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Magazine Articles By Jim Kindraka

50th Anniversary of S Business Meeting

Details about what transpired at the annual membership meeting at the 1987 NASG Convention.

A Quick Fix for SHS Trucks

The sideframes of early S-Helper Service freight car trucks tend to cant inwards, so this article describes two ways to fix that issue.

A Slick Option for Re-Lettering

The author describes how he built several more S Scale America H39 hopper cars, but this time modeling an older car that has been re-lettered later in life, still showing through some of the older lettering. Includes a prototype photo and several model photos.

Adding to a Spartan Kit Jacking up a Thrall 54' Mill Gondola

The author stumbled upon a rare Don Winter kit. This article shows how he built it. Includes construction photos, as well as several prototype photos of similar gondolas.

Bernie Thomas Award

This article explains why this award was named after this man.

Building a Rock Island Fowler Box Car

After telling the history of the Fowler-designed box car, the author briefly describes the S Scale America kits he built, but the main focus of the article is the work he did to model a specific Rock Island box car, which required some kitbashing. Construction is shown in a photo essay.

By-Laws Change

This article covers the proposed change of the three regions that the NASG covers.

C&O AMC 50-ton Offset Hopper

The author describes how he built an accurate model of this car by stripping an American Models hopper off of its sides, and having new, accurate sides designed and 3D-printed. Only the dreadnaught ends are now commercially available.

Chicagoland RPM Meet Gets a Taste of S Scale

A report on S-scale's presence at the 2017 Railroad Prototype Modelers in Lisle, Illinois (the meet is hosted by two "closet" S-scale modelers). Includes photos taken at the event.

Coil Covers for Your Greenville Gondola

A review of the Pre-Size Model Specialties kit for steel coil covers for gondolas. Includes prototype and model photos.

Creating a New York Central Locomotive from the Alco Models RS-3

The author claims the model's motor is not powerful enough and the body sits too high on the frame. Only the second issue is resolved in this article. The remainder of the article covers how to detail the base model differently to make it more accurate for an NYC prototype.

CSX Combining Objectives

The extended-height, coke-carrying, modernday hopper covered in the article started with an S Scale America H39 hopper. Includes construction and final photos.

Des Plaines Hobbies Open House for S Scale

As part of the O Scale National convention near Chicago, and Mike Calvert of Gilmaur Models in the United Kingdom being there, Des Plaines Hobbies held an open house to give S-scale modelers who attended a chance to see the U18b pilot model in person. Photos are included with the article.

Fall S Fest Report

Report of the CASG-BSG Fall S Fest held near Chicago.

Finishing the Don Winter's Railgon Kit

The author completes his Don Winter project gondola by painting it and applying decals to it. The remainder of the article is about the loads that are reasonable for this kind of a car.

Finishing Up Projects

The author describes how he completed a Mullet River S-scale caboose project, including adding details that are not included in the kit. The second project he completed is an F&C 4-bay "Dunmore" hopper resin kit. This project involved dealing with weaknesses in the aging resin kit, and installing Morton roof walks. He completed the model by painting it and lettering it for the NKP.

From the Firemans' Side of the Cab

The author relayed the stories he and some friends experienced railfanning on the way to the 1981 NASG Convention in New York.

General Business Meeting Kansas City, MO

The author reports on the NASG business matters covered at the 1989 NASG Convention.

Getting Lucky

The author describes the process he went through to bring a brass freight car back to useful service after it had taken a nasty fall to the ground.

Heap Shields

The author describes how he added heap shields (and other details) to 2- and 4-bay American Models hoppers. Includes construction and final-model photos.

Imitating Life... With A Little Help From 3D Printing

Using CAD design and 3D-printing made it possible to more easily create the corrugations of the 52' Greenville gondola that is described in this article.

In Memoriam

The author fondly remembers S-scale modeler Robert "Bob" Nicholson. Includes photos of Bob and of his Shabbona layout.

Jim Kindraka NASG Treasurer

The NASG Treasurer introduces himself

L&N Coke Car

The 1932 box car was based on the PRR's X29 box car, so the author was able to start with an S Scale America kit of that model to build this unique car. Includes prototype photos and lots of construction photos.

Lionel ACF Covered Hopper Conversion

The author describes how he took a recently-released Lionel cylindrical hopper and converted it to scale, and painted and lettered it after a prototype NYC car. It also covers historical information about the prototype car.

Meet An S Gauger

Introduction of Larry Hilley, posthumously.

Meet an S Gauger

Introduces Dave Held.

Milk Run!

This history of the transportation of milk using the railroads. Includes several prototype photos.

Minutes of Board of Trustees Meeting

Detailed report about what happened at the BOT meeting at the 1990 NASG Convention.

Minutes of the Board of Trustees Meeting

The full report of the NASG's BOT meeting that took place at the 1991 NASG Convention in Syracuse, NY.

Minutes of the Board of Trustees Meeting NASG, Inc.

Detailed notes about what happened at the NASG BOT meeting at the 1988 NASG Convention.

Minutes of the BOT Meeting

The NASG Secretary presents the minutes of the NASG BOT meeting at the 1989 NASG Convention.

