Seize The Day

 You have probably heard this phrase before, whether it was in a movie, song lyric, or advice from someone, perhaps a teacher or mentor.  The original Latin phrase “carpe diem” literally translates to “pluck (or harvest) the day.”

In any case, the expression is often used to suggest that we do not wait, but rather do the things we want now rather than later.  Take action, enjoy life, make a move while we can.  In the railroad modeling hobby, many of us can relate to delaying our dreams or hobby aspirations due to other priorities in life, only to find that opportunity has passed us by.  In the larger sense, this might be health, vision or fine motor control or resources.  As I approach retirement these factors are coming into focus (pun intended).  Fortunately, I am still physically able to perform, and even improve on, the skills for detail work on HO scale prototype models and also am fortunate to have the resources to (usually) obtain what I want, for the time being anyway.

Currently I have accumulated much more than I have built in terms of models, adding many “to be built” kits and detail parts to my stash over the last few years. In some cases, these are limited release or out of production craftsman kits that have been “seize the day” purchases.

The Kit “Stash” (most of it)

 A lesson learned over the years, especially as my interests have narrowed while becoming more knowledgeable, is not to wait when it comes to purchasing items that are real priorities for my interests.  Many of these are produced by cottage industries, small suppliers who have a passion and the skills to manufacture kits or detail parts that may have a very specific, narrow application, but also often only produce for a relatively short period of time.  This might be a unique, signature car for a particular railroad or an uncommon detail, such as a type of freight car truck or door that was not so widely used. 

Examples of Out of Production Detail Parts

 Archer  resin printed surface details are once again available, after a short hiatus when the original owner sold the business, leading to much angst in the prototype modeling community.  This seems to be much more the exception than the rule, however, given the hurdles of finding a buyer for a small scale business.

I was reminded of this just this morning, when I learned of the closure of Custom Model Depot, which stopped producing last year. This family run business offered a range of 3D printed model railroad items, including the Dalman Andrews trucks pictured above.  In this case, I did purchase several sets of these when they were announced, since they are a “signature” freight car truck for the Great Northern. The business closed due to demands of work and limited free time. 

Running a business is challenging, requiring a great deal of effort, time and money.  For hobbyist type producers, unless a large established manufacturer with a range of items with broad appeal, their enterprise is frequently a labor of love as opposed to paying the bills.  As a result, burnout, everyday life or changes in circumstance play a part in the short life of many suppliers.  Some do last, but even so their products are commonly limited production runs.  All the more reason to seize the day when possible.

In the event one misses the original availability of a limited run kit or other item, not all hope is lost.  In person swap meets and online marketplaces such as eBay, or forums like HOSwap on IO , as well as specialty online retailers, can be viable sources of out of production items.  

Examples of Out of Production Kits Sourced Online

Patience is a virtue when seeking out a specific car or other item of interest that is no longer manufactured, unlike the near instant gratification of buying when a kit is first available. It can take months, even years, to find something that is long out of production.  I have learned to ask around in the modeling community, as you never know what someone else has in their stash that might be just what you want. In some cases, trades can be worked out that benefit both parties, allowing us to get value from our surplus.  Learning how to set up targeted saved searches on eBay is another way to hunt for a sought after item.

Successful Search Finds

The warehouse kit and the “Roof Topper” shown above are both the result of literally multi-year searches waiting for these items to show up from a seller.  In each case, I had seen these advertised when they were first offered, but put off buying for one reason or another only to find that the manufacturer had shuttered operations when I finally had the resources to move ahead. Scouring hobby shops and swap meets was fruitless, but online searches finally paid off after a few years. The waiting does ensure that the sought after item is REALLY wanted.

The New Rail Models Bingen Loading Warehouse is a unique signature structure on the SP&S (now BNSF) rail line through the Columbia Gorge in Washington state and fits with my time period and wood products focus. I have driven by the actual warehouse in Bingen while traveling on Highway 14 through the Gorge many times. While the model is selectively compressed, it captures the unique look with curved roof and large exposed tresses.  Perfect for a loading siding with stacks of plywood or lumber and offering a good reason for all the double door box cars in my stash!

Seeing the Great West Models Roof Topper ads years ago inspired an idea for a small chemical plant scene with a distinctive but relatively common arched industrial roof shape, particularly in the coastal Northwestern US, where abundant rain makes flat roofs problematic. Again, this is a roof style I have observed frequently in work travel over the years.  These roof moldings were offered in several sizes intended to modify several different common HO building kits.  The one I sought is for the City Classics Carnegie Street Manufacturing building kit, adding visual interest and a change from the standard look.  Many pulp and paper mills in the Northwest had small specialty chemical manufacturing operations associated, as I have discussed before https://olympicpeninsulabranch.blogspot.com/2025/03/prototype-inspiration-chemicals-and.html  More reason to build all those tank car kits I have been accumulating.

I have had similar success searching for out of production freight car kits that caught my interest or filled a specific desire, often after significant time waiting.  With  time and searching it is possible to locate that prize you missed the first go round in many cases. There are still a few on my list!  The easiest and quickest path though is to pluck the day when you first see that beauty you want, if it fits your budget.

-Carpe Diem

Prototype Inspiration - Chemicals and The Paper Industry

 The Northwest has a long history of forest products production, from timber and plywood to paper, providing many carloads of revenue for the railroads serving this region. Pulp and paper mills have always held a great fascination for me, particularly the large integrated mills which started with logs or raw wood chips and carried out every step of transforming the wood into finished products.  I’ve been fortunate to spend a good part of my career selling equipment to these mills while learning their processes and history.

Some of the first pulp and paper mills in the Northwest were established in the late 1800’s and early 20th century. Many expanded and diversified over time to become very large manufacturing enterprises. What many do not realize is that the pulp and paper manufacturing process requires a great deal of chemistry, as well as producing some useful chemical byproducts.  

1954 CZ Magazine Ad Discussing Industrial Chemical Production

While the first paper making process was mechanical, chemical pulping followed, producing a wider range of more useful and attractive paper products. There are several basic processes to break down wood fiber into pulp that can be used to make paper of many types.  These processes can require caustic, acids, lime, bleaching agents, mineral slurries and other specialized chemicals. Additional chemicals are used to provide specific properties for finished paper products, such as brightening agents, rosin and starch for sizing, mineral slurries like clay for smoothness, even copper sulfate as a fungicidal additive (for fruit wrap), among others.

 The Kraft, or sulfate process, is the dominant method used (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kraft_process), with the sulfite process (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulfite_process) and it’s variations not uncommon in the heyday of paper production. Here is a good basic article on papermaking chemistry: https://www.chemistryworld.com/features/the-complex-chemistry-of-making-paper/4017234.article. Other specialized methods combine temperature and pressure with chemicals or mechanical processing.  It’s not my intent to provide a treatise on papermaking, but to illustrate the range of chemicals consumed, and transported by rail, in this industry.  

At various times, liquid byproducts from pulping were commercially attractive to market as well. These included tall oil, wood alcohol, turpentine and lignin compounds. Another was vanillin, artificial vanilla, produced from lignin, refined and sold for flavoring.

All, or most, of these chemicals require tank cars, or sometimes box cars with bags or drums, for inbound and outbound loads.

The photo in the advertisement above shows an overview of the Puget Sound Pulp and Paper mill in Bellingham, Washington. A string of tank cars and the curved chemical area railroad tracks are visible in the mid foreground of the picture.  This mill is a primary inspiration for my layout modeling efforts.  During World War II it produced wood alcohol along with other chemicals, and owned a small second hand fleet of private label tank cars, apparently until the mill was sold to Georgia Pacific in 1963.  My research on these cars continues, with the goal of modeling them.

The mill received tank cars of chlorine for bleaching, sodium hydroxide and sulfuric acid for the pulping process, along with other papermaking chemicals. All of this provides opportunities to model a range of tank cars suited for these commodities. I will expand on this in subsequent posts and as my research progresses.

New Year, New Tools

 I am always curious about the tools people have on their modeling workbenches, looking for ways of doing things better or with more precision, as well as adding new skills to my repertoire.  Regularly, I discover items of interest so I keep a running list of possible additions and their source. Near the end of the year, I purchased several new tools from my list, illustrated below.  Some were based on experience using less suitable tools, others intended to expand my capabilities.

At the top is a pair of heavy duty flush cut pliers from FastCap. These are primarily intended for clipping trip pins off Kadee couplers as close as possible.  They can also be used for heavier brass wire.  I have been dissatisfied with my other diagonal cutting pliers as they leave a significant nub.  This was an Amazon find, a return at a substantial discount, appearing unused.

The metal blocks on the right with the rows of holes are machinists parallel blocks, or 1-2-3 blocks, with precision machined right angle faces.  These are helpful for providing support and ensuring right angles when attaching boxcar or building sides together.  The blocks can also provide weight for holding parts together while gluing. I found these at Amazon.

Recently, several expert railroad modelers shared about their use of The Glue Looper, an ingenious applicator for thin CA glue.  I had been using wire, toothpicks and an etched brass applicator from Eduard, with mixed results.  The photo shows one of the Glue Looper tips in a green hobby knife handle, along with the packet of tips in three “sizes”, referring to the size of the loop and how much glue it holds.  The tip is selected based on the length of the glue application. I have already used a medium tip and am very happy with the precise application and ease of use. The handle was purchased with the tips as an option, but any hobby-knife holder should work.  I wanted a dedicated handle and the bright green color stands out.

The rectangular metal piece with two black knobs in the center of the photo is a photo etch elbow bender from UMM-USA (Unique Master Models). John Vojtech is a highly skilled master modeler who offers an extensive range of tools, supplies and models on his website. John has also developed some excellent tools that he has custom made, including photo etch benders.  These particular designs are well suited to bending brass for etched ladders and long narrow shapes such as door tracks.  He offers a number of versions, including 60 (MN004) and 150 millimeter (MN014) length models that include a bending brake.  I had the 60mm bender on hand, purchased for etched ladder stile bending, and wanted a longer one specifically for a few upcoming projects where I plan to make door track angles from thin sheet brass.  

Again, these tools come highly recommended by several prolific railroad modelers.  As standard, the benders have Allen head screws for clamping.  Some folks have modified them with M6 star knobs purchased separately for ease of use, not requiring a hex wrench.  The knobs are readily available online at Amazon.

While at the UMM website, I discovered another tool developed by John, a scriber.  There are several versions, designed for scribing panel lines on aircraft models but having utility for other purposes as well.  I purchased the SCR-03 “third generation” universal scriber to use for scraping and scribing in confined areas. It is a thin dual ended chisel type tool made of hard tool steel with one side also having a sharpened edge well suited to scribing on curves. The hook shaped end looks particularly useful.  This tool is shown in the first picture, at the lower left. I was reminded of some of the dental tools that have a similar shape and this tool seemed like it might find good use.  An impulse buy so we shall see how it goes.

Did I absolutely need all of these new things?  Possibly not, but working with well crafted tools that are built for purpose makes modeling more enjoyable for me, and elevates my game. At least, this is what I tell myself!