Building a Surface Plate
Railroad Model Craftsman 1996-03 pg. 81 Scale: (none) Category: "Tools"
This tool is composed of three pieces of styrene that provide for the ability to perform quality control services on our models, including checking overall height, checking coupler position, checking carbody lean, or accurately placing decals or engine parts. Editor's Note: I built mine using wood and styrene; see this link:
Kitbashed Wood Loading Ramp
Railroad Model Craftsman 2002-01 pg. 91 Scale: HO Category: "Structures - Track-side Details"
Using an Accurail Rural Timber Overpass bridge, the author created the end-of-spur unloading ramp that appears to be made out of heavy timbers, much like the prototype.
Kitbashing Three Lehigh Valley Cabooses
Railroad Model Craftsman 1991-09 pg. 79 Scale: HO Category: "Cabooses"
This article describes how to build the three caboose discussed in another article in this issue. The author used the MDC 3440-series cabooses as a start for the three models. Includes construction photos, detail drawings, and a parts list
Modeling a Lehigh Valley Mill Gondola
Railroad Model Craftsman 2010-11 pg. 47 Scale: HO Category: "Freight Cars - Gondolas"
A large number of the Lehigh Valley's gondola fleet were these 50-foot 13-rib straight side gondolas. The author used two Accurail 41-foot USRA steel gondola models to kitbash one of these cars. He describes the process he went through. The article includes one prototype photo, several close-up model photos, prototype roster, scale drawings, and describes how to make a steel plate load for the car.