet in the country. This was originally started by my good friend, the late Martin Lofton of Sunshine Models. It is a tribute to Martin’s efforts that this RPM meet continues and that many other RPM meets have sprouted across the country.

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If you are unable to attend the Naperville event, please consider one of these upcoming meets taking place in the next six months.
Garden State RPM in Scotch Plains, NJ – November 14 & 15
Prototype Rails in Cocoa Beach, FL – January 7 – 9, 2016
RPM-Valley Forge in Malvern, PA – March 18 – 20, 2016

Attending just one of these RPM events will energize your model building and understanding of the prototype.

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