Many prototype modelers have a Missouri attitude, e.g., they might know something to be true, but until they are shown proof, they still harbor some doubts. I knew logically that the Georgia Railroad’s USRA rebuilds, even those with the Murphy radial roof, were painted in the silver and black (Oakland Raiders?) scheme, but all the photos I had of the silver and black scheme were of the flat welded roof versions. All of the Murphy radial roof rebuild shots I had were in the freight car red scheme. Until now…..

The subject of the photo is actually the C&S reefer to the left, but my wandering eye is always looking at all the cars in a photo.

In honor of this find of Georgia 19708, there is a sale on the first 10 of these sold at a price of $40.00 (regular price – $45.00). If you were one of the doubters who was holding off from buying the kit because you wanted to model the “Raiders” scheme, time to put up! Link here for K127 – Georgia rebuilt USRA single sheathed box cars

Finally, here is a bit of an update or an update and a reply to some musings. The reprint of the relaunch decals was a bit of a mess. However, they should be in my hands within a couple weeks. I apologize for the delay as I expected to have them a long time ago. Now for the reply to musings. Many of you have noticed that I am selling a lot of images on eBay. The rumor mill got cranked up, assuming I was selling everything and leaving town under cover of darkness, never to be heard from again. The real story is as follows. My girlfriend (partner, I guess, since it is 2015) live together. Her admonition since I moved in has been that she wants the house to be move ready at all times. Model railroaders, particularly those who have large collections of kits and photos, drawings, research material, books, etc., find such proclamations to be difficult to follow. Well, a situation with her daughter has made that move ready state closer to a reality that will be acted upon. That has meant that I have been furiously doing what I should have done long ago, which is to better organize my files. Within the last year, I discovered an incredible tool for digitally managing my large collection of railroad materials. So, as I make myself move ready (I do not want to cart around any more reference material than I have to), I have been scanning and digitally archiving my materials, with the ability to retrieve anything within a matter of seconds. To provide an answer, no, I am not getting out of this business again. I am becoming more efficient. For those curious souls out there, I will be giving a clinic at Naperville (or Lisle… what are we calling it?) this year about how you can digitally archive your materials and will do a thorough writeup about this in a coming PRM.

When they were released many years ago, I purchased a large number of the Milwaukee Rib-side box car kits from Intermountain, optimistically thinking I’d have the accompanying decals completed soon thereafter. Of course, life intervened and my temporary exile to the real world meant that the kits sat idly by, waiting until the day I’d finish the decal artwork. That happened and now, it seems to me that the cost of those kits has been fully amortized (and then some). With that in mind, I am having a big sale on the IM Milwaukee Rib-side box car kits with decals for $12 each. The decal set alone goes for $5, so that’s like getting a top-notch kit for $7! While supplies last…. Link above or here.

Two new decal sets are in stock plus some restocks/new intro of “old” decals:

• D142 – Fruit Growers Express and Western Fruit Express Refrigerator Cars (NEW)
• D143 – Milwaukee Road 40′ Composite Gondolas and 36′ Stock Cars (NEW)
• D144 – Missouri-Kansas-Texas Single Sheathed Box Cars (NEW)
• D109 – UTLX tank cars (Restock)
• D110 – SP/T&NO B-50-25 (Restock)
• D127 – Erie 1937 AAR box cars (Restock)

Model and parts restocks:

• K108 – Soo Line Sawtooth single sheathed box car
• K111 – Pere Marquette 88000-series automobile cars
• K127 – Georgia rebuilt steel USRA single sheathed box car
• P105 – UP welded underframe parts
• P108 – Erie Postwar AAR box car parts set
• P109 – Lehigh New England rebuilt ARA box car parts set

I have received a lot of queries about the decals that were printed for the Speedwitch relaunch. So many queries, that I have decided to do a one-time reprinting of them, with the proceeds to be donated to the California State Railroad Museum Library to help with the costs associated with cataloging Richard Hendrickson’s collection. The decal set letters over 20 cars with excess material to partially augment lettering for many, many additional cars plus reweigh and repack data. Click here for more information.

We are now accepting pre-orders for PRM, Vol. 3. There is a discount on orders placed through March 2, 2015. Books will ship beginning by the week of March 2 (and some late the week of Feb 20.) If you are expecting a copy from the Relaunch, it will be sent to you. Thank you

The Southern Postwar AAR Box Car parts are back in stock:

• P110.1 – Southern Postwar AAR Box Car Parts Set – Superior Door
• P110.2 – Southern Postwar AAR Box Car Parts Set – Improved Youngstown Door

A few items have been restocked:

• K111 – Pere Marquette (later C&O) 88000-series Automobile Cars
• K127 – Georgia Railroad rebuilt USRA 50-ton Box Cars
• P108 – Erie Postwar AAR Box Car parts set
• P109 – Lehigh New England rebuilt ARA Box Car parts set

The resin board-by-board replacement roof for the Westerfield New York Central stock car kits is available. Click here

D142 – Fruit Growers Express and Western Fruit Express Refrigerator Cars

D143 – Milwaukee Road 40′ Composite Gondolas and 36′ Stock Cars

These sets are being printed and should be available in early February

This year’s Prototype Rails in Cocoa Beach, Florida coincided with a launch at Cape Canaveral. SpaceX Dragon rocket launched at 4:47 AM EST on January 10, 2015 to resupply the International Space Station.

Canon EOS 7D Mk. II, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.0-5.6L II @ 400mm, ISO 800, f/6.3, 1/30 sec. +1 stop EV.