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Category: Freight Projects
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 Don’t Write it Off Just Yet: Salvaging Warped Kits

By Frank Wells

 

Introduction:

Personally, I enjoy modeling projects that require going the extra mile to create something unique. Whether it be one of a kind locomotive or a freight car not commonly found on the market, I’m all for doing it myself, rather than wait on a major manufacturer to produce it. This is what drove to my create my latest creation, the BNSF Circle Bi-level Autorack. While this particular car has been done by Walthers previously, it was done quite a few years ago and few exist commonly on the market today. Seeing as I was set to create multiples of this autorack, I also saw it as an opportunity to accrue funds for future projects, which quickly progressed the project start. In my case, I ended up using a new-old stock of Walthers Autorack kits as the base, Arrowhead Wheels, Kadee Couplers, and custom decals from Switchline Decals. I chose the Walthers kits because they were readily available from a friend of mine, who had nine he was looking to sell. Eight of those nine would be completely fine, the car bodies free of warp. I did not discover my “problem” car until I was ready to paint the bodies at a friend’s house, finally breaking the sealer wrap to find the side of the autorack not facing outward had severely warped on one end. I worried that the severity of the warp would force me to write it off, but I was hit by an idea. I recalled I had a heat gun at home. So, after deciding to paint it regardless of the warp, I would take it home and give the heat gun a try.

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Category: Quick Reviews
Hits: 222

Quick review: Arrowhead Models HO Scale Greenville 2494 Railgon

This car represents Arrowhead's 2nd production model, shown here in CSXT patch exclusively from Lombard Hobby.

Let me put this out here first, upfront, I like new manufacturers, I get excited to purchase their first models.  Look back though the archives, I jumped on Exactrail when they first arrived on the scene.  When I hear Blaine Hadfield, who was an influential designer at Exactrail had founded his own company, I got excited.  Arrowhead's first release just didn't do it for me, I model always modern, with a -10 year allowance on freight cars, and -5 on locomotives.  That first car was just a little too old for my allowance for error.  July 10th 2020, along comes this accurate representation of a Railgon, hyped to be better than the only other entry, a Walthers MainLine.

Within a few minutes of the Facebook live announcement I had ordered one.  3 were available, but I'm holding out for 2 of the as delivered scheme.  Lombard promptly shipped, and it arrived a day ahead of USPS estimates, (yesterday as I publish this).

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Category: Quick Reviews
Hits: 191

Quick Review: Tangent Scale Model HO Scale I-18 Caboose

Released in 2 runs beginning in early 2020, this was Tangent's first caboose model.

According to Tangent Scale Models, the B&O purchased 46 of the I-18 class represented by this model, beginning in 1965.  While delivered to B&O, the caboose subsequently served the combined Chessie system, and later CSX.  Tangent offered the caboose, which quickly sold out in 2 separate runs already in 2020, in popular schemes running from B&O as delivered blue, B&O repainted blue, Chessie yellow, several Chessie safety schemes, and in the 2nd run, a fully patched, ready to weather CSXT modern caboose which you see here.

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Category: Hints and Tips to aid Modeling Projects
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Using Bondo Auto Body Filler

How I use Bondo Brand Auto Body Filler on my Models to Fix Holes and Gaps.

For many years, modelers in all scales and our scale model car, ship, and military modeler cousins, have turned to many products to fill holes and gaps.  First and foremost is Squadron Green Putty.  This long standing hobby product is a favorite of many kit builders.  But at $14.42 on Amazon for a 2.5oz tube, it's not exactly the cheapest product in your modeling toolkit!  For $9.99 on Amazon, you can add a 3.0oz tube of Bondo Glazing and Spot Putty.  This product work nearly exactly the same as Squadron green, and may be slightly thinner in consistency allowing better application.

I switched to Bondo about 8 years ago, after reading about in on an online forum.  The user stated that it might be the same ingredients, or nearly the same, and caused no damage to out fragile plastic models (read: it does not melt plastic).

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