On the way home from Naperville, I had some (plenty!) of time to reflect on where things are at and what I’m doing. The past couple months have been trying mostly because of self-inflicted wounds, especially with the repop of the Ann Arbor cars (I was merrily moving along and discovered a few problems that required a major investment of time to rectify, including making an entirely new body master for the single door car, that really cascaded into all areas of the operations.) I am finally caught up (mostly) from the missteps and am happily generating shipping labels for the outstanding orders (believe me, it feels good to be getting these things out the door and off my figurative shoulders.)

One thing I decided is that I try to be efficient, but that is not as easy as one might like in a cottage industry like this. One thing that could be made more efficient is production. With that in mind, my goal in the near future is to only have a few things in production at any one time. I decided the first step in that process is to trim what is “active.” with that in mind, I am “mothballing” several projects that have slowed considerably in demand. That means they will go dormant. I cannot say for how long, but it will likely be years if past in any indication. Here is the list of the first things:

• K126 – Milwaukee Road 271500-series 50′ single sheathed auto cars
• P127 – PRR X32A Underframe, Ends and Details
• P127.1 – PRR X32A Underframe, Ends and Details w/Shadow Keystone 50s lettering
• P126 – ATSF Bx-34 Duryea Cushion underframe Modified AAR Box Car
• P126.1 – ATSF Bx-34 Duryea Cushion underframe Modified AAR Box Car – 1959+ lettering
• K129.1 – PRR G28 Gondola with circle keystone
• K129.2 – PRR G28 Gondola with shadow keystone

So, what shows as in stock is “it” for the foreseeable future. The G28 may make a return sooner as I still have plans to offer those with late PRR and PC decals, but I have no timetable for that at present and have many other things coming to fruition. These are just the first, but not the last. I thank all of you for the continued support and understanding. I am lucky to have such a good group of people propping up my modest venture.

And, yes, the X43A instructions are finally at the end of the tunnel. They have more photos than any set of instructions I have ever done and there was way too much processing…

PS – IF YOU HAVE OUTSTANDING ORDERS FOR THESE ITEMS, YOU ARE COVERED… WORRY NOT!

I have three things to add to the site. They will be the last for awhile as I need to complete getting caught up before any additional kits or parts are released. I’m getting there but it will be several weeks before I am ready for new kits. The three things are:

• P131 – Murphy Diagonal Panel Refrigerator Car Roof (including why you need this part)
• Steam Era Freight Car Reference Manual Vol. Two: Tank Cars e-book
• Steam Era Freight Car Reference Manual Vol. Three: Refrigerator Cars e-book

I have updated a couple parts sets that are now back in the fold:

• P107 – Baltimore & Ohio M-26D/E Duryea Underframe parts plus decals
• P107.1 – late 20s Duryea Cushioned Underframe (B&M/HPT&D)
• P125 – 1936-1937 Duryea Cushioned underframe

Additionally, I recently added a Files link to the menu bar. That is where I post all my clinic files from RPMs. Enjoy them at your leisure.

Lastly, I must have goofed and not sent it out, but the instructions for the GM&O cars have been posted to that car’s page for awhile now. People have asked. Shame on me for not being more specific or communicative! I do have to take a few pics of the finished model as well. I will update after that.

I have added a new part and some reissues of others. Here is the list:

• P130 – Youngstown door with Early Camel Roller Lift fixtures
• P124 – Southern Railway 272500-series Automobile Cars
• P113.1 – Louisville & Nashville Postwar AAR box car, Youngstown door
• P113.2 – Louisville & Nashville Postwar AAR box car, Superior 7-panel door
• P113.3 – Louisville & Nashville Postwar AAR box car, Improved Youngstown door
• P108 – Erie Postwar AAR Box Car parts set

I am listening… there seem to be as many requests for old stuff as new. I have pulled a few of the old projects and am making molds. I have posted them to the site (enough quantities for one mold) to see if the orders match the requests. If the “juice is worth the squeeze” with these, I will offer others from the “archives.” The list of re-runs is here:

• K110.1 – Ann Arbor 41000-series Single Sheathed Automobile Cars
• K110.2 – Ann Arbor 74000-series Single Sheathed Box Cars
• K119 – NP 52′ Straight Side Sill Flat Car
• K119.1 – SP&S 52′ Straight Side Sill Flat Car
• K128 – Great Northern 53000-series Stock Car

You can also access them from the Models page. The outstanding orders for the recent releases are going out the door as fast as I can pack them. Apologies if your order isn’t out the door yet. As always, thank you!

In some digging around in the barn, I found a tote loaded with the Southwest Scale doors, decals and resin parts for the ATSF Bx-44. To my knowledge, the doors are no longer available so these are rare offerings.

Also, the payments drama persists. I have reactivated PayPal, warts and all, and deactivated WooCommerce, as shipping and payments haven’t been syncing, preventing checkout. Square is still up and running too (to use square, when in your cart at the payment option, select the “Credit Card” button and proceed from there.) PayPal can be used as normal.

The Shadow Keystone version of the PRR X43A is now available for order, in addition to the circle keystone version. Visit the Models page for details

I have made the decision (for how long is TBD) to deactivate PayPal as a payment option. They have made it increasingly difficult to do business with them compared to other available options and unless they can respond to my concerns in a way that addresses them, I will remove them permanently. I have been with them for over 20 years as the payment option on the site, but things change. I appreciate that for some of you, that may be a concern and if you prefer PayPal, I can still generate a direct PayPal request to you. I have added several other options to the site through square and also WooCommerce (Woo is what actually “powers” the commerce portion of the site anyway) so I can still accept secure payments via this site (in fact some of you have already gone that route.) Note: to use the “basic” square-powered checkout, then checkout by clicking “Proceed to Checkout” and filling the “card” bubble where you enter your payment info

PS – if you have something on order and paid via PayPal, don’t fret. Nothing has changed on that front. I will ship and the tracking info will be updated through PayPal.

Thank you for your understanding

A few have reached out indicating some issues getting through PayPal checkout. It has mostly been issues with it timing out on them. I have added other means beyond PayPal and Venmo, including a basic credit card portal powered by square and Cash App. I’m hopeful these additional options resolve any problems you might experience. If none of these work, I can arrange for something more direct.

I also know that some have had issues using the contact page/form. I have updated the page and am also making sure that the emaiis are being generated and sent. So, I am hopeful that if you want to reach out, you can and I will get it!

The first of the PRR X43A kits are available and the instructions for the PFE R-40-25 have been uploaded. Visit the Models page for links to these. There is also an Advance Speedwitch