A Beginner's Guide to Weathering

N-Scale 2000-09/10 pg. 36     Scale: N     Author: Paul J. Downs

Weathering freight cars using both dry-brushing and airbrushing.

A Fleet From the East

N Scale Railroading 2003-01/02 pg. 50     Scale: N     Author: Jim Schall

N-scale models (painted, weathered, and improved) of eastern railroads, including B&O, DL&E, N&W, PRR, and LNE.

Adding Weights to Cars

O Scale Trains Magazine 01 March 2002 pg. 11     Scale:      Author: Gary Woodard

Describes the NMRA-recommended weights for cars, and what kind of weights the author used to bring his cars up to spec.

Building a Barrel Car Kit

O Scale Trains Magazine 23 November 2005 pg. 510     Scale: O     Author: William Kendall

This article covers how to build the Ye Olde Huff n' Puff barrel car kit.

CN's "Circus Cars"

Railroad Model Craftsman 1972-04 pg. 46     Scale: (none)     Author: Julian Cavalier

Three boxcars and a cylindrical hopper car were colorfully painted with representative symbols indicating what was carried by that car as part of the company's advertising campaign.

Car Kits and Kadee Couplers

Model Railroader 1991-03 pg. 110     Scale: HO     Author: Jim Kelly

The author takes the beginner through the process of building freight car kits from several popular manufacturers. He also covers building and installing couplers.

Car Weighting

Model Railroader 2003-02 pg. 56     Scale: (none)     Author: Jeff Wilson

A basics article on using a scale, weights, and double-side tape to properly weigh cars to their NMRA specs. Shows types of weights available.

Couplers for Operational Reliability

Model Railroad News 2010-06 pg. 86     Scale:      Author: Dick Karnes

Installing and using couplers on S-scale models, as well as using uncoupler magnets.

Custom Decals

Model Railroader 2000-03 pg. 78     Scale: (none)     Author: Rick Johnson

Tips for preparing decal artwork and using the Alps printer.

Decaling

Model Railroader 2002-08 pg. 102     Scale: (none)     Author: Jeff Wilson

The basics on applying decals.

Designing and Obtaining Private Road Name Heralds

Model Railroader 1978-11 pg. 123     Scale:      Author: Louis Adler

When modeling a freelance railroad, you need to design your own logos and heralds. This article describes how to do this (before computers), and then how to order decals sets for your custom drawings.

Dual-magnet Uncoupling

Railroad Model Craftsman 2008-11 pg. 83     Scale:      Author: Charles Davis

The author found that using small, cylindrical rare-earth magnets, he was able to achieve more reliable uncoupling using the Kadee couplers. The concept has been tested in several scales.

Enhancing Maine Two-foot Trucks in On2/On30

Railroad Model Craftsman 2010-07 pg. 69     Scale: On2     Author: Trevor Marshall

How to add brake beams to the trucks to make them prototypically accurate.

Essential Freight Cars Part 20

Railroad Model Craftsman 2005-03 pg. 90     Scale: HO     Author: Ted Culotta

For this installment the author show prototype and model photos of some oddball cars: QA&P boxcar, carbon black covered hopper, and a vinegar tank car. The article has a side bar on using abrasives to prepare a model for painting.

Express Reefer from Troop Sleeper in N

Model Railroader 2005-12 pg. 62     Scale: N     Author: Bill Pearce

The author creates a postwar express car from a Micro-Trains troop sleeper, much like the prototype did. Includes prototype photos and detailed instructions about how to do the conversion.

Flange Test

N Scale Railroading 2006-01/02 pg. 50     Scale: N     Author: Kirk Reddie

The author works with high and low profile wheels, bolsters, and track to get boxcars to stay on track.

Freightcarology

Model Railroading 2005-02 pg. 42     Scale: (none)     Author: David G. Casdorph

Prototypes for Plano autorack panel sets using Walthers autorack models. This is part 2 covering the newer panels.

HOn30" Long-wheelbase Trucks

Railroad Model Craftsman 1977-08 pg. 61     Scale: HOn30     Author: Ralph Dockham

Using European HOn30 arch bars for two-foot gauge lines of Maine.

