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Category: Vintage Model Trains
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Vintage Model Trains: Athearn Coaster Cab Car from Will Ayers

Will was a life long railfan and hobbyist, who tragically passed away in January of 2023. His lifelong friend and fellow hobbyist Patrick Baca (also a published author on MRRT) kindly donated his model in his honor.

This Athearn cab car is special to me (Model Railroad Tips owner Josh) because it was Will's and Patrick decided that I would be the forever steward of this model!

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Category: Quick Reviews
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Quick Review: Woodland Scenics Chain Link Fence

These "ready to install" fences come in N, HO, & O scale. Model Railroad Tips recently added these to our shop inventory so we felt it was needed to review the product and the installation of it.

These fences come ready to install in a variety of styles and scales. We picked up the chain link, as the kits available on the market aren't too easy to assemble. I opted to install these as a test on my programming track which doubles as a shelf layout and product test space.

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Category: Prototype Reference for Modelers
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53' Container Detail Photos

My full time employment affords me access to 53' containers in occasion. Here are selected detail photos.

 My full time employment as a manager at Harbor Freight often requires me to unload trailers, on occasion we get HUB Group containers of they're short on trailers. It's becoming less common as HUB dedicated a pool of trailers to this service, but here are some select photos for modeling reference.

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Category: Quick Reviews
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Quick Review: Class One Model Works TWF10

Class One burst into the model railroad scene with one of the most rare prototype intermodal cars possible! The TTX TWF10 was conceived by TTX designers and used unique Waggon-Union bolsterless trucks. Class One successfully models the uniqueness of the prototype in HO scale, with a car capable of being run empty.

These models retail for $65.99 and are ready to run out of the box.

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Category: Quick Reviews
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Quick Review: North American Railcar Corporation 5077cf Boxcar

North American Railcar Corporation has released some of the more desirable models on the market, but kept their distribution in house. Available through PWRS only (elsewhere 2nd hand) their cars are highly desirable. But why?

I picked up this MRL decorated version on ebay at a discount. While the model was used it still retained factory options.

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Category: Painting Projects
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Painting a Plastic Deck to Look Like Aged Wood

The age old dilemma. How to get that wood deck on your beautifully detailed and weathered flat car, to look like real aged wood. I recently painted several wood deck cars and decided I needed to document my process.

This amazing Tangent flat car comes accurately detailed out of the box. I weathered mine lightly a few years back, but never addressed the deck. It's been waiting for me to finish it properly ever since.

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Category: Side-By-Side Reviews
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Side-by-Side Review: Overland and Tangent GATC 4500 Covered Hoppers

The Overland Models Inc GATC 4500 Covered hopper was one of my "Holy grail" models. In 2023 enter Tangent with their own model of this Covered hopper! I knew I had to have one.

Paraphrasing Tangent's history of the GATC (General American Tank Car) 4500 cubic foot Covered hopper, we learn that the prototype came about in 1963 with over 1200 made for several railroads.

I've always desired to paint an Overland Models version in ATSF billboard letters and patching it to more modern 2nd hand lease service.

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