Minutes of the General Business Meeting

Detailed description of what was covered in the general NASG membership meeting.

Minutes of the NASG Board of Trustees Meeting

Notes of what happened during the NASG's BOT meeting at the 1986 NASG Convention.

Minutes of the NASG General Business Meeting

Notes from the general NASG membership meeting held at the 1986 NASG Convention.

Minutes of the NASG's Annual Board of Trustees Meeting

In addition to issues related to printing the Dispatch, Convention issues, the establishment of the Tony Perles award was made, and Don Thompson was selected as the Treasurer due to the election vacancy.

Modeling Techniques

Using a U-shaped foam cradle to hold the model while working on it. Using styrene strips to fill gaps.

NASG 2011 Profit and Loss

NASG ACF Brass Car Anniversary

The author recalls the first NASG brass car project from 31 years ago. Includes several photos of the covered hopper and other project cars.

NASG at Fall S Fest

The author reports on the NASG booth at the Fall S Fest in Chicago.

NASG Business Report

Covers the rate increases for inserts included with mailed Dispatch issues.

NASG Corner Election Results

The results of the 1991 NASG BOT election.

New York Central Lot 588-H Hopper

The author built this three-bay hopper by using two two-bay American Models hoppers. Includes construction photos.

Norfolk & Western HC-1 and HC-2 Covered Hoppers

The N&W cars are identical to the PRR H30/H30a and H32 class cars. A bit of information from the previous article by the author was corrected in this one, and he goes into greater detail about the 60 N&W cars. The PRR owned 1/3 of the common stock of N&W, which may have influenced the re-use of the design. Includes two prototype photos.

Oh What You Can Learn From a Photo!

The subject is an X29 NYC box car. A model can be built from the S Scale America X29 PRR box car.

Old Decals

The author letters a River Raisin PRR X33 for a Detroit Toledo & Ironton box car, which used the same design as the PRR's box car. He also shows a Northern Pacific 40-foot box car, using the RR PRR X31 box car. Both of these were lettered using leftover decals from other projects.

Pennsylvania H30/H30a And H32 Covered Hopper Cars

The author provides a more complete history of these cars. Includes several prototype photos and scaled drawings.

Pre-Size Model Specialties Center Beam Flat CarCenter Beam Flat Car

After covering the prototype history of this lumber-carrying cars, the author describes and builds the Pre-Size Model Specialities' kit. Includes many close-up several photos.

President's Message

Ed Loizeaux asked Jim to write this issue's article, so that Jim could write about the upcoming NASG election.

Removing Lettering From Pre Painted Cars

The author describes his technique for wet-sanding the lettering off of an existing model. He used an S Scale America orange C&EI box car and converted it to a box-car-red UP one. The step-by-step process, with photos, is described in this article.

Report on NASG's Convention Survey

The results from the survey included in a Dispatch mailing after the 1990 joint NMRA/NASG Convention.

RIP Track: Improving Brass Trucks

The author describes what he does to make sure his trucks roll smoothly.

S Lore

Notes about brass models, including remembering that these are hand-built, one-off models, replacing worn-out flexible tubing between motor and gear tower, universal joint cracking issues, and Alco RS-11/RS-18/RS-32 running problems.

Sudimak's Service Station

Bill Hanslik, Jr. built a Shell gas station in honor of Jack Sudimak who ran a service station early in his life in Medina, Ohio.

The Choctaw Rocket in S Scale

The author describes how he models the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific train, The Choctaw Rocket. The prototype version ran from Memphis, Tennessee to Amarillo, Texas. Its inaugural run was November 17, 1940. Includes many model photos, prototype consist listing, and one prototype photo of a car.

The Michigan Interchange Convention Highlights

The author reviews the hotel, restaurants, the largest (to date) S-scale modular layout setup, the various typical Convention activities, vendor room review, the bus trip to the Huckleberry Railroad and Old World Village, and the banquet, awards, and auction. The article includes many photos.

The Milwaukee Road Horizontal Ribbed Box Cars

A complete history of these unique cars, with lots of prototype photos.

The Pennsylvania Railroad Round Roof Boxcars

A detailed history of the PRR's 40-foot X31-series of cars. Also covered are the 50-foot X32 and X33 cars. Includes many prototype photos.

The Schmidt Brewing Co.

Prototype information about this company (having had its property appraised), with prototype photos.

Thoughts On Decals, A Few Techniques...

The author shares tips and tricks he has learned over the years about how to apply decals.

Visit Des Plaines Hobbies

After a brief introduction of the owners, the article covers that S-scale is quite visible within the mostly-HO-scale store. Covers the services they offer, and which product lines they have purchased over the years. Includes several photos of the store.

What's On Your Workbench Today?

In this new column, the author shares how he made the poling pockets for a hopper car.

What's on Your Workbench Today?

The Des Plaines Valley group's workbench is featured, showing Chuck West's layout and members who get to use it when the club meets there.

What's on your workbench today?

A photo of 3D-printed coil-car covers.

What's On Your Workbench?

How to make secure walkways, using 3D-printed parts.

What's On Your Workbench?

The author shares how he modeled two Universal Cement box cars.