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I made the connection in response to the idea of adding coal dust to the liquid smoke in a model locomotive to run inside a house, creating a similar situation to Donora in which hazardous particulates became trapped in moist, still air. I don't get your argument. Donora was an event where...

A lot of 15 year olds (and a lot of 50 year olds) think that the 40 hour work week, overtime pay, child labor laws, work place safety rules, etc are here through some god-given right, through the generosity of business or through a government hand-out program. These were brought about...

It's easier to model this era in HO than in N. Westerfield makes exactly the ore car I need for this period. Unfortunately it is HO and it's N Scale trains roaming these mountains. I've emailed them about shrinking it but they're not interested. Is it unethical to buy one and use it as a...

I think asbestos-related diseases were more common in steam-era railroad workers. Lots of asbestos used in boilers, etc. Coal burning contributed then (and still does today) to a lowering of air quality in general. An interesting tidbit mentioning coal burning locos from a paper on historical...

That is one solid-looking track bumper, Joe. :) Where have I seen that cliff before? Wayne

I had relatives near Norfolk, Virginia and and the highest point in their area was called Mount Trashmore. Yep, it was a park they built on top of an old garbage dump. I'd hate to see the color of a "rock cut" through that mountain. Tell Lisa we're all a little crazy. Most of us just...

I'd start with a light gray base, but first I'd take a close look at the rock formations in the area you're modeling. Even in an area with no mountains (how can anyone live with no mountains???) there shoud be rock cuts or short cliffs where you can get an idea of the colorization. One thing...

Val, if it's not too late, you might consider curving your corners with a large sheet of styrene. Check the US Plastic website for real cheap prices on huge sheets. Click on: "Sheet/Rod/Shapes" in the blue menu box Then click on the "Styrene" link. Click on "High Impact Styrene Sheet"...

In my part of the mountains, what you have shown is close to what I see. Those extreme slopes would have had any soil washed away long ago, if any could have clung to it after the glaciers carved them 10,000 years ago. I form my cliff faces, paint and color them, and give a final coat of...

Thank God a newbie arrives to ask the question I've wondered about for a long time. Welcome to the forum, Mike Wayne

Agreed. Be happy that they aren't adding coal dust to their smoke units. ;) No need for model railroading to be health-damaging for the sake of realism. I had enough smoke in my Lionel days. Now I'm a little more careful about what I intentionally put in my lungs. Wayne

The only alternative I use on my N scale layout is Peco, which will only add to your cost. I know this doesn't help, but you certainly want to be careful to not lower the quality standard. Nothing kills a layout and enthusiasm faster than poorly operating switches. I'm building my layout in...

Nice work Blake! I grew up in the area, over on the Erie's Pascack Valley Branch in Pearl River, but spent a lot of time in the 50's and 60's over on the river fishing for striped bass and shad from the end of the pier. I've never seen photos of railroad cars on the pier, but I can't imagine...

I'd do some experimenting with a variety of materials. Some of the finest brick casting I've seen was Hydrocal wall castings in an N Scale kit by Downtown Deco. I've never seen Bondo used so don't know how it compares for detail quality but nothing looks worse than poorly cast brick work. I'd...

I contacted them once about ordering a part I broke during a kit-bash project. They didn't email back with costs, etc. but several days later it was in my mailbox. I know that I've praised their customer service here before, but top-notch service is worthy of repitition. Wayne (By the...

Can't imagine black soot would enhance the looks of your lungs either. Wayne

Well, it looks interesting. I never used a heat gun. Wouldn't it blow the powder off the surface or are they not as powerful as a blow-dryer? Wayne

I often work from photos to do working drawings for renovations, additions, etc. Usually, I'm involved with a building hundreds of miles away and a builder whose field measurement abilities are lacking. Usually, they forget to bring a ladder, too. The first thing I tell them is to measure...

It took a long time before I realized what the Jackson Browne song "Rosie" was all about. Sometimes I'm a little slow. Wayne

I had the same question and found it on the Walthers site. Search for Kato (manufacturer) and 11105 (part number.) I've also found them on some of the other online train shops. I'm going to be ordering one and if it runs slow enough, build another Class A Climax with it. Wayne