I've had only intermittent time slots to continue working on the boxcar kit, so the Great Plains Northern fab guys have been AWAL. Perhaps some have been celebrating the Chinese new year (surviving Central Pacific powder crews), while others are hiding from ICE agents (former ATSF & SD&AE track workers)!
Anyway, back to the boxcar,? I've now attached some of the appliances to the sides and ends.? After working with a couple of the supplied parts, I have decided to substitute some of the parts with just bent brass wire.? I just wasn't comfortable with the cast or printed items despite they seem well made and flash free.
Next up will be the side ladders, the roof laterals, and then the door guides where I'll still need to use reference information to confirm.
Painting will need to wait as it's raining right now (I paint in my garage),
?We are also getting ready for our annual NMRA type show where most of us will do our best to feature S Scale to the unwashed! Unfortunately it's a one day event so the run times are really only about 6 hours so we'll be a smaller size than we used to display.? We now have two major scenes where in the past we had 5-6 individual scenes with 6-12 feet between them.? Although we've gained a member or two none are strong enough or young enough to do the heavy lifting.
But to continue this fantasy, wouldn't it be nice for each club to own a mobile home or contractors traveling office--build it out--probably keep a washroom, and part of the kitchen.? Then, tow to an event, line them all up, run the trains. After the event is closed, pull out the electric service, the water and sewer and head down the road.? Our local and former 0 club had talked about that some years ago but all but one either moved away or passed.
Next in line will be one of the longer flat from Presize Models just to sneak up on newer look!? It will be a year or two above my cutoff time but, it's my railroad!
Bob Werre
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Bob Werre