by mike | May 3, 2021 | The Missing Conversation, The P48 Experience |
Inspired by a post on Jack Hill’s blog, Chris Mears wrote a lovely post of his own about the Manheim Industrial Railroad, a shortline that serves a single LPG customer in Manheim PA. At less than two miles in length with only a single turnout, such micro operations...
by mike | Mar 31, 2021 | The Modeling Conversation, The P48 Experience |
My thinking toward layout design has fundamentally changed. I’ve moved on from the massive lumber and plywood framework that is custom fit to a specific space. While this form offers the advantage of efficiently using space via a bespoke design, those very qualities...
by mike | Feb 15, 2021 | Modeling Techniques, The Modeling Conversation, The P48 Experience |
Setting Up Shop Setting up a shop involves understanding the work you want to do and what will allow you to grow as a modeler and achieve your best. This gondola car from Protocraft embodies everything that quarter-inch scale is capable of being. There are few if any...
by mike | Feb 1, 2021 | Modeling Techniques, The Modeling Conversation, The P48 Experience |
Researching a rail car can be simple or lead one down a multitude of rabbit holes. I strive to form as complete a picture as possible, especially when a car can be photographed in detail. Referring again to the hopper car that was the subject of my sketches in the...
by mike | Nov 11, 2020 | Modeling Techniques, PS2CD 4427, The Modeling Conversation, The P48 Experience |
Some months ago I made these short sections as the foundation for the end cages of the Pullman Standard covered hopper. As shown in the second image, I made a jig to hold the pieces in place for soldering. My plan was to attach these to the car and fill in with a...
by mike | Oct 7, 2020 | Storytelling, The Modeling Conversation, The P48 Experience |
I don’t recall ever seeing a covered hopper spotted at the elevator in Centerville, even though covered hoppers accounted for an increased number of car loadings in the 1960s. Why might this be? I’m only speculating but I strongly believe it was due to the fact the...