Keeping HOn3 Springs Intact

Railroad Model Craftsman 2003-05 pg. 78     Scale: HO     Author: John Ostler

How to assemble Kadee No. 717 freight trucks without losing the springs.

Kitbashing a CN Ingot Car

Railroad Model Craftsman 2005-08 pg. 60     Scale: HO     Author: Dave Lisabeth

Building models of the Canadian National 60-foot flat cars which were converted to carry aluminum ingots. Article includes model photos, prototype photos, parts list, detailed diagrams, and description of how the author converted a MDC 60-foot flat car.

Kitbashing the TH&B's 1000-1149 Series Hopper Cars

Railroad Model Craftsman 2002-09 pg. 65     Scale: HO     Author: William H. Sharpe

Kitbashing a Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo two-bay hopper from an Accurail 55-ton hopper car kit. Includes prototype photos.

Knuckles-n-Pins and Wrapping It Up

Model Railroading 2001-09 pg. 59     Scale:      Author: Jim Mansfield

Several photos show how a coupler works.

Loads for "S" Scale Open Top Cars

NASG Dispatch 2010-06 pg. 10     Scale: S     Author: Edwin C Kirstatter

The author shows and describes loads for flat cars and a gondola.

Machinery Loads for Gons

Railroad Model Craftsman 2011-03 pg. 48     Scale: HO     Author: Clark Propst

This article shows how to make loads that look like machinery that is covered by tarp, using foam blocks and facial tissue.

Model 6 Different Mill Cars From State Tool & Die's Universal Mill Car

Model Railroading 2002-10 pg. 30     Scale: (none)     Author: Dean Freytag

Steel slab car, plain deck slab car, well car, gondola, crop car, "X" car (used for heavy rubble service).

Model Railroad Maintenance of Way Part 1

Railroad Model Craftsman 2005-10 pg. 87     Scale: (none)     Author: Don Fiehmann

This article covers using the NMRA standards gauge to check your rolling stock's wheels, verifying the correct coupler height, measuring the cars' weight, and lubricating if necessary. Coupler trip pin adjustment is discussed, and a portable test track is described.

Model Santa Fe TOFC Rebuilds in HO

Model Railroader 1984-12 pg. 109     Scale: HO     Author: Andy Sperandeo

Creating a model of the piggyback conversion covered in the prototype article in this magazine issue (see page 104). Many detail drawings and bill of materials.

More Loads for S Scale Open Top Cars

NASG Dispatch 2010-10 pg. 24     Scale: S     Author: Edwin C Kirstatter

This brief follow-up article covers the missing photos of the previous article, and adds one more. Two flat car loads are described, one of a motor on a PRR FM flat car, and one of wood on top of a GN flat car.

More Loads for S Scale Open Top Cars

NASG Dispatch 2011-02 pg. 27     Scale: S     Author: Edwin C Kirstatter

Two photos, one of a Rex Engineering Lowside gondola loaded with a Building & Structure Co. wooden container kit. The other is an A.M. flat car with a load of 7 John Deere tractors.

NSC 53' Drawbarred Well Car Roster and Pictorial

Model Railroading 2002-08 pg. 30     Scale: (none)     Author: David G. Casdorph

Painting Wooden Freight Car Floors

Railroad Model Craftsman 2006-02 pg. 71     Scale: HO     Author: Stan Rydarowicz

The author shows techniques for painting plastic models such that their floors look like they're made from wood using an airbrush. Very realistic looking.

Puget Sound Tie Replacement Train Part II

N-Scale 2003-05/06 pg. 56     Scale: N     Author: Mike Busch

Building models for a tie replacement train.

Quick & Dirty Freight Car Weathering

Model Railroader 2003-02 pg. 68     Scale: (none)     Author: John Pryke

Shows how to weather freight cars using an airbrush. Shows which colors to use, what the typical weathering pattern is for particular cars.

Reflectorized Safety Striping

Railroad Model Craftsman 1974-02 pg. 52     Scale: (none)     Author: Todd Sullivan

How to simulate safety striping that started appearing on rolling stock and locomotives in the 1970's.

Reweigh Dates on Freight Cars

Railroad Model Craftsman 2011-04 pg. 72     Scale:      Author: Anthony Thompson

This article describes how car reweigh information is stated on the freight car, and how often it was done.

Santa Fe Piggyback Conversions

Model Railroader 1984-12 pg. 104     Scale: (none)     Author: Andy Sperandeo

Discusses the conversions the AT&SF is undertaking (at the time of the article) to support the increase in 45-foot and longer highway trailer traffic. Many prototype photos and an HO-scale drawing of ATSF #293241 are included.

Scratchbuilding Freight Cars

Railroad Model Craftsman 2007-04 pg. 78     Scale: (none)     Author: Bob Walker

The article covers how the author built a commissary car, but it covers a lot of information about why you might want to scratchbuilt your own freight car and what the general steps might be.

Selections from Bernard Kempinski's Freight Car Fleet

N Scale Railroading 2002-09/10 pg. 38     Scale: N     Author: Bernard Kempinski

Various model photos, descriptions of modifications, etc.

Simplified Lettering for Burlington Northern Freight Cars

Model Railroader 1990-06 pg. 132     Scale: (none)     Author: Andy Sperandeo

Painting and applying decals for modern-day BN freight cars.

The Long and Short of It

NASG Dispatch 2011-02 pg. 19     Scale: S     Author: Charles Bettinger

How to convert an ACF 3-bay covered hopper to a ACF 2-bay hopper.

The NASG American Flyer Car Project Part IV

NASG Dispatch 2010-06 pg. 18     Scale: S     Author: Doug Peck

This installment covers the NASG American Flyer Commemorative cars from 1997 through 1999.

The NASG American Flyer Car Project Part VI

NASG Dispatch 2010-10 pg. 16     Scale: S     Author: Doug Peck

Discusses the 2000 and 2001 commemorative cars. Includes a photo of each car.

The Workshop

O Scale Trains Magazine 32 May 2007 pg. 43     Scale: O     Author: Neville Rossiter

This column focuses on making a small modification to install Kadee couplers on an Atlas SW switcher.

Track Cleaning

N-Scale 2003-07/08 pg. 54     Scale: N     Author: James E. Reising

Description of an extensive MOW train that includes at least 6 track cleaning cars to maintain a club's layout.

Tractors by the Trainload

Railroad Model Craftsman 2005-03 pg. 52     Scale: (none)     Author: Ben Van Veldhuizen

Moving farm equipment to the market. Prototype photos of the early 1900's. Modern day photos of equipment moving freight cars. A model railroad layout track plan that models the transport of these types of equipment.

U-1 Wheel Stencils

Railroad Model Craftsman 1979-03 pg. 73     Scale: (none)     Author: Jim Panza

Explanation of the yellow or white dots that appear in a black square on the side of freight cars. These indicate cars that are still equipped with sub-standard wheels. Many prototype photos are included.

Using Semi-scale wheels and couplers

Railroad Model Craftsman 2005-03 pg. 68     Scale: HO     Author: David J. Leider

Changing the wheels and couplers of freight cars to more-to-scale ones improves the look of the models. He uses wheels from Reboxx and Intermountain, and couplers from Accumate. He uses the Reboxx Exxact Socket tool to improve the free-rolling characteristic of the trucks.

Weathering Steel Mill Cars

Model Railroader 2002-12 pg. 112     Scale: (none)     Author: Lee Vande Visse

Unique hot-metal cars. Simulating glowing metal in the cars using miniature fluorescent light with red plastic filter.

When Boxcars Were Red: Painting and Lettering in N-scale

Railroad Model Craftsman 1996-05 pg. 82     Scale: N     Author: Robert D. Turner

Modeling the variations on the standard 40-foot boxcar. Includes some prototype and many model photos. There are also step-by-step photos on how to letter cars.

Wipe Out Freight Car Wobble

Model Railroader 1999-11 pg. 108     Scale: N     Author: David K. Smith

Explains how to get rid of wobble in N-scale cars